Appeal Of Nazism And Communism Flashcards
What 8 things brought together the appeal of nazi ideology?
- Nazi ideology
- The power of will
- Struggle and war
- A racial community
- A national socialism
- The Führerprinzip
- Aggressive nationalism
- Anti-semitism
What was the Nazi ideology based off of?
The 1920 25 point programme, although Hitler didn’t agree with many of the points
Where were Hitler’s main ideas and aims laid out?
Mein Kampf (my struggle)
Why weren’t Hitlers ideas consistent over time?
His policy statements changed based on the audience he addressed during his speeches etc. so he could appeal to all classes and get maximum support
When was Mein Kampf properly starting to be read?
Around 1933, before then not too much
What was the significance of Mein Kampf to nazism?
Laid out many Nazi propaganda themes
What did Hitler say in 1922 showing he was acting as a force for change in Germany?
‘If one realised a truth, that truth is valueless so long as there is lacking the indomitable will to turn this realisation into an action’ - Hitler was a very driven man
How did Nazi Propaganda show Hitler’s power of the will?
It presented strength, determination to succeed and power, all qualities of Hitler to follow as Nazis
How did the SA present the power of the will and who did they appeal to?
Presented an image of dominance and discipline through parades, appealing to ex-soldiers and working class who were looking for this thrill
How did Hitler use struggle and war to appeal to upper classes?
He claimed scientifically that struggle and conflict between races was part of the natural order of things (survival of the fittest)
How did Nazis believe war and violence would benefit Germany?
It would reconstruct German society and create a new Reich through putting down other races
How did Nazi propaganda glorify struggle and war?
Glorified military views such as loyalty which were presented through the SA
What is the Nazi policy of Volksgemeinschaft?
A ‘people’s community’
- Hitler vaguely wanted a state based on racial community, where:
. Aryans were the citizens allowed in the state
. Others were denied rights of citizenship, treated as mere ‘subjects’
What would be in the ‘real community of the people’ in the ‘people’s community’?
. No social classes
. All Germans would have equal chances in society
. Everyone would work together for the good of the nation - common commitment to ‘German values
- these people would benefit from employment and welfare benefits
What was the Nazi aim for cultural and social revolution in Germany?
. Create a ‘new man’ and ‘new woman’:
- awareness of the importance of their race
-strength of character to work unselfishly for the common good
- willingness to follow Hitler’s leadership
How did the Nazi ‘people’s community’ seem very backwards?
It consisted of wanting to go back to a romanticised Germany before the race was ‘polluted’ with ‘alien’ blood and before industrialisation had divided society across classes
Who was the ‘people’s community’ to be based on?
‘Blood and soil’
- German peasants who Nazis loved had maintained their ‘racial purity’ and traditional values by not getting drawn into the dividing industrialisation
Why were the Nazis called the National Socialist German Workers’ party?
. To appeal to everyone (catch all party)
. Attempt to gain working-class support
. To differentiate themselves from the international socialism of the Communist party
What is an example of how the 25 point programmes points were economically radical and how did Hitler feel about them?
Called for the confiscation of war profits
- Hitler never fully committed to the radical aims and changed his message depending on his audience
How did Hitler have to be careful in his views after 1929?
He was looking for support from wealthy businessmen such as Fritz Thyssen and needed to assure them a Nazi government wouldn’t threaten their interest (hence why Nazis were national socialists)
How did Hitler appeal to working-class voters?
Used ‘socialism’ and Volksgemeinschaft as the same thing
- ‘to be social means to build up the state and the community of the people.’
Why did Hitler want to destroy the Weimar Republic and how did he make it clear in his April 1922 speech?
. Parliamentary democracy was weak
. Wanted an authoritarian government
. Believed democracy encouraged the growth of communism
‘Democracy is not fundamentally German; it is Jewish.’
Where did Nazi belief on Weimar democracy come from?
From the German army being ‘stabbed in the back’ by the ‘November criminals’ to end WW1
What was Nazi belief on the replacement for the Weimar Republic?
. It should be replaced by a dictatorship, a one-party state
. Germany should be fun on the principle of leadership (Fuhrerprinzip)
When did Nazis start to be run under Fuhrerprinzip, with Hitler as supreme leader?
Since 1925
What were Hitler’s 3 aims outlining his aggressive nationalism?
- Reverse the humiliation of the TOV (he called it ‘unlimited blackmail and shameful humiliation’) and restore Germany’s lands
- Establish a ‘greater German Reich’ with all Germans inside the borders of the state
- Secure Germany it’s ‘Lebensraum’ - provide and settle its people to sustain Germany as a great power
What did Hitler want to happen with Germany’s 1914 borders?
Didn’t just want to restore them but also expand the territory of the Reich
- involves a war to secure Germany’s Lebensraum in the East
- justified by Hitler’s racial theories and belief in the necessity of struggle
What were Nazi and Hitler’s views on Jews?
. Hitler saw them as responsible for all of Germany’s ills
. Nazi propaganda showed them as greedy and only motivated by selfish motives
. ‘Parasite in the body of other nations’ - conspiracy of Jews establishing worldwide dominance over other races
. Responsible for the evils of capitalism and the growth of communism
. Responsible for WW1 defeat, TOV and Germany’s power decline
What was Hitler’s most important view on communism?
It was a Jewish creed that had undermined the political and social cohesion of Germany and should be eradicated
When did the KPD and NSDAP get a surge of electoral support and who capitalised on it more?
During the depression years, but Nazis broadened their appeal much better than communists
Where did main Nazi support come from before 1929?
The Mittlestand, lower-middle class (white-collar workers, small shopkeepers, independent craftsmen)
Who did Nazis gain support from after the Wall Street Crash?
The mittlestand but more so broader middle classes and farmers
How did Nazis get support from farmers?
Exploited their discontent during the depression years by promising higher prices and protection against imports (a policy of Autarky)
How was the Nazi success from farmers shown?
In some rural constituencies in 1930, Nazis secured 68% of the vote in one district in north-west Germany
Why did the middle class start to support the Nazis?
They were worried about the perceived threat of a communist revolution and were disillusioned with established middle-class parties such as DVP and DNVP
What gender of people did Nazis do well with?
The youth and the women
Where was Nazi support strongest geographically?
In the Protestant north, east and centre of Germany, but less successful in the Catholic south and west
When was Hindenburg elected and when did his term in office end?
1925, seven-year term till 1932, by which time he was 84 years old
How did Hindenburg feel about standing for president again in the 1932 election?
Was reluctant, getting too old maybe
Who was Hindenburg’s main opponents in the 1932 presidential election?
Left - Thälmann of the KPD
Right - Hitler, reluctant as Hindenburg was a conservative icon but continued to stand
Apart from Hitler, who else was standing from the right during the 1932 presidential election?
Theodor Duesterberg
What happened in the first ballot of the 1932 presidential election?
Hindenburg just fell short of the 50% votes needed for outright victory so a second ballot took place
Who wasn’t involved in the second ballot of the presidential election?
Duesterberg
How did Hitler desperately increase support for the second ballot of 1932 election?
Rented an aeroplane and flew all over Germany, presenting himself as a national saviour
What was significant about the second ballot of the 1932 election?
. Hindenburg won just about with 53% votes
. Hitler received nearly 37% votes
. Thälmann only got around 10% votes
. In some rural areas, Hitler received more votes than Hindenburg
How did the July 1932 Reichstag state elections solidify Nazis’ as most popular party?
Won 37.3% of votes
Which group of people in Germany were crucial to get support?
Working class as they made up nearly half the electorate
Who had working-class voters tended to vote for since 1919?
In large industrial areas, especially trade union members, supported either the SPD or KPD, this trend continued through early 1930s elections
Where was communist support strongest?
Largely confined to large cities, and mainly in the poorest areas of these cities such as Berlin, especially among the unemployed
How was it clear that Nazis did manage to attract some working-class support by 1930?
In 1930 election, about 27% Nazi voters were manual labourers (this is a good number as the Nazis had support from basically everyone else)
How much did Nazis increase their electoral support between September 1930 and July 1932?
More than doubled
Although the communists made gains from 1930-32, how were they limited?
Unable to appeal to voters beyond their traditional core supporters (the working class)
What did support look like across different German states for Nazis in 1932?
Prussia: 36%
Bavaria: 32.5%
Hamburg: 31.5%
Saxony-Anhalt: 40.9%
How did Nazis organisational structure help them succeed?
. Areas of Germany split into Gaues
. Each Gaue has a local leader (Gauleiter)
. Gauleiters were free to developed the party in their Gaues
Clearly, the widespread influence of Nazism was helped by the organisational structure
What did Gauleiters do?
. Stressed the importance of Volksgemeinschaft, put on soup kitchens and food donations to people in distress (looked appealing)
. Targeted key individuals such as mayors so Nazi message could be spread
. Distributed leaflets, pamphlets and carried out door-to-door campaigning
. Promised to look after all Germans
. Put a large emphasis on training people for public speaking (so they could then further influence)
What was Hitler’s policy of Autarky for farmers?
Self-sufficiency for farmers - Germans will only buy German foods, not other countries goods, even if they’re ‘cheaper’
When did Hitler refind the Nazis after it plunged into chaos while he was in prison?
February 1925, and based it around the principle of Fuhrerprinzip
How was Hitler’s policy of Fuhrerprinzip detrimental during WW2?
Led to Germany’s loss as Hitler’s decisions were final as he thinks he knows best, even over the army generals who are clearly more skilled
How was Hitler clearly a hands-on leader?
Created the brown shirts for the SA
created the right arm heil salute
Designed the swastika flag himself
How was Hitler so effective in speeches?
. Kept his messages simple, promising ‘bread and work’
. Only needed a powerful, simple message to gain the hearts of the ‘masses’
. Flexible in his speeches to who he was addressing
. Very emotive and charismatic
Where was there over-representation in the Nazi party?
. White-collar workers made up 20.6% of the party between November 1930-January 1933, when they only made up 12.4% of Germany society in 1933.
Where was there under-representation in the Nazi party?
. Peasants made up 12.5% of party between those times and made up 20.7% of German society in 1933
What were the main reasons why the working class (proletarians) supported the Nazis?
. Mainly supportive of SS and SA to get a sense of excitement in a time of unemployment
. A high proportion were misled to believe they are fighting against capitalism and for socialism
Why did Protestants usually support nationalist parties such as Nazis?
They don’t focus all their faith on pope, willing to support another leader
Catholics also hated the way Hitler portrayed himself as ‘God-like’
How did the Nazis use Jews in their propaganda?
As a scapegoat, portraying them as responsible for Germany’s economic and political problems.
How had the depression years caused people to voice their anti-Semitic views?
Many shopkeepers and small business owners went along with the idea that their problems were caused by ‘Jewish capitalism’
How did previous disapproval of extreme Nazi views on Jews fade for many Germans?
They were so preoccupied with economic hardships that they heard the message they wanted through the Nazi promise for bread and work
Did people vote for Nazis in 1932 because of anti-semitism?
No, they voted for the bread and work in spite of the anti-semitism as they had priorities of a better lifestyle
What was an example of Hitler adapting his speeches to local circumstances?
January 1932: Hitler addressed 650 businessmen at the Industry Club in Düsseldorf, and didn’t make a single mention of the Jews in the 2 and a half hour speech. In other speeches, Nazi’s openly encouraged hostility against Jews
How did the SA encourage anti-semitism?
‘Juda verrecke’ (‘down with the Jews’) was a favourite chant of the Jews, and they often beat up Jews in the street
What were the main reasons for attraction to the SA?
. It was anti-communist
. For comradeship in the pub
. Membership was a meal ticket
Anti-semitism rarely the main motive
Why did the Nazis have to emphasise issues they had previously neglected?
They had to win over people they hadn’t previously needed to to get more support
When did Nazi propaganda become anti-Semitic?
More after 1932, before this it had little or nothing to do with it as there wasn’t a depression crisis that needed the Jews to be blamed for
What did a survey of the Nazi party show about the reasons for joining the party?
Anti-Marxism = 65%
Volksgemeinschaft = 32%
Super-nationalism = 22%
Hitler cult = 18%
Antisemitism = 14%
Anti-semitism wasn’t really the reason for Nazi political appeal at all
How much did KPD membership increase from 1929-1932?
1929: 117,000
1932: 360,000
Significant and growing force in German political life
How did the focus of the KPD change from 1920s to after 1929?
1920s: focused on building a strong presence in factories and workshops where trade union membership was well established
Post-1929: forced by economic circumstances to focus more on the unemployed
How did the KPD focus more on the unemployed after 1929?
. Set up a ‘committee of the unemployed’
. Staged hunger marches
. Somewhat successfully tried to get the ‘wild cliques’ of working-class youths into communist-led campaigns against the police, reform schools and labour exchanges
How did the communist present themselves as defenders of working-class districts against the Nazis?
Had the Red-Front Fighters’ league that frequently battled with the SA
How was it clear that KPD tactics to focus on unemployed somewhat succeeded?
The wedding district of Berlin effectively fell under communist control
What did the election platform of the KPD demand?
. An end to cuts in unemployment benefits
. Legalisation of abortions
. Close cooperation with USSR
. end of military spending
. Establishment of a workers’ state
How did the KPD view the Great Depression?
As the final nail in capitalism’s coffin which would inevitably lead to a workers’ Revolution due to the political instability
What was the priority of the KPD in politics?
To replace the SPD as the leading party on the left, as it accused the SPD of being as damaging to working-class interests as the Nazis.
What did the KPD call the SPD?
‘social-fascists’
Who was Reich Propaganda chief from 1928?
Joseph Goebbels
How did Hitler have funds to travel by train and car to make electoral campaign speeches in all main cities of Germany?
Funded by big business owners such as Thyssen and Hugenberg
What forms of propaganda did the Nazis have?
. Newspapers
. Posters and leaflets
. Put on film shows
. Staged marches and rallies
Who was at the centre of Nazi rallies and how did they make a powerful statement?
SA, had banners, songs, bands and sheer large numbers
How was Nazi propaganda so effective?
. Targeted different groups and adapted the Nazi in line with the audience
- anti-Semitic slogans were used sometimes depending on the audience
. Focused on simple message that Weimar democracy was responsible for Germany’s problems
. Nazi speakers well trained in oratorical techniques and the party’s ideology
What did the Nazi’s promise would come about from their leadership in propaganda?
Vision of a prosperous and united Germany restored to its rightly position among the great powers of Europe
How did the SA appeal to the working class?
Provided uniforms, soup kitchens and leisure centres in the midst of the unemployment problem
What is a Hitler quote showing Hitler was willing to suppress opposition with force?
‘We must struggle with ideas, but if necessary also with fists.’
How did the Nazis gain support from the elites who were needed to fund the party’s campaigning?
Nazis promised protection from communists and to rid Germany of them, as the Elites feared communism
What were the two Nazi newspapers?
. Der Sturmer (extremely anti-Semitic newspaper, many thought it was too extreme)
. Volkischer Beobachter (official Nazi newspaper, most real and valuable)
Who created the Der Sturmer newspaper?
Julius Streicher
How did new technology help Nazi propaganda?
. Radio broadcasts of speeches
. Plane tours (speaking all around Germany)
. Cinema news reels
How were Nazi posters so effective?
Promised simply ‘bread and work’, promised jobs and the destruction of the TOV
