Topic 3 - Nazi Control and Dictatorship Flashcards
(107 cards)
1
Q
In January 1933 why is Hitler’s position as Chancellor weak (5 points)
A
- Nazis made up only 3/12 seats in the cabinet
-Has to abide by democracy because of the Weimar Constitution
-Hindenburg and von Papen want to use him to rid of Communist party then get rid of him - Nazis don’t have majority votes
-Limited by constitution
2
Q
When was the Reichstag fire
A
-In February 1933
-One week before an election Hitler had planned was going to place
3
Q
Who was blamed for the Reichstag fire and what happened to him
A
-Van der Lubbe who was a dutch communist
-He was arrested
4
Q
What did Goering and Hitler say about the Reichstag Fire
A
-It was the start of a Communist revolution
5
Q
What is the Decree for the Protection of People and State
A
-Hitler can arrest people with no evidence
6
Q
How was the Decree for the Protection of People and State granted
A
-Hitler persuaded Hindenburg to use article 48
7
Q
Who does Hitler arrest using the Decree for Protection of People and State
A
-He arrests 4000 Communists including their leader
8
Q
What does Hitler ban of the Communists’ after the Reichstag fire and Decree PPS is passed
A
He bans Communist newspapers
9
Q
How does the March 1933 election go for Hitler?
A
-Nazis vote increase as they join with the nationalists so they have a majority
-288 seats + nationalists
-He wanted 2/3 votes so he could change the constitution
10
Q
How is the March 1933 election made easier for Hitler
A
-Has funding from industrialist countries such as Krupp
-Communists are all in jail so out of the way
11
Q
What was the Enabling Act
A
It meant Hitler had full control of Germany for 4 years and can make any laws without the Reichstag’s vote
12
Q
How did Hitler get the Enabling Act passed (3 points)
A
-Used intimidation by SA and Communists couldn’t vote.
-Absent votes were counted as in favour for the Act.
-Centrist party bribed to vote in favour
13
Q
How many votes were for and against the enabling act
A
-444 votes in favour
-94 not in favour
14
Q
What was the Gleichschlatung policy ?
A
Bringing all of Germany in line with Nazi philosophy. Every aspect of life would be controlled and monitored by the Nazis.
15
Q
What was passed in April 1933 and what did it do
A
The Civil Service decree - political opponents, jews, non-Aryans had to retire
16
Q
What happened in May 1933 (4 points)
A
-Trade unions and strikes were banned
-German Labour Front established
-Dissenters would be sent for political re-education at concentration camps
- Socialist and Communist Parties had their property and funds seized
17
Q
What happened in June 1933?
A
-All other political parties dissolved themselves
18
Q
What law was passed in July 1933
A
Law against the formation of Parties - making Nazis the only legal party
19
Q
How did the November 1933 election go for the Nazis
A
Nazis gained an overwhelming majority of votes
20
Q
What happened in January 1934
A
Districts parliaments were abolished and Reich governors were appointed instead
21
Q
When did the Night of the Long Knives happen?
A
30th June 1934
22
Q
What was the Night of the Long Knives
A
-Hitler arranged meeting with Rohm (head of SA) and 100 other SA leader at a hotel in Bavaria
-They were arrested by the SS, imprisoned then shot
-Over the next 4 days 400 people including 150 senior SA members were killed
-Other included political rivals such as von Schleicher and von Papen
23
Q
Why did Rohm pose a threat to Hitler’s rule and become a cause of the Night of the Long Knives
A
-SA members were loyal to him and they felt undervalued by Hitler
-By 1933 60% of the SA were permanently unemployed
-He was against Hitlers link with rich industrialists and army generalists and wanted more socialism
-Army officers thought Rohm wanted SA to replace army
24
Q
How did getting rid of Rohm help Hitler
A
It destroyed the threat that Rohm was planning to try seize power
Made himself the one in charge of the SA so had control of them
25
Why did the German army help cause the NOTLK
-Officers because thought the army was only 100,000 men the SA wanted to replace it
-Dissolving the SA would have pleased the army
26
Why did SS leaders help cause the NOTLK
-They resented Rohm as they wanted to reduce the power of the SA so they could increase their own power and the status of the SS
-It meant Hitler could keep the SS on his side and increase their support for him
27
When did Hindenburg die and what position did Hitler take afterwards
-August 1934
-He became Führer and Chancellor
28
How did Hitler make his actions legal and what did this allow for Nazis after Hindenburg died
-Plebicite where 90% of people approved his actions
-Allowed them to pursue more actively the idea of Führer Prinzip by a lot of propaganda. -Controlled every element of German sodiety
29
What did Hitler make the army do after Hindenburg died
He made them swear an oath of allegiance to Hitler
30
When were the SS originally set up and what was their role?
-Set up in 1925
-Hitler’s bodyguards to stop threats made towards him
31
What did Heinrich Himmler do to the SS in 1929
-He took over and gave them a clear identity by making them an “obedient elite”, by giving them black uniforms and their own symbol and having standards in line with Nazi ideas
-(e,g,) They were heterosexual and aryan
32
Who did the SS oversee
-The SD and the Gestapo
-Himmler is the boss of all three
33
When was the SD establish and who ran it
-In 1931
-Lead by Himmler who appointed Heydrich to run it
34
What was the role of SD (2 points)
-They work as detectives to find and monitor potential enemies
-Kept files on everyone
35
Who was attracted to working for the SD
Intelligent men
36
Who set up and runs the Gestapo
-Set up by Goering
-Himmler and Heyrich oversees Gestapo and SD
37
What did the Gestapo wear
Plain clothes so nobody knew who was one
38
What is the Gestapo’s role in the police in terms of seeking opposition
-Torch find, search and seek opposition to find any elements of enemies
39
What is the Gestapo’s role in the police in terms of arresting
-Could take place without trial or reasoning and lead people to being sent to concentration camps
40
How many arrests with no reasoning took place in Germany 1939
-160,000 Germans
41
What is the Gestapo’s role in the police in terms of networks
They were a network of informants who told the government about the opposition
42
What is the Gestapo’s role in the police in terms of torture
-They were legally allowed to torture people to get confessions out of them
43
How many people were in the Gestapo compared to the German population
30,000 to 80 million
44
How did the Gestapo help control the German people
Made them fearful by not knowing who was part of the organisation
45
What organisation did judges have to be apart of
The Nationalist Socialist League for the Maintenance of the Law
46
How were judges controlled by the Nazis
-They had to please the Nazis or they would be fired and if they weren’t part of the NSLML
-Had to rule in line with Nazi ideology
47
What happened to the way courts were ruled
-Trial by jury was abolished
-Judges alone decided on guilt/punishment
-Hitler sometimes decided the sentences himself - an elderly man found guilty of hoarding eggs was executed rather than imprisoned
48
What was the people’s court and how was it run?
-Peoples Court was set up to hear all cases of treason against the state
-Judges were handpicked for trials and they were held in secret
-No right to appeal against a verdict given in the People’s court
49
How many people were sentenced to death in 1930-32 compared to 1934-39
32 compared to 534
50
What Judge was notorious for the amount of executions he sentenced and how many of his cases ended in execution
Judge Freisler sentenced 90% of his cases to death
51
How were concentration camps set up and who ran them and who could send people to them
-As soon as the Enabling Act passed the Nazis established concentration camps
-The SS and SD ran them
-The Gestapo had the authority to send people to them
52
What were concentration camps originally set up for
-To detain political opponents including Communists, Socialists and trade unionists.
53
Where was the first concentration camps set up and the first one for women
-First was set up in Dachau, Munich
-First for women set up in 1933 at Moringen
54
Who did concentration camps end up taking prisoner
-Detained ideological and racial opponents like Jews, ethnic minorities, religious groups, ‘work shy’ and homosexuals.
-Different categories of prisoner were denoted by different coloured triangles on their uniforms
55
What were the conditions of the concentration camp like?
-Rural areas away from public view
-Run with harsh discipline, including beatings, hard labour, torture and random executions
-Families were told if they were killed that they had died from an illness
56
Why did Hitler have to control the church
-Christian beliefs were against Nazi beliefs (e.g.Nazis despised the weak whereas the Church helps them. Nazis believed in racial supremacy whereas the church respected all people)
-Over 80% of the German population were Christian
57
How many people in Germany approximately were Christians in 1933
-45 millions Protestants
-22 million Catholic Christians
58
What was the German Faith Movement and how many people joined
-It was encouraged by the Nazis in the hope of replacing Christian values and ceremonies with Pagan ideas
-5% of the population joined it
59
Who was Martin Niemoller
-Protestant pastor who opposed the Nazis and their plans for the Protestant in Germany
60
Who was Ludwig Muller
-Protestant pastor who worked with the Nazis and was made Reich Bishop of Germany
61
Who was the Bishop of Munster
Catholic bishop who openly opposed some of the Nazi’s policies towards the Catholic church
62
Who was Pope Pius XI
Leader of the Catholic church and initially writes an agreement with Hitler in 1933. By 1937 he writes a letter condemning the Nazis
63
What were the ‘German Christians’
When Hitler became Chancellor there were 28 independent Protestant Churches. Some formed a group who supported Hitler and favoured an anti-semitic version of Christianity
64
What was the Reich Church?
-Nazi Party backed this version of Christianity and believed all Christian’s should follow its principles.
-In 1936 all Protestant churches who favoured the Nazis merged to form the Reich Church who’s leader was Ludwig Muller
65
How did the Reich Church ‘Nazify’ Christianity
-Church suspended Non-aryan ministers and only Nazis could give sermons
-Cross symbol replaced with a swastika
-Bible was replaced by ‘Mein Kampf’
66
What was the PEL
-In 1933 a group of Protestant Pastors including Martin Niemoller set up the Pastors’ Emergency League
-Opposed the joining of regional churches into one national German Christian Church and Nazi attempts to stop Jews becoming Christians by banning the old testament
67
What was the Confessional Church
-In 1934 the PEL set up the CC so there were 2 protestant churches in Germany.
-CC opposed Nazi interference and about 2,000 Protestant pastors remained in the German Christian Church, but about 6,000 joined the CC
-Some spoke out against Nazis leading to 900 being arrested and being sent to concentration camps
68
What did Pastor Niemoller do
-He opposed Nazi control of the church and became leader of the CC which followed traditional German Protestantism. He established the PEL which opposed the Nazi attempt to control the Protestant Church
-Membership rose to 7,000 by 1934 but many pastors left after being persecuted by the Nazis
-He ended up getting arrested after preaching people needed to be led by God and not man
69
What happened with the Protestant Church in 1937
- Hitler gave up on the Reich Church experiment and restored the Protestant churches independence in return for a guarantee that it wouldn’t interfere in politics for an agreement similar to his concordat with the Pope
70
What was the Concordat
In July 1933 an agreement was signed between the Pope and the Nazi government. Hitler promised not to interfere with the church if the church agreed to stay out of German politics
71
How did Hitler break his deal with the Catholic church - Schools/Youth organisation
-The Nazis started to restrict the Catholic Church’s role in education. In 1936 all crucifixes were removed from schools and by 1939 Catholic education had been destroyed.
-Youth groups were disbanded
72
How did Hitler break his deal with the Catholic church - Newspapers
-Nazis began arresting priests in 1935 and put them on trial. Catholic newspapers were suppressed.
73
How did Hitler break his deal with the Catholic church - Dachau concentration camp
-Some Catholic priests also spoke out against Nazi ideas and policies.
-Around 400 Catholic priests were eventually imprisoned in the priests block at Dachau concentration camp
74
How did Catholics oppose the Nazis through attendance at Church
-Many leader voiced opposition
-Big attendances of Church services in defiance of the Nazis
-Some Germans publicly applauded church leaders who opposed the Nazis
-This is a refusal to conform but few Christian’s were brave to oppose them openly
75
How did Catholics oppose the Nazis through the Pope
-In 1937 he spoke out against Hitler in a letter to Catholic churches in Germany
-Stance of church had changed but many were scared to speak out
-Tension after 1933 because the Nazis censored the press and harassed some priests
-Pope issued a special enter ( encyclical) to Catholic priests in Germany attacking the Nazi system without naming hitler and the Nazis. It was called ‘Mit brenneder Sorge’
-Priests read letter to congregation showing resistance towards nazi attempts to control church
76
How did the Bishop of Munster oppose the Nazis
-Used sermons to protect against Nazi racial policies and the euthanasia of the disabled
-His protests didn’t stop the killing but forced Nazis to keep them secret
-Nazis had to maintain support of German Catholics so could t execute him
77
How did Goebbels use propaganda to control Germany
-He used the Ministry of Public Propaganda and Enlightenment and the Reich Chamber of Culture to control the thoughts, beliefs and opinions of the German people.
-Musicians, writers and actors had to be members of the Chamber
-All aspects of the media were censored and manipulated by Goebbels
78
How were newspapers put out by the Nazis manipulating the German people
-Non-Nazi newspapers and magazines were closed down and by 1955 the Nazi had closed down more than 1,600 newspapers and thousands of magazines
-Reich Press Law passed in October 1933 meaning Jewish and left wing journalists were removed.
-Propaganda Ministry decided what was printed and foreign news had to be taken from the Nazi-controlled German Press Agency
79
How were rallies used to control the German people
-Annual mass rally held at Nuremberg to advertise the power of the Nazi state and spectacular parades were held on other special occasions, such as Hitlers Birthday
-Local rallies/marches held by the SA and Hitler Youth
-Nuremberg rallies lasted for several days and attracted almost one million people each year after the Nazis came to power
80
How was radio controlled to manipulate the German public
-Radio stations were placed under Nazi control
-Cheap mass-produced radios were sold and could be bought on instalments. By 1939 around 70% of the German families owned a radio
-Sets were installed in cafes, factories, schools, offices and loudspeakers placed in streets so maximum amount of people heard the Nazis as frequently as possible
-The radio lacked shortwave reception making it difficult for Germans to listen to foreign broadcasts
81
How were films controlled by Goebbels to manipulate the German population
-Goebbels realised the rising popularity of films (100 made each year and audiences exceeding 250 million in 1933)
-All plots shown to Goebbels before production started and more interesting stories like romance and thrillers were given pro-Nazi slants
-Best known one is called Hitlerjunge Quex - 1933 which tells the story of boy who leaves communist family to join hitler youth then killed by communists
-All film performances accompanied by 45 minutes newsreel glorifying hitler/nazis
-Hitler ordered Goebbels to make anti-semitic films but weren’t always popular however they were made frequently after 1940
82
What director gained international praise whilst helping the Nazis manipulate the German people and for what movies
-Leni Riefenstahl produced a documentary called ‘Triumph of the Will’ which is about the Nazi Party Conference and Rally of 1934
-Another one made in 1936 about the Berlin Olympics
83
What director was internationally praised for making what films that helped manipulate the German people
-Lena Riefenstahl made a film called ‘Triumph of the Will’ which is about the Nazi Party Conference and Rally of 1934
-She made another about the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games
84
How were posters used as propaganda to manipulate the German people
-Cleverly used to put across the Nazi message, especially across to young people
-Seen everywhere and used simple and direct messages
85
How were writers limited to uplift the Nazi message to manipulate the German people and how did some react to this
-All books, plays and poems were carefully censored and controlled to put across the Nazi message
-Many were persuaded to write books, plays and poetry that praised Hitlers achievements.
-Some writers like Novelist Thomas man and poet/playwright Bertolt Brecht went into self-imposed exile rather than live under Nazi rule.
-Only 2,500 writers left Germany in the years up to 1939
86
What were the book burnings across Germany
-Goebbels encouraged students in Berlin to burn 20,000 books written by Jews, Communists and anti-Nazi university professors in a massive bonfire in May 1933
87
How many newspapers were shut down in 1935 and why?
1,600 as they opposed the Nazis
88
How many people usually attended the Nuremberg Rallies
Up to 200,000
89
What did Goebbels have built after the Nuremberg Rally in 1934
A giant eagle with a 30m wing span
90
How was sport used as propaganda for the Nazis (not Olympics)
-Sports stadiums covered with Nazi symbols
-All sports teams were forced to make Nazi salute when singing German national anthem
-Sports victories praised for being victories for the Nazis
91
How was sport used as propaganda for the Nazis (Olympics)
-The Nazis built an Olympic stadium that was largest in the world being able to hold 110,000 people to prepare for Berlin olympics 1936
-Germany won 33 medals more than any other country in 1936
-Signs saying ‘Jews not wanted’ were removed so foreigners had positive view of Germany
92
How did Hitler make clear his racial ideologies during the 1936 olympics
-Jesse Owens was a black athlete for the USA who competed in Berlin and broke 11 Olympic records
-Hitler refused to present medals to any black athlete as he wanted to show off the Aryan race
93
How was art used to spread Nazi propaganda
-Reich Chamber of Visual Arts set up in 1933 and all artists had to join it (42,000 members)
-In 1936 12,000 sculptures and pieces of art had been removed from German galleries - including Van Gogh and Picasso
-The Gestapo would make surprise visits to artist galleries to check their work
-The Greater German Art Exhibit promoted the production of Nazi art. 900 shown in 1936.
94
How was architecture used as Nazi propaganda
-The Nazis disliked futuristic architecture and preferred traditional styles that showed their power
-Hitler liked the work of Alfred Speer. He built the Nuremberg parade ground 1934 and the new Chancellery 1938
-Speer ensured his buildings were large and intimidating and tried to copy classical Roman style and ensured they had massive Nazi flags.
95
How was music used as propaganda to manipulate the German people?
-Jazz music was banned and any music linked to Jewish artists were banned
-German artists such as Wagner, Beethoven and Bach and traditional folk music were promoted.
96
What different youth groups were there for boys at different ages
- 6-10 were in the “Little Fellows”
- 10-14 were in the “German Young People”
- 14-18 were in the Hitler Youth
97
What military training did Hitler Youth partake in? (3 points)
-Members practiced skills useful to troops such as map-reading and signalling.
-By 1938 1.2 million boys in the Hitler Youth were being trained in small arms shooting
-Separate divisions for specialist training including naval training
98
What political training did the Hitler Youth go through (4 points)
-Had to sweat oath of loyalty to Hitler
-Residential courses where told about Nazi ideas
-Hitler Youth Leader Baldur von Schirach set out a schedule of lessons for every year group such as ‘German Heroes’ ‘Adolf Hitler and his fellow fighters’ and ‘The evil of the Jews’
-Hitler Youth members had to report anyone who were disloyal to the Nazis
99
What character changes and indoctrination did Hitler Youth go through (5 points)
-Activities stressed need for comradeship and loyalty but also competition and ruthlessness (E,g. boys joining in the Jungvolk would swear an oath)
-Drilled by SA instructors, plunged into ice water to toughen them up
-Harsh punishment for error/disobedience to build youth who obeyed
-Lengthy exercises in wintry weather
-Taught antisemitic values
100
What different youth groups were there for young girls of different age groups
- 10-14 belonged to the Young Maidens
- 14-21 year olds were in the League of German Maidens (BDM)
101
What similarities were there between the League of German Maidens and Hitler Youth (2)
-Political activities like rallies and oaths of allegiance
-Physical and character building activists like camping and marching were compulsory
102
What differences were there between the League of German Maidens and Hitler Youth (2)
-BDM were trained to cook, iron, make beds, sew and generally prepare to be a housewife
-Also taught the importance of ‘racial hygiene’ - an idea they should keep the German race ‘pure’ by only marrying Aryan men
103
Outline the Edelweiss Pirates
-Symbol of white Edelweiss flower to show allegiance to pirates and had local groups like ‘Traveling Dudes’ from Essen or ‘Navajos’ from Cologne and had around 2000 members compared to 8mil in HY
-Consisted of teens who resented military discipline and lack of freedom in Germany
-Wore longer hair and American style clothes
-Hung around street corners
-Tormented Hitler Youth
-Went on long hikes and sang parodies of Hitler Youth songs, mocked Nazis and told jokes to avoid restrictions
104
Outline the Swing Youth
-Teens from wealthy middle class families in big towns who admired US culture especially music
-Often owned record players and listened to illegally imported record from US and loved swing bands like the Glenn Miller Orchestra
-Gathered to drink alcohol, smoke and listen/dance to music and organised illegal dances that had up to 6,000 in attendance
-Some preferred jazz music by black artists like Louis Armstrong
105
What did Heinrich Himmler say about youth who listened to jazz music
They should be ‘beaten, given the severest exercise and then put to hard labour’
106
Three points showing Hitler won over the youth of Germany
-By 1935 over 2.8 million boys had joined the Hitler Youth and 1.5 million joined the League of German Maidens
-Boys enjoyed competitive war games and new skills and liked freedom away from the homes, and the uniforms
-Girls enjoyed sport and felt empowered and were allowed to make new friends
107
Three points showing Hitler failed to win over the youth of Germany
-Many 14-17 year olds joined anti Hitler-Youth gangs
-One in five young people never joined a Nazi youth group
-Some found the propaganda repetitive and boring
