gᥱrmᥲᥒყ Flashcards
What led up to the making of the Weimar Republic? (3 points)
- WW1 caused huge suffering - 2 million German soldiers died and, due to British blockades, they were faced with starvation
- This led to a political collapse, widespread riots and strikes and even mutinies by naval units in October
- Kaiser Wilhelm had little support and was pushed to abdicate in November 1918 - the SPD took over to avoid a communist revolution and signed an armistice to end WW1, again in November 1918
In 1919, who could vote?
All men and women over the age of 21
When was the Weimar Republic created?
February 1919
Who was the first President of the new Reichstag?
Ebert
How did the Weimar constitution make Germany more democratic? (3 points)
-> president is elected every 7 years and can choose a chancellor themselves
-> all political parties represented if they have 0.4% or more of the votes
-> the Bill of Rights gave all Germans equal rights, including freedom of speech
What were the weaknesses to the Weimar constitution? (2 points)
-> the proportional representation (only 0.4% of votes needed to be represented) caused chaos due to the number of parties with different views - very hard to pass any laws
-> Article 48 says that, in an emergency, the Chancellor can pass laws without permission from the Reichstag
When was Ebert forced to sign the Treaty of Versailles (because otherwise they risked conflict)?
28 June 1919
Who were the allied leaders who signed the Treaty of Versailles?
Clémenceau (France)
Wilson (USA)
Lloyd George (Britain)
What does the ‘L’ in LAMB stand for?
Land - Germany lost 13% of their land which contained around 6 million people (an example of this is Alsace-Lorraine was returned to France)
What does the ‘A’ in LAMB stand for?
Army - Germany had a limited army of 100,000 soldiers, 15,000 sailors, 6 battleships and no submarines or air force. The Rhineland was also demilitarised, leaving Germany open to attack.
What does the ‘M’ in LAMB stand for?
Money - they had to pay £6,600 million in reparations
What does the ‘B’ in LAMB stand for?
Blame - Article 231 said that Germany had to take full blame for the war which angered many as they saw the war as self-defense
How did Germans feel about the Treaty of Versailles being signed?
Betrayed - they called it a ‘Diktat’ (a treaty forced upon Germany). The Stab in the Back Theory (Dolchstoss) is where Germans thought that soldiers were stabbed in the back by Jewish people in the Weimar government, nicknaming them the ‘November Criminals’.
What was the Communist party called and which wing was it?
KPD - left wing
What was the Nazi party called and what wing was it?
NSDAP - right wing
Was the Weimar Republic challenged by the left wing (Communist, KPD) or the right wing (Nazi, NSDAP)?
Both!
The ___ Uprising in ___, led by ___ and ___, was left wing and wanted a state based on ___ ideals. They tried to start a ___ uprising by seizing government ___ and ___ offices, but they were caught by the ___ (the regular army) and the ___ (ex-soldiers who refused to give up their ___ and were an ___ army) who publicly ___ them.
The Spartacist Uprising in 1919, led by Liebknecht and Luxemburg, was left wing and wanted a state based on communist ideals. They tried to start a worker’s uprising by seizing government newspaper and telegraph offices, but they were caught by the Reichswehr (the regular army) and the Freikorps (ex-soldiers who refused to give up their weapons and were an informal army) who publicly killed them.
The ___ Putsch, in ___, consisted of right wing ___ led by Wolfgang ___ who wanted an ___ in response to the ___ government threatening to ___ the ___. ___ of them marched to ___ and seized ___ of the city. They were supported by the ___ (the regular army) who ___ to ___ them. The ___ government encouraged people to go on ___ against them, so the ___ Putsch failed due to ___ of ___.
The Kapp Putsch, in 1920, consisted of right wing Freikorps led by Wolfgang Kapp who wanted an uprising in response to the Weimar government threatening to disband the Freikorps. 5,000 of them marched to Berlin and seized control of the city. They were supported by the Reichswehr (the regular army) who refused to stop them. The Weimar government encouraged people to go on strike against them, so the Kapp Putsch failed due to lack of support.
How many murders were there in 1919-1922?
376
What happened to Weimar ministers?
Erzberger was murdered in 1921, and Rathenau was murdered in 1922
What led to the occupation of the Ruhr?
By 1923, Germany could no longer pay reparations from the Treaty of Versailles, so France and Belgium decided to take Germany’s resources instead. They occupied the Ruhr (the richest industrial part of Germany with valuable iron and coal resources) on the 11th January 1923 which led to a passive resistance from the Germans.
What led to hyperinflation?
After France and Belgium’s occupation of the Ruhr, the German economy was plunged back into devastation. The government decided to print more banknotes to pay for their debts, leading to hyperinflation.
What is hyperinflation?
Where money loses its value due to production not keeping up with the money currently in circulation.
What was the price of an egg in 1918 and in 1923?
In 1918, it was a quarter of a mark. In 1923, it was 80 million marks.
Give three consequences of hyperinflation.
-> German currency became worthless so foreign suppliers refused to accept it, resulting in food shortages because Germany could no longer import food
-> workers had to be paid twice a day so that they could rush to stores and buy goods, but during the time they were queuing the prices of these goods often rose even further and it began to cost more to print a note than the note was worth
-> those who had money saved in bank accounts soon found that it was all worthless - this affected the middle class the worst
What was the price of bread in November 1923?
200,000,000,000 marks
Give 3 ways people benefitted from hyperinflation.
-> foreign visitors soon found that the value of their own currency rose quickly against German currency so could buy a lot more with their money
-> people with loans could easily pay them back and some made fortunes from this
-> people hoarded goods and sold them for high prices due to the desperation German people had for basic necessities
Who became Chancellor in 1923?
Stresemann
What does the ‘P’ stand for in pie (Stresemann)?
P - political stability -> the result of Stresemann’s improvements, where less people voted for extremist parties (for example, Nazi vote went from 32 to 12) and more voted for the SPD
What does the ‘I’ stand for in pie (Stresemann)?
I - international relations -> the Locarno Pact was signed in 1925 where Britain, France, Beligium, Italy and Germany agreed to respect each other’s borders
-> Germany was allowed to join the League of Nations in 1926
-> the Kellogg-Briand Pact, signed in 1928 with 64 other nations, ensured that all disputes were to be solved peacefully without the use of violence
What does the ‘E’ stand for in pie (Stresemann)?
E - economic recovery -> introduced the new Rentenmark in limited amounts which gave it value; this was later named the Reichmark
-> the Dawes Plan, signed in 1924, changed reparation payments to be more realistic and supported with a loan of £40 million from the USA (making Germany dependent on the USA); also secured France and Belgium’s withdrawal from the Ruhr
-> the Young Plan, signed in 1929, further reduced reparations to a quarter of the original amount and gave Germany 59 years to pay it back
When and how did Stresemann die and what was this right before, including what he said?
October 1929 he died of a heart attack, right before the Wall Street Crash and after saying that “Germany is dancing on a volcano.”
What happened to unemployment during the Golden Years?
Dropped from 2 million in 1926 to 1.3 million in 1928. However, these were usually temporary jobs so employment never dropped below 1 million.
What happened to wages during the Golden Years?
Average working hours went from 50 in 1925 to 46 in 1928, and wages increased by 25% during this same period.
What happened to housing in the Golden Years?
The government introduced a 15% rent tax to pay for building new homes. Over 100,000 new homes were built in total, reducing housing shortage.
What happened to women’s rights in the Golden Years?
They gained equal voting, education, opportunity and pay and 112 were even elected to the Reichstag. They were socially free to go out alone, drink, smoke, cut their hair, wear makeup and dress how they wished. However, despite women having more professional jobs, the number of female workers didn’t really rise.
What happened to culture in the Golden Years?
Artists began to question traditional forms and styles, switching from militarism to new objectivism. The government funded art galleries, theatres and orchestras, and films, such as ‘Metropolis’ directed by Fritz Lang, became increasingly popular. The Bauhaus school of design, run by Gropius, greatly influenced advances in art.
Who founded the DAP?
Anton Drexler
What is the DAP?
A nationalist party called the German Worker’s Party. It was a fringe party - very small, lack of funding and didn’t receive many votes
When did Hitler join the DAP?
January 1919
When did Hitler become the chief of propaganda for the DAP?
1920
What was the DAP re-branded as in 1920?
The Nazi Party (NSDAP)
How many members were in the DAP in 1919 and how many in 1920?
Around 50 in 1919, but 2000 in 1920
What is Völkisch and which party stressed this?
Pure German people - stressed by the DAP/NSDAP
When did Hitler become the leader of the NSDAP?
July 1921
What did Hitler find he was good at, and what did he base these on?
Speeches - based on Dolchstoss (stab-in-the-back theory), the November Criminals and the Treaty of Versailles
What did Drexler and Hitler work together to create and when?
The Twenty-Five Point Programme in February 1920
Was the NSDAP nationalist or socialist?
Both!
How was the twenty-five point programme nationalist and what is nationalism?
NATIONALISM -> prioritising the needs of your own country and race at the expense of others
4th point - only those of German blood can be citizens, and Jews cannot be citizens
How was the twenty-five point programme socialist and what is socialism?
SOCIALISM -> the state working to eradicate inequality and support the welfare of citizens
14th point - big industries have to share their profits with their workers
Why was it important that the NSDAP was nationalist and socialist?
Appealed to both sides but also led to future divides in the party between people who preferred nationalist policies and vice versa.
What effects did Hitler’s charisma have on the NSDAP at the beginning?
He attracted many new members which increased the party’s finances, but also gave Hitler influence as many of these members joining were his followers.
What did Hitler do when he was leader of the NSDAP?
He put his supporters in key positions, such as Röhm, Hess, Streicher and Goering
When did Hitler first establish the SA?
August 1921, one month after he became the leader of the NSDAP
What were the SA (storm troopers)?
Hitler’s private army, consisting of political thugs that were difficult to control.
What did the SA do?
They marched into streets in brown uniforms, making the NSDAP look organised and tough. They attacked political rivals, giving the NSDAP more power. They also guarded NSDAP meetings, subduing any opposition to Hitler.
Who led the SA?
Ernst Röhm
What happened to the most trusted SA?
They became Hitler’s shock troop (bodyguards), protecting Hitler from potential assassination
When was the Munich Putsch?
9th November 1923
What happened in the Munich Putsch?
Hitler plotted with two nationalist politicians, Kahr and Lossow, to take over Munich in a revolution. However, Kahr and Lossow called this off on the 4th October, after Hitler had gotten 3,000 troops ready to fight. On the 8th November, Hitler and 600 storm troopers (SA) burst into a Beer Hall where Kahr and Lossow were having a meeting, threatening them with a gun and forcing them to agree to rebel with him. He then just let them go home. On the 9th November, Hitler and his troops marched into Munich. However, Kahr had called in the police and army reinforcements, and there was a fight in which 16 Nazis died and Hitler fled. He got arrested two days later.
What was the Munich Putsch inspired by?
The March on Rome in 1922 with Mussolini and the Italian fascists.
Who was Ludendorff?
A respected war hero who supported Hitler in the Munich Putsch to trick him in the future and take over. He was the leader of the German army, but was not a Nazi.
Because of the Munich Putsch, what happened to the NSDAP?
It was banned
What happened during Hitler’s trial after the Munich Putsch?
He attacked the Weimar Republic, insisting he wanted to restore Germany’s greatness. It gave him fame, and the court were sympathetic and gave him the minimum sentence of five years. However, Hitler only served 9 months before being released.
What did Hitler do in prison?
He wrote his autobiography Mein Kampf (My Struggle) and it was a best seller. He also reflected on the need to gain power in legitimate ways, such as elections.
What was Mein Kampf vital for?
Spreading Nazi ideology such as Hitler’s belief that the Aryan race was superior and that Germans had a right to ‘Lebensraum’ (more space to live).
What happened to NSDAP support after economic recovery?
People were recovering so nobody wanted to vote extreme anymore. The party was banned until 1925, when Hitler re-established it and made himself supreme leader, changing tactics to gain control through the democratic system.
What were Gauleiters?
People who ran regional branches of the Nazi Party in 1926 and made it more wide-spread.
What was the Bamberg Conference in 1926?
Hitler’s solution to the divided nationalist and socialist sides to the party. This reunified the party and Hitler discredited the socialist side, making it clear that the NSDAP was more nationalist.
How did Hitler appeal to different groups?
In 1926 the NSDAP founded the Hitler Youth to attract younger voters.
The National Socialist Teachers’ League was an example of how it appealed to different professions.
What happened on 24th October 1929?
The Wall Street stock market in America crashed (the Wall Street Crash).
What did the Wall Street crash mean for Germany?
Germany’s economic recovery by Stresemann was built on unstable foundations and relied heavily on loans from the USA, which the USA could no longer provide. The USA suspended future payments and wanted old loans to be repaid, leading to the collapse of the German economy.
How did unemployment rise during the Great Depression?
In 1929, 1.6 million people were unemployed, but this rose to 6 million in 1932.
Did Hitler’s reorganisation of the NSDAP after his time in prison have large effect?
No - in 1928, they only had 12 seats and 2.6% of the vote.
Apart from unemployment, what were the other impacts that the Wall Street Crash had on Germany?
Food shortages - people had to eat horse meat
Shops and factories closed and German production halved
Tried to copy Russia and have a communist revolution, which was detrimental to the middle class and so the middle class supported the Nazis
How did Hitler use the Wall Street Crash to his advantage?
Unemployment - the Nazis promised everybody ‘Arbeit and Bröt’ (work and bread) and ran soup kitchens
Extreme parties - in times of crisis, German people wanted to vote for extreme parties such as communists and Nazis, and the Nazis went around beating up communists
Leadership - President Hindenburg was 84 years old, and Hitler made speeches to reflect the days of the Kaiser with strong, powerful leadership which appealed to many
Who was the new Chancellor in 1930?
Brüning
What effect did Brüning’s policies have?
-> increased food prices
-> pensions reduced, taxes increased
-> social services were cut back and unemployment benefits were reduced
DECREASED SUPPORT FOR WEIMAR
What was Brüning nicknamed?
The Hunger Chancellor
What did Brüning have to rely on to pass laws?
Article 48, because his policies were so unpopular he struggled to pass them in the Reichstag - this meant that Weimar no longer seemed like a democracy
Why did farmers vote for the Nazis?
Had to lower prices of food because of the Great Depression. Hitler promised higher prices of crops. In addition, if communists took over they would seize farmland. The Nazis were highly anti-communist, so this appealed to farmers.
Why did soldiers vote for the Nazis?
Hitler was an ex-soldier and promised to destroy the Treaty of Versailles signed by ‘traitors’ and re-arm the forces.
Why did women vote for the Nazis?
The Nazis emphasised the important of family life, good morals and self-discipline. The Nazis also promised to sort out the “muck and filth” that German youth were being exposed to in the theatres and cinemas.
Why did the middle class vote for the Nazis?
Their wages were halved by the depression and they knew that if the communists took over they would make all wages equal. The Nazis promised the destruction of the communists alongside stability and order within the German economy.
Why did the upper class vote for the Nazis?
They didn’t support everything, but the Nazis promised strong leadership and status to them, returning Germany to the ‘good old days’. Hitler promised that the upper class could run factories how they wanted, increase employment and fight communists that threatened to take away their businesses.
In July 1932, how many seats did the Nazi Party have compared to November 1932?
230 seats (38% of the votes) compared to 196 seats, the loss of 34 seats.
What was Hindenburg’s response to Hitler demanding to be made Chancellor and how was Hindenburg perceived to the public?
He did not trust Hitler and called him a ‘working-class idiot’, so refused his request. Hindenburg was an old war hero who constantly abused Article 48 and appointed his own Chancellors who were often unpopular (such as Brüning).
What happened between Von Papen and Von Schleicher?
Von Papen was Chancellor, but Von Schleicher persuaded Hindenburg to appoint him as Chancellor instead in December 1932. Papen resented Schleicher and so made a deal with Hitler - Papen would persuade Hindenburg to make Hitler Chancellor, and Hitler would make Papen Vice-Chancellor.
How did Von Papen convince Hindenburg to replace Schleicher with Hitler and when?
In January 1933, Papen claimed that him and Hindenburg could control Hitler and use him as a puppet (this was a big mistake), persuading Hindenburg to make Hitler Chancellor in January 1933.
What did the Nazis need to pass laws?
They needed two-thirds of the seats in the Reichstag
What did Hitler do to ensure the Nazis got more power in elections after he became Chancellor?
He used the SA to terrorise opponents and, in February 1933, they raided the Communist Party headquarters in Berlin and claimed to have found evidence that the communists were planning an uprising against the government
When was the Reichstag Fire?
27th February 1933, 6 days before the elections
Who was blamed and arrested for the Reichstag fire?
A Dutch communist named Van Der Lubbe.
How many communists were arrested as a result of the Reichstag fire?
4,000
How did Hitler use the Reichstag Fire to his advantage?
Claimed communists were a threat and published anti-communist conspiracy theories in Nazi newspapers. President Hindenburg issued an ‘emergency decree’ giving Hitler power to deal with this communist threat - Hitler limited civil liberties such as free speech and free printing. This was enforced by the police who were led by Goering.
When was the Enabling Act signed?
24th March 1933
What was the outcome of the March 1933 elections?
The Nazi Party won 288 seats (43.9% of the votes) but this was not the majority. Hitler chose to ban the Communist party in response to give him enough support (300+ votes) to bring in the Enabling Act.
What did the Enabling Act do?
It gave Hitler four years to govern without parliament, meaning he could change the constitution without the Reichstag’s consent. Other Chancellors used Article 48 for this, so it was not that extreme, but this was the end to democracy - the Reichstag voted its own powers away.
What did Hitler do to trade unions and why?
He banned them on the 2nd May 1933 and replaced it with the German Labour Front instead, which was Nazi controlled. He did this because trade unions had great influence over the working class.
What did Hitler do to other political parties after the Enabling Act?
He banned them all on the 14th July 1933, making Germany officially a one-party state.
What did Hitler do to communists after the Enabling Act?
25,000 of them, along with the most influential political opponents, were put into concentration camps - the first one being Dachau, which opened in March 1933.
Why did some Germans see having a one-party state as an improvement?
The political instability of all the different parties in the Reichstag had become tiring, and there had been four different Chancellors between 1930 and 1933.
What could the SA do after the Enabling Act was passed?
They could ransack the homes of potential opponents
How did the Nazis intimidate voters after the Enabling Act?
They stood and watched them
Why did the SA begin to become a threat to Hitler?
They helped Hitler come to power, but they were unskilled, embarrassing and ultimately loyal to Ernst Röhm - he was a homosexual, but Hitler didn’t do anything about this and only wanted to get rid of him because he was a threat. Hitler wanted the support of the army, who disapproved of the SA.
When was the Night of the Long Knives?
30th June 1934
What did Hitler do on the Night of the Long Knives?
He sent men to arrest or kill Röhm and the SA. Röhm and 200 SA leaders were executed. Hitler declared their murders as legal by accusing them of plotting to overthrow the government.
When did President Hindenburg die?
August 1934
What did Hitler do after Hindenburg had died?
Hitler declares himself Führer and makes the army sign an Oath of Loyalty to him. Some workers had to take an Oath of Obedience, and those who refused could lose their jobs.
What happened to Gauleiters (leaders who ran regional branches of the Nazi party) in 1934?
They officially became in charge of provinces in Germany
What were Reichsleiters?
Hitler’s advisers, such as Goebbels (in charge of propaganda) and Himmler (in charge of the German police).
What was the abolition of the Länder (districts)?
Where Hitler centralised Germany by abolishing all 18 Länder (districts) and their separate parliaments. This had caused trouble for Weimar and President Ebert had used Article 48 over 130 times when individual parliaments disagreed. Hitler centralising them all meant there was no chance of a revolution.
What is a police state?
Where the government controls all aspects of people’s lives
How did Hitler use the justice system to enforce his police state?
-> all judges had to join the NSRB or was sacked, meaning judges were biased and unfair
-> a ‘People’s Court’ was made in 1934 where cases were tried for treason and Hitler himself could alter sentences if he thought they were too soft
-> he used recordings of the court as propaganda - ‘Raving Roland’ was a judge famous for screaming in court and Hitler adored him
What was Gleichschaltung?
The process of ‘Nazi-fying’ everything, such as the media, court, education and government.
What were concentration camps first used for and who were they run by?
Run by the SS/SD, used to confine opponents such as communists or trade unionists.
What were the SS?
A bodyguard unit for Hitler consisting of Aryan men - a professional group in uniforms (in black) led by Himmler after 1929.
What were the Gestapo and who was in charge of it?
They were secret state police (undercover people) who arrested and imprisoned those suspected of opposing the state. It was set up by Goering in 1936 but came under the control of Himmler in 1939.
What were the SD?
The intelligence body of the Nazi Party consisting of well-educated people such as lawyers and politicians. Their job was to discover potential enemies and ensure they were removed.
What were the differences between Nazism and Christianity?
Nazism glorified violence, despised the weak, believed in racial superiority and saw Hitler as a God-like figure. Meanwhile, Christianity teaches love and forgiveness, helps the weak, believes all people are equal and sees God as the only God-like figure.
Why did Hitler want to take control of the Church?
The majority of the population was religious and so the Church was very influential
What was the German Faith Movement and was it effective?
It was a movement to replace Christian values with pagan (non-Christian) ideas. It was not effective because only 5% of the population joined it.
Why did Hitler see the Catholic Church as a threat?
Catholics were loyal to the Pope over Hitler, supported the Centre Party and preached messages that conflicted with the Nazi Party.
What was the Concordat and when was it signed?
It was an agreement between Hitler and the Pope that Hitler would not interfere with religion and the Pope would not interfere with politics. It was signed in July 1933.
How did Hitler break the Concordat?
-> harassed and arrested priests
-> closed monasteries, and Catholic youth movements and Catholic schools
What was the Reich Church and why was it created?
A church which combined all Protestant churches together. This was because some Protestants favoured Hitler and his antisemitic views - they were nicknamed ‘German Christians’.
What was the Bible and cross replaced with in the Reich Church, and what was sung every morning in schools?
Mein Kampf and the Swastika, and Hitler’s own hymn was sung every morning in schools
Was the Reich Church compulsory?
No, but there were no other options
How did the Political Left oppose Hitler in the police state?
They organised strikes but the different parties were divided and did not work together, making them weak.
How did members of the Church oppose the Reich Church?
-> Niemöller, a Protestant pastor, was a founder of the ‘Confessing Church’ (a Church to unite people against Hitler) but spent several years in a concentration camp for this
-> Von Galen, a Catholic bishop, protested against the euthanasia of disabled people. This did not stop the killing, but it did force the Nazis to keep it secret and not execute them as they needed the support of German Catholics.
What were the Edelweiss Pirates?
Groups that rejected Nazi values and opposed the Hitler Youth. They handed out anti-Nazi leaflets and many members were arrested or even publicly hanged for this.
What were the Swing Youth?
Groups that rejected the control of the Nazis over culture. They would listen to American Jazz and drink alcohol to rebel. They were more of a nuisance but the Gestapo sent some to concentration camps and arrested anyone at a Jazz club.
How did the Pope oppose Hitler?
He attacked him by sending him a letter in 1937 calling Hitler a ‘mad prophet with repulsive arrogance’.
Who led the Ministry of Propaganda?
Goebbels
How were newspapers used as propaganda?
Non-Nazi newspapers were closed down and the Reich Press Law removed any Jewish or left-wing journalists. This meant the only news given to citizens were Nazi views.
How were rallies used as propaganda?
An annual mass rally was held at Nuremberg. Rallies, often led by the Hitler Youth, were also held on other occasions, such as Hitler’s birthday.
How was radio used as propaganda?
By 1939, 70% of German families owned a radio. These were all placed under Nazi control and lacked reception, making it difficult to listen to foreign broadcasts. Loudspeakers were even installed in streets.
How was film used as propaganda?
All film plots had to be shown to Goebbels before production and would therefore showcase plots where people, for example, were murdered by communists. Anti-Semitic films were also made, but these were not very popular.
How were posters used as propaganda?
They targeted the young, were simple and direct and could be seen everywhere.
How was literature used as propaganda?
All books, poems and plays were censored and controlled to put across the Nazi message. Encouraged by Goebbels, students in Berlin burned 20,000 books written by Jews and communists.
How was music and theatre used as propaganda?
Banned Jazz as it was considered ‘black’ music and encouraged German folk music. Theatre focused on German history and was very cheap to encourage more people to watch it.
How was art and architecture used as propaganda?
Hitler banned and hated modern art, calling it ‘degenerate’. He instead encouraged art portraying the power of the Nazis, the perfect Aryan, women as housewives/mothers and the heroism of hard work and the simple peasant life. He encouraged Greek/Roman style architecture because he said Jews had not ‘contaminated’ it.
What was the ‘Hitler Myth’?
Hitler was a god-like, powerful leader who all must worship.
How was sport used as propaganda?
Hitler encouraged sport as boys were to become future soldiers and girls future mothers. The 1936 Berlin Olympics was designed to showcase Aryan superiority and a positive image of Germany - antisemitic posters were taken down for this.
Who was Jesse Owens?
A black, American athlete who won many medals and so contradicted Hitler’s plans to showcase the Aryan race. Between all the black, American athletes, 7 gold medals were won but Hitler refused to present medals to them.
What was the former role of women in politics and what did the Nazis want instead?
BEFORE -> had the vote and, by 1933, one tenth of the Reichstag were women
AFTER -> had no interest in politics
What was the former role of women in the economy and what did the Nazis want instead?
BEFORE -> had professional careers and, by 1933, there were 3,000 female doctors
AFTER -> did not go out to work and instead did all of the household duties
What was the former role of women socially and what did the Nazis want instead?
BEFORE -> women went out unescorted, drunk, smoked, wore makeup, cut their hair short and wore revealing clothes
AFTER -> women did not wear makeup, wore their hair in buns/plaits and had large hips as it was good for childbirth
What are the three Ks?
Kinder (children), Küche (kitchen) and Kirche (church).
What was the Law for the Encouragement of Marriage?
A law that gave newlywed couples a loan of 1,000 marks, and allowed them to keep 250 marks for each child they had.
What was given to women who had 4, 6 and 8 children?
A bronze, silver and gold mother’s cross.
What was the Lebensborn programme?
Women were allowed to volunteer to have a child with an Aryan member of the SS out of wedlock - it was considered a child for the Führer.
How did the Nazis discourage women from working and was it successful?
With the Law for the Reduction of Unemployment, which gave women financial incentives to stay at home - however, it was unsuccessful and the number of women in employment rose by 2.4 million due to Germany’s growing economy and women’s cheap labour
Why did the Nazis go back on their employment policies for women?
More men were joining the army so women were needed for the economy. They abolished the marriage loans and women had to complete a ‘duty year’ for no pay.
When was the Hitler Youth founded and when did it become compulsory?
Founded in 1926, became compulsory in 1936 and all other youth organisations were banned.
How many members were in the Hitler Youth in 1930 and why was it popular?
25,000 - it was popular because it was free so attracted the working-class and it was also fun to go hiking and camping and play sports.
Did everybody join the Hitler Youth when it was compulsory and why?
No as it became increasingly military-focused and less fun
What was the female branch of the Hitler Youth called and what did it entail?
The League of German Maidens - it entailed domestic activities like sowing and cooking, but also some camping and hiking which gave girls new opportunities normally reserved for boys
How was education ‘Nazified’?
- 97% of teachers joined the Nazi Teachers League by 1937
- textbooks had to align with concepts of racial purity and Nazi success, and the standard text was Mein Kampf
- curriculum focused on Aryan superiority, antisemitism and eugenics/race studies - students would measure their skulls and classify their race and 15% of time was devoted to PE
- boys learnt military skills and girls learnt domestic skills
What did Erika Mann say about Nazi education?
“Every child says ‘Heil Hitler!’ from 50 to 100 times a day […] it is required by law.”
What was the Reich Labour Service?
Men aged 18-25 can access manual labour jobs. It was compulsory for them to serve in the corps for 6 months after 1935.
What was invisible employment?
Where the Nazis released official figures of unemployment that did not include women and Jews.
What were ‘autobahns’ and why was this useful?
Motorways - it was useful as it provided 125,000 men with jobs.
What was rearmament?
Where Hitler introduced conscription in 1935 - this helped decrease unemployment. The army went from 100,000 in 1933 to 1.4 million in 1939.
What happened to the industry of oil, iron and steel between years 1933-1939?
It trebled.
How did Hitler make many groups in society feel better off in terms of employment and what was one issue with it?
-> ‘Strength through Joy’ - a scheme providing workers cheap holidays and leisure activities
-> introduced Volkswagen (the people’s car) as a luxury for people to strive and own
-> cost of living rose by 25% and workers had no rights to strike or resign
Why did Hitler not like Slavs?
Because he wanted to drive them out of Eastern Europe and claim the land as his own
What was selective breeding?
Where Hitler prevented anyone who wasn’t Aryan having children - mixed marriages or relationships were banned.
Why did Christians persecute the Jews?
They had a different religion and different customs and could even be blamed for the execution of Christ and therefore should be eternally punished.
Why did Hitler persecute the Jews?
He spent several years in Vienna which had an ongoing tradition of antisemitism. He also blamed Jews for the signing of the Treaty of Versailles, hyperinflation and the Great Depression to make them scapegoats.
How did Hitler encourage antisemitism?
Through propaganda and the antisemitic education system which later turned into laws restricting Jewish education and then Jewish children being expelled from German schools in 1938.
What happened on the 1st April 1933?
Germans were persuaded to boycott Jewish shops and businesses. SA members discouraged entry into these and painted the Star of David on their doors and windows. However, most Germans ignored this boycott.
What did the Nuremberg Laws state and when were they passed?
They were passed in 1935 and stated that only those of German blood could be German citizens meaning Jews lost citizenship and the right to vote. It also forbade marriage or sexual relations between Germans and Jews and any already existing marriages of this sort were encouraged to divorce (though few did). This shows that Germans and Jews were seen as biologically different.
What happened to Jews concerning businesses and public spaces?
They were forced to close/sell businesses and were banned from employment. They were also banned in many public spaces, such as theatres.
When was Kristallnacht, what does it mean and why was it called this?
November 1938 - it means the Night of the Broken Glass and was called this due to the thousands of windows that were smashed.
How was Kristallnacht triggered?
A Polish Jew shot a German official in protest of his parents’ deportation.
What occurred during Kristallnacht?
7,500 Jewish businesses, and 191 synagogues were smashed and destroyed. Around 100 Jews were killed and 20,000 were sent to concentration camps.
What was the German people’s reaction to Kristallnacht?
They were disgusted. Hitler then made it so it did not seem like the work of the Nazis and declared it as ‘a spontaneous act of vengeance by all Germans’, despite few ordinary Germans participating. Hitler blamed the Jews for provoking the attack and Jews were banned from owning businesses, having to give them to pure Germans.
What measures were taken against the Jews in 1938?
- Jews had to carry identity cards and had the red letter ‘J’ stamped on their passports
- Jewish men had to add ‘Israel’ to their first name and Jewish women had to add ‘Sarah’ to humiliate them
What was the Sterilisation Law?
Allowed the Nazis to sterilise people with mental illnesses such as ‘simple-mindedness’ and ‘chronic alcoholism’. 350,000 people were forcefully sterilised by 1935.
What was the Euthanasia Campaign?
In 1939, Nazis secretly euthanised disabled people. Around 6,000 children were murdered by starvation or lethal injection.
