controversy: popularity Flashcards
what was the ministry that Goebbels headed called? When was it created
Reich Ministry of Popular Enlightenment and Propaganda (March 1933)
When was the Women’s Front created, by who?
May 1933 - Robert Ley
What was the Editor’s Law and when was it passed?
Put an end to independent journalism / Called for ‘racially pure’ journalism - Oct, 1933
When was Beauty of Labour(SdA), and Strength through Joy (Kdf) created?
Nov 1933
When was the plebiscite to conform one-party rule? what was its result
Nov 1933 - 88%
When was the Marburg Speech?
June 1934
When was the night of the long knives?
June 1934
What was the law called that justified the actions in the night of the long knives?
Law Concerning Measures for the Defence of the State - June, 1934
When does Hindenburg die
Aug 1934
When does Schacht introduce his ‘New Plan’
Sept 1934
When does rearmament begin publicly?
March 1935
In June 1936 what is Himmler placed in control of?
All policing in Germany
When is Goering placed in charge of the office of the Four Year Plan?
Oct 1936
When does Schacht resign as Minister of Economics?
Nov 1937
When was the Blomberg-Fritsch affair?
1938
When is membership to the Hitler Youth made compulsory?
March 1939
When was the Reich Security Head office (RSHA) founded?
Sept 1939
What factor explains why so many non-Nazi groups were initially WILLING to fall in line w/ regime?
Perceived communist threat –> anything preferable to communist rule
In what speech did Hitler make clear his intentions to destroy the ‘Marxist threat’?
10 Feb 1933 - Berlin Sports Palace
How did the Reichstag Fire Decree (Feb 1933) crush opposition? 2 points
Suspended civil liberties –> established platform for dictatorship
Destroyed power of local parliaments via clause 2
How did the Enabling Act (April 1933) and Potsdam Day (March 1933) make opposition harder to justify?
Underlined the legitimacy of the regime
Between Jan-May 1933 how many joined the Nazi party? What was the main motive?
1.6mil - career advancement / fear
How did business fall into line w/ the Nazi regime?
disbanded own institutions and created the Reich Corporation of German Industry –> pledged its loyalty to the regime
What did the creation Nazi organisations attempt to ensure? 2 points
elimination of rival organisations and dissent
When were lawyers coordinated into a Nazi organisation, what was it called?
How was this received?
Nazi Lawyers Association (1933)
No protest
What was the means by which the Volksgemeinschaft would be created?
Propaganda
By the end of 1933 what had Goebbels achieved?
complete control over all forms of the media
how far had the regime secured power by end of 1933? in regards to the church?
Compromised by the Concordat but remained independent
how far had the regime secured power by end of 1933? in regards to the army?
Army stood outside policy of coordination and swore oath of loyalty to Hindenburg
how far had the regime secured power by end of 1933? in regards to politics?
Destroyed nearly all political opposition –> ban and persecution of SPD, KPD, and trade unions
how far had the regime secured power by end of 1933? in regards to ideology?
They were now the dominant ideology
Why were there tensions between the army and state? 2 points
Aristocratic generals disliked Hitler
Felt threatened by the increasing influence of the SS
What were the tensions between the Party and the SA?
Hitler called for end of revolution July 1933
Rohm agitated for a second revolution
How did Rohm challenge Hitler’s leadership and when?
June 1933 - Rohm newspaper article threatening that the revolution would continue with or without the support of the establishment
How many members did the Nazis have in 1934?
2.5mil+
What did Rohm aim to turn the SA into?
a militia
What did Rohm demand from Blomberg and when?
Feb 1934 - demanded that the SA take over national defence
When was the Security Service (SD) and SS formed? By who?
1931 - Heydrich
What did Heydrich’s ambitions to turn the SS into the most powerful Nazi org rely on?
destruction of SA power
How did Rohm make enemies with Rudolf Hess?
contempt for party organisation (hess = Fuhrer’s deputy)
How did Rohm upset Goering?
SA excesses in Prussia
Why was opposition of conservative elites limited?
their complicity in the regimes seizure and consolidation of power –> they worked towards the Fuhrer
What was the significance of the Marburg Speech? (June 1934)
most direct challenge to the regime thus far –> potentially a rallying call to the army to act
Who delivered the Marburg Speech? (June 1934)
Von Papen
Who wrote the Marburg Speech? (june 1934)
Jung
What did the Marburg Speech (June 1934) clarify for Hitler?
the levels of discontent felt in conservative circles
in 1934 why did Hitler need the collaboration of the establishment?
To continue economic growth –> to effectively consolidate power
Other than an attack on the SA, what else did the night of the long knives attempt to ensure? (june 1934)
That were would be no conservative attempt to prevent Hitler succeeding Hindenburg as President
Who fed Hitler rumours of an SA plot which then led to the night of the long knives? (june 1934)
Himmler
How many appox were killed during the night of the long knives?
200
How did the night of the long knives change the relationship between Hitler and the army?
Helped Hitler purge his party –> army leaders tied themselves closer to the regime
What were the results of the plebiscite confirming Hitler as Fuhrer?
89.9% in favour
Which 2 army generals proposed that the army swear an oath of loyalty to Hitler?
Blomberg and Reichenau
What was the army’s oath of loyalty to Hitler an attempt to achieve?
What was its actual effect
attempt to establish influence over Hitler
Tied the army closer to Hitler’s ambitions
What was the aim of the use of terror?
to reinforce consensus
When is Himmler put in charge of the Bavarian police?
April 1933
When was Himmler appointed ‘Inspector of the Gestapo’?
April 1934
What was created and when to exploit concentration camp labour?
German Quarrying Compant (DEST), 1938
What was the aim of the SD and Gestapo?
eliminate all opposition
What was the significance of the creation of the REich Security Head Office (RSHA) in 1939?
Goering in charge of all security and police orgs through a centralised system
Which historian challenges the idea of an all pervasive terror state?
Gallately
How many Gestapo officers were there before 1939?
5,000
Give evidence that the Gestapo was short staffed in some cities
city, year, number
Hanover (1935) - 42 officers
Give evidence that the informer network was not extensive
city, year, number
Saarbrucken (1939) - 50 informers
Give evidence that the gestapo prosecutions were mostly the result of informants than investigations carried out by the Gestapo
Saarbrucken 8% of cases were the result of activities carried out by Gestapo
87.5% of cases of ‘slander against the regime’ were a result of denunciations
Which historian came up with the idea of resistenz?
Borsht study 1970s
What affect does Broszat argue that Resistenz had on the regime?
limited the impact of the regime (propaganda)
What was resistenz?
dissent and non-conformity (wearing makeup, listening to jazz)
Which historians coined the term loyal reluctance?
Mallmann and Paul
What does the idea of loyal reluctance argue about resistenz?
that indifference, non-conformity, or complaining did not challenge the consensus or mean disloyalty to the regime
Give the loyal reluctance argument on the fact that women wore make up
Women continued to wear makeup because they wanted to look good, not to dissent
What does loyal reluctance argue about discontent?
discontent was based on day-to-day economic issues e.g. in the Ruhr poor working conditions and housing
Why did some workers become disillusioned? 3 points
wages stagnated, regimentation increased, longer working hours introduced
Give a statistic that highlights industrial working class disillusion 1936-39
Industrial accidents, illness, and absenteeism doubled between 1936-39
Give 3 facts that demonstrate that communist opposition did not completely disappear
hint:
leaflets
gestapo
newspaper
1934 - authorities seized 1.25mil communist leaflets
Gestapo figures = 5,000 active communists in Berlin (1935)
‘Red Flag’ communist newspaper still distributed up to 1935
What does lack of OVERT opposition NOT suggest?
real enthusiasm for regime
What did a SOPADE report in 1938 find?
workers afraid to say too much for fear of denunciation
What did a SOPADE report of 1936 find?
abolition of collective bargaining destroyed worker solidarity
What kind of workers supported the regime? 2 points
skilled workers / those w/ little trade union tradition
Which 3 main things enabled the Nazis to gain/galvanise the support of the working class
foreign policy successes
economic recovery
state paternalism
What did Goebbels’ propaganda directly link Hitler to? What was its effect?
Linked Hitler to the perceived successes of the regime
To challenge regime –> would challenge successes
How did Goebbels use Hitler in propaganda, to what effect?
used Hitler sparingly, to maintain his god-like mystique
Give 2 examples of how cinema was used to propagate the Hitler myth
Triumph of the Will (1935) –> used camera placed within audience of Nuremberg rally
Olympia (1938)
Who was Hitler’s favourite director?
Leni Reifenstahl
How many copies an edition did the Volkischer Beobachter sell?
2 million
Which agency monitored all news material?
State press agency (DNB)
by 1939 to how many Germans could the regime broadcast to via radio?
16mil
Name 2 things that were broadcasted through communal loudspeaker pillars
Hitler’s speeches, classical music
How was the 1936 Olympic games propaganda?
created an atmosphere of political stability and growing prosperity –> impressed thousands of foreign visitors
How did the 1936 olympic games demonstrate Hitler’s extensive influence?
Anti-Semitic programme suspended and anti-Semitic violence stopped at his request
How did propaganda normalise Nazi ideas and symbols?
2 points w/ examples
Holy days –> commemorating seizure of power and Munich Putsch - common/marginalised christian practises
Annual stage-managed event - Nuremberg rallies
Which law extended and created work schemes?
give an example of what it did
Law to Reduce Unemployment (1933)
Building of autobahns
What did the ‘battle for work’ do?
lent money to private companies to create jobs
How much money did the state invest into job creation schemes between 1932-35?
5bil reichsmarchs
When was the Battle for Production and what did it aim to do?
1934/5 –> attempt to increase grain production
Name a law that attempted to improve the situation of the peasantry and how
The Reich Entailed Farm Law (1933) –> attempted to enhance security of peasant ownership of land
what organisation took control of overall planning and organisation of agriculture and when?
The Reich Food Estate (1933)
Why was the Battle for Production (1934/5) unsuccessful? 3 things
lack of new machinery, labour, and poor harvests
When was conscription reintroduced? How did this affect unemployment figures?
1935
Reduced unemployment figures
Name 3 things that Schacht introduced that aided economic recovery
1934 ‘New Plan’ - gave gov powers to regulate trade and currency transactions
1934 - bilateral trade agreements w/ South America, and south-east europe –> paid for goods in Reichsmarks
1934 - Mefo Bills –> encouraged growth in demand
What was the significance of Schacht on Nazi regime?
conservative influence that slowed the radicalisation of Nazi racial policy for fear of an international backlash
Why did Schacht’s influence diminish from when?
1936 - Goering’s increased –> office of four year plan and more influence in economic affairs
Give a specific example of Schacht’s influence on limiting anti-Semitic policy
April 1933 boycott of Jewish goods limited to 1 day
In 1933 what % of the population was unemployed?
25.9%
In 1936 what % of the population was unemployed?
7.4%
Why must unemployment figures be taken with caution?
women, jews, and political opponents not included
How could workers potentially challenge the regime and its plans for rearmament?
excessive wage demands
What were set up in factories with the purpose of spreading propaganda in the workplace?
Radical Nazi organisations (NSBOs)
How did the regime attempt to compensate for loss of political rights and wage freezes?
state paternalism
What was the aim of Beauty of Labour (SdA) (1933)?
persuade employers to improve working conditions
What was the aim of Strength through Joy (KdF) (1933)?
reward loyal workers with evening classes, holidays, art exhibitions etc
By 1938 how many workers had been on a KDF sponsored cruise?
180,000
By 1938 how many workers had been on a state financed holiday?
10mil (1/3 of workforce)
What was the propaganda aim of Winterhilfe, how?
spread Nazi idea of classless society (volksgemeinschaft) via one-pot meals where bankers and workers sat side by side
What were days of National Solidarity?
leading party members would collect money on behalf of the party –> generous contribution = working towards the Fuhrer
What did the propaganda items of the ‘people’s radio’ and ‘people’s car’ aim to do?
create classless society where the working class could gain what was previously reserved solely for the middle and upper classes
Why were there still tensions between the Party and the Army in 1937?
army threatened over the growth and militarisation of the SS
What was the conference when Fritsch and Blomberg were sceptical about Hitler’s military plans? When was it
Hossbach conference (1937)
What was Fritsch accused of having done?
Married an ex-prostitute
When was the Blomberg-Fritsch affair?
1938
What was Blomberg accused of having done?
Had gay relations
What did the Blomberg-Fritsch affair (1938) allow Hitler to do? what did this mean
Restructure the army leadership and take personal control of the army –> free reign to wage war
How did Hitler gain complete control of the army (feb 1938)?
removed those who he did not consider completely loyal
including 12 generals
When did Hitler hold his last ever cabinet meeting?
Feb 1938
When was the remilitarisation of the Rhineland?
1936
When was the Anschluss?
March 1938
When was the Czech crisis?
Sept 1938
What was the Czech crisis?
Germany demanded union w/ the Sudetenland –> it was peacefully surrendered at the Munich conference by Britain and France
What was the plot against Hitler in 1938?
Why did it fail?
Generals Beck and Halder plan to oust Hitler before troops could be mobilised to occupy the Sudetenland
Hesitation and uncertainty over oath of loyalty
Who was the leading figure in the conservative resistance?
Carl Goerdeler
What did the cooperation of the Church give to the Nazi regime?
degree of moral respectability
Which group formed the bedrock of Nazi electoral support?
protestant mittelstand
How was the protestant church in some ways Nazified? 2 examples
1933 28 protestant churches coordinated into a single Reich Church
1933 –> 700,000 members of protestant youth groups incorporated into the Hitler Youth
What was the extent of protestant opposition?
How effective was it?
Creation of the Confessional Church (1934) –> riddled by bitter divisions / only opposed to the regime’s attempt to destroy its independence, not ideology
Which ministry intimidated Christians and when was it created?
Ministry of Church Affairs (1935)
Give an example of how easily Christian dissidents were intimidated and imprisoned
1935 700+ Prussian priests arrested
Which party gave the Nazis the 2/3rds majority needed to pass the Enabling Act? (april 1933)
Centre
What did the Concordat promise the Catholic Church? In return for what?
Church control over education and youth
In return for political neutrality
When were crucifixes banned from schools?
1935
Which prominent Catholic minister was murdered and when?
Erich Klausuren (June 1934)
When were Catholic Youth Groups banned?
1936
When was the pope’s encyclical and what was it called?
‘With Burning Concern’ (1937)
Why were foreign policy achievements supported by Catholic leaders?
Transformed their church into the majority religion
By 1935 what % of young people belonged to the Hitler Youth?
60%
When did membership to the Hitler Youth become compulsory?
1939
When did membership to the League of German Girls become compulsory?
1936
How was education nazified/coordinated? 2 points
Jewish teachers /those of suspect political orientation fired
Creation of National Socialist Teacher’s Alliance (NSLB) –> to indoctrinate in Nazi ideology
By 1937 what % of teachers had joined the NSLB? What does NSLB stand for?
National Socialist Teacher’s Alliance
1937 = 97%
Give 2 examples of youth opposition and what they did
Edelweiss Pirates - objected to the regimentation of Hitler Youth
‘Swing Groups’ celebrated American-style culture
What was the Nazi slogan for women that encompassed their role in Nazi ideology?
‘Children, Kitchen, Church’ = purely domestic role
Which types of women did the Nazi regime attack?
educated women in professional jobs
In 1933 what % of female teachers lost their jobs?
1933 = 15%
By 1934 how many women were working in the Prussian civil service?
1934 = none
in 1936 what happened in regards to women as judges?
1936 = not allowed to serve as a judge
How did the rearmament programmes (1935) reveal a contradiction between propaganda and reality?
caused a labour shortage –> regime had to persuade women to go back to work
how many women were employed in 1936?
5.6mil
How many women were employed in 1937?
7.4mil
What 3 things was the effectiveness of propaganda based on?
issue, audience, year
When was nazi propaganda most effective?
when it stirred pre-existing fears or prejudices
When was nazi propaganda least effective? 2 things
issues of morality / war
