(U1) Developments In Nazi Germany 1933-39 (including Opposition During The War) Flashcards
(73 cards)
1
Q
How strong was Hitlers position as chancellor when first appointed
A
- not initially strong (broad coalition - only 3 nazis in cabinet)
- Von Papen believed he and Hindenburg could control Hitler
- however Frick role as Minister of interior gave widespread power over policing and justice
2
Q
What was Hitler’s first action as chancellor?
A
- 31st January 1933: radio address to the nation
- asked German people for 4 years (a precursor of the enabling act)
- set out Nazi plan and helped gain trust of people
3
Q
When was the reichstag fire and how did the nazis react
A
- Feb 27th 1933 Reichstag set ablaze
- Dutch communist Van Der Lubbe imprisoned and executed for the fire
- Hitler described it as ‘God given signal’ and golden opportunity for Nazis
- Portrayed as attack against Germany
4
Q
What was the Decree for the Protection of the People and State? (5 policies)
When was it signed?
What was its affect (for the Nazis)?
A
- signed February 28th 1933
- took away freedom of assembly,
- allowed government to access communications,
- allowed internment,
- freedom of press curtailed,
- death penalty for certain offences
- increased power of Nazis hugely
5
Q
What did Hitler do after the reichstag fire?
and
What did this demonstrate?
(Other than Decree)
A
- banned the KPD (Feb 28th 1933)
- sent clear intentions of Nazis about eliminating competition
- illustrated Nazi view that communism and being German were incompatible
6
Q
What were the results of the March 5th 1933 election (3)
What was the backdrop to the election?
A
- No overall majority by Nazis 43.9% (288)
- joined with DNVP 52.6% (340)
- KPD banned - Nazi coalition majority up to 60%
- widespread violence by SA - intimidation during election
7
Q
What was the Enabling act?
How was it passed? (3)
A
- Law that would give Hitler dictatorial powers for 4 years - bypassing the Reichstag
- required 2/3 Majority in reichstag to pass
- achieved through intimidation and coersion e.g Z party by promising to respect rights of Catholic Church and uphold religious values
- passed 441 to 94 only SPD went against
8
Q
When was the Enabling Act passed?
A
March 23rd/24th 1933
9
Q
What moves did the Nazis take to eliminate opposition in local govt?
A
- March 31st 1933: local govts disbanded and reconstituted to 60% Nazi-DNVP majority in every district
- April 1933 to Jan 1934: Länder progressively outlawed, centralising govt
- also introduced Reichstadthalter (governor roles)
10
Q
What moves did the Nazis make against Trade Unions (2)
Why?
A
- May 2nd 1933 Trade Union offices occupied and assets seized
- Replaced May 10th by German Labour Front (DAF)
- Seen as potential opponents to Nazis regime
11
Q
What happened to the other political parties in Germany in 1933? (3)
A
- June and July 1933 DVP, DNVP and Z party voluntarily fold SPD banned
- Law against formation of political parties - July 14th
- Germany now one party state, gave Nazis legitimacy
12
Q
What was the Law of Unity of Party and State?
What was its effect?
A
- made it compulsory to be a Nazi party member to hold government position
- NSDAP became synonymous with Germany and third Reich
- Ties Nazi party to every part of the German state
13
Q
What was the Law for Reconstruction of the German State?
When was it passed?
A
- Reichsrat abolished local governments made subordinate to ministry of interior
- end of federalism (centralism)
- January 1934
14
Q
What were the reasons for the Blood Purge? (3)
A
- 2-3 million SA soldier loyal to Röhm who was openly critical of Hitler - power threat
- Röhm wanted to merge with the army and lead it - Hitler sought their loyalty for control
- Röhm was a socialist who wanted another revolution which made him an opponent of Hitler
15
Q
What happened during the Night of Long Knives? (3)
When was it?
A
1.
- 200 SA officer arrested and executed
- Rohm executed
- other political opponents arrested or executed
- clear sign of Nazis ruthlessness
- June 30th 1934
16
Q
What was the final step of the Nazis consolidation of power politically? (3)
A
- 2nd August 1934 Hindenburg dies office of Fuhrer created same day
- army oath of allegiance to Hitler - Aug 1934
- August 19th 1934 - plebiscite on creation of Fuhrer receives 89.9% endorsement
17
Q
How many Jewish people where in Germany in 1933?
A
503,000
18
Q
Where did the Nazis lay out their opinions on the Jews (earlier documents) (3)
A
- 25 Point programme clearly references anti semitic ideas
- Mein Kampf more specific about Hitlers plan for Jews
- Secret book of 1928 also referred to Nazi attitudes to Jewish people
19
Q
After gaining power what was the Nazis first anti semitic action?
What was this in response to?
What was its effect?
A
- Boycott on Jewish owned businesses on April 1st 1933
- Response to American boycott on German exports
- supposed to be indefinite but only lasted one day due to lack of popular support
- led to more gradual propaganda focused policy
20
Q
What was the Nazis first discriminatory legislation against Jewish people?
When was it passed
What did it entail?
A
- April 7th 1933 Law for restoration of the professional civil service
- barring Jewish people and other opponents from holding civil service positions except WW1 veterans or long service
- Applied on religious grounds not racial
21
Q
What other professions where Jewish people barred from? (1933)
A
- April 1933 law for the disbarment of non-Aryan lawyers
- Policy on Jewish doctors and practice of medicine in Germany
- Journalism (Oct 1933 Editors Law) and Dentistry targeted as well
22
Q
Why was there a lull in antisemitism during 1934?
How was this seen?
A
- Hjalmar Schacht appointed Minister of Economy
- Cautioned against overt and over zealous anti semitism that could damage economic recovery
- Schacht got his way saying ‘economic realism outweighs ideological prejudice’
2.
- only 23,000 Jewish people emigrated opposed to 37,000 the previous year
23
Q
Why did the Nuremburg race laws happen?
When and where were they announced?
A
- After relaxed 1934 rabid anti semites like Julius Streisser demanded action
- Annual party conference in Nuremburg in September
- Nazis called Reichstag into session at Nuremburg to enact race laws
24
Q
State the Nuremburg race laws
and
What they entailed
A
- Law for the Protection of German Blood and Honour - Sept 15th 1935 (anti race mixing)
- prohibited marriage and relations between Aryans and Jews
- banned Jews from employing Aryan women under 45 as housekeepers
- Reich Citizenship Law - September 15th 1935:
- Jews lost citizenship and thus had their civil rights eroded
- Supplementary Decree on the Citizenship Act - November 14th 1935:
- 3 or more Jewish grandparents considered Jewish / Mischlinge
- Jews classed as ‘subjects’
25
**Why** was there a **lull in overt antisemitism** in **1936**?
What was its **effect**?
1.
- Berlin was the host city of the **Olympics**
- anti semitism eased as **world attention** was on Germany
2. *Emigration decreased* and **70,000 Jews returned** believing the worst had passed
26
What was Germanys *first ‘solution’* to the **Jewish question**?
**Who** led this & **when**?
What was its **effect** on the Jewish populace?
*Forced* emigration:
1.
- **1937 SD** under rabid anti semite *Heydrich* given control of Jewish affairs
- new **policy of intensive emigration** & repatriation for Jews
- **1937 - Central Office for Jewish Emigration** created
- **1938 - Reich Central Office for Jewish Emigration** formed after Anschluss added *200k Jewish people* to Germany
2. Between **August & November 1938** *coercive emigration* led to emigration of:
- **50k Austrian** Jews
- **19k German** Jews
- **17k Sudeten** Jews
27
*What spawned* **Kristallnacht**?
- **November 1938** - 17 year old Polish Jew *Herschel Grynzspan* assassinates *German diplomat* Ernst Von Rath in *Paris*
- Munich November 8/9th **15th anniversary of Munich Putsch** and 16 Martyrs
- *Goebbles* at Munich hears of Rath's death and gathers nearby Nazis to **begin a riot** beginning Kristallnacht
28
What was the **result** of **Kristallnacht**? (**5**)
Who **led** it?
**SA** led pogrom:
- **8,000 Jewish businesses** attacked and destroyed
- **200 synagogues** destroyed
- **90 died**
- **30,000** sent to **concentration camps**
- **1 billion RM cost** - paid by harsher taxation on Jews
## footnote
Also, Jews forced to clean up
29
What was the **Evian Conference**?
What was its **outcome**?
1.
- Conference with **delegates from 32 countries** to discuss **refugee crisis** brought about by **German expulsion of Jewish people**
- by **1938 150k Jews had fled** approximately 1 in 4
2. countries like **US and UK** **refused** to allow **free access** the Jewish refugees *in spite of their condemnation* of German actions
30
What was the **Nazis economic plan** *before* they came to *power*? (**3**)
**No clear economic policy** - general policies were:
- Curb big businesses
- Abolish department stores
- Aid small businesses, farmers and artisans
31
What were the **main issues** that faced the **economy** in the **early years of the Nazis**? (**3**)
1. Main was **unemployment**:
- *officially* **6 million in 1933**
- higher *estimates* say **8.5 million in 1933**
2. *Trade decline* - **down 50%**
3. **Agriculture** in *debt* and *uncompetitive internationally* due to **lack of investment** from **Weimar** regime
32
What were the **3 main goals** of **Nazi economic policy**?
| (when in govt - over their duration)
1. **Deficit financing** & using **public works** to help **reduce unemployment** (Keynesian economics)
2. **Autarky and self sufficiency** - initiated by *Hjalmar Schacht’s New plan 1934*
3. **Wehrwirtschaft or war economy** - focusing on *total war preparation*
33
What were some of the **advantages** for the **inherited economic position** in 1933? (**5**)
- **Great depression was easing** and *sign of growth* beginning to show
- **Von Schleicher** already began **public works plan**
- **Reparation payments scrapped** in **1932**
- *Reichsmark* **left gold standard**
- **Voluntary Labour Service** *already established* - (Nazis made it compulsory and changed its name; *FAD to RAD*)
34
What was **Hitler’s economic promise** to the German people
Hitler promised to **resolve unemployment in 4 years**
| Crucial for creation of *Hitler Myth*
35
How did the **Nazis tackle unemployment** (**9**)
| know at least 5
- Youth **removed from unemployment list** and '*employed*' in **Compulsory RAD**
- **Conscription in 1935** - *18-25* year olds - **100,000 jobs** created
- **Law to Reduce Unemployment** in **June 1933** took women out of workforce
- **marriage loans** granted to *keep women in the kitchen* :) (jkjkjk)
- **women & Jews not counted** in unemployment figures
- **1 billion reichsmarks** invested into **public works**
- government **subsidies for house building**
- **Tax concessions** for **automotive industry** led to **40% increase in employment** in that industry *by June 1933*
- *avg working hrs / week decreased* - **job sharing encouraged**
36
How much did (registered) **unemployment fall** from **1933 to 1939**?
- 1933 - 6.1 million
- 1939 - 302,000
37
What was the **New plan** (**5**)
| (parts)
1934 Schacht Economic plan:
- **Froze** all **interest payments** *on* **foreign debt**
- strictly **regulated imports** with *special supervisory offices*
- **Bilateral trade agreements** with *South American and Balkan countries* (paid in *reichsmark*) - trade partners **outside British and French control**
- *switch* from **civilian to military production** - *consumer goods* **25% economy 1935; 17% in 1937**
- creation of **MEFO bills** (covered in another card)
38
What were **MEFO bills** & how did they work? (**4**)
- used to *place orders with industries* for *military*
- *Reichbank paid holder* cash
- **4% interest rate per Annum**
- *Banks* forced to **invest 30% of deposits** *on MEFO bills*
39
How **effective** was the **1934 New plan** (**4**)
- **imports increased** from trade with south America and Balkans (*bilateral trade agreements*)
- due to *acceleration in rearmament* **demand for resources skyrockets** e.g. **December 1934** *copper demand* **increased 100%** but *not enough foreign capital to pay* for it
- *need for foreign capital* led to using **profit from exports**
- contributed to **balance of payments deficit** due to *trade deficit*
40
What was **Schacht’s warning** to the Nazis around the **economy**
How did the *Nazi hierarchy respond*?
| not linked to antisemitism
- Warned them about **increasing cost of rearmament** which was ignored by Nazi hierarchy
- **1936 Goring appointed** *minister for raw materials and currency*, later also became minister for the economy, Schacht resigned
- **September 1936 - Four Year plan** announced illustrating *Hitlers intention to prepare for war*
41
What **legislation for** the **Mittlestand** did the Nazis pass
and
What was their **effect**?
(**5**)
1.
- **Law for protection of trade**: *barred department stores* from *expanding*
- **marriage loan vouchers** also **couldn't be redeemed** in *department stores*
2.
- In the end Nazi promises weren't kept as **number of small businesses fell** between **1933 and 1939**
- **factory workers made more** *on average than self employed*
- meanwhile **department stores didn't close** and in one case **Hermann Tiez's chain of stores saved by government loan** *saving* **14,000 jobs**
42
What did the **Nazis promise** the **Mittlestand**?
- Nazis promised to **help them**; forgotten by the Weimar regime
- Mittelstand **hated big businesses** so promised to *curb their influence* - **vote-winner**
- **big business represented by large department stores** which the Nazis promised to *legislate against*
## footnote
Mittlestand made out of lower middle class, farmers, small business owners and white collar workers
43
**Why** was **agriculture** so **important for the Nazis**? (**2**)
Aimed for **autarky**
- saw *failure to produce* food as **reason for defeat in WW1**
- Viewed **peasants as 'life source of nation'** and **propagandised** with '*blood and soil*'
44
What **policies** did the **Nazis pass in 1933/34** for **farmers**? (**5**)
1.
- **Hugenberg Minister of food** *paused peasant debt* in **October 1933**
- set up **tariffs** on **agricultural imports**
- **helped dairy farmers** by *insisting butter be added to margarine*
2.
- **Richard Darré** replaced him in **June 1934**: later set up the **Reich food estate** which had *responsibility* for *all aspects of food production*
- **prices** *set up and agreed* by **produces, wholesalers and retailers** (price controls)
45
What was **Hitler’s long term economic aim**
and
How was this shown *early on*?
1. **rearmament**
2.
- **Autobahn** was primarily for **military mobility**,
- **improvements** in **automotive industry** also to **improve military**
- **RAD** was to **militarise young men** for future war
46
What were the **6 parts** of the **1936 Four-Year plan**?
- **production** of *raw materials*
- **distribution** of *raw materials*
- **labour force**
- *agricultural* **production**
- **price supervision**
- **foreign exchange** matters
47
What were the **results** of the **Four-year plan** (**4**)
- **labour and agricultural** departments *subordinated* to 4 year plan
- **private industry** relied on
- large focus put on production of **ersatz** e.g. synthetic oil **proved costly and ineffective**
- huge **production increases** *but never reached targets* so **imports remained high** *draining German resources*
| **autarky not achieved** - Germany not totally prepared for war
48
How did the Nazis *respond* to the **pre war inflationary threat**?
*eased by* **Walther Funk** the *minister for economics'*:
**'new finance plan'** in **March 1939**
49
What **issues** did **rearmament** cause for the **German economy** (**4**)
- **production bottlenecks** due to *inter-service rivalry* for *scarce resources*
- **labour shortages** due to **900,000 being in military and RAD** *ate up labour force*
- **lack of foreign exchange** to *pay for imports*
- **danger of inflation** due to **increase of money in circulation** by **3x** between **1933 and 1939**
50
What were the **7 sub sections** of the **Reich Chamber of Culture**?
- Fine arts
- Music
- theatre
- press
- radio
- literature
- film
51
How did the **Nazis affect music** in Germany
- **celebrated** German classical composers such as **Bach and Beethoven**; while **Mahler and Mendelssohn** were **banned** due to being **Jewish**
- **banned new genres** such as **jazz and swing** for being *'degenerate' and 'negroid'*
52
How did the **Nazis affect literature** in Germany
- **1933-45, over 2,500 writers left Germany** reflecting views of the new cultural atmosphere e.g. Thomas Mann (liberal & democrat), Berthold Brecht (communist) and Erich Maria Remarque (pacifist).
- The Nazis wanted to create a very uncomfortable space for those who held alternative views
- They were replaced by a lesser literary group who accepted or embraced the new regime and its restrictions
- the **general quality of literary work fell** and few works from the time lasted the test of time
- **burning of the books May 10th 1933**
53
How did the **Nazis affect visual arts** in Germany
- **modern art held in contempt** for showing decadence and moral corruption of failed democratic experiment
- **Bauhaus style heavily censored** for presenting ordinary people in everyday life therefore a comment on society and therefore politics
- in 1937 to contrasting exhibitions shown one entitled 'degenerate art' and the other 'Great German Art' The artists most in favour were the sculptor Arno Breker, the architect Albert Speer and the artists Adolf Zeigler and Hermann Hoyer
54
**How** did the **Nazis affect cinema** in Germany? (**2**)
- many **major studios** held by **Nazi sympathisers**. Many *Jewish film makers and directors left Germany* e.g. **Fritz Lang**
- The ministry of Propaganda and Public Enlightenment **funded films**. Divided into *3 main categories*:
1. **Overt propaganda**: e.g. *The eternal Jew 1940*, Hitlerjunge queux
2. **pure escapism**: e.g. adventures of Baron von Muchhausen
3. **emotive nationalism**: e.g. Olympia, *Our Flags lead us forward 1933*
55
How did the **Nazis use Radio** for **propaganda**? (**6**)
- **Hitler’s address Jan 31st 1933**
- Goebbels brought **broadcasting under Nazi control**: the **Reich Radio Company**
- **13% of those employed** were *removed on racial or political grounds* and *replaced* by those *loyal to Nazism*
- In **1932 around 25% Germans had access to radio**
- the Nazis produced a *cheap or free* radio which they named **Volksempfanger** or ‘People’s Receiver’. By **1939 70%** of German households had a **radio** which represented the highest figure in the world.
- **Public Address systems** were placed in public squares, in restaurants, factories and offices and the Nazi message would be delivered directly to the people.
56
How did the Nazis use **press media** for **propaganda**? (**6**)
- **1933** Germany had over **4700 independent daily papers** —> nazis sought control
- The Nazis established a *publishing house* **Eher Verlag**. This organisation *bought up newspaper titles* and by **1939 controlled about 2/3 or 67%** of newspapers
- In **October 1933 Editor’s law**: content of a newspaper was the responsibility of the editor. It was his job to satisfy the requirements of the Ministry for Propaganda & Public Enlightenment —> **Self-censoring**
- Goebbels introduced *daily press conferences* at the **Ministry for Propaganda & Public Enlightenment**
- **News agencies** were **merged** into the **DNB**. All *news* had to be *filtered* before it got to the journalists.
- the **circulation of newspapers fell by 10% before 1939**
57
How did the **Nazis minimize opposition** *early* on
| from churches, media, military, policing
- **1933 concordat** between Nazis and catholic church
- press coordinated with **DNB and editors law** and other decrees on journalism
- *police state* coordinated with **SS, gestapo, people's court** and **Nazification of judiciary**
- broadcast media brought under *state control with tighter regulation*
- **military - Aug 1934 oath to Hitler** creates appearance of Nazis sway over army
58
Who were the **Edelweiss Pirates**?
**Collective term** for **Working-Class** youth opposition
- collection of smaller local clubs such as the Kittlebach Pirates, Travelling dudes or the Navajo
- rejected Nazi conformity - **refused to join Hitler Youth**
- took part in acts of **vandalism** and even **sabotage** as well as **harboring deserters** *during war*
- eventually **assassinated gestapo officer**
- *460 arrested 12 publicly executed*
59
Who were the **swing youth**?
**Middle-class** youths who *listened to Swing* and *organised parties*:
- Nazis labelled American jazz and swing music **'degenerate' and 'negroid'** eventually banning it
- swing youth **refused to conform** to this
- though not a physical threat many *still suffered* hugely at hands of Nazis
60
How did the **KPD** *oppose the Nazis*
| (after being outlawed)
Rote Kapelle (or the Red Orchestra) underground group
- most former members joined - established in **factories** - *81 in Berlin* alone
- **called for resistance** through *pamphlets or papers*
- also **uncoordinated acts of violence**
61
**Why** did *KPD opposition* **struggle**? (**3**)
- **allegiance with USSR** - deemed **unGerman** and *traitors* to their people
- **Nazi Soviet pact Aug 1939** led to them being *abandoned by USSR* especially *after 1941 invasion*
- also hindered by **leaders leaving** to *fight* in **Spanish civil war**
62
What was the name of the **underground SPD**?
**Why** did they **struggle** to make an impact? (**2**)
| after being outlawed (May 1933)
1. Underground **Manheim group**:
2.
- many **leaders arrested or exiled**
- *inability to work with communists* over **ideological difference**
63
Who were the **white rose**?
**How** did they *oppose the Nazis*?
How were they **eliminated**?
1. university group led by Hans and Sophie Scholl as well as professor Kurt Huber:
2. produced **anti Nazi pamphlets** and **organised demonstrations** around *Munich University*
3. **Scholls arrested** by Gestapo, *tortured, tried, found guilty and executed* **February 1943**
64
**Why** *didn't* the **church oppose** the *Nazis*? (**3**)
| on a *fundamental level*
- **distrust of left wing** - believing they were against religion
- **nationalist sympathies** within the church
- **fear** of the Nazi state
65
How did the **churches provide opposition** to the Nazis
came in shape of individuals:
- Bishop Galen of Münster who opposed euthanasia in 1941 sermons
- protestant clergymen such as **Martin Niemoller** and **Dietrich Bonhoeffer** became important opposition to Nazi regime
- **Niemoller** set up **confessional church** as *opposition to Nazi Reich church*
- Niemoller **arrested in 1937**
- **Bonhoeffer** joined **conservative opposition** later in the war
66
**Why** did some in the **Conservative Élite** *become opposed* to the Nazis?
War began to turn against the Nazis
67
What was the **Blomberg-Fritsch affair**?
- *1937 Hossbach memorandum* - Hitlers intended to **annex Czechoslovakia**
- some including **Blomberg** (minister of Defense), and **Fritsch** *disagreed* and claimed Germany wasn't ready
- Hitler then **used their personal lives** to **remove them** and others in the military
68
What was the **result** of the **Blomberg-Fritsch affair**?
**Hitler furious** with insubordination - **large scale purge of armed forces** ensued
## footnote
Not important, but:
- led to removal of Blomberg using wife's past as reason for dismissal
- Fritsch also threatened with exposure of homosexuality if he didn't resign
69
What was the **Beck-Goerdeler Affair**?
- *Ludwig Beck and Carl Goredeler* (and other such as Ulrick von Hassell) became **convinced of foolishness of war with Czechoslovakia**
- believed it would lead to *unwinnable war with USSR*
- **planned a putsch** to remove Hitler and get **allied assistance**
- policy of **appeasement disrupted their plan** so nothing happened
70
What was **Operation Valkyrie** and what was its **goal**?
- **assassination plot** to happen at *Wolf’s lair base*
- **Claus von Stauffenberg** would *deliver explosives*
- kill Hitler, form new government and seek peace with allies
71
What was the **result** of **Operation Valkyrie**?
- Hitler survived
- Von Stauffenberg and co-conspirators **pursued, arrested and executed**
- in total **5,000 executed** including *Beck, Moltke, Rommel and Goerdeler*
72
**Why** did the **conservative Elite fail to overthrow** the Nazis *during the war*? (**5**)
- **too late** to oppose the well established regime
- **army tied to Hitler** through August 1934 oath of allegiance
- **police state** well embedded
- **early Nazi successes** won over the support of officer corps & others
- *issues with planning* and **ideological difference**
73
Why was the **invasion of Czechoslovakia & Sudetenland** in **1938** important for *technology*?
| an example
**Skoda works** proved vital to Germans in war when seized
