Germany 1890-1945 Flashcards
what was the role of the chancellor
to advise the Kaiser and run the government
what was the Reichstag
the parliament which was elected by men over 25
what was the bundesrat
made up of representatives from each state
what was the role of the Kaiser
could ignore government advice, made all military and foreign policy decisions, ruled over all the states in Germany
whats militarism
Kaiser Wilhelm strongly believed in it, the belief a country should have strong armed forces.
what was the industrialisation period during Kaiser Germany
In the late 1800s Germany began to industrialise, high production of coal, iron and steel. This meant Germany were thriving, a global power during this time
what did industrialisation lead to
The growth of socialism due to workers being unhappy about low wages and poor working conditions, this then led to the uprising of the SPD
What was the social democratic party (SPD) and it’s aims
a party which came popular among workers, believed wealth and power should be shared equally among everyone. Hoped the Kaiser might allow the the Reichstag to make more laws to improve work.
what were the Navy Laws
laws to rapidly increase the size of the navy especially but also the army
why did the Kaiser want these navy laws
to help expand the German empire and protect those who are already part
How did kaiser Wilhelm afford this increase
increased taxes and borrowed a lot of money, leaving Germany i n debt for a long time
what were the different problems and difficulties faced to the kaiser up until 1914
the growth of socialism, debt due to navy laws, potential future opposition by enemy’s over rise of the German Empire, rebellions against the Kaisers ruling
what were the impacts on Germany from WW1 by 1918
Germany virtually bankrupt, society divided further, political instability
who were the spartacists and what did they do
they were a group of communists who wanted Germany to be run by small councils of workers and soldiers, on the 6th Jan they seized power of Berlin
who were the Freikorps
a group of 2000 ex-soldiers sent by Ebert to attack the spartacists, after 3 days of brutal fighting they defeated the spartacists and regained power of Germany
what was the weimar constitution and who was now ruling Germany
The SPD (Ebert) were now ruling Germany and the Weimar constitution was created, a set of rules which gave all Germans equal rights and the right to vote
what were the weaknesses of the Weimar constitution
lots of parties were able to win seats in Reichstag so difficult to decide laws, any groups wanted back the ‘Good old days’ back with the Kaiser. The November criminals and Article 48
who were the November criminals and how is this linked to the Weimar Constitution
The November criminals were politicians who were linked to the defeat of WW1. Some politicians who created this Government system were the November criminals
whats article 48
Article 48 meant that laws could be passed without going through the Reichstag by the president.
what were the strengths of the Weimar constitution
Genuine democracy, power of the Reichstag and the Bill of rights
what was the bill of rights
a law which protected freedom of speech, freedom and equality
what were the punishments given to Germany from the TofV
war reparations (6.6 billion)
limits to the army and navy
hand over colonies to enemy countries
demilitarisation of Rhineland
Germany must never unite with Austria again
German land given away to form new countries
what were the reactions to the punishments of the TofV
too harsh, felt humiliated
felt they were forced to sign it, dictated peace
felt betrayed by politicians as they felt they did not lose the war at all
what happened during the occupation of the ruhr
next payment for reparations was due and Germany couldn’t afford
french and belgains didn’t believe them so they used force to take what they were owed
they occupated the ruhr - a rich industrial part of Germany
how were people affected by hyperinflation
money had become worthless and people blamed the government for making workers go on striking
some people won from hyperinflation, such as people who owed money however many people lost money for example people who had life savings, elderly’s pensions became worthless etc.
what was the Kapp putsch
Kapp gathered around 5000 freikorps and took over Berlin, he wanted to take over the country and recover land lost through TofV. Government fled Berlin however Kapp didn’t have the suppourt of the workers who went on strike meaning no electricity, gas etc. later Kapp fled abroad and the government regained power
what were the assassinations between 1919 and 1922
lots of murders, many carried out by right wing extremists who wanted to eliminate the November criminals
what was the red rising in the Ruhr
left wing workers in the Ruhr went on strike in retaliation to the Kapp Putsch , government sent over 1000 freikorps to deal with the workers.
what was the Munich Putsch
Hitler wanted to capture Berlin and Munich with promise of destroying communism and overturning TofV in 1923. Hitler and over 2000 Nazis marched through Berlin but were met with armed police. 16 Nazis were killed, Hitler and Ludendorff where arrested
who was Stresemann
Germanys foreign minister from 1924-1929
How did he deal with Germany’s problems
to deal with hyperinflation crisis - created new currency
to deal with French and Belgian troops in the Ruhr - arranged for US to lend Germany money to pay off owed reparations and negotiated a reduction for reparations
improved Germany’s foreign policy - Locarno pact, Joined LofN, Joined Kellog Briand pact
what were ongoing problems during Stresemann era
many political parties - often disagreed and wasted time
rise of extreme parties
large groups of people were poor - middle class who lost their savings
relying on US - what if they wanted their money back
how did culture change during the Stresemann era
Before WW1 Kaiser kept tight control of Germany’s entertainment. these controls were removed and Germany experienced a different culture known as the ‘golden age’
what were the reactions of Germans to this culture change
some embraced however some hated it. They wanted traditional German values and culture back. Germany was in moral decline.
what and when was the wall street crash
in October 1929 the wall street crash hit the USA. This was the crash of the stock market, American companies and businesses went out of business
how did the wall street crash effect Germany
economically people couldn’t afford goods anymore so factories went out of business and US demanded money back which German banks and businesses couldn’t afford
socially many people were living on the street, angry at politicians who were blamed for this
politically, rise of extreme parties who promised solutions for Germany’s problems
what were the reasons for the rise of the Nazi party
depression - Nazi party provided solutions for Germany’s problems
Appeal of Hitler - Charismatic character who convinced people he could be trusted to make Germany a great nations through his powerful speeches
Discontent with the Weimar government - democracy wasn’t working and Nazi party provided an alternative for this
who voted for the Nazi party and why
Farmers - Nazis offered higher prices,higher status, fear of communism
women - Nazi showed importance of family roles, good morals and discipline
middle class - fear of communism
wealthy class - factory owners run how they want, fear of communism
youth - tearing up treaty for Germany’s bright future
what were important reasons in which Hitler was appointed chancellor
economic weakness of Weimar Republic
political weakness Weimar Republic
how did Hitler eliminate political opponents
Reichstag fire
night of the long knives
gained a majority by joining with centre party
Hindenburg died so he became president and chancellor with all power
once in power removed all other political parties
what caused hyperinflation
German government ordered workers in Ruhr to go on strike and not help the Belgians and French as a method of passive resistance to the French and Belgians but kept paying them by printing a lot of money very quickly
They also printed a lot of money to pay the war reparations
Workers in Ruhr spent more money in shops so shopkeepers raised prices rapidly and the government kept raising the wages of these workers.
what was the main drive towards the night of the long knives
the threat of the SA
how did the SA pose a threat towards Hitler
Hitler was worried the SA and Ernest Rohm was becoming to powerful, the SA had more members than the German army and Rohm wanted to combine the SA and army and become an overall leader which alarmed Hitler who wanted to remain power over the army and keep them happy as his aims for recovering the land lost from the TofV
what happened during the night of the long knives
Hitler arranged a meeting at a Hotel in South Germany with all SA leaders. Hitler ad SA arrested Rohm and other SA leaders who were later shot dead. Over the next few days around 400 political opponents were killed
what were the different ways Hitler and the Nazi party tackled the unemployment crisis
national labour service for men 18-25
Public schemes, e.g. autobahn
invisible unemployment - not including women and jews in stats
rearmament program
what was the DAF
The German labour front plan to control workers and reward high production,
Replaced trade unions, strikes illegal and workers had to get permission to leave work
promised to protect workers
ran two schemes to improve German lives (KDF and SDA)
what was the SDA scheme
trying to improve workplace by installing better lighting, safety, washrooms, low cost canteens and sports facilities
what was the KDF scheme
organised leisure activities to encourage hard work, e.g. football and theatre tickets, cheap holidays
what were the problems with the overall DAF
promised to give everyone VW but instead spent money on army. People forced to work as long as they had to under Nazis, KDF rewards were given however holidays were not so cheap, food inflation due to Germany becoming self sufficient, enabling shopkeepers to set their own prices.
who is Schacht
what did he do for Germany
a respected banker who was appointed minister of economics. He realised raw materials were required to build more weapons. Signed deals with foreign countries and things went well. But changes were too slow for impatient Hitler. Schacht was sacked and replaced by Herman Goering
who was Hermann Goering
what did he do for Germany
Minister of economics in Germany, 1936. He introduced a four year plan to increase military production. Targets were met in industries like steel and explosives but no in others such as oil. Germany were still reliant on other countries so Goering introduced self sufficiency
how were Hitlers policies good towards farmers
Taxes reduced
couldn’t be thrown of land
division land law amongst children was liked by some farmers
how were Hitlers policies negative towards farmers
some farmers didn’t like land division law. In the late 1930s Nazi’s controlled the food prices.
how did schooling change under the nazi’s
taught what Nazi’s wanted, every subject used propaganda, eugenics justified persecution, PE taught to boys for army and girls taught domestic skills
in what ways were Germans facing difficulties at home during WW2
rationing, labour shortages, Total war policy and suffering from bombing causing refugees
how did university’s change under the Nazi’s
courses changed to influence Nazi beliefs
how did women’s roles change under Nazi Germany
Nazi’s wanted increased birthrates to meet demands of Germanys increased territory. Patriotic duty to stay at home. Women should stick to 3 K’s, Kinder, Kirche and Kuche (children church and cooking)
how did the Nazi’s deal with the catholic church
peace agreement was broke and Pope said the Nazi’s were ‘hostile to Christ and His Church’, Nazi’s did not change and there was continued persecution of Catholic priests
how did the Nazi’s deal with
Hitler was admired by some Christians who said ‘Swastika on our chest and the cross in our hearts. Some totally opposed the Nazi’s and the confessional church was formed by Martin Niemoller
who was Niemollor and whats the confessional church
Niemoller was leader of the confessional chruch which was a church who openly critisied the nazis
what happened on Kristallnacht
Jewish homes, businesses, synagogues attacked - 100 killed and 20,000 sent to concentration camps
whats a police state
Germany became a police state after 1933. A police state is a state where police and linked organisations are very powerful and act on behalf of the government
who was Himmler
A loyal Nazi who personally reported to Hitler, head of the SS
what was the SS
originally Hitlers bodyguards but split up into 3 divisions
SD(security)
Waffen SS - army seniors
Death head units - conc. camp
what were concentration camps
large prisons for enemy’s of state
what was the gestapo
the secret police
no uniform
spied on people, power to arrest imprison and torture
encouraged children to report parents and teachers
what roles did the regular police and law courts have
regular police continued similar work however ignored Nazi crime
top police roles given to Nazi’s
Death penalty could be given for minor crimes like anti hitler jokes
who’s Joseph Goebbels and what methods did he use
leader of Nazi propaganda, powerful speaker who was good at his job. understood that propaganda worked best when repeatedly given basic, powerful ideas.
blamed jews
criticised tofv
making Germany great again
what examples of propaganda did the Nazi’s use
newspapers, films, theatre, books, radio, music, posters
what’s censorship
tight government control of what people hear, say, see and read
how was cinema adapted to reflect Nazi ideas
Goebbels read and approved all film scripts, making sure they held a pro-Nazi message and Nazi achievement was displayed before every film
how was music adapted to reflect Nazi ideas
official approval was given to traditional, classic German music such as Beethoven, some popular music from Weimar Germany was banned, so were Jewish composers and Jazz, jazz came from African American descent
how was theatre adapted to reflect Nazi ideas
during the Weimar era Nazi’s founded the militant league for German culture which protested against modern plays which they disapproved of
After the takeover, it was ruled that plays should be focused on history and politics
how was literature adapted to reflect Nazi ideas
disproven books were banned, named ‘un-German’ e.g. Jewish authors
books were focused on encouraging race, WW1 and success of the Nazi’s
some popular books from Weimar era banned
Hitlers mein-kampf book was bestseller
how was art and design adapted to reflect Nazi ideas
art showed powerful figures and true Aryan happy families
Hitler hated modern art and called it degenerate
design was adapted to show strong stone structures, similar to those from ancient Rome/ Greece
how was sport and leisure adapted to reflect Nazi ideas
health and physical fitness was seen as important
Germany held Olympics games, which they won, which was used as a propaganda opportunity, pride of Germany was shown to foreign nations
what was the chamber of culture
led by Goebells which meant all muscians actors writers artists etc. had to be apart and anyone who didn’t was banned from work
people like Jews were banned from joining
what were the different methods of opposition
grumbling/ moaning
passive opposition
open opposition
attempts to kill Hitler
what were the different groups that showed open opposition
swing youth - showed opposition through listening to Jazz and friends with Jews
white rose groups - urged Germans to get rid of Hitler, appealed through leaflets etc.
Edewellis pirates - beat up Nazi officialss
Christians spoke out about the persecution of mentally and physically disabled
what was the July 1944 bomb plot
a organised bomb plot, despite killing 4 and injuring Hitler, he didn’t die
