The Nazi experiment, 1929-1949 Flashcards
(233 cards)
1
Q
What triggered the collapse of the Weimar economy in 1929?
A
The Wall Street Crash in October 1929, which caused a global depression. Germany was hit hard due to dependence on US loans and investment.
2
Q
What were the economic effects of the Wall Street Crash on Germany?
A
- Banks collapsed
- Industrial production fell
- Businesses went bankrupt
- Unemployment rose from under 2 million in 1929 to 6 million by 1932
- By 1932, one-third of Germans had no regular wages
3
Q
Why did Hermann Müller’s ‘Grand Coalition’ government collapse in March 1930?
A
- Could not agree on how to meet escalating unemployment benefit claims
- The coalition was politically diverse (SPD to DVP)
- The cabinet resigned, ending the last truly democratic Weimar government
4
Q
Who replaced Hermann Müller as Chancellor in 1930?
A
Heinrich Brüning (Zentrum Party)
5
Q
What was Brüning’s approach to governing?
A
- Relied on Article 48 and President Hindenburg, not the Reichstag
- Created a new type of leadership based on presidential emergency decrees
6
Q
What happened when the Reichstag rejected Brüning’s finance bill in 1930?
A
- Brüning passed it by presidential decree
- SPD opposed this, leading Brüning to dissolve the Reichstag in July 1930
7
Q
What were the September 1930 election results for major parties?
A
- NSDAP: 18.3%, 107 seats
- SPD: 24.5%, 143 seats
- KPD: 13.1%, 77 seats
- DNVP: 7%, 41 seats
8
Q
How many bills and decrees were passed between 1930–32?
A
- 29 minor bills passed by the Reichstag
- 109 emergency decrees ratified by the President
9
Q
What actions made Brüning unpopular?
A
- Austerity policies: higher taxes and public spending cuts
- Failed to relieve the recession
- Banned the SA in April 1932
10
Q
Why did Brüning lose Hindenburg’s support in 1932?
A
- Failed to win support for constitutional changes to give Hindenburg indefinite power
- His land reform proposals angered Hindenburg and Junkers
- SA ban was unworkable after Hitler’s growing influence
11
Q
What were Brüning’s 1932 land reform proposals?
A
- Break up large Prussian estates and give land to urban families
- Opposed by Junkers and Hindenburg as ‘agrarian Bolshevism’
12
Q
What were the March–April 1932 presidential election results?
A
- First Round: Hindenburg 18.65m, Hitler 11.34m, Thälmann 4.98m
- Second Round: Hindenburg 19.36m, Hitler 13.42m, Thälmann 3.71m
13
Q
What role did the SA play in Nazi rise?
A
- Over 100,000 members by 1931
- Intimidated opponents, maintained street presence, escalated violence
14
Q
How did Hitler try to increase Nazi legitimacy?
A
- Held talks with Brüning (Oct 1930) and Hindenburg (Oct 1931)
- Met with Ruhr industrialists (1932)
- Aimed to present NSDAP as a respectable, national party
- Promised full employment and aid to farmers and traders (details vague)
15
Q
When did Franz von Papen become Chancellor and how did he govern?
A
- Appointed in June 1932
- Formed a non-party cabinet of ‘national concentration’
- Governed by decree, not elected to Reichstag
16
Q
What was the Preussenschlag (Prussian Coup) in July 1932?
A
- SPD-led Prussian government overthrown after riots in Hamburg
- Papen appointed himself Reich Commissioner of Prussia
17
Q
How did Papen try to gain Nazi support in 1932?
A
- Lifted SA ban
- Restricted communist press
- Called new elections in July 1932
18
Q
What happened in the July 1932 elections?
A
- Nazi gains increased from middle class, farmers, and unemployed
- Hitler refused vice-Chancellorship and demanded to be Chancellor
19
Q
What was the result of the no-confidence vote against Papen’s government?
A
- Hitler and the KPD joined forces
- Vote passed by 512 to 42, leading to dissolution and new elections in November 1932
20
Q
What percentage of the vote and number of deputies did the Nazis win in July and November 1932?
A
- July 1932: 37.3%, 230 deputies
- Nov 1932: 33.1%, 196 deputies
21
Q
What factors led to a fall in Nazi support in Nov 1932?
A
- Loss of middle-class support due to Hitler’s attacks on Papen
- Hitler’s refusal to accept vice-Chancellorship
- Support for a Communist-led Berlin transport strike
- Slight economic improvement
- Exhaustion & financial strain after repeated elections
- Fear of growing Communist support
22
Q
Why did Schleicher’s strategy to build a majority fail in 1932?
A
- Negotiated with Gregor Strasser, causing Hitler to expel him
- Tried to win over workers via job schemes and repealing cuts
- Alienated Hindenburg by proposing breaking up landed estates
- Hindenburg refused to rule by decree
23
Q
What led to Hitler being appointed Chancellor in January 1933?
A
- Papen negotiated with Hitler: Hitler as Chancellor, Papen as Vice
- DNVP leader Hugenberg supported coalition
- General von Blomberg offered army support
- Hindenburg persuaded by his son and elites
- Hitler became Chancellor on 30 January 1933
24
Q
What was the significance of the Reichstag Fire?
A
- Blamed on Dutch Communist van der Lubbe
- Justified 28 Feb 1933 emergency decree: “Protection of People and State”
- Allowed arrests, censorship, suppression of KPD
25
How many votes did the Nazis win in March 1933?
43.9% of vote
* Still needed coalition for two-thirds majority
* DNVP: 8%
* Deal with Zentrum secured support
26
What was passed on 23 March 1933, and what did it do?
Enabling Act (“Law for Terminating the Suffering…”)
* Allowed Hitler to rule without Reichstag for 4 years
* Passed with only 94 SPD votes against it
27
What was Gleichschaltung and how did it help Hitler?
Coordination of all institutions into Nazi control
* Used legal and violent means to eliminate opposition
* Achieved by July 1933
28
What did the 'Law for the Restoration of the Professional Civil Service' do?
* Removed opponents & Jews from public positions
* Purged courts, schools, universities
29
What happened to trade unions in May 1933?
* All unions banned
* Replaced by DAF (German Labour Front) under Robert Ley
* Membership compulsory; no wage negotiation rights
30
What law made Germany a one-party state?
14 July 1933: “Law Against the Establishment of Parties”
* Made non-Nazi parties illegal
* November 1933 elections: Nazis won 92% of the vote
31
What was the significance of the January 1934 law?
Law for the Reconstruction of the State
* Abolished Länder assemblies
* Power to Reich governors (Reichsstatthalter)
32
What was the Night of the Long Knives and when did it happen?
30 June 1934
* Purge of SA & opponents
* 86+ killed including Röhm, Schleicher, Gregor Strasser
* SS rose in dominance
* Army pledged loyalty in return
33
What did Hitler do after Hindenburg died in August 1934?
* Combined offices of President & Chancellor
* Became Führer
* Army swore personal oath to him
34
What is Hans-Ulrich Wehler’s Sonderweg theory?
Germany followed a “special path”
* Prussian militarism & nationalism prevented true democracy
* Created conditions ripe for Nazism
35
How did Hindenburg contribute to Hitler’s rise?
* Aged, conservative, reliant on inner circle
* Appointed Hitler to avoid Schleicher & protect elites
* Possible motive: hide misuse of funds on Prussian estate
36
How did the SPD and Zentrum disappear in 1933?
* June 1933: SPD banned
* July 1933: Zentrum disbanded after Concordat
37
What was the symbolism behind Potsdam Day?
National reconciliation ceremony
* Hindenburg and Hitler stood together
* Portrayed Hitler as a unifier
38
What were the two core ideas of National Socialist ideology?
Supremacy of the state and superiority of the Aryan race.
39
What did the concept of 'supremacy of the state' mean in Nazi ideology?
It demanded total loyalty to the state, with Germans bound together by blood as a single national community.
40
What defined the Nazi view of Aryan superiority?
Aryans, especially rural dwellers ('Blut und Boden'), were seen as a master race; Jews were seen as the lowest in a racial hierarchy.
41
What was 'Volksgemeinschaft'?
A racially superior Aryan community where class divisions and individual interests were subordinate to the Volk.
42
Name six other ideological principles derived from core Nazi beliefs.
* Anti-Semitism
* Anti-feminism
* 'Survival of the fittest' (Social Darwinism)
* Lebensraum
* Anti-Communism
* Führerprinzip (cult of the leader)
* Anti-democracy
43
When did Hitler break with socialism and why?
In the Night of the Long Knives (1934); socialism had become an embarrassment as Hitler sought elite and business support.
44
What was 'Gleichschaltung'?
The process of Nazifying Germany's institutions to enforce state supremacy and racial purity.
45
What ministry did Hitler set up in March 1933 and who led it?
Ministry for Popular Enlightenment and Propaganda, led by Joseph Goebbels.
46
How was propaganda used to promote ideology?
Via press, radio, theatre, arts, and film to immerse citizens in Nazi ideas.
47
What contradiction existed in Nazi ideology and practice?
Ideological policies were sometimes overridden by practical politics, e.g., women returned to factories during war despite anti-feminism.
48
What system of government did Hitler establish by 1934?
A totalitarian, one-party state where his authority was supreme and unchallenged.
49
What was the 'polycratic system'?
Overlapping state and party institutions creating confusion and competition among officials.
50
Why did Hitler allow internal competition?
It fit his ideology of 'struggle' and allowed him to avoid direct responsibility.
51
How often did Hitler meet with his cabinet after 1933?
72 times in 1933, six times in 1937, and once in 1938; cabinet meetings then ceased.
52
What was 'working towards the Führer'?
Officials acted on what they believed Hitler would approve of, due to his absence and vague leadership.
53
What is the intentionalist view of Hitler’s leadership?
Hitler was a 'strong' dictator with clear ideological goals (e.g., Trevor-Roper, Bracher).
54
What is the structuralist view of Hitler’s leadership?
Hitler was a 'weak' dictator; policies evolved through chaotic competition (e.g., Mommsen, Kershaw, Brozat).
55
What term did Mommsen use to describe the increasing radicalism under Hitler?
"Cumulative radicalism"
56
What was the main purpose of the SS under Himmler?
To act as political police, control racial policy, and enforce obedience.
57
What organisation did the SS take over in 1934?
The Gestapo, originally founded by Goering in 1933.
58
What power did the Gestapo gain in 1936?
The power to interpret the law as it saw fit.
59
Who led the SD and what was its function?
Reinhard Heydrich; the SD collected intelligence.
60
When was the Reich Main Security Department (RHSA) established and for what purpose?
In 1939, to oversee all security agencies.
61
What role did the SS Death’s Head Units play from 1939?
They ran concentration camps and racial/genetic programmes.
62
What did the 1933 Civil Service Law enforce?
Removal of judges whose beliefs clashed with Nazism.
63
What was required of lawyers under Nazi rule?
Membership in the Nazi Lawyers Association.
64
What principle did Ernst Hüber advocate in law?
Judging individuals by their value to the Volk.
65
List six forms of Nazi repression.
* Mild censorship
* Intimidation
* Job/status loss
* Arbitrary arrest
* Concentration camps
* Execution
66
What decree enabled arrest for criticism?
March 1933 decree against malicious gossip.
67
How many Germans were convicted of political crimes between 1933–1939?
225,000
68
How many were placed in ‘protective custody’?
162,000
69
Why was opposition to Nazi rule limited during peace time?
Due to early elimination of rivals, propaganda success, harsh punishment, and widespread support.
70
What institutions retained some independence?
Churches and the army.
71
What were forms of low-level opposition?
* Reading banned literature/music
* Listening to foreign broadcasts
* Refusing to join Nazi organisations
* Supporting non-Nazi churches
72
Give examples of organised opposition.
* Underground SPD (Berlin Red Patrol, Hanover Socialist Front)
* Underground KPD cells (Berlin, Hamburg, Mannheim)
* Rote Kapelle network (sent info to USSR, broken in 1942)
* Anti-Nazi leaflets and slogans
* Judges refusing Nazi justice
* Communist plots to assassinate Hitler
73
How many Germans were sent to concentration camps overall?
1.3 million
74
How many left Germany between 1933 and the outbreak of war?
300,000
75
What did Timothy Mason argue about worker resistance?
Strikes, sabotage, and absenteeism were common.
76
What did Richard Overy suggest?
Some working-class areas were ‘no-go’ zones for Nazis.
77
What did Ian Kershaw document?
Evidence of public grumbling.
78
What did Robert Gellately argue in 2001?
Most Germans accepted or supported the regime.
79
What were the main concerns of the German army elites towards Hitler before 1938?
The army elites disapproved of the pace of rearmament, the growth of the SS, and Hitler’s rapid expansion plans in the East.
80
What was the Hossbach Conference and when was it held?
The Hossbach Conference on 5 November 1937 revealed Hitler’s aggressive war plans, alarming army leaders.
81
What happened to Blomberg and Fritsch in 1938?
Both were dismissed; Blomberg for marrying a former prostitute, and Fritsch (falsely) accused of homosexuality.
82
What changes occurred in the army leadership after 1938?
16 generals resigned or were dismissed; Hitler assumed the role of Supreme Commander and merged it with the War Minister role.
83
Who were Hitler’s new military supporters post-1938?
Commanders like Heinz Guderian and Erwin Rommel.
84
Who was Ludwig Beck and what did he do?
Beck was Chief of Staff from 1935–1938, resigned in protest, plotted against Hitler, and was executed.
85
What impact did the war have on Nazi government structure?
New ministries were created but overlapped with older authorities; Hitler avoided formal decision-making.
86
What was decided at the Wannsee Conference in 1942?
Subordinates discussed the ‘Final Solution’ to the Jewish question.
87
Who was Albert Speer and what did he do in 1942?
Speer resolved chaos in economic management through better planning as Minister of Armaments.
88
Who replaced Rudolf Hess after his 1941 flight to Scotland?
Martin Bormann, who controlled domestic policy.
89
What happened to Hitler between 1943 and 1945?
He became increasingly isolated in the Wolf’s Lair and Führerbunker.
90
Who was Martin Bormann and what role did he play?
Bormann was Hitler’s personal secretary and became Head of Party Chancellery.
91
What effect did the war have on German opposition to the Nazis?
Opposition grew, especially after Stalingrad; declining morale led to increased dissent.
92
How did youth opposition change during the war?
The Hitler Youth lost appeal; alternative groups emerged.
93
What were the 'Swing' clubs and what happened to Hasso Schützendorf?
'Swing' clubs rejected Nazi culture; Schützendorf was sent to a concentration camp.
94
Who were the Edelweiss Pirates and what did they do?
Working-class youths who resisted Hitler Youth patrols and sheltered deserters.
95
What was the White Rose Movement?
A student resistance group that distributed anti-Nazi pamphlets.
96
How did the church oppose the Nazis during the war?
Key figures resisted despite decreased opposition.
97
Who was Dietrich Bonhoeffer and what happened to him?
A theologian who helped Jews escape; arrested in 1943 and executed in 1945.
98
What did Bishop August von Galen do in 1941?
He condemned Nazi euthanasia policy.
99
How many priests were imprisoned at Dachau and how many died?
2720 priests were interned; 1034 died.
100
What was the Kreisau Circle?
A resistance group planning for post-Nazi Germany.
101
What role did the Abwehr play in resistance?
Supported resistance, leaked information, and protected Jews.
102
Who led the July Bomb Plot and when did it occur?
Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg on 20 July 1944.
103
What happened during the July Bomb Plot?
A bomb was moved away from Hitler, killing 4 others; over 5000 opponents were executed.
104
What were Bonhoeffer’s contributions to resistance?
Formed the Confessional Church and joined the Kreisau Circle; executed in 1945.
105
Who were the first military governors on the Allied Control Council?
Zhukov (USSR), Montgomery (GB), Eisenhower (USA), de Lattre de Tassigny (France)
## Footnote
These governors were responsible for overseeing the administration of Germany after WWII.
106
Who replaced the first military governors in 1946-1947?
Sokolovsky (USSR), Robertson (UK), Clay (USA), Koenig (France)
## Footnote
The replacement of governors marked a transition in the management of post-war Germany.
107
What key events marked the final collapse of the Nazi regime in 1945?
* Feb 1945: Western Allies crossed the Rhine
* 21 April: Soviets reached Berlin
* 25 April: US and Soviet troops met at Torgau (Elbe)
* 30 April: Hitler committed suicide
* 8–9 May: Admiral Dönitz signed German surrender
## Footnote
These events collectively led to the end of WWII in Europe.
108
What agreements about post-war Germany were made at the Yalta Conference in Feb 1945?
* Temporary military occupation agreed
* Germany and Berlin divided into 4 zones
* France added later as 4th occupier
* Agreement on the “Four Ds”: Demilitarisation, Decentralisation, Denazification, Democratisation
## Footnote
The Yalta Conference set the stage for the post-war order in Europe.
109
What political models did the major powers favor for post-war Germany?
* USSR (Stalin): Neutral, disarmed, united Germany
* USA: Democratic state with strong economy
* France: Wanted break-up of Germany
## Footnote
These differing visions contributed to the division of Germany.
110
What happened in the Soviet Zone (1945–46)?
* USSR entered Berlin first (April 1945)
* Walter Ulbricht and other German Communists returned
* SMAD oversaw creation of five Länder governments
* USSR aimed to embed Communism early
## Footnote
The Soviet Zone established the foundation for the future German Democratic Republic.
111
How did Western Allies approach political activity in their zones (1945–46)?
* Initially banned political activity
* Suppressed anti-fascist (antifa) groups
* September 1945: Licensed parties for local elections (SPD, KPD, CDU/CSU, LDP, BHE)
* Most successful: CDU/CSU (Adenauer), SPD (Schumacher)
## Footnote
This approach aimed to stabilize their zones and prevent the rise of extremism.
112
What were the key outcomes of the Potsdam Conference (July–August 1945)?
* Each power to take reparations from own zone
* USSR to get 'extra' reparations from West in exchange for food/materials
* Economic division of zones
* Germany lost 25% of 1937 territory; 6.75 million Germans expelled
## Footnote
The Potsdam Conference solidified the post-war economic landscape of Germany.
113
How did denazification differ between the zones (1945–47)?
* All Allies cooperated in Nuremberg Trials (Nov 1945 – Oct 1946); 12 Nazis sentenced to death
* USSR: Denazification = socialist re-education; 1947 amnesty for cooperative Nazis
* West: Mass internment abandoned; individual arbitration tribunals used
## Footnote
The differences in approach reflected broader ideological divides.
114
What political changes occurred in the Soviet Zone in April 1946?
SPD and KPD merged to form SED
## Footnote
This merger established a single-party state in East Germany.
115
What was Truman’s 12 March 1947 speech, and why was it significant?
Truman Doctrine: US would support free peoples resisting communism
## Footnote
This marked the end of US-Soviet cooperation in Germany and initiated a policy of containment.
116
Why was Bizonia created on 1 January 1947?
USA and UK merged zones due to reparations disputes and fear of communism
## Footnote
Bizonia represented a significant step towards the eventual formation of West Germany.
117
What was Marshall Aid and how was it received?
June 1947: US called for economic recovery aid to Europe; USSR and its satellites rejected it; West Germany (Bizonia) accepted and benefitted economically
## Footnote
Marshall Aid was crucial for the economic recovery of Western Europe.
118
How did the USSR respond to Western economic reforms in 1947?
Set up German Economic Commission to control Soviet Zone
## Footnote
This was a direct response to the formation of Bizonia and Western economic initiatives.
119
What were the Volkskongresse and the Volksrat (1947–48)?
* December 1947: Ulbricht called first People’s Congress (Volkskongress)
* March 1948: Second congress elected the People’s Council (Volksrat) with 400 delegates to draft constitution for East Germany
## Footnote
These bodies were part of the process to establish the GDR.
120
What incidents from Jan–June 1948 increased East–West tensions over Berlin?
* Jan: Soviets stopped British train, removed German passengers
* Feb: Delayed US train at border
* March: Denied Westerners access to political meeting in Soviet sector
* March: Sokolovsky (USSR) walked out of Control Council
* April–June: Inspections demanded on military trains, shunting incidents, mid-air collision
## Footnote
These incidents exemplified the growing divide between East and West during the Cold War.
121
What happened during the currency reform in June 1948?
* Trizonia formed (US, UK, France)
* 20 June: Deutschmark introduced in Western zones (not in Western Berlin sectors)
* Each person could exchange 60 Reichsmarks at 1:1 rate
## Footnote
The currency reform was a key moment in the economic division of Germany.
122
What was the purpose of the Bank Deutscher Länder established in early 1948?
Served as central bank for the three Western zones
## Footnote
It laid the foundation for West German currency and economic reform.
123
When did the Berlin Airlift begin and end?
26 June 1948 to 12 May 1949
## Footnote
The airlift was a response to the Soviet blockade of Berlin.
124
How much tonnage was delivered to West Berlin during the airlift?
7,845 tonnes of supplies were being delivered daily to West Berlin by early 1949
## Footnote
This operation demonstrated the commitment of the Western Allies to support West Berlin.
125
When did the Soviet authorities block road and railway traffic to Berlin?
20 June 1948
## Footnote
This action initiated the Berlin Blockade.
126
When did the Soviet authorities introduce the Ostmark in the Soviet Zone?
23 June 1948
## Footnote
The introduction of the Ostmark was part of the economic separation between East and West Germany.
127
When was the Western Deutschmark introduced in the three Western sectors of Berlin?
25 June 1948
## Footnote
This was a critical step in the establishment of a separate West German economy.
128
What was the first step taken by the Western powers to keep control of West Berlin?
Initiated a temporary airlift on 26 June 1948
## Footnote
This marked the start of a significant logistical effort to support West Berlin.
129
When did an agreement end the Berlin Blockade?
12 May 1949
## Footnote
The end of the blockade was a significant victory for the Western Allies.
130
When did the first national elections for the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) take place?
14 August 1949
## Footnote
These elections marked a key moment in the establishment of democratic governance in West Germany.
131
Who was elected as the first Federal Chancellor of the FRG?
Konrad Adenauer
## Footnote
Adenauer's leadership played a crucial role in West Germany's recovery and integration into the West.
132
Who was elected as the first President of the FRG?
Theodor Heuss
## Footnote
Heuss was a key figure in the early years of the Federal Republic of Germany.
133
What law established the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) and when was it implemented?
The 'Basic Law' (Grundgesetz) established the FRG and was implemented on 23 May 1949
## Footnote
The Basic Law served as the constitution for West Germany.
134
When did the occupation of Germany officially end?
5 May 1955
## Footnote
This marked a significant milestone in German sovereignty.
135
Who were the first high commissioners after the occupation ended?
John McCloy (USA), Sir Brian Robertson (UK), André François-Poncet (France)
## Footnote
These officials played key roles in the early years of independent West Germany.
136
When was West Germany admitted as an associate member of the Council of Europe?
November 1949
## Footnote
This admission signified West Germany's integration into European politics.
137
When was the German Democratic Republic (GDR) officially proclaimed?
7 October 1949
## Footnote
The proclamation marked the formal establishment of East Germany.
138
Who was elected as the first President of the German Democratic Republic (GDR)?
Wilhelm Pieck
## Footnote
Pieck was a prominent communist leader in East Germany.
139
Who was appointed as Prime Minister of the GDR?
Otto Grotewohl
## Footnote
Grotewohl's leadership was essential in the early governance of East Germany.
140
Who held the real power in the GDR after its formation?
Walter Ulbricht
## Footnote
Ulbricht was the leader of the Socialist Unity Party (SED) and a key architect of East German policy.
141
When was the People's Police (KVP) set up in the GDR, and how large was it by October 1949?
Set up in May 1948; by October 1949, it comprised 50,000 men and 20,000 border police
## Footnote
The KVP was essential for maintaining order in the GDR.
142
When was the first major election in the GDR held?
May 1949
## Footnote
This election was for a third Volkscongress and was part of establishing a democratic framework in East Germany.
143
By what year had the German economy finally surpassed its 1913 levels?
By 1929.
144
What facilitated Germany's economic recovery after World War I?
US loans and investment following the Dawes Plan of 1924.
145
What did Richard Overy argue about Germany’s economy before the 1929 Wall Street Crash?
There were signs of recession in Germany before October 1929.
146
What immediate economic impacts did the Wall Street Crash of 1929 have on Germany?
* US loans and investment rapidly ended
* Export markets disappeared
* Prices and wages fell
* Bankruptcies increased
* Budget deficit of 1700 million Marks by the end of 1929.
147
How did the 1929–1932 Depression differ from the 1923 crisis in Germany?
It was a deflationary crisis with falling prices, profits, and exports.
148
What deflationary measures did Chancellor Brüning implement between 1930 and 1932?
* Cut government spending
* Reduced salaries for public workers
* Decreased unemployment benefits
* Protected agriculture through subsidies and tariffs.
149
What caused the July 1931 German banking crisis?
Currency withdrawals due to Germany’s proposed customs union with Austria and the collapse of Kreditanstalt.
150
What was Brüning’s one major diplomatic success during the Depression?
Negotiating a moratorium on reparations in July 1931.
151
What measures did Papen introduce in September 1932 to fight unemployment?
* Tax rebates for employers hiring new staff
* Ended compulsory arbitration
* Relaxed wage agreements.
152
What proposals did Schleicher make from November 1932 to tackle unemployment?
* Public works
* Price fixing
* Restoring wage/relief cuts
* Land settlement in East Prussia.
153
How did German economic performance compare internationally between 1929 and 1932?
Germany fell from 117 to 70 relative to 1913 levels.
154
What agricultural and retail policies did Hitler introduce in 1933?
* March 1933: Peasant debts suspended
* May 1933: Law forbade new department stores
* July 1933: Reich Food Estate established
* October 1933: Reich Entailed Farm Law secured small farmers' tenure.
155
Who did Hitler appoint to manage economic recovery, and what were his first roles?
Dr. Hjalmar Schacht; President of the Reichsbank (1933) and Minister of Economics (1934).
156
What measures were included in the June 1933 Law to Reduce Unemployment?
* Public works schemes
* Subsidies for construction
* Income tax rebates/loans.
157
What additional schemes helped reduce unemployment from 1933 to 1935?
* Emergency relief schemes
* Discouragement of female labour
* Autobahnen construction
* Conscription
* Reich Labour Service recruitment.
158
What were 'mefo bills'?
Credit notes issued by the Reichsbank allowing deficit financing.
159
What was the impact of Schacht’s New Plan (September 1934) on Germany’s balance of payments?
* Regulated imports
* Encouraged trade with less developed countries
* Trade agreements with Balkans and South America.
160
What factors contributed to Germany’s economic recovery by 1939?
* End of reparations
* Pre-1933 work creation schemes
* Falling unemployment from June 1932
* World economic recovery from late 1932.
161
Why were Nazi economic policies not fully successful by 1939?
* Low foreign currency reserves
* Balance of payments deficit worsened
* Strains from rearmament.
162
What was the Four-Year Plan announced in August 1936?
A plan for economic self-sufficiency (autarky) directed by Hermann Goering.
163
What were the key aims of the Four-Year Plan?
* Develop ersatz materials
* Expand steel production
* Promote chemical industry
* Manage economy through controls.
164
What problems hindered the Four-Year Plan’s success by 1939?
* Failure to meet production targets
* Germany still imported a third of its raw materials.
* Bureaucratic inefficiency.
165
What is the 'guns vs butter' debate about Germany’s economy before WWII?
Historians argue Hitler couldn't demand enough sacrifices from the population.
166
What role did Albert Speer play in the German wartime economy?
Rationalised wartime production by coordinating industry through committees.
167
How prepared was Germany for war in 1939 according to historians?
* Overy: Unprepared for a prolonged war
* Mason: Economic pressures forced Hitler into war early.
168
What was the Central Planning Board and when was it established?
Established in April 1942 to organise allocation of raw materials.
169
What actions did the Central Planning Board take to improve production 1942 to 1945?
* Set norms for multiple use of parts
* Increased industrial capacity
* Organised labour and power supplies.
170
What were the results of Speer's efforts on armaments production within six months?
* Armament production rose by 50%
* Guns by 27%
* Tanks by 25%
* Ammunition by 97%.
171
How many tonnes of bombs per month fell during Allied raids in the second quarter of 1944?
111,000 tonnes.
172
How many aircraft were produced in Germany in 1940 compared to 1944?
* 3,744 in 1940
* 25,285 in 1944.
173
What challenges did Speer face in improving wartime production?
* Military interference
* Battles with Nazi leaders.
* Obstructive Gauleiters.
174
When was agreement reached for the conscription of women into German factories?
January 1943.
175
How many foreign workers did Speer use to boost production?
7 million foreign workers.
176
By 1945, what was the impact of bombing raids on German civilians and infrastructure?
* 400,000 civilians killed
* Transport breakdown.
* Ruined factories.
177
What was Hitler’s 'Nero Decree' and when was it issued?
Issued 19 March 1945, ordered destruction of Germany’s economic capacity.
178
How did the Soviet Zone's war damage compare to the Western zones?
Soviet Zone lost roughly 15% of productive capacity.
179
How much reparations did the USSR take compared to the original Potsdam agreement?
Three times more than agreed.
180
By how much was productive capacity reduced in the Soviet Zone after Soviet dismantling?
Reduced to around 50% of 1939 levels.
181
What key economic changes occurred in the Soviet Zone from July 1945 to April 1948?
* July 1945: State banking system established
* September 1945: Nationalisation of mines and factories.
182
By 1948, how much industry did VEBs and SAGs control in the Soviet Zone?
60% of industry.
183
What happened to land ownership in the Soviet Zone in September 1945?
7,000 large estates were seized.
184
When was the Planning Commission set up in the Soviet Zone?
June 1947.
185
What was the Level-of-Industry Plan of March 1946?
Plan to reduce industrial capacity to 50-55% of 1938 levels.
186
How did the US policy on reparations differ from the USSR’s approach?
US insisted reparations should be paid only after Germany became economically self-supporting.
187
What was Bizonia and when was it formed?
The economic merger of the British and American zones, formed in 1947.
188
How did Marshall Aid impact Bizonia from June 1947?
It helped improve railways and boosted investment.
189
What was the economic growth rate of the Trizone between March and August 1948?
30% growth.
190
What currency reform took place in June 1948 in the Western zones?
Introduction of the Deutschmark.
191
What major economic events occurred in Germany between 1929 and 1949?
* Depression (1929–33)
* Nazi recovery (1933–41)
* Wartime devastation (1942–45)
* Post-war readjustment (1945–49).
192
What was Hitler's main goal in creating the 'Volksgemeinschaft'?
To replace loyalties based on class, religion, and 'type' with a single national consciousness centered around Aryan Germans who were 'genetically pure'.
193
How did the Nazis promote the Volksgemeinschaft?
Through extensive propaganda using newsreels, radio, work schemes, and leisure activities.
194
What was the role of the Deutsche Arbeitsfront (DAF)?
It replaced trade unions, included workers and employers, promoted slogans like 'work ennobles', and organized the 'Strength through Joy' program.
195
What was the purpose of the Reich Labour Service (RAD) Act of 1935?
To require all men aged 18-25 to complete 6 months of training in military-style camps.
196
How were workers impacted by Nazi social policies?
They received benefits like savings schemes and leisure opportunities, but wages were suppressed to finance rearmament.
197
What were the Nazi policies towards women?
Encouraged motherhood, closed birth control centers, illegalized abortion, and offered financial incentives for large families.
198
What was the 'fitness to marry' certificate introduced in 1935?
A certificate required for couples to ensure genetic suitability for producing Aryan children.
199
How did Nazi policies restrict women’s careers?
Married women were forced out of careers in medicine, law, and civil service by 1934.
200
How did Nazi policies towards women change during wartime?
Women were encouraged to return to factories and conscripted for war work due to labor shortages.
201
How did the Nazis shape the education system?
Restructured to promote Nazi ideology, introducing subjects like genetics and racial theory.
202
What was the role of physical education in Nazi schools?
Emphasized with schoolchildren required to undertake five hours of physical exercise per week.
203
What was the Hitler Youth (HJ) and who were its members?
An organization for boys aged 6-18 focused on indoctrination into Nazi ideals, with the League of German Maidens for girls.
204
What were the 'Edelweiss Pirates' and 'Swing Movement'?
Alternative youth groups that resisted Nazi regimentation and militarism.
205
How did the Nazis suppress church loyalty?
Sought to reduce church influence, forming the Protestant Reich Church and initially appeasing the Catholic Church.
206
What was the 'German Faith Movement'?
A movement aimed to replace Christianity with a new pagan faith, influencing some Nazi policies.
207
What was the fate of 'workshy' individuals under Nazi rule?
Rounded up and sent to work camps, with non-compliant individuals sent to concentration camps.
208
What was the Lebensborn project?
Encouraged unmarried Aryan women to have children with selected SS men to promote racial purity.
209
How did the Nazis use propaganda to enforce social conformity?
Used mass displays, public rituals, and charitable actions as proof of loyalty.
210
What role did Ludwig Müller and Martin Niemöller play in Nazi religious policies?
Müller was a Nazi-aligned leader, while Niemöller opposed interference and founded the Confessional Church.
211
Who were considered the 'biological outsiders' in Nazi Germany?
Individuals with hereditary 'defects' and non-Aryans, including the disabled, Roma, and Jews.
212
What happened to individuals suffering from hereditary illnesses in Nazi Germany after July 1933?
They could be sterilized, and those sterilized were forbidden to marry fertile partners.
213
What was the euthanasia programme in Nazi Germany?
Targeted the disabled, leading to the murder of thousands of children and adults.
214
How many adults were murdered under the euthanasia programme by 1941?
72,000 adults were murdered in mental hospitals.
215
What was the '14F13' programme?
Involved the gassing of 30,000 to 50,000 people suffering from mental illness or physical incapacity.
216
What were the Roma and Sinti subjected to in Nazi Germany?
Persecuted, classified as racially inferior, and many were deported to camps where thousands were murdered.
217
What was the significance of the Nuremberg Laws of 1935 for Jews?
Banned marriage between Jews and Germans and deprived Jews of their German citizenship.
218
What happened during Reichskristallnacht in November 1938?
A series of attacks on Jews, leading to the destruction of synagogues and businesses and the arrest of thousands.
219
What was the 'Madagascar Plan' of 1940?
An attempt to expel Jews by relocating them to Madagascar, which was abandoned.
220
What was the 'Final Solution'?
The plan to exterminate 6 million Jews through gassing in extermination camps.
221
How many Jews were murdered in the extermination camps?
Approximately 6 million Jews.
222
How did Nazi culture aim to reinforce the German cultural heritage?
Emphasized traditional art forms and censored modernist styles.
223
What role did Joseph Goebbels play in Nazi culture?
Minister of Propaganda, maintained censorship, and controlled the arts.
224
What were the key characteristics of Nazi 'degenerate art'?
Included modernist styles like abstract painting and jazz music, considered corrupt.
225
How did the Nazis use cinema for propaganda?
Produced films to convey political messages and promote Nazi ideals.
226
What was the impact of Nazi rule on post-war German society?
Legacy of brutality led to widespread demoralization and paralysis.
227
What was 'denazification'?
The process to remove Nazis from positions of power after WWII.
228
What was the role of 'Persil trials' in denazification?
Allowed individuals to plead innocence and often led to exoneration.
229
How successful was denazification in the Western zones?
Largely a failure, with nearly 90% of those investigated exonerated.
230
What happened to German society after 1949?
Germany was divided; East restructured along Communist lines, West largely abandoned the break with the past.
231
What was the effect of denazification on post-war West German history?
Led to collective amnesia, complicating efforts to confront the Nazi past.
232
How did the Protestant Churches respond to their role in the Nazi era after the war?
Issued the 'Stuttgart Declaration' admitting guilt for failing to protest.
233
What were the main impacts of the years 1929–1949 on German society?
Extreme upheaval due to the Great Depression, Nazi conformism, and WWII destruction.
