Depth Study Flashcards
1
Q
Who was the president of the Weimar Republic?
A
Ebert
2
Q
What were the aims of the Weimar Republic?
A
To create the most democratic system in the world
(“Political System in which the population votes for its gov. in elections held on a regular basis (power is therefore ultimately derived from the people”
3
Q
Who was the chancellor of the Weimar Republic?
A
Phillip Scheideman
4
Q
What was the German Revolution?
A
(When the Kaiser, Willhelm II, who was virtually a dictator, was replaced by a democratic Republic
5
Q
What Happened in The German Revolution?
A
(Autumn 1918-Nov. 1918)
Autumn 1918- German army was being pushed back after gaining ground (and rasing popular expectations of victory)
Germany suffered Economic and social pressures, by the war (food shortages and strikes)
29 Sep 1918 - General Ludendorff (Organised German offensive and seen as most powerful man in Germany) called for an armistice (To save the country’s reputation before being fully invaded
4 Oct 1918 - New Government was formed by Prince Max of Baden who was hoping to get an armistice based off his 14 points (It was thought a new gov. would get less harsh terms)
16th Oct - Wilson demanded the Kaiser be removed from power before any armisitice is signed
17th Oct - Ludendorff now changed his tune (declared army could hold out
. accused civillian leaders of failing to deliever reinforcements and failing to raise moral on home front)
(Made it look like he is not responsible for defeat and he was stabbed in the back)
29th Oct- German navy mutinied (sailors at kiel refused to attack the British)
Unrest spread through the entire fleet and then through germany, with socialists leading uprisings of workers and soldiers)
7 Nov 1918 - In munich Kurt Eisner (memeber of militiant Independent Socialist Party) declared an independent, socialisst Bavarian Republic
9th Nov - Kaiser abdicated + replaced with Ebert, leader of SPD (Largest Party in the Reichstag)
11th Nov - Armisitce was signed (Germany felt stabbed in the back because they were still in foreign soil and they thought they were winning)
6
Q
Why Was the Weimar Republic Doomed from the start?
A
- Post War problems (debt, political chaos, starvation etc:) too big for gov. to handle
- Problems with the way Weimar was set up (Too democratic and hard to implement and rule)
- Being forced to sign the armistice, then T.of.V increased Divisions in Ger. society and damaged reputation of the Gov.
7
Q
Why was the Weimar Republic not doomed from the start?
A
- The Recovery and successes of the 1920s were great, arguing the underlying problems have been solved and Ger. govt. were doing well
- It wasnt their fault they failed (Great Depression caused them to fail)
8
Q
What were the Economic Impacts of WW1?
A
- Industrial Production only 2/3
- National Income was only 1/3 (of 1913 levels)
- 600,000 widows
- 2 million children without fathers
- state spending about 1/3 of its budget on war pensions
- food shortages (only 50% of milk)
- 300,000 people died from starvation and hypothermia in 1918 as well as the spanish flu
9
Q
Social Impacts of WW1?
A
- Deepened Divisions in German Society
- Big gaps in SoL
- Workers lost wages and were bitter whilst factory owners made vast fortunes from the war
- 1.5 million solderis had mental illnesses
- Germans were angry about losing the war (“stabbed in the back”) cos they thought Ger had a strong enough army
10
Q
Political Impacts of WW1?
A
- Groups with extremist political views tried to gain power, gifhting between right wing and left wing groups
- Many ex-soldiers and civilians despised the new democratic leaders of the republic, believing that the heroic war leaders like Field Marshall Hindenburg had been betrayed by weak politicians who had lost the war by signing the armistice
11
Q
How many seats did the SDP win?
A
38%
12
Q
When did Free Elections first take place?
A
January 1919
13
Q
Why was it called the Weimar Republic?
A
Because the new coalition government thought that Berlin was too dangerous due to the violence and civil unrest
14
Q
How did the Weimar Constitiution work?
A
Look at the folder for the Diagram
15
Q
What other policies did the Weimar Republic implement?
A
- Article 1 declared that “political authority derived from the people”
- All adults over 20 could vote (men and women were treated equally) (Article 22)
- A voting system of proportional representation meant that the proportion of votes recieved by a political party would be approximately equal to the proportion of the seats allocated in the reichstag
- At least Half the Reichstag had to support the chancellor and the government or they would have to resignn(Article 54)
- Constitution granted human and civil rights
16
Q
Flaws of the Weimar constitution? (Proportional Representation)
A
Proportional Representation- Small extremist parties were able to gai a foothold in the Reichstag and get publicity for their cause
- Wide range of parties meant it would be very hard for a party to gain 50% or more (which never happened) as every vote would be counted
- All governments were coalition governemnts. (These often proved to be short lived), creating political uncertainty. (There were 9 general elections during the Weimar Republic) about every 1 yr 18 months
17
Q
Flaws of the Weimar Republic (Article 48)?
A
Article 48 arguably gave the prsident too much power as it allowed him to discard the democratic system of the government
Between 1929 and 1933 Presidential decrees were increasing in regularity. This helped to undermine respect and confidence in the new democracy
18
Q
What was Germany’s constitution in 1914?
A
Look at picture in folder
19
Q
What is Article 23 of the Weimar Republic?
A
The Reichstag is elected for 4 years
20
Q
Why may Article 23 be good or bad?
A
Good because…
There is more of a say regularly
Bad because….
Changing govts –> Potentially no continuity
21
Q
What is Article 41?
A
The President is chosen by the whole of the German electorate. They are elected every 7 years. They select the chancellor, control the army, and call elections
22
Q
Why Might Article 41 be bad?
A
7 year is long
23
Q
What do Left wing groups believe?
A
- Want to change society rapidly
- Aim to treat all people equally and give political power to the people
- They stress the cooperation of nations
- Oppose Capitalism
24
Q
Why do Right group wings believe?
A
- Want to keep society very stable
- Want a strong gov. dominated by powerful leaders
- Nationalists
- Support Capitalism
- Stress the importance of the family unit and traditional values
(Right Wing germans waited for the Kaiser to come back and believed in the “stab in the back” myth)
25
Why may some people not like the Weimar Republic?
Because they felt that democracy had been imposed on them
26
What were the Left Wing groups present in Germany?
Spartacist League (Bolshevik-inspired party) (Leaders Karl Liebknecht and Rosa Luxemborg)
At the end of December 1918, they changed their name to the German Communist Party and made immdeiate plans to seize power
27
What were the Big Right wing Groups that were present in Germany?
A Nationalist Group who believed in the Kaisers style of Government (Dr Wolfgang Kapp)
(Did not believe in Democratic System)
28
What were the Demands and Methods of the Left Wing parties?
Wanted to establish Communist style government with no national parliament
- Formed a Revolutionary Committee and seized some newspaper offices in Berlin
- Joined by Rebel Soldiers and sailors, they set up soviets in many towns and organised a general strike
- Armed street fighting against opponents and the erection of barricades
29
What were the Demands and Methods of Right Wing Parties in Germany?
Believed in Expanding Ger's territory, army power and influence
(Attempted kapputsch (Political Rebellion) but failed)
Resented the T.of.V and admired Ger's previous Industrial Power
30
What did the Government do to the Left Wing Parties?
Ebert made an agreement with the freikorps (ex anti-communist soldiers)
- Freikorps moved into small towns to crush revolts in may 1919
- Killed 600 communists
- In 1920, another clash between the communists; causing 200 casualties
31
What did the Government do to the Right Wing Parties?
-Army refused to fire at Freikorps
HOWEVER
-German People , who were their workers, took strike
this meant that with no transport of water the Kapputsch would fail
-Wolfgang would realise this and was killed
32
Evidence of Weimar's weakness when defeating Left Wing opponents?
Only defeated them using the freikorps
33
Evidence of Weimar's weakness when defeating Right Wing Opponents?
Weimar Republic were powerless and had no protection until the Ger workers took a strike
Ger. army didn't listen to the weimar
34
Differences to how the left wing and Right Wing were treated?
Left Wing were treated more harshly than on the right
This is due to the fear/hostillity to communism (Russian Bloody Revolution) + tradition of a dictorial monarchy in Germany --> Respect for army personnel
35
How did Treaty of Versailles lead to Hyperinflation?
T.of.V (forced to pay reperations) (but with no figure)
April 1921- £6.6bn (2% of Ger annual income)
£50 Million paid in 1922
Nothing paid in 1923 (Ger. couldnt pay)
French lose patience- Jan 1923 legally enter the Ruhr and take raw matierals
Government in Germany ordered passive resistance (workstrikes)
French murder 100 protestors
Collapse of German Economy (no goods to trade + no tax on industry) + Costs had increase because of support for workers
Prints Money to pay off debts (£2.2 Billion)
Mass Circulation of Currency but not enough goods
36
Impacts of Hyperinflation?
Increased bitterness of many Germans towards the T.of.V
Many people belived Hitler in the future when he said T.of.V was to blame for 1929 Great Depression
Government were blamed for accepting reperations
People on fixed incomes couldn't even buy bread with savings for a house
37
How did the Weimar Republic Recover the economy in 1924-9?
- New Currency (Letenmark) in Nov. 1923
- Dawes Plan (Agreed in August 1924)
(Ruhr Occupation would be withdrawn, USA would grant loans, Reperation payments would start at 1 billion per year and increase)
- Young Plan (Germany given 59 years to pay for reperations, 6.6 billion reduced to 1.850 billion)
38
Evidence that Economic Recovery was Limited?
Unemployment still high by 1928 (61% of working Population)
They still have to pay back 800 million
A lot of money in a short time
39
Evidence of Political Recovery for the Weimar Republic from 1924-9?
After 1923 there were no more attempted revolutions
Other parties now worked with the weimar republic
1928 moderate parties had 136 more seats in the reichstag than extreme parties
40
Evidence that Political Recovery was limited for the Weimar Republic from 1924-9?
Hindenburg elected president in 1926 (opposed democracy) and still friendly with the Kaiser
30% of the vote consistently wen to oppostion parties
Nazi Party made themselves look more respectable and also the extreme parties gradually gained support
there were 4 different chancellors during this time
41
Evidence in Recovery in terms of Culture for the Weimar Republic from 1924-29?
Writers and pets now flourished particularly in Berlin.
(There had been strict censorship in the Kaiser's time)
Cinemas were booming
42
Evidence that Recovery was Limited in terms of Culture for the Weimar Republic from 1924-29?
Some groups and area of the country were concerned about the "moral decline" in culture
43
Evidence of Recovery in Foreing Policy's for the Weimar Republic from 1924-29?
Locarno
LofN
Kellogg-Briand Pact
44
Give a small detail about Hitler's childhood?
Grew up in Branau-am-Inn in 1889
Got on badly with father but close with mother
Developed German nationalist feelings which was prevalent in his school
Started to sell pictures in Vienna
Went to Munich to avoid Millitary service
Took part in the war
Continued a spy after the war
One time he spied on the DAP and was impressed and joined
45
What was the 25 Point Programme and who wrote it?
Big H. and Anton Drexler
Union of all Ger's in a greater Ger (Expanding frontiers)
Destruction of T.of.V and St Germain
Additonal Territory for food supplies and settlement of surplus pop
German Citizenship of those with German Blood
No more immigration of non-Ger's and getting rid of non Ger's
All citizens to have equal rights and obligations
Nationalisation
Profit Sharing in hevay industries
Improved welfare provision for the elderly
Special State provision for the education of gifted children
Encouragement of physical fitness for young
Formation of a strong central government
46
When did Hitler make the SA and what were they needed for?
1921 Led by Ernst Rohm
| To prevent people disrupting Nazi meetings
Brown Shirts
47
When Did Hitler become Nazi leader?
1921
| Made the Swastika in 1921
48
How many members of Nazis were in Germany during the 1920's?
1,100 in June 1920 to about 55,000 in November 1923
49
When was the Munich Putsch?
November 1923
50
Why did Hitler believe that the Munich Putsch could be succesful?
- Weimar had been weakened by the French invasion of the Ruhr and hyperinflation and was preoccupied with these matters
- Stressemann had called off passive resistance in September, so it looked like the government was giving in to the French, and reperations payments were being resumed
- It also looked as if the governmnet was tolerating left-wing state governments in Saxony and Thuringia
- Nazi Party had grown in strength and popularity in Bavaria
- The Weimar government was particularly unpopular in the late autumn of 1923
- Had support of Gen Ludendorff (very popular)
- Gov. of Bavaria was headed by Gustav von Kahr, along with the army chief Otto von Lossow and the police chief Hans Ritter von Seisser
51
Who was Hitler inspired by to do the Munich Putsch?
He had been very impressed by Benito Mussolini's seizure of power in Italy in 1922, which involved his Blackshirts marching on Rome
52
What were the problems with the Munich Putsch?
Kahr, Lossow and Seisser told Big H. that they would not support him
(Had their own ideas about toppling Weimar, and had already been dissuaded from acting by the reluctance of the army in Berlin to support them)
Weimar already take action to despose the left wing state governments which may have also made Bavarian politicians more loyal
53
Why did Hitler feel that he had to act in the Munisch putsch now?
Supporters might abandon him and look to the communists instead
54
What happened at the Putsch?
November 8th
Hitler + 600 SA members interrupted a meeting at the Burgerbrau Keller
Hitler forced Kahr, Seisser and Lossow to support the Putsch but Luderndorff let them out allowing them to gather army troops and police to resist Hitler
Hitler tried to gain support but the public didn't back him
4 policemen and 16 Nazis were killed
Hitler and Ludendorff were charged with treason
55
What happened at the trial?
Feb 1924
Hitler denied treason insisting that he was trying to resotre Ger's greatness
Attacked Nov. Criminals, Versailles, the Jews and Commies
(He was given a long time to speak because Judges were sympathetic)
H found guilty + Ludendorff wasn't (he insisted he was involved by accident)
H sentenced to 5 yrs in prison (should have been life) and should have been deported (shows Judges were sympathetic
56
What was life like in prison for Hitler?
Only served 9 months in great comfort in Landsberg prison
Wrote a book called mein Kampf
57
What happened to the Nazi party when H was in prison?
It had been banned but survived secretly
The replacement leader, Alfred Rosenberg, had few leadership qualities, and the party split into rival groups
58
What did H talk about in Mein Kampf?
```
National Socialism (Loyalty to Ger)
Abolition of T.of.V
Greater Germany
Lebensraum
Volksgemeinschaft (people's community)
Aryans were the master race
All Jews eliminated from Ger
How Commies were dangerous
```
He also mentioned that it was important to take more diplomatic strategies than violence even in it took longer
59
What did Hitler do to improve the Nazi party when he came back in 1924 (From Prison)?
1925 Nazi party relaunched
Made it more professional
Made sure closest associates helped run the party from Munich
Nazis set up Local Hitler Youth and the Nazi students league for popular appeal
H enlarged SA (55% of SA were from ranks or unemployed)
Set up SS as H's private bodyguard
appointed Goebbles as leader of Nazi Propoganda producing poster etc; (appealing to peoples feeling and not their rationality)
60
How did Nazis appeal to the farmers?
Said they were the pure Germans
Highlighted the importance of the peasants
In 1928, Point 25 and 17 of the programme was altered. Nazis said that privately owned land would only be confiscated if it belonged to a Jew
61
How many members did the Nazi party have by 1928?
27 K in 1925
100 K in 1928
Became a nationwide party
62
Why was Nazi Popularity decreasing from 1924-1925?
Weimar was starting to improve (economic recovery and political recovery under Streseman)
Hitler had been sent to jail for treason (Bad Reputation)
63
What impact did the GD have on the Weimar government?
High Unemployment (6 million by 1932)
The USA could no longer support Germany with the Young Plan and the Dawes Plan
Stresseman DIED which also added to the crisis as he was the only one that the German Public felt could steer them ou tof Depression
Allowed the Nazis to gain control?
64
What did Stresemann say about German Recovery?
They were actually "dancing on a volcano"
65
What were the Nazi's campaigning methods?
Hitler had good public speaking
Nazi Propoganda
Travelled by plane on different rallies
Hitler Youth Scheme
66
What did the Nazi party do to make themselves look more professional?
Populist ideas
Used Negative Cohesion
Nationalising all industries was dropped
Anti-Semitism was not as explicit
67
What actions did Hitler take to help the unemployed?
- Employing troops in the SA
| - Set up Soup kitchens and shelters for the unemployed
68
Why did the Nazis benefit from the increasing popularity of Communism?
People were scared with communism so they sided with the Nazi's to ruin the power and influence of communism
Communism previously didn't work
69
What were the problems with Hitler as chancellor?
Hard to control Hitler
Hindenburg was too old may die in the close future --> Hitler can pursue for more power
70
What were the problems with Hitler as chancellor?
Hard to control Hitler
Hindenburg was too old may die in the close future --> Hitler can pursue for more power
Nazis are still the most popular
71
When did Hitler become chancellor?
January 30th 1933
72
When did the Reichstag fire occur?
February 27, 1933
73
What did Hitler pass in 1933?
Enabling Act where all the Reichstag's legislative powers were transferred to the Reich Cabinet
74
How did the Nazis use the Reichstag Fire to their advantage?
Hermann Goring, conducted an official investigation, which would fix responsibility for the fire on the communists.
Marinus van der Lubbe was convicted of treason and was executed by guillotine in January 1934.
Ernst Torgler, Simon Popov, Vasili Tanev were acquitted because of lack of evidence
Hitler campaigned that he would be father and carer of the Nation
75
What do Some Hisotrians believe about the Reichstag Fire?
Marinus Van der Lubbe could not have acted alone because of the size of the Reichstag building and the fire.
Some claim he had assistance from the Nazis, while others say that van der Lubbe was simply a pawn of the Nazis
Some claim he was paid to take the blame and that they essentially promised him a pardon. These people claim the stormtroopers did it
76
Who was Goering
Himmler
Rohm
Goebbles
Goering- minister office (Gestapo)
Himmler- SS (Hitler's private Bodyguard)
Goebbles- Propoganda leader (phone tapping)
Rohm-SA leader
77
What were the problems with TU?
How did Hitler resolve this?
- They can organise general strikes --> Ruins economy --> City can't function properly
- On may 2nd 1933 TU were abolished, leaders were arrested and equipment was seized
- Nazis made National Community so TU is irrelevant
- All workers became a part of the DAF
78
How did Hitler control Political Parties?
On July 14 1933 the law against the Formation of parties was passed
79
How did Hitler control the Civil Service?
How were the Civil Service a Problem?
- Could have stalled procedures and made it difficult to introduce Nazi laws
- On April 7th, the civil service courts and education systems were purged of all Jews and enemies of the state
80
What was the Night of the Long Knives?
The purging of Hitler's political and military rivals in the SA
81
What did Rohm want from Hitler?
Wanted to incorporate the army into the SA and was dissapointed with Hitler's close relations with industrialists and the army leaders. He wanted more government interference in order to help the ordinary citizens
82
What was the impact of the The Night of the Long Knives?
The SA was relegated to a minor role and if there was any doubt about Hitler's rule, it was now clear that fear and terror would play significant rules
83
Why may have Hitler wanted to commit in the Night of the Long knives?
If he removed the SA, he could win the support of the army because the army felt threatened by the SA and many of the army leaders did not like the socialist nature of the SA
SS led by Himmler wished to brek away from the SA. Goering wanted to lead the armed forces and hence saw an opponent in Rohm
84
Who were the opponents of Hitler?
Left Wing Groups
TU
Right Wing Groups
Youth
Churches
Army
85
Why was there little opposition to Hitler?
.In private, Germany complained about the regime
(If in public, they could be exterminated)
.Many Germans admired and trusted Hitler
(prepared to sacrifice political freedom for work)
.Economic recovery was deeply appreciated
.Hitler brought back traditional values (Ruled a bit like the Kaiser)
.Propoganda
86
Who was in charge of of Propaganda?
Dr Joseph Goebbles (In march 1933)
87
How were the Gestapo effective in controlling the Germans?
.Greatly feared by Germans (set up by Goering)
.Agents had sweeping powers, had the ability to spy on people by tapping telephones, intercepting mail and using information from informants.
. Send people to prison without evidence or even trial
.160K were under arrest for political crimes
.Many people informed on each other because they thought the Gestapo would find out anyways
88
Why is the Gestapo not as effective as some people thought?
People wouldn't snitch on each other
People would snitch on others to settle private scores
89
How did the SS control the German public?
.Formed in 1925
.Grew from hundreds to 50K between 1929 and 1933
.Could arrest, detain without Charge, interroagte and search and confiscate property
. One sub divison of the SS were responsible for the conc. camps and slaughter of Jews
.Were Loyal to Hitler
90
How did Police and Courts help Control the Germans?
- Nazi control meant that opponents of the Nazis rarely got a fair trial
- Magistrates and Judges had to take an oath of loyalty to Hitler
- High ranking Nazis who reported to Himmler got the top jobs in the local police forces, so the police ended up "snooping" on political activity and opinions as well as their normal role of mainatining law and order
91
How were Concentration Camps used to control the germans?
- Set up in 1933, the first being in Dachau
| - Prisoners forced to hard labour, food was limited, and there was harsh discipline, with beatings and random executions
92
How was the Berlin 1946 Olympics a success for Germany?
- Germany won more medals than any other nation --> Displays Strength of Ger
- Media of 49 countries attended
- Olympic Stadium was the largest in the world and could hold 110k spectators
- Nazi Propoganda, posters, symbols increased reputation of the Nazis
- Anti-Semitism hidden
- The rest of the world admired the order, wealth and architechture
93
Failures of the Berlin Olympics?
- Black Athletes in the US olympic team majoratively won big races
- Blatant Nazi propoganda scared other people and nations
- Anti Semitism had to be removed
- Some Jews were allowed to race
94
Why could Hitler not use immediate force against the church?
Almost 2/3 of the population was Protestant and almost 1/3 was Catholic
95
Nazi methods of Controlling Churches?
Signed Concordat with Cat. Church in July 1933
Agreed to leave them alone and allow them to keep control of its schools and the Church agreed to stay out of politics
But H broke agreement
- Priests were harassed and arrested
- Some who criticised Nazi's went to conc. camps
- 400 priests imprisoned in Dachau by 1945
- Interfered with Catholic schools and closed them down
H tried to get all of the Protestant churches to come together in 1 official Reich church, headed by the Protestant Bishop Ludwig Muller
H encouraged alternative religion , The Pagan German Faith Movement
96
What did the Church do to combat Nazi Officials?
-Most were slient
Cat Bishop of Wurzbug was urging his flock to fight on for the Fatherland saying that "salvation lies in sacrifice"
Pope Pius XII condemed soviet invasion of Finland but said nothing about the Nazis
- But in 1937 Pope Pius XI "With Burning Anxiety" attacked the Nazi system
- Cat Bishop Galen criticised the Nazis throughout the 30s
- Boenhoffer tried to assinate hitler
-
97
How did Nazis Persecute Gyspies?
```
Nuremburg Laws (1936) Gyspsies were included
(Cannot Marry Germans)
```
Nazis passed the "Decree for the struggle against the Gypsy plague" --> All Gypsies had to register with authorities
Deported to Gypsy Camps
Were also killed
98
How were Homosexuals peresecuted?
Goebbles " the Homosexual must be eliminated"
Para 175 of German Penal Code (Forbids German Penal Code)
Homosexuals --> Prison
June 1935 "The amendment to the law for the prevention of offspring with Hereditary diseases"
If someone was fpund guilty because of this they were castrated
Conc. Camps
99
Why did Nazis persecute the Jews?
Scapegoats for defeat of WW1
They were usually wealthy (Jealousy)
They aren't desirables
500 k Jews in Germany but represented 16% lawyers, 10 % of doctors and 5% of editors
Not pure Germans
100
How were the Mentally ill persecuted?
Become victims of the Nazi's T4 Euthanasia programme
Sterilization due to the "Law for the prevention of progeny with Hereditary diseases" in 1933
101
What is the 1000 Year Reich?
Education and Youth Movement to produce future generations of loyal Nazis
To accept Nazi ideals
Young Men as soldiers
Young Women as Strong Mothers
102
How did Nazis Change Schools?
Everyone had to go until they were 14
Nazis placed schools under the control of the Ministry of Education of Berlin
Teachers were required to take an oath of loyalty to Hitler
Changed to take account of Nazi ideas and prepare students for their future roles
103
What in Particular was changed in the School Curriculum?
Bio and History were changed the most
Nazi race theories in Biology
Germany's progress to its destiny as the powerful nation in History
Mein Kampf
Rs removed
Differences between education in boys and girls
Race studies (A subject)
104
What was the Hitler Youth?
Leader was Baldur von Schirach
Established in the 1920s
105
How many Hitler Youth members were there?
1933 only 1/2 of all Germans were members
and 15% of all Germans were members
1936 Membership became Compulsory
1939 82% of 10-18 year olds were members
But by 1940 a million still hadnt joined
106
Aims of Hitler Youth?
Boys:
Millitatry Training and Political Indoctrination
Girls:
Emphasis on Fitness but also domestic skills
Children taught to make the Nazis the first priority
Some people were critical of parents if they were not pro Nazis
107
Why were Nazi Workers better off with the Nazis?
Strength through Joy scheme:
- replaced TU
- aimed to provide Germans with leisure and culture trips
- These events were provided at a lower cost than normal
Beauty of Labour Scheme:
- Improved working Conditions
- Organised better lighting in Workplaces and built swimming pools
Volkswagen Scheme:
-Allowed KDF members to give 5 marks a week to earn them a new car
Average wage of workers rose from 86 marks in 1932 to 109 marks in 1938
108
Why were workers worse off with the Nazis?
By 1933 they had lost their rights --> Unable to negotiate for better pay etc:
Beauty of Labour scheme was unsuccesful because workers had to carry out Government funded improvements without pay
Volkswagen scheme was a scam as nobody ended up getting new cars
Cost of food also increaded in 1939 as Nazis wanted to decrease agricultural production
Average working hours increased from 42-47
People became tired
109
How did the Nazis reduce Unemployment?
Dr Hjalmer Schacht funded a huge programme of work creation
National Labour Service sent men on public work projects and conservation programmes in order to build motorways
Railways were extended or built from scratch
Major house-building programmes
Reintroduced Conscription
Created jobs in the coal mines
110
How did the Nazis make the woman stay out home?
Financial Incentives
However between 1933-1939 the number of females in unemployment grew by 2.4 million because the German economy was growing
111
What is Volksgemeinschaft?
National Community
Their first loyalty would not be to their social group or job but to Hitler and Germany
112
What was the mood when WWII broke out?
No great enthusiasm becaue of WW1
113
How were Germans impacted by WWII?
Germans were impacted immediately by shortages of food, clothing and labour. Food rationing was introduced in September 1939; clothes rationing followed in November 1939. Soap, toilet paper and tobacco were also in short supply.
114
Why was it not difficult to keep up civillian morale?
the war went very well for Germany. Hitler was in control of much of western and eastern Europe following victories in Poland, Norway, Denmark, the Low Countries, France and western Russia. Supplies of luxury goods such as furs and perfumes flowed into Germany from captured territories, although few of them found their way into the homes of ordinary Germans, instead becoming the possessions of the rich or high-ranking officials.
115
What changes to normal life occured during WWII?
Rail services were reduced, whilst postal services were suspended and letter boxes were closed. All places of entertainment were closed, except cinemas – Goebbels needed these to show propaganda films. Women were drafted into the labour force in increasing numbers with the age limit for compulsory female labour being raised to 50 – labour shortages had become more serious as more men were called up to the front. Country areas had to take evacuees from the cities and refugees from eastern Europe.
116
What was the effect of WII on Germany's economy?
it initially did not bring massive changes to the German economy because Germany had been preparing for it since the mid-1930s. There was a shortage of raw materials, made worse when the British navy blockaded sea routes into Germany, but as the German forces conquered territories they took acquired more of these materials. For example, they took c.20% of Norway’s entire production in 1940. When Speer took over, however, there was a shift in emphasis, as production became more exclusively focused on the armament industries to supply the army fighting against Russia.
