Germany Flashcards
Why was Germany united in 1871? /6
Background -Before the country of Germany was formed, the Germanic lands were full of individual states, which would one day unite to become one country. The most powerful of the Germanic States would be Austria, followed by Prussia. However, Austria would soon be expelled from the Bund so that Prussia could become the leader of Germany.
Austria weakens- Austria lost vital ally Russia due to not assisting them in Crimean war. The tsar never forgive Austria for this betrayal.
Economy- Prussia began to outstrip Austria due to new raw materials in Rhine and Saarland. Prussia encouraging economic growth of the state. Austria economy stagnating. German economies improving.
The Danish-Prussian war- The war began due to the Danish crisis which was who owned Schleswig and Holstien, the German bund or Denmark. Schleswig was was not apart of the Bund, but Holstein was. Bismarck formed an alliance with Austria to act against the Danish threat. Bismarck made sure to begin war while Denmark had no allies. Denmark was very quickly overwhelmed and so the war didn’t last long.
The Austro-Prussian war- Bismarck had to expel Austria from the bund if Prussia was going to be the leader of Germany. War almost began before Bismarck was ready due to disagreements on the result of the Danish war. France had been persuaded to be neutral in an Austria-Prussian war. Bismarck allied with Italy in order to surround Austria. Talks over a creation of a German state excluding Austria made Austria snap and declare war. The war ended in 1866.
Franco-Prussian war- Southern Germanic States side with Prussia out of fear. Spanish succession crisis (prussia volunteering price for Spanish royalty) annoyed the French (they’d be surrounded). Altered telegram also contributed to sparking war.
Spanish Succession Crisis- Prussia attempted to take Spanish throne. Bismarck only got involved to spark war. Spanish needed a new prince.
Why did the Nazi party achieve party achieve power in Germany?
Background -Elections in 1933 saw Hitler elected chancellor of Germany, many factors contributed to the rise in popularity the Nazi party received.
Treat Of Versailles -Forced onto Germany. Harsh punishments and restrictions. Hitler and Nazis shared publics opinion of hating this treaty. Hitler promised to go against it. The people felt humiliated and betrayed by government for signing it.
Weakness of Weimar Government Inflation, signing the treaty. However the introduction of the Rentenmark currency did improve the economy.
Economic Issues -Reparations and the Wall street Crash had a massive impact on German citizens. Inflation was huge! This made the people want change and the Nazis promised it.
Appeal of the Nazis! -Promised jobs and food after Wall Street crash. Offered a scapegoat for all post-war problems. Smart uniforms created a positive image.
Appeal of Hitler! -Charismatic leader. Good speaker and good looking. Offered strong (Kaiser-like) leadership which the country lacked at this point in time.
How did the Nazis maintain power between 1933 and 1939?
Background - Hitler and his Nazi party took control of the weak Germany in 1933, and attempted to reignite Germanys flame which the Treaty of Versailles had extinguished.
The Youth -All Jewish/Non Nazi Teachers were sacked. All teachers were made to join the Nazi Teachers league, and teach the children to worship the Nazis and hate the Jews. School was used to create loyal soldiers for Hitler to use when the second world war arrived. Non Nazi youth groups were closed down. Hitler youth further brainwashed and conditioned obedience and taught the children to be loyal to Hitler. League of German maidens used to create the mothers of tomorrow.
Lack of Opposition -Communists and Social Democrats forced to leave country or face prison. Non-Nazi newspapers banned. Secret police force would prevent non Nazi ideas from spreading. However many Germans liked Nazi policies. Nazis controlled Germany well.
Propaganda - Joseph Göbbels was unreal when it came to propaganda. This was used to get rid of the differences Germans had such as class and religion and focused on creating a German community style country. Much of the youth was brainwashed by propaganda into whole-heartedly believing everything the Nazis said. However there was some groups who opposed the Nazis like the faggy swing kids.
Economy -Nazis came to power just as the world economic crisis was ending. Nazis took credit for the natural fall in unemployment. The dismissal of Jews and other enemies from their work opened the role up to regular Germans. Huge public works projects employed tens of thousands of Germans. Volkswagen cars were promised to be mass produced and sold at a reasonable price. Hitler promised a society based on merit, not birth or wealth. Despite all this, the Nazis didn’t really deliver on their promises.
- *Fear**
- The Gestapo were a secret police force created to “protect Germany from political threats.” Spied on daily German life. People did jot know who was a Gestapo member and who wasn’t. They rounded up “threats” like Jews and Communists.
- The SS were Hitlers personal bodyguards which grew in huge numbers as time passed.
- The Concentration Camps were where political prisoners and later “undesirables” were taken to. The conditions here were appalling, however they did not kill people as of yet. The threat of being thrown into a concentration camp was enough to silence most Germans.
How did nationalism grow in the German states after 1815?
Background -Many states covering the Germanic kingdom all shared similar languages, culture and traditions. This caused many thinkers, writers, and eventually the German people to consider the idea of a single German state.
Culturalism - All German states shared similar traditions and cultures so becoming one country will mean cultures will collide, they will fit well together.
Economy/Zollverein -Railway tracks now connected the states. Economy would improve if all states become one country. Industrialisation was big in Britain and France, Germany could keep up if they unite.
Napoleon -He turned over 400 states into only 16.
Thinkers - spread the advantages of unification through books and documents which changed many people minds.
