Germany 1918 - 1939 Flashcards
Autocracy
When one person dictates law and rules with authority. They may get advice, but this can be ignored.
Kaiser Wilhelm II
The autocratic leader who was forced to stand down by his own people in November, 1918
The Weimar Republic
This was the name given to the democratic government that replaced the Kaiser.
The Treaty of Versailles
The peace agreement at the end of World War One. It weakened Germany in a massive way.
Proportional Representation
The voting system that was used in the Weimar Republic. It made a strong and decisive government impossible.
”Left-wing” extremists
Left-wing politics = Communism. Extreme Communists wanted to see the Weimar Republic fail.
”Right-wing” extremists
Right-wing extremists = Nationalist politicians. A nationalist is hyper-proud of their nation (country). Extreme nationalists felt the Weimar Republic was failing Germany and needed to be replaced with autocracy.
The DAP and the NAZIS
The DAP was a Party formed of working people who were proud of their country. It was originally led by Anton Drexler and then by Adolf Hitler, who changed its name to the Nationalist Socialist Party.
The years of recovery
In the middle of the 1920s, the threats of extremists to the Weimar Republic declined. During the period 1924-1929, it looked like democracy might work in Germany.
The Depression
A depression is when a country dramatically runs out of money. This happened in Germany between 1929 and 1932, and support for extremists dramatically increased.
Dictatorship
The NAZI Party took power, through democracy, in 1933. Once Adolf Hitler was head of the Weimar Republic, he set about closing down democracy and creating autocracy.
Totalitarianism
Once Adolf Hitler had autocratic control, he created totalitarianism in Germany. This is autocracy taken to the point where the freedoms of people in a country are extremely limited.
The steps in Hitler being able to become Chancellor.
- May 1932 - Bruning resigns and von Papen becomes Chancellor.
- July 1932 - The Nazis win 230 seats in the Reichstag.
- Nov 1932 - von Papen quits as Chancellor.
- December 1932 - Schelicher is sacked.
- January 1933 - Hitler becomes Chancellor.
How did rising support for the Communists help the Nazi Party?
The middle class in germany gradually began to support the Nazis as they were seen as the most likely alternative to a communist take over
When was the reichstag fire?
Febuary 1933. It was blamed on a Communnist, Marinus Van der Lubbe
What happend to the Communist because of the fire?
Due to article 48 (emergency) they were banned from campaining. People began to vote for the Nazis even bigger numbers due to the increased fear of communism
What did the enabling act do?
It gave hitler the power to pass lawas in the reichstag by himself for four years.
What things did Hitler do to gradually end Democrcy?
Banned trade unions
Banned political parties
Set up a show court(People’s court)
When was the night of long knives?
June 1934
What was the importance of the Night of Long Knives in helping Hitler set up a totalitarian state?
It got rid of a rival within the Nazi Party (Ernst Rohm)
It allowed Hitler to remove the SA and make the SS more important.
It led tot he whole Germna army taking an oath of loyalty to Hitler, which meant he had total control over all the military power of the country.
