To what extent was the Nazi policy of Gleichschaltung successful in the years 1933-1939?

Question 1

What is Gleichschaltung? (GST)

Answer 1

A Nazi policy designed to implement a loyal regime across the nation

Question 2

What 3 terms can be used to describe how GST was implemented?

Answer 2

Coercion (fear), Persuasion (offering peoples interests) and Incentive (money/land)

Question 3

What was it an establishment of?

Answer 3

A totalitarian system of the state

Question 4

Was GST a success or failure? why?

Answer 4

Success - large % of population affected and many were convinced but most were afraid to speak out - wouldn’t go against it

Question 5

Why was the Climate of fear relatively successful?

Answer 5

Coercion was high and people felt forced to do certain things

Question 6

Why didn’t the Climate of fear produced genuine support?

Answer 6

People were only supporting due to fear of punishment

Question 7

Who ran the Gestapo?

Answer 7

Himmler

Question 8

How many agents were active?

Answer 8

4000/30,000

Question 9

Why was the Gestapo inefficient?

Answer 9

Corruption, not enough agents to keep it up

Question 10

Who were the SS?

Answer 10

Hitler’s elite bodyguards, lead by Himmler, who ran concentration camps

Question 11

How did the SS impose fear?

Answer 11

Violence and terror - Night of the Long Knives

Question 12

Who were the Red Orchestra?

Answer 12

A group that printed anti-Nazi leaflets and distributed them into GER

Question 13

What was a ‘cell’ basis?

Answer 13

You are part of a wider organisation in a group - only know who is in your group

Question 14

Who were the Kreisau Circle?

Answer 14

Pre-Nazi era influential individuals (all despised Hitler)

Question 15

What was KC’s plan in 1938

Answer 15

Assassinate Hitler and replace him with Beck

Question 16

Why was the KC a failure?

Answer 16

Hitler’s success in Austria ensured they didn’t create a military coup - fears they may be less popular than Hitler

Question 17

Why did opposition groups fail?

Answer 17

• Disorganised
• Different objectives
• Need for constant secrecy
• Unable to publicise views

Question 18

Why was the climate of fear a success?

Answer 18

Ensured people wouldn’t speak out due to punishment - death toll/concentration camps very imposing

Question 19

Why was the climate of fear a failure?

Answer 19

People able to migrate/escape to other nations before legilsation was strict

Question 20

Why was the Olympics a big success for Gleichschaltung?

Answer 20

Globalised Hitler’s leadership skills and potential as a fuhrer

Question 21

How much was spent on the Olympic complex?

Answer 21

42 million reichsmarks

Question 22

How many people could the stadium seat?

Answer 22

110,000

Question 23

Who made the film ‘Olympia’ and when?

Answer 23

Leni Riefenstahl - 1936

Question 24

How many languages was ‘Olympia’ broadcasted in?

Answer 24

28

Question 25

What did GER achieve in the Olympics?

Answer 25

Top of medal table/89 gold medals

Question 26

What newspaper was liquidated and when?

Answer 26

'Frankfurter Zeitung' and 1933

Question 27

Why was radio effective by 1939?

Answer 27

Radios were everywhere by 1939 - shops, restaurants, town squares etc

Question 28

Who owned 2/3 of the press?

Answer 28

Nazi publishing house

Question 29

Why was propaganda a sucess?

Answer 29

Propaganda was virtually everywhere in Nazi life - radio, film, literature etc

Question 30

What were the 2 organisations for women?

Answer 30

National Socialist Womanhood and German Women's Enterprise

Question 31

How many women were members of these organisations?

Answer 31

Several million

Question 32

Why did professional women suffer?

Answer 32

Women in higher ranks/civil service dismissed | - Senior legal positions were banned

Question 33

What were young women discouraged from?

Answer 33

University and work

Question 34

What language did the government ban women from learning and when?

Answer 34

Latin 1937

Question 35

Why was this ban (language) influential?

Answer 35

Latin required to go to university

Question 36

What organisation was introduced for teachers?

Answer 36

Nationalist Socialist Teachers League May 1936

Question 37

What was the NSTL responsible for?

Answer 37

Political indoctrination of teachers - many were already Nazi

Question 38

Why did Nazis introduce strong indoctrination in schools?

Answer 38

To prepare them for adult Nazi life

Question 39

What were syllabuses focused on?

Answer 39

Nazi ideology - focuses on Germany, Biology and History

Question 40

Why was it effective that schools were indoctrinated?

Answer 40

Nazi propaganda would have reached 100% of children - school is compulsory

Question 41

Why was Nazism in universities less effective?

Answer 41

Lecturers sceptical of ideology - perceived it irrelevant to their chosen subject

Question 42

Why did introduction of Nazi schools have little effect?

Answer 42

Only 10 Adolf schools opened by 1937

Question 43

Why did Nazi schools fail to attract students?

Answer 43

Children were already at grammar schools - well established

Question 44

How many people attended Hitler Youth in 1933?

Answer 44

55,000

Question 45

When did it become mandatory to go to Hitler youth and how many turned up?

Answer 45

1939 - 60% regularly

Question 46

Why was the impact of propaganda huge on children?

Answer 46

Was being forced onto them in every aspect - schools, sports clubs, social groups, Hitler youth etc.

Question 47

What youth opposition group told the people about the atrocities of the Holocaust?

Answer 47

The White Rose movement

Question 48

Who led the WRM?

Answer 48

Sophie/Hans Scholl and Chris Probst

Question 49

How did the WRM operate?

Answer 49

Handed anti Nazi leaflets around Munich - raised awareness of what Nazis were actually doing

Question 50

What happened to the leaders of the WRM?

Answer 50

Arrested and executed.

Question 51

HOW SUCCESSFUL WAS GST?

Answer 51

Largely successful in increasing support for the Nazis, widespread propaganda reached every aspect of life, especially children - hope to bring it through to the nect generation.