An evaluation of the reasons why the Nazis achieved power in 1933 Flashcards
1
Q
When did Germany lose WWI?
A
November 1918
2
Q
What happened to the Kaiser after WWI?
A
He abdicated
3
Q
What government replaced the German Empire?
A
The Weimar Republic
4
Q
Why was it called the Weimar Republic?
A
It met in the town of Weimar
5
Q
Who was the first Chancellor of the Weimar Republic?
A
Friedrich Ebert
6
Q
What political ideology led the Weimar coalition?
A
Socialism
7
Q
What voting system did the Weimar Republic use?
A
Proportional Representation (PR)
8
Q
What article allowed the President to rule by decree?
A
Article 48
9
Q
What was a key weakness of Proportional Representation?
A
It made forming stable governments difficult
10
Q
What belief did repeated coalitions create?
A
That democracy was weak and unstable
11
Q
How did the Nazis exploit PR and instability?
A
Promised strong, stable government
12
Q
What did Article 48 risk turning democracy into?
A
A dictatorship
13
Q
Did all Germans oppose PR?
A
No, many liberal Germans supported it
14
Q
Who else benefited from PR besides the Nazis?
A
The Communists (Nazi opponents)
15
Q
What was the ‘stab in the back’ myth?
A
The belief that Germany was betrayed from within
16
Q
Who were blamed in the ‘stab in the back’ myth?
A
Jews, Socialists, Communists
17
Q
What were the ‘November Criminals’?
A
Politicians who signed the armistice
18
Q
Why was the ‘stab in the back’ myth damaging?
A
Undermined Weimar’s trust and respect
19
Q
Who spread the ‘stab in the back’ myth?
A
Hitler and the Nazis
20
Q
Was the ‘stab in the back’ myth true?
A
No, the German army was near collapse
21
Q
What was the Spartacist Revolt?
A
A 1919 Communist attempt to overthrow the government
22
Q
Who helped crush the Spartacist Revolt?
A
The Freikorps (ex-soldiers)
23
Q
How many died during the Spartacist Revolt?
A
Around 700
24
Q
What was the Kapp Putsch?
A
A 1920 right-wing attempt to seize power
25
Who led the Kapp Putsch?
Wolfgang Kapp
26
What city did Kapp seize?
Berlin
27
How did the government stop the Kapp Putsch?
By organising a general strike
28
What did the revolts reveal about Weimar Germany?
It faced opposition from both left and right
29
What did reliance on the Freikorps suggest?
The government was weak and unstable
30
Did the Spartacist and Kapp revolts succeed?
No, both failed
31
What did the failure of the revolts show?
Ebert had some control and support
32
When was the Treaty of Versailles signed?
28th June 1919
33
What nickname was given to the Treaty of Versailles by Germans?
The Diktat
34
How much land did Germany lose under the Treaty?
13%
35
Which countries gained land from Germany?
France, Poland, and others
36
What was the size limit for the German army under the Treaty?
100,000 soldiers
37
What military equipment was Germany banned from having?
Tanks, submarines, and an air force
38
How much did Germany have to pay in reparations?
£6.6 billion
39
Who had to take full blame for WWI?
Germany
40
How many German-speaking settlers ended up in Czechoslovakia?
3 million
41
What happened to Germany’s overseas colonies?
They were taken away
42
Why was the Treaty a blow to Germany?
Lost land, money, and pride
43
How did Germans feel about Weimar signing the Treaty?
They held it in contempt
44
What did some historians call the Treaty for the Weimar Republic?
A 'dark shadow' or a 'curse'
45
What did Hitler promise to do about the Treaty?
Destroy it
46
How did the Treaty help the Nazis?
Gained support through propaganda
47
Did the Treaty immediately end Weimar rule?
No, it lasted over a decade
48
How much was Germany paying per year under the Treaty?
£100 million
49
What happened when Germany defaulted on reparations in 1922?
France and Belgium occupied the Ruhr
50
How did Ruhr workers respond to the occupation?
They went on strike
51
How did the government pay striking workers?
Printed more money
52
What crisis did printing money cause?
Hyperinflation
53
How much was $1 worth in January 1922?
80 marks
54
How much was $1 worth by November 1923?
4.4 million marks
55
What did hyperinflation do to life savings?
Made them worthless
56
Who suffered most from hyperinflation?
Middle class and pensioners
57
What replaced cash in some areas during hyperinflation?
Bartering
58
Who was blamed for hyperinflation?
The Weimar government
59
Who gained support from angry middle classes?
The Nazis
60
What attempted revolt was linked to the 1923 crisis?
The Munich Putsch
61
Who led the Munich Putsch?
Adolf Hitler
62
Who helped end the hyperinflation crisis?
Gustav Stresemann
63
What US plan helped Germany recover?
The Dawes Plan
64
What replaced the old currency?
A new, stable currency
65
What was the period of recovery after 1924 called?
The Golden Age
66
What happened in October 1929 in the USA?
Wall Street Crash
67
What did the USA demand after the crash?
Loan repayments from Germany
68
What was the impact of loan demands on Germany?
Economic collapse
69
How many Germans were unemployed by 1932?
6 million
70
What % of Germans were unemployed in 1932?
30%
71
What powers did the President use during the Depression?
Article 48 Emergency Decree
72
How did the Depression affect Weimar’s reputation?
Democracy lost support
73
How did the Nazis gain from the Depression?
Promised jobs and stability
74
What % of the vote did Nazis win in 1932?
37.3%
75
What % of the vote did Nazis win in 1928?
2.6%
76
What did some historians say about the Depression and Hitler?
It put 'the wind in Hitler’s sails'
77
Which other party also gained from the Depression?
The Communists
78
What does Lebensraum mean?
Living space for Germany to expand
79
What did the Nazis want to abolish?
The Treaty of Versailles
80
What did the Nazis want for all German-speaking people?
To be united in one country
81
What was the Nazi view on leadership?
One strong Führer with complete power
82
What was Social Darwinism in Nazi ideology?
Aryans were superior; Jews were ‘subhuman’
83
What is autarky?
Germany should be economically self-sufficient
84
Who were seen as threats to Germany by Nazis?
Communists and Jews
85
Name a socialist policy in the Nazi 25-Point Programme.
Improve pensions / public ownership of utilities
86
Name a nationalist policy in the Nazi 25-Point Programme.
Unite all German-speakers / abolish Versailles
87
Name a racist policy in the Nazi 25-Point Programme.
Jews not citizens / stop immigration
88
Name a fascist policy in the Nazi 25-Point Programme.
Strong central government / control newspapers
89
Who did Nazis promise jobs to?
The unemployed
90
What did Nazis promise conservatives?
End Versailles and rebuild the army
91
What did Nazis offer farmers?
Higher prices for goods
92
What did Nazis promise businessmen?
Destroy Communism and Jewish banks
93
What did Nazis promise the youth?
Hope and jobs for the future
94
Why was broad appeal important to the Nazis?
Gained support from all sectors of society
95
What was a weakness of Nazi policies?
Contradictory and unrealistic promises
96
What was Hitler known for in speeches?
Emotional appeal and repetition of key themes
97
What did Hitler transform the GWP into?
A loyal and disciplined organisation
98
What strategy did Hitler adopt after 1923?
Seize power through legal political means
99
Why do historians call Hitler a Nazi asset?
He seemed strong compared to Weimar chaos
100
Who led Nazi propaganda?
Joseph Goebbels
101
What media did Goebbels use?
Radio, film, posters, leaflets, rallies
102
What was a famous propaganda success?
Banning All Quiet on the Western Front
103
How was Hitler portrayed in propaganda?
As the saviour of Germany
104
What did Hitler control to spread Nazi message?
Symbolism and an alliance with Hugenberg’s media empire
105
Why was propaganda important?
Made people believe Nazis would improve their lives
106
What media did Nazis uniquely use well in the 1930s?
Cinema
107
What % of vote did Nazis win in Nov 1932?
33%
108
Why was 33% in 1932 a disappointment?
Not enough for a majority in the Reichstag
109
Why didn’t SPD and KPD unite?
Mutual blame for the Spartacist Uprising
110
Which right-wing politicians helped Hitler?
Von Papen and Von Schleicher
111
What did Papen and Schleicher convince Hindenburg to do?
Appoint Hitler as Chancellor
112
Why was Hitler’s appointment key?
It handed him power almost unchallenged
113
Why was appointing Hitler considered difficult?
Few real candidates left
