Exam #3 Spring 2022 Flashcards
What were the two important factors which led to the rise of Hitler and Nazism?
- Volkish movement 2. The German defeat and the conditions imposed on them at Versailles
What three conditions placed on Germany at Versailles were especially upsetting to them?
- Germany was blamed for the war 2. Germany had to pay reparations for damages they caused and these reparations were so high they could never pay them back. 3. Germany lost territories, especially to France.
Explain 3 attributes of the Volkish movement.
- It had a great capacity to organize by appealing to the common people 2. It was characterized by ethical dualism–which means it defined things in black or white, good or bad–no middle ground–you agreed with them or you were an enemy 3. Racial dogma–anti-semitism and belief in superior/inferior races
Who did Germany think stabbed the country in the back?
They believed the Weimar Government, which contained many Jews, had sold out the country after Kaiser Wilhelm abdicated.
Who was born in Linz Austria in 1889?
Adolf Hitler
What did Hitler want to be when he grew up? Was he successful at first?
He hoped to be an artist but he could not get into art school. Before WWI started, he worked odd jobs. He was not a successful person.
What did Hitler do when he got home from WWI?
He joined the German Worker’s Party and then formed his own party in 1920. This was called the NSDAP or Nazi party. National Socialist German Workers Party
What symbol has come to mean hatred?
Swastika (Hakenkreuz)
Who were the Storm Troopers?
Brown shirts–group within the Nazi party –bitter ex soldiers who would break up community gatherings, beat up Jews, etc.
Who were the S.S.?
Defense Echelons section of the Nazi Party–they were the party elites.
What role did Joseph Goebbels play in the Nazi party?
He was in charge of propaganda. He said “repeat the lie” and people will believe it.
What was the Beer Hall Putsch?
1923, Hitler wanted to copy Mussolini’s March on Rome so he staged a demonstration that started in a Munich beer hall. The plan was to gather followers and storm city hall in Berlin.
Was the Beer Hall Putsch successful?
No, Hitler was put on trial and imprisoned.
What did Hitler do while in prison?
He wrote Mein Kampf (My Struggle).
What were the 4 major teachings in Mein Kampf?
- Race Theory 2. Racial Anti-Semitism 3. Lebensraum (Living Space) 4. Supreme Leader Concept
In Hitler’s Race Theory, what race does he think is supreme?
The Aryan race–their responsibility is to maintain racial purity.
According to Hitler’s Race Theory, what are the 3 categories of cultures?
- Culture Creating = Aryan–everything comes from them 2. Culture Bearing = can’t create culture but can help maintain it (workers/slaves–Slavs, Asians, etc.) 3. Culture Destroying = Jews
In Hitler’s Race Theory, what is the role of the individual?
Individuals only exist as a member of a group. It is their responsibility to protect the race–“the team”.
In Hitler’s racial anti-semitism, what must happen to the Jews?
He claimed his ideas were based on “science” and he claimed that for the health of the people, Jews must be eradicated.
How did Social Darwinism guide Hitler’s ideas?
Tied to Lebensraum–need for living space. Nature tells us the strong destroy the weak and must control the resources. He would later use this idea to justify killing Germans who were not perfect–deformed children, sick, elderly.
What did Hitler mean by the Supreme Leader Concept?
The Fuhrer is bound only by laws essential to the German nature–he can do anything to support the race.
How did Hitler become chancellor of Germany?
In 1933, the Nazi party gained some seats in the German Reichstag. Germany’s President Hindenburg’s party did not have enough seats to have a majority so he made a deal with the Nazi Party to join with his party to make a majority. Hitler said he would make the deal if Hindenburg would make him chancellor.
What event caused Hitler to declare martial law and become a dictator?
Fire in the Reichstag building.
In 1935 the Nuremburg Laws were passed. What did they do?
- Stripped Jews of their citizenship and defined exactly who was a Jew. 2. Prevented Jews and Aryans from marrying. 3. Jews were not allowed to listen to certain composers like Bach, Beethoven, or Mozart. 4. Jews had to write Israel or Sarah after their names on legal documents.
