Germany Flashcards
What is Weltpolitik?
The Kaiser wanting to transform Germany into a world power - It stands for world policy
What were some of the figures of the impact of the First World War on Germany?
- Germany was virtually bankrupt - national income roughly 1/3 of what it was
- Stress of the war led to a revolution in 1918 and the abdication of the Kaiser
- Huge gaps in living standards
Who was the first the first German President and leader of the Social Democratic Party?
Friedrich Ebert
Who were the Sparticists?
They were a group who believed in the idea of communism
When did the Sparticists try to take over Berlin, and what happened?
- January 1919
- The Free Corps (ex-soldiers) got sent there, and there was brutal street fighting
Who did they arrest and murder from the Sparticists?
Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht, the leads
How was the Weimar Republic born?
The newly elected politicians met up in Weimar discussing how to run Germany, because of the violence in Berlin
What was the structure of the Weimar Republic?
The President -> chancellor -> Reichstag -> the citizens
What did the President do?
- Controlled Navy, army and air force, but stayed out of day to day running
- But in a crisis he could rule by himself (article 48)
What is article 48?
Gives the president the right to rule in a time of crisis without the support of the Reichstag
What did the chancellor do?
- chosen by the president
- responsible for the day to day running of the country
- must have support of at least half the MPs in the Reichstag to introduce laws
What did the Reichstag do?
- discussed and introduced laws
- the number of MPs in each political party was based on the number of votes they had (proportional representation)
What was the difference in the price of an egg from 1914-23?
1914 - 0.9 marks -> 1923 - 320,000,000,000 marks
What happened in the Kapp Putsch?
- Wolfgang Kapp gathered thousands of Free corps and took over Berlin
- He aimed to eventually take over the whole country, make the army strong and recover the land lost on the TOV
- President Ebert and the rest of government fled
- However, he didn’t have the support of the workers, so they striked
- After 100 hours Kapp gave up and fled
How did Hitler discover the German Workers Party?
- in 1919 he was sent by the army to investigate new political groups
- Hitler attended regularly because he liked what was being said
When did Hitler become leader of the Nazi Party?
July 1921
What key changes did Hitler make to the party?
- he designed the swastika
- set up the Stormtroopers, SA (private army made up of mostly ex-soldiers)
- changed the name to the NSDAP (Nazi for short)
When was the Munich Putsch?
8 November 1923
What did Hitler do in the Munich Putsch?
- interrupted a meeting in a beer hall, where von Kahr, the head of the Bavarian government, was speaking
- he fired a bullet into the ceiling and announced he would take over Bavaria
- he locked Kahr and his companions in a room
- General Ludendorff then walked in and said he supported
- the SA took control of government buildings and arrested officials
What went wrong in the Munich Putsch?
- Kahr promised to help him, and was released, but he contacted the police
- when he began their march, he was met by armed police (Kahr had contacted them)
- there was a short gun firing, where three police and 16 nazis where killed
- Hitler was wounded, and him and Ludendorff where arrested
How long was Hitler in prison for and how long did his trial last?
- Hitler was allowed to give a speech in his trial, which lasted 24 days
- he used the audience to his advantage and put forward his ideas, this impressed the judges
- he should of been executed for the crime, but he got given a 5 year sentence and Ludendorff was set free
- He was released early, in 1924 after serving just 9 months
What did Hitler do wrong in the Putsch?
- he didn’t do it on the day planned
- he trusted Ludendorff with three hostages, he then let them go
Who were important people in cinema, and art in the golden age?
- Cinema, Marlene Dietrich
- Art, Otto Dix
What was the Dawes Plan?
An agreement between the USA and European countries which allowed US loans to be given out to countries (especially Germany), in order for them to build factories and roads to stimulate the economy
Why did Müllers government fail during the Wall St Crash?
- the coalition could not agree action to tackle the depression
- he asked President Hindenburg to grant him emergency powers under Article 48, but he was refused
Why did Brünings government fail during the Wall St Crash?
- they made cuts and raised taxes
- this made them very unpopular, and the economy still did not improve
Who replaced Brünings Government?
Franz Von Papen
What was the 1932 unemployment figure?
5.6 million
What are the Nazi Party’s election figures?
1928 - 12 seats
July 1932 - 230 seats
What were the Nazi strengths?
- propaganda
- Hitler was a good orator
- the policies promised to help all people
- organisations
What were the communist party called?
KPD
What happened when Hindenburg refused to appoint Hitler as chancellor?
- he appointed Franz Von Papen as chancellor
- but he could not rule the Reichstag as he had no support
- he resigned and Kurt Von Schliecher became the chancellor
- same thing happened again
What made Hitler become chancellor?
DEPRESSION
Also Weakness of Weimar,Nazi Strengths, fear of communism and miscalculations of others
When did Hitler become Chancellor?
January 1933
What were some limits to Hitlers power in 1933?
Hindenburg could dismiss Hitler
The nazis did not have a majority in the Reichstag
The army could remove the army from power
When did the Reichstag fire happen?
27 February 1933
What was the enabling act?
This allowed Hitler to pass decrees without the Reichstag, this made him a legal Dictator
When was the enabling act?
March 1933
When was the Night of the Long Knives and what was it?
20 June 1934, Hitler ordered the SS to arrest and execute the leaders of the SA, including Ernst Rohm, estimated 401 people were killled
When did Hitler become Fuhrer and why?
2 August 1934, Hindenburg died
How did the Reichstag fire help the Nazis?
- it hurt the KPD, so people did not vote for them
- Hitler claimed there was an emergency, genuine fear of violence
- he got article 48
- he was able to pass the Decree for the Protection of the poeple and state
Who was the leader of the SS and what did they do?
Heinrich Himmler, destroyed opposition + controlled Nazi camps
Who were the Gestapo?
They were secret police who spied on people who could be a threat, they could arrest and imprison without a trial
What was a key concentration camp?
Dachau
What was Kinder, Kirche and Küche?
Children, kitchen and church (Nazi ideal for women)
What was the gold mothers cross?
Awarded to women who have 8 children
How many babies were there by 1939?
1.4 million
What was in the curriculum in the Hitler Youth?
Eugenics (race studies), geography (where Germany would conquer), PE trebled, Maths (calculating how much disabled people cost the country)…
What did teachers have to do?
Join the German Teachers League, put Nazi ideas across, identify future Nazi leaders who got sent to Napolas
What was the timeline of the youth groups?
1933 - all other youth groups banned
1936- Incorporation of German Youth (Hitler Youth had equal status of school and home)
1939 - membership compulsory
What was the name of the league that taught girls how to prepare for motherhood?
League of German Maidens
Who were key groups the opposed the Hitler Youth?
Swing Youth
Edelweiss Pirates
Navajos
What percentage of the population in Germany did Jews make up?
1%
When was Kristallnacht and when was it?
1938, 91 Jews where killed, 400 synagogues destroyed, 7500 shops destroyed, 20000 Jews sent to concentration camps (as a German official was killled in France by a Jew)
How many Jews were killed across Europe?
6 million
Who else was persecuted?
Gypsies, homosexuals, mentally ill people, people with disabilities
Who was head of Nazi Propaganda?
Josef Goebbles
Who was part of the White Rose Group?
Sophie and Hans Scholl, they handed out anti Nazi leaflets
When was the July Bomb plot and what was it?
1944
- a group tried to assassinate Hitler by placing a bomb in a room with him and other Nazi Leaders, it killed four men however only burned some of Hitlers hair and burst his eardrum
Who was a key figure in the July Bomb plot?
Colonel Claus Von Stuaffenburg
Who was the female filmaker that produced Nazi propaganda films?
Leni Refensthal
What was the name of the conference that the Final Solution was decided?
Wannsee Conference
What was the name for the master race?
Aaryans
Who were some groups with active resistance to the Nazis?
White Rose Group, Edelweiss Pirates, Kreisau Circle
When was rationing introduced and what was it?
November 1939, one egg per week, hot water for only 2 days a week, artificial goods
What was the Bundestrat?
A group of German state representatives who supported the Kaiser
What was the organisation that workers had to belong to?
The DAF (German Labour Front)
When did Germany join the League of Nations?
1926
what were the weaknesses of the Weimar?
proportional representation- meant that lots of parties could win seats but was difficult to get the majority so law making was a slow process
what are some examples of political parties in early Weimar Germany?
KPD (communists)
SPD
zentrum
NSDAP (Nazis)
when was the Ruhr occupied?
1922
why did France and Belgium invade the Ruhr?
the Germans said they couldn’t pay the reparations
so they marched 60,000 soldiers in a took control
who lost out during hyperinflation?
people with savings
elderly people with fixed pensions
small businesses
who did hyperinflation benefit?
people who had borrowed money could very easily pay it back
how many politicians were murdered between 1919 and 1922?
over 350
when was the red rising in the Ruhr and what happened?
1920
after the Kapp Putsch left wing workers in the industrial parts stayed on strike
they took over several towns
the government sent soldiers and some free corps to deal
over 1000 workers were killed
when was the Stresemann era?
1924-29
what was the Dawes plan?
USA agreed to lend money to Germany so they could pay off reparations
what did Stresemann warn his policies were like?
dancing on top of a volcano
what was the young plan and what happened?
1929
a reduction in the total payment needed for reparations
how many copies of all quiet on the western front sold?
1/2 million
what were reasons for the growth of the nazi party?
depression
Weimar government failing
charismatic nature of Hitler
fear of communism
propaganda
FEAR
who voted for the nazis?
farmers - needed help in the depression and fear of communism
middle class - scared of communism
women - nazis said family life and morals were important
wealthy - wanted strong leadership anad opposed communism
youth - appeal of opposing the ToV
what were the changes to reduce unemployment?
national labour service (RAD)
rearmament
public work schemes
invisible unemployment
what was the national labour service?
all men between 18 and 25 had to spend 6 months
they planted forests, mended hedges and dug ditches
they wore uniforms and lived in camps, but had free meals and small wages
what were the public work schemes?
autobahns created 100,000 new jobs
new schools and hospitals were built
how did rearmament reduce unemployment?
new tanks, battleships, planes and weapons were needed which created thousands of jobs
conscription in 1935 meant that all men 18->25 had to join the army for 2 years
army grew from 100,000 to 1,400,000
what were the invisible unemployed?
women who gave up work to have a family
part time was counted as full time
jews didnt count
what was the DAF?
german labour front
replaced trade unions
strikes were illegal
promised to protect workers rights
ran two schemes - SDA and KDF
What is the SDA?
Beauty of Labour
Tried to improve the workplace by installing better lighting, safety equipment, new washrooms, low cost canteens and sports facilities
What is the KDF?
Strength through joy
Organised leisure activities to encourage hard work
Had a reward scheme with cheap holidays, theatre trips and football match tickets if workers met targets
Did the economic changes help the workers?
Many workers lost their rights - no trade unions
Workers couldn’t quit without government permission
Strikes were banned
People could work as many hours as the Nazis liked
People like the Jews were sacked
What was the economy like under Schacht?
Realised raw materials were needed
He signed deals with countries like South America to supply raw materials in exchange for German goods
For a while weapon production increased and unemployment fell
But the changes were too slow for Hitler
So he was sacked
What was the economy like under Goering?
He introduced a four year plan to increase military production
Targets were not met
Germany still needed foreign raw materials so he tried to make Germany self sufficient
What were some examples of self sufficiency?
Petrol made from coal
Coffee made from acorns
What positives did the Nazis have for farmers?
Their taxes were reduced
The could not be thrown off their land if they went into debt
Farmers could not divide their land between their children
What were the negatives for the farmers under the Nazis?
Some didn’t like the prevention of the division of their land
The Nazis controlled food prices in the late 1930s
What were the impacts of WW2 on people in Germany?
Rationing
Total war
Labour shortages
Bombing
What was rationed?
By November 1939 food and clothing - one egg per week
Soap and toilet paper were in short supply
Hot water for 2 days a week
What was total war?
Everything wa focused on making weapons and food for soldiers
Factories stayed open longer
Things that were stopped :
- beer and dance halls were shut
- letter boxes boarded up
By 1944 how many foreign workers were working in Germany?
Around 7 million
When did Britain and America start bombing Germany?
1942
Who was Henreich Himmler?
Head of the SS
When was the SS set up?
1925
What were the forms of propaganda in Germany?
Newspapers
Films
Books
Theatre
Radio
How did the Nazis control newspapers?
Only stories showing Nazis doing good things were allowed
Negative stories about their enemies
Newspapers who didn’t comply were shut down
How did the Nazis control films?
Scripts had to be approved by goebbles
All films had to show the Nazis in a good way and their enemies in a bad way
Who was head of propaganda?
Joseph Goebbles
What happened during the Berlin olympics?
Anti - semitism was temporarily stopped to give the world a better image of them
Germans came top of medal table - claimed this was the superiority of the race
What was the chamber of culture?
Led by Joseph Goebbels
All musicians, writers, artists and actors had to be members
Who is the chancellor?
Ministers advised over the kaiser
What was the Bundestrat?
Made up of representatives from each state
What was Kaiser Whilhem II like?
Spent most of his youth in the army
Keen to maintain a powerful army and build a strong navy
Was from Prussia - militarism was a key belief
Wanted Germany to be a global power (weltpolotik)
What was the growth of socialism?
Many workers were unhappy with their low wages and poor working conditions
They joined trade unions and organised strikes
The social democratic party became popular with workers
Bow many workers had joined trade unions by 1914?
3million
What is socialism?
Power and wealth should be shared equally
Disagreed with power and privilaged positions
What were the navy laws?
Between 1898 and 1912
A huge amount of money was spent rapidly increasing the size of the navy
Why did the kaiser introduce the naval laws?
He wanted a large navy to help him take over new countries and protect the German empire
How were the navy laws introduced?
Taxes were increased and money was borrowed
Germans would remain in debt for a very long time
When did Hitler call another election and why?
Feb 1933
He hoped to get a majority So he could have more power
When was the reichstag fire?
Feb 1933
What did Hitler do with the reichstag fire?
Blamed it on communist plot trying to take down Germany
Happened a week before election day
What were the consequences of the reichstag fire?
He asked for article 48 - giving him all the power
Hindenburg agreed
What was the decree for the protection for people and the state?
Banned leading communists from taking part in the election campaign
4000 communists were jailed
Thier newspapers were banned
When was the enabling act?
1933
What was the enabling act?
Hitler could make laws without the rest of the reichstag
When did Hitler ban all trade unions?
1933
When was the law against the formation of new parties?
July 1933
Who did Hitler feel most threatened by?
The SA
Had the SA helped Hitler?
Protected Hitler from harm and had beaten his opponents
What made Hitler feel threatened by the SA?
Many wanted higher pay
Hitler was worried Ernst Rohm was becoming too powerful
Rohm wanted to combine both the SA and the army - and rule himself
When was the night of the long knives?
June 1934
What happened in the night of the long knives?
Hitler arranged a meeting in bavaria with SA leaders
Just before dawn Hitler and an assassination squad from the SS stormed the hotel and arrested the leaders
They were shot days
Over the next couple of days 400 political leaders were executed
How many political opponents were killed in the night of the long knives?
Around 400
Including ex chancellor Kurt von Schleicher
What was education in schools like under the Nazis?
Every subject taught nazi beliefs
History - learnt how badly Germany was treated after the First World War
Textbooks were rewritten
They were taught eugenics
Students were indetified as future leaders and sent to Napolas
What did boys and girls learn in school under the Nazis?
Boys - PE became very important to prepare them for the army
Girls - were taught domestic skills like cooking and sewing
What was the supreme race according to the Nazis?
Aaryans
What did universities do under the Nazis?
Had to change their courses
Professors were handpicked by the Nazis
All students had to train as soldiers for a month each year
Wasn’t considered important - fewer attended
How many professors had been dismissed by 1939?
Over 3000
When was the Hitler youth founded?
1922
When were all other youth groups banned?
1933
When was membership of Hitler youth made compulsory?
1939
What was life like under the Nazis for German boys?
Went to meetings several times a week
Learnt how to march, fight with knives, fire a gun and keep fit
Activities were based on heroism, competition and leadership
What was life like under the Nazis for girls?
How to keep fit, cook and prepare for motherhood
Went on tough marches and attended weekend camps
What was life like for women in Weimar Germany?
Had many freedoms other countries didn’t have - could vote
Many attend university and were lawyers and doctors
The birth rate fell
How much did the birth rate fall from 1900 to 1933?
1900 - 2 million a year
1933 - under a million
What were the three Ks?
Kinder, Kitchener and Küche
(Children, church and cooking)
What were the family policies under the Nazis?
Contraception and abortion were banned
Generous loans were given to newly married couples to encourage them to have families
Motherhood medal awarded
When was the gold cross awarded?
Mothers with 8 children
What was the law for the prevention of diseased offspring?
Allowed forcible sterilisation of women with history with mental illness, hereditary diseases or antisocial behaviour
What were the Nazis attitudes towards women working?
Many female teachers, judges, lawyers and doctors were sacked
They believed they need to produce children
What were women banned from?
Smoking
Wearing trousers
Wearing high heels
‘Slimming’ as it might make it harder to get pregnant
What wer the organisations for women?
German Workers Leafue
the Nazi Women’s organisation
How much did the birth rate increase by?
970,000 in 1933
1,413,000 by 1939
What religion were most Germans?
Christian
Why did some Christian’s
Why did some Christians support the Nazis?
Nazis believed in marriage and family morals
They had sworn to destroy communism
He promised to respect the church
What did a 1933 concordant with the pope state?
That the Catholic Church and Nazis could not interfere with eachother
How did Hitler treat catholics?
They were harassed
Clubs and schools were shut down
How mnay pastors of the confessional church were arrested?
800
How many gypsies and Jews died in death camps?
1/2 million gypsies
6 million jews
What groups did Hitler discriminate?
Jews
Gypsies
Slavs
Indians
Black people
How many ‘undesirables’ were killed?
200,000 including 5,000 children
What happened to Jews in school?
We’re forced out of state schools
What happened to Jews who were working?
All Jewish lawyers, judges and teachers were sacked in 1933
When were all Jewish shops marked with the Star of David?
1934
What were the Nuremberg laws of 1935?
Banned marriage between Jews and non Jews
When was Kristalnacht?
November 1938
How mnay Jews were killed in kristallnacht?
100
How mnay Jews were sent to concentration camps during kristallnacht?
20,000
What happened during kristallnacht?
Jewish homes, synagogues and businesses were under attack
Who oversaw the final solution?
Heinrich himmler
How many death camps were made?
6
What were examples of Jewish resistance?
Treblinka camp 1943
15 guards killed and 150 prisoners escaped
