Germany 1890-1945 Flashcards
1
Q
Bundesrat
A
Made up of representatives from each state
2
Q
What was the Reichstag
A
German Parliament
3
Q
What could the Kaiser do?
A
Could ignore government advice and make his own decisions. He made all military and foreign policy decisions
4
Q
Weltpolitik
A
The idea Kaiser Wilhelm II had for Germany to be a global power and have an empire to rival Britain’s
5
Q
militarism
A
The belief that a country should have strong armed forces - was important to Prussia
6
Q
Why did workers join trade unions because of socialism?
A
As they hoped it would force the government to improve pay and working conditions.
7
Q
How many workers had joined trade unions by 1914?
A
3 million workers
8
Q
What political party became popular among the workers
A
the social democratic party
9
Q
What did the Social Democratic Party believe?
A
SPD believed in socialism
Hoped that Kaiser improved workers rights and conditions
Disagreed with power and privileged positions held by land and factory owners
10
Q
When were the Navy Laws introduced?
A
1898 - 1912
11
Q
How did the Naval Laws affect the German people?
A
Taxes were increased and money was borrowed to pay for this. Germany would remain in debt for a very long time.
12
Q
What was the impact of WW1 on Germany?
A
Germany owed vast sums of money that it had borrowed to pay for the war
Factories were exhausted
13
Q
Why was Germany politically unstable after WW1?
A
There was mutiny and revolution all over Germany
Many ex-soldiers and civilians felt that politicians had betrayed Germany by ending the war
14
Q
When did the German navy in Kiel mutiny?
A
October 1918
15
Q
What happened when the German navy in Kiel mutinied?
A
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.
16
Q
What did the Kaiser do on 9th of November 1918 after the mutiny of the navy?
A
The Kaiser abdicated and secretly left Germany, never to return.
17
Q
When did Germany surrender the First World War?
A
11th November 1918.
18
Q
Who took over temporarily after the Kaiser abdicated?
A
Friedrich Ebert, the leader of Germany’s largest political party (the SPD)
19
Q
What did Ebert declare as temporary leader?
A
That Germany would be a democratic republic and he arranged for elections to
20
Q
Who were the Spartacists and what did they want
A
A group of communists in Germany and
wanted Germany to be run by small councils of soldiers and workers
21
Q
Where did the Spartacists sieze power of in 1919?
A
They seized power of Berlin
22
Q
How did Ebert respond to the Spartacists seizing power of Berlin?
A
He sent 2000 ex-soldiers known as the Freikorps to attack the Spartacists
23
Q
Who won when Ebert held the elections?
A
His own party the SPD won and Ebert became the new president
24
Q
What was the Weimar Constitution?
A
A formal set of rules for how Germany would be governed, and all Germans had equal rights, including the right to vote
25
What were the weaknesses of the Weimar constitution?
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
26
What year was the Treaty of Versailles?
1919
27
What were the rules of the Treaty of Versailles?
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
28
How did the Germans react to the Treaty of Versailles?
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.
29
when did the occupation of the Ruhr happen
1922
30
How did the occupation of the Ruhr happen?
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.
31
How many French and Belgian soldiers marched into the Ruhr in January 1923?
60,000 soldiers
32
How did hyperinflation happen in 1923?
-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.
33
Negative impacts of the hyperinflation of 1923:
People's bank savings become worthless, elderly peoples fixed pensions couldn't buy them what they needed, small businesses collapsed.
34
Positive impacts of the hyperinflation of 1923:
People who had borrowed money found it very easy to pay off their debts.
35
What was the Kapp Putsch?
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.
36
When was the Munich Putsch and what happened
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.
37
What was the result of the Munich Putsch?
Hitler and Ludendorff were arrested
38
Who was Gustav Stresemann?
Germany's Foreign Minister, (1924-1929) and who led to Germany recovering from it's problems.
39
How did Stresemann stop the hyperinflation crisis?
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.
40
How did Stresemann make French and Belgian troops leave the Ruhr?
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.
41
What was the Young Plan?
1929 - Stresemann negotiated a reduction in the total payment of the reparations.
42
How did Stresemann economically recover Germany?
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.
43
What was the depression?
1929 - a financial crisis (the Wall Street Crash) hit the USA. American companies and banks went out of business, and millions lost their jobs.
44
The economic impact of the Depression on Germany:
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.
45
The political impact of the Depression on Germany:
People listened to extreme political parties, e.g left-wing communist and right-wing Nazis, as they promised to improve German lives.
46
What economic factor contributed to the growth of the Nazi party?
By 1932, unemployment stood at six million, and the Nazis promised to create jobs.
47
How did Hitler appeal to the German population?
He convinced people he could be trusted to make Germany a great nation, and his powerful speeches filled his audiences with hope.
48
Hitler's tactics to legally win power in elections
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
49
When was Hitler appointed chancellor?
January 1933
50
How did Hindenburg try to limit Nazi power?
He appointed Von Papen as the vice Chancellor and restricted the number of Nazis Hitler could have in his cabinet.
51
How did Hitler increase his power and establish complete control of Germany?
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.
52
When and what was the Night of the Long Knives?
June 1934 - Hitler murdered his opponents in the SA
53
What was the National Labour Service under Hitler?
All men 18-25 had to spend six months in the RAD, and were given free meals and a small wage.
54
How did Hitler focus on rearmament?
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.
55
What was the impact of 'Total War' on Germany during WW2?
In 1942, everything that didn't contribute to the war was stopped, leading to closures of places like beer halls and sweet shops.
56
How did Germany address labor shortages during WW2?
Women were drafted into factories and 7 million foreign workers were brought in as slave labor.
57
School under the Nazis:
-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.
58
Hitler Youth for boys:
-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.
59
Hitler Youth for girls:
-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.
60
Women in Weimar Germany:
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.
61
Women in Nazi Germany:
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.
62
Nazi policies towards women
-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.
63
Why did some Christians support the Nazis?
- 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.
64
How did Hitler cooperate with Catholic leaders at first?
In 1933, he said that the Catholic Church and the Nazis would not interfere with each other.
65
How did Hitler break his agreement with the Catholic Church?
Nazis harassed and arrested Catholic priests.
66
what was the confession church
A Protestant Church which criticised the Nazis, made up of Protestants which totally opposed the Nazis.
67
how many pasters of the cofessional church were arrested
800
68
how many jews died in death camps in the years up to 1945
over 6 million
69
What were the early Nazi policies against Jews?
-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.
70
What happened in November 1938?
(boycott of jewish shops)
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.
71
When and what was the 'Final Solution'?
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.
72
when did germany become a 'police stae'
1933
73
what is a police state
Where the police and other organisations linked to the police are very powerful, and act on behalf of the government.
74
who was Himmler
Head of the SS, loyal Nazi who personally reported to Hitler.
75
When was the SS set up and what did its members wear?
Set up in 1925, members wore black uniforms.
76
Concentration camps under the Nazi police state
-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.
77
What helped the Nazis keep control?
Fear of arrest and imprisonment by the Gestapo or the SS.
78
What methods of control did the Nazis use to make sure as many people as possible continued to support them?
propaganda and censorship
79
Who was put in charge of Nazi propaganda?
joseph goebbels
80
What was censorship in Nazi Germany?
The tight government control of what people hear, read, say or see.
81
Why was there censorship in Nazi Germany?
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.
82
Why was the Chamber of Culture set up?
To organise cultural activities like music, theatre, art and literature so that they reflected Nazi ideas and beliefs.
83
What was the Swing Youth and how did they openly oppose the Nazis?
They declared their dislike of Nazi ideas and policies by listening to jazz music and having Jewish friends.
84
Who was the White Rose group and how did they openly oppose the Nazis?
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.
85
What was the July 1944 Bomb Plot?
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.
