Germany 1890-1945

Question 1

Bundesrat

Answer 1

Made up of representatives from each state

Question 2

What was the Reichstag

Answer 2

German Parliament

Question 3

What could the Kaiser do?

Answer 3

Could ignore government advice and make his own decisions. He made all military and foreign policy decisions

Question 4

Weltpolitik

Answer 4

The idea Kaiser Wilhelm II had for Germany to be a global power and have an empire to rival Britain’s

Question 5

militarism

Answer 5

The belief that a country should have strong armed forces - was important to Prussia

Question 6

Why did workers join trade unions because of socialism?

Answer 6

As they hoped it would force the government to improve pay and working conditions.

Question 7

How many workers had joined trade unions by 1914?

Answer 7

3 million workers

Question 8

What political party became popular among the workers

Answer 8

the social democratic party

Question 9

What did the Social Democratic Party believe?

Answer 9

SPD believed in socialism
Hoped that Kaiser improved workers rights and conditions
Disagreed with power and privileged positions held by land and factory owners

Question 10

When were the Navy Laws introduced?

Answer 10

1898 - 1912

Question 11

How did the Naval Laws affect the German people?

Answer 11

Taxes were increased and money was borrowed to pay for this. Germany would remain in debt for a very long time.

Question 12

What was the impact of WW1 on Germany?

Answer 12

Germany owed vast sums of money that it had borrowed to pay for the war
Factories were exhausted

Question 13

Why was Germany politically unstable after WW1?

Answer 13

There was mutiny and revolution all over Germany
Many ex-soldiers and civilians felt that politicians had betrayed Germany by ending the war

Question 14

When did the German navy in Kiel mutiny?

Answer 14

October 1918

Question 15

What happened when the German navy in Kiel mutinied?

Answer 15

The mutiny spread, and soldiers sent to deal with the protests also joined the sailors and workers. Workers and soldiers councils were governing towns and cities all over Germany.

Question 16

What did the Kaiser do on 9th of November 1918 after the mutiny of the navy?

Answer 16

The Kaiser abdicated and secretly left Germany, never to return.

Question 17

When did Germany surrender the First World War?

Answer 17

11th November 1918.

Question 18

Who took over temporarily after the Kaiser abdicated?

Answer 18

Friedrich Ebert, the leader of Germany’s largest political party (the SPD)

Question 19

What did Ebert declare as temporary leader?

Answer 19

That Germany would be a democratic republic and he arranged for elections to

Question 20

Who were the Spartacists and what did they want

Answer 20

A group of communists in Germany and
wanted Germany to be run by small councils of soldiers and workers

Question 21

Where did the Spartacists sieze power of in 1919?

Answer 21

They seized power of Berlin

Question 22

How did Ebert respond to the Spartacists seizing power of Berlin?

Answer 22

He sent 2000 ex-soldiers known as the Freikorps to attack the Spartacists

Question 23

Who won when Ebert held the elections?

Answer 23

His own party the SPD won and Ebert became the new president

Question 24

What was the Weimar Constitution?

Answer 24

A formal set of rules for how Germany would be governed, and all Germans had equal rights, including the right to vote

Question 25

What were the weaknesses of the Weimar constitution?

Answer 25

Law making was a slow process as it was difficult for one party to get a majority (proportional representation)
Many groups didn’t like the new democratic system of governing. People longed for the Kaiser to rule again

Question 26

What year was the Treaty of Versailles?

Answer 26

1919

Question 27

What were the rules of the Treaty of Versailles?

Answer 27

Germany had to pay for the cost of the war (£6.6 billion)
Germany should only have a small army and navy
Germany must hand over its colonies abroad to the winning countries
Large areas of German land were used to create countries for people who had previously been ruled by others

Question 28

How did the Germans react to the Treaty of Versailles?

Answer 28

They felt it was too harsh - it took away large areas of land which meant losing people, factories, farms, and mines.
They felt Germany’s politicians had betrayed the country by asking for a ceasefire when the Kaiser left Germany in 1918. They thought Germany should of carried on fighting.

Question 29

when did the occupation of the Ruhr happen

Answer 29

1922

Question 30

How did the occupation of the Ruhr happen?

Answer 30

In 1922, when the next reparation was due, the Germans announced that they couldn’t afford to pay.
The French and Belgians didn’t believe them and they decided to take what they were owed by force
January 1923 - 60,000 French and Belgian soldiers marched into the Ruhr. They took control of every factory, mine, and railway in the region. They also took food and goods from shops and arrested any Germans who stood up to them.

Question 31

How many French and Belgian soldiers marched into the Ruhr in January 1923?

Answer 31

60,000 soldiers

Question 32

How did hyperinflation happen in 1923?

Answer 32

-The German government ordered its workers in the Ruhr to go on strike and not help the French and Belgian remove goods from the country. This was know as passive resistance. The German government continued paying the workers on strike.
-The German government printed large amounts of money to pay striking workers and to pay the money they owed France and Belgium. This caused problems because as the workers spent money in the shops, shopkeepers began putting up their prices.
-The German government printed even more money to help the workers buy products, so shops raised their prices again.
-Prices were inflating so fast that it was known as hyperinflation.

Question 33

Negative impacts of the hyperinflation of 1923:

Answer 33

People’s bank savings become worthless, elderly peoples fixed pensions couldn’t buy them what they needed, small businesses collapsed.

Question 34

Positive impacts of the hyperinflation of 1923:

Answer 34

People who had borrowed money found it very easy to pay off their debts.

Question 35

What was the Kapp Putsch?

Answer 35

1920: right-wing politician Wolfgang Kapp gathered around 5000 men (Free Corps) and took over the capital, Berlin.
During the Kapp Putsch, President Ebert and the government fled Berlin. However, Kapp didn’t have the worker’s support so they went on strike, resulting in no gas, water, electricity, or trains.

Question 36

When was the Munich Putsch and what happened

Answer 36

November 1923, when Hitler and the Nazis tried to seize control of the Bavarian government in southern Germany, Hitler promised to overturn the Treaty of Versailles, destroy communism and restore Germany’s national glory.

Question 37

What was the result of the Munich Putsch?

Answer 37

Hitler and Ludendorff were arrested

Question 38

Who was Gustav Stresemann?

Answer 38

Germany’s Foreign Minister, (1924-1929) and who led to Germany recovering from it’s problems.

Question 39

How did Stresemann stop the hyperinflation crisis?

Answer 39

He stopped the printing of bank notes and replaced them with a temporary currency called the Rentenmark, which was replaced by the Reichsmark in 1924. However, some people blamed Stresemann as people never got their savings back.

Question 40

How did Stresemann make French and Belgian troops leave the Ruhr?

Answer 40

He arranged for the USA to lend money to Germany (800 million gold marks). So Germany re-started paying its reparation payments. This deal was the Dawes Plan. The French and Belgian troops left the Ruhr. Although, some Germans thought Stressemann should have demanded a complete end to reparations.

Question 41

What was the Young Plan?

Answer 41

1929 - Stresemann negotiated a reduction in the total payment of the reparations.

Question 42

How did Stresemann economically recover Germany?

Answer 42

Stresemann used some of the American loans to build new factories, schools, roads, houses, as well as for reparations. This meant more jobs, with Germany earning more money.

Question 43

What was the depression?

Answer 43

1929 - a financial crisis (the Wall Street Crash) hit the USA. American companies and banks went out of business, and millions lost their jobs.

Question 44

The economic impact of the Depression on Germany:

Answer 44

German factories shut down and many lost their jobs as Americans were buying German goods from them, but could no longer afford them.
US banks demanded back the money they lent to Germany after WW1. German banks tried to reclaim this money from German businesses, and when they couldn’t pay, they went bankrupt.

Question 45

The political impact of the Depression on Germany:

Answer 45

People listened to extreme political parties, e.g left-wing communist and right-wing Nazis, as they promised to improve German lives.

Question 46

What economic factor contributed to the growth of the Nazi party?

Answer 46

By 1932, unemployment stood at six million, and the Nazis promised to create jobs.

Question 47

How did Hitler appeal to the German population?

Answer 47

He convinced people he could be trusted to make Germany a great nation, and his powerful speeches filled his audiences with hope.

Question 48

Hitler’s tactics to legally win power in elections

Answer 48

The SA (stormtroopers) protected Hitler’s meetings and tried to influence voters at elections.
Hitler took part in rallies, to display Nazi power.
The Hitler Youth Organisation was set up to encourage young followers

Question 49

When was Hitler appointed chancellor?

Answer 49

January 1933

Question 50

How did Hindenburg try to limit Nazi power?

Answer 50

He appointed Von Papen as the vice Chancellor and restricted the number of Nazis Hitler could have in his cabinet.

Question 51

How did Hitler increase his power and establish complete control of Germany?

Answer 51

Hitler called for a new election, and he now had greater influence over newspapers and radio stations, and used his control of the police to intimidate voters and beat up opponents
A week before voting day, the Reichstag burned down, and Hitler blamed it on a communist plot to take over Germany.
Hitler asked Hindenburg to pass an emergency ‘Protection Law’ giving Hitler power to deal with Germany’s problems because of the apparent communist plot of the Reichstag fire, and Hindenburg agreed.
A new law banned leading communists from taking part in the election campaign, 4000 communists were jailed and their newspapers banned. Hitler still didn’t have majority.
Centre party politicians joined the Nazis, Hitler now had the majority. Many Centre Party politicians were bullied into passing the Enabling Act, where Hitler could make laws without approval from the rest of the Reichstag.
Nazis were put in charge of all local government, and the Gestapo was formed.
Hitler banned all trade unions.
Hitler banned all political parties except the Nazis.

Question 52

When and what was the Night of the Long Knives?

Answer 52

June 1934 - Hitler murdered his opponents in the SA

Question 53

What was the National Labour Service under Hitler?

Answer 53

All men 18-25 had to spend six months in the RAD, and were given free meals and a small wage.

Question 54

How did Hitler focus on rearmament?

Answer 54

Building Germany’s armed forces by new tanks, fighter planes, guns, creating thousands of jobs. Conscription was introduced in 1935 where all males 18-25 had to join the armed forces for at least two years.

Question 55

What was the impact of ‘Total War’ on Germany during WW2?

Answer 55

In 1942, everything that didn’t contribute to the war was stopped, leading to closures of places like beer halls and sweet shops.

Question 56

How did Germany address labor shortages during WW2?

Answer 56

Women were drafted into factories and 7 million foreign workers were brought in as slave labor.

Question 57

School under the Nazis:

Answer 57

-Teachers had to join the German Teachers League and teach what the Nazis wanted, or be sacked.
-Every subject was used to put forward Nazi propaganda and beliefs.
-Textbooks were rewritten to present Nazi beliefs as facts.
-Students were taught that the Aryan race was superior to others.
-PE became very important to prepare boys for the army and girls studied domestic skills to prepare for their roles as wives and mothers.

Question 58

Hitler Youth for boys:

Answer 58

-They went to Hitler Youth meetings several times a week after school.
-Learnt how to march, fight with knives, fire a gun, and keep fit.
-Nazis were preparing the boys for their future role as soldiers.

Question 59

Hitler Youth for girls:

Answer 59

-The emphasis was on how to keep fit, cook good meals and to care for babies.
-They also went on tough marches and attended weekend camps.

Question 60

Women in Weimar Germany:

Answer 60

1920s - Women had many rights and freedom that other countries didn’t have. They could vote, and their pay was equal to men if they worked for the government.
Many women attended university and became lawyers or doctors.
Birthrates fell as women worked.

Question 61

Women in Nazi Germany:

Answer 61

Nazis were worried about declining number of births, as it didn’t fit with their plans to expand Germany’s territory. The Nazis thought it was a women’s patriotic duty to stay at home, have lots of children and support their husbands.

Question 62

Nazi policies towards women

Answer 62

-Female doctors, teachers, lawyers were sacked, working was discouraged as it might hinder producing children.
-Contraception and abortion was banned
-Loans were given to newly married couples to encourage them to have children.
-The Motherhood Medal was awarded to women with the most children.
-A law was passed to allow forcible sterilisation of women with history of mental illness, hereditary diseases, or antisocial behaviour.
-Women were banned from smoking as it was “unladylike”, slimming was discouraged as it could be harder to get pregnant.

Question 63

Why did some Christians support the Nazis?

Answer 63

• Christians feared communism, as it was anti-religious, and Hitler promised to destroy it.
• Hitler believed in the importance of family, marriage, moral values, which Christians valued very highly.
• Hitler promised to respect the Church.

Question 64

How did Hitler cooperate with Catholic leaders at first?

Answer 64

In 1933, he said that the Catholic Church and the Nazis would not interfere with each other.

Question 65

How did Hitler break his agreement with the Catholic Church?

Answer 65

Nazis harassed and arrested Catholic priests.

Question 66

what was the confession church

Answer 66

A Protestant Church which criticised the Nazis, made up of Protestants which totally opposed the Nazis.

Question 67

how many pasters of the cofessional church were arrested

Answer 67

800

Question 68

how many jews died in death camps in the years up to 1945

Answer 68

over 6 million

Question 69

What were the early Nazi policies against Jews?

Answer 69

-From 1934, all Jewish shops were marked with a yellow star of David and soldiers stood outside shops turning people away.
-Jewish children were forced out of German state schools.
-The Nuremberg Laws of 1935 banned marriages between Jews and non-Jews.
-From March 1933, all Jewish lawyers, judges, teachers, were sacked.

Question 70

What happened in November 1938?
(boycott of jewish shops)

Answer 70

Jewish homes, synagogues and businesses were attacked. Also 100 Jews were killed and 20,000 were sent to concentration camps. This is known as Kristallnacht.

Question 71

When and what was the ‘Final Solution’?

Answer 71

In 1942, Nazi leaders planned what they called a ‘final solution to the Jewish question’: the mass murder of every Jew in Nazi - controlled territory.
6 death camps were to be built.

Question 72

when did germany become a ‘police stae’

Answer 72

1933

Question 73

what is a police state

Answer 73

Where the police and other organisations linked to the police are very powerful, and act on behalf of the government.

Question 74

who was Himmler

Answer 74

Head of the SS, loyal Nazi who personally reported to Hitler.

Question 75

When was the SS set up and what did its members wear?

Answer 75

Set up in 1925, members wore black uniforms.

Question 76

Concentration camps under the Nazi police state

Answer 76

-Set up as soon as Hitler took power
-Large prisons where any ‘enemies of the state’ could be held for any length of time.
Inmates were forced to work hard and some were even tortured or worked to death.

Question 77

What helped the Nazis keep control?

Answer 77

Fear of arrest and imprisonment by the Gestapo or the SS.

Question 78

What methods of control did the Nazis use to make sure as many people as possible continued to support them?

Answer 78

propaganda and censorship

Question 79

Who was put in charge of Nazi propaganda?

Answer 79

joseph goebbels

Question 80

What was censorship in Nazi Germany?

Answer 80

The tight government control of what people hear, read, say or see.

Question 81

Why was there censorship in Nazi Germany?

Answer 81

Goebbels felt that propaganda wasn’t enough to control what people thought. He wanted to stop ideas being shared that might challenge the Nazi message.

Question 82

Why was the Chamber of Culture set up?

Answer 82

To organise cultural activities like music, theatre, art and literature so that they reflected Nazi ideas and beliefs.

Question 83

What was the Swing Youth and how did they openly oppose the Nazis?

Answer 83

They declared their dislike of Nazi ideas and policies by listening to jazz music and having Jewish friends.

Question 84

Who was the White Rose group and how did they openly oppose the Nazis?

Answer 84

Led by brother and sister Hans and Sophie Scholl, they urged Germans to get rid of Hitler. They handed out anti-Nazi leaflets, put up posters and wrote graffiti on walls.

Question 85

What was the July 1944 Bomb Plot?

Answer 85

Army officer Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg was part of a group that detonated a bomb where Hitler was meeting other Nazi leaders. Despite killing four men and injuring Hitler, the bomb failed to kill him.