Destruction To Democracy Flashcards
What happened to the German economy from 1942?
Shifted towards arms against Russia.
What did German factories do to make up 25% of the workforce?
Used forced labour from occupied countries
What did Hitler do in 1941?
Invaded the USSR
What happened to Germany now that it was spending so much money on its arms? (3)
It had to cut back on heating
Longer working hours
Censorship increased
What was one of the most direct ways in which German people were affected?
Bombing by the RAF and the US Air Force
What happened to the young people of Germany during ww2?
Membership of Nazi youth movement was made compulsory in 1939
Yet popularity had decreased and an anti Hitler youth movement appeared - Nazis deeply concerned so gestapo got involved in 1942.
Was the ‘final solution’ planned from the start?
Intentionalist historians = yes
Structuralist historians = no clear plan, policy evolved during the war years
What 2 things made the genocide possible?
German people as they spread antisemitism.
The SS as they carried out many of the killings.
In 1945 there were 2 acts of resistance from the Jews to the Nazis. Explain
Jews in the Warsaw Ghetto in Poland rose up against the Nazis, lasted 4 weeks.
Greek Jews blew up gas ovens at Auschwitz.
How was denazification carried out in the Soviet Sector of Germany after the war? (3)
Nazi symbols, flags and banners were destroyed, became illegal to display them.
High ranking Nazis were imprisoned.
1/3rd of German teachers removed
How was denazification carried out in the western zones of Germany after the war? (3)
Nazis arrested.
Germans over 18 had to complete questionnaire detailing previous political activities and beliefs.
Re-education - wanted to expose Germans of the horror of what the Nazis had done.
Who was the leader of East Germany?
Walter Ulbritch
How was East Germany democratised and rebuilt?(3)
Private schools were abolished, free education for all
Communist party created by Ulbritch to create central committee and politburo
Building of socialism 1952 - Stalin wanted them to produce goods that would help the USSR recover
How was West Germany democratised and rebuilt?(3)
Communist and socialist reich parties were banned
Whitewashing history - effectively writing out Germany’s history, helped many feel loyal to the new state, brought stability.
West Germans began to associate democracy with economic success and prosperity.
