5. germany- nazi opposition and treatment of minorities Flashcards
What were some forms of opposition against the Nazis by Germans?
Refusing the Nazi salute, making anti-Nazi jokes, not hanging swastika flags, organizing industrial unrest
These actions were often performed quietly and in underground networks.
What did Catholic priests do in 1937 regarding Nazi policies?
They read out a papal encyclical from the Pope condemning some Nazi actions
This act was a notable form of organized opposition from religious leaders.
Who were the Edelweiss Pirates?
A youth opposition group that rejected Nazi values and attacked the Hitler Youth
They represented a counter-culture movement among German youth.
What was the Swing Youth’s form of rebellion against the Nazis?
They rebelled against Nazi control of culture by listening to American jazz and dressing unconventionally
This group represented a cultural opposition to Nazi norms.
What was a key reason for limited opposition to Nazi rule?
The Nazis seized power quickly and ruthlessly, and opposition movements were divided
This division made it difficult to mount an effective resistance.
What was the role of the Gestapo in suppressing opposition?
The Gestapo infiltrated underground networks and instilled fear
This created a climate of fear where people were afraid to speak out.
What was the policy of Gleichschaltung?
A policy that forced people to either be Nazis or pretend to be one, or leave Germany
This policy aimed to align all aspects of German society with Nazi ideology.
True or False: Germans generally blamed Hitler for the actions of Nazi officials.
False
Many Germans respected Hitler and did not hold him accountable for the negative actions taken by the Nazi regime and so kept quiet
What was the Nazis’ belief regarding the Aryan race?
They believed in the superiority of the Aryan race and sought to cleanse Germany of ‘inferior’ groups
This belief justified their violent policies against minorities.
Which groups were specifically targeted for persecution by the Nazis?
People with disabilities, Roma, Jehovah’s Witnesses, gay individuals
These groups were seen as threats to the Nazi vision of society.
What was the euthanasia program initiated by the Nazis?
A program that resulted in the killing of at least 5,000 babies and children with disabilities between 1939 and 1945
This was part of the Nazis’ eugenics policies.
How many people were sterilized under Nazi policies from 1934 to 1945?
Over 300,000 men and women
Sterilization was enforced to remove ‘genetic defects’ from the gene pool if there was possibility of hereditary illness
What was the Central Office for the Combating of Homosexuality and Abortion?
An office set up by Himmler in 1936 to target gay individuals
gay people were seen as a threat to family life and sent to concentration camps
What did Hitler do against Jewish people when the Nazis took power?
He took immediate steps against them, including organizing boycotts of Jewish businesses and preventing Jews from entering certain professions such as teaching.
Antisemitism had been prevalent in Europe for centuries, often rooted in religious and social jealousy.
What was the reason behind Hitler’s hatred towards Jewish people?
He viewed their success as a threat to the Aryan race.
Jewish people were often well-educated and ran successful shops and businesses.
What actions were taken by the Nazis in 1933 against Jewish businesses?
A boycott of Jewish businesses was organized.
This was part of a broader campaign of antisemitism.
What were Jewish shops marked with during the Nazi regime?
They were marked with the Star of David and the word Jüde (Jew).
This was a method of identification and discrimination.
What were the Nuremberg Laws of 1935?
They stripped Jewish people of German citizenship, banned intermarriage with Aryans, and mandated wearing a yellow star.
These laws institutionalized many of the discriminatory practices against Jews.
By 1938, what restrictions were placed on Jewish people in Germany?
They were no longer allowed in public places, and Jewish children were banned from attending German schools.
This marked a significant escalation in antisemitic policies.
What event is Kristallnacht associated with?
It was a turning point in the Nazi treatment of Jewish people, marked by widespread violence against them.
The name translates to ‘Night of the Broken Glass’.
What triggered the events of Kristallnacht in November 1938?
The shooting of a German diplomat by a Jewish man in Paris.
This incident was used as a pretext for the violent reprisals.
What were the consequences of Kristallnacht for Jewish communities?
Around 200 synagogues were burned, thousands of businesses were attacked, and 91 Jewish people were killed.
Additionally, about 20,000 Jewish people were arrested and taken to concentration camps.
What was the impact of Kristallnacht on the conditions for German Jews?
Conditions worsened significantly following the event.
This marked a shift towards more brutal and systematic persecution.
