Germany- development of dictatorship - 1918-45 Flashcards

Question

What were the economic achievements of Gustav Stresemann ?

Answer 1

Gustav Stresemann became chancellor in August 1923 * Stresemann was a nationalist * Initially, he did not like the Weimar Republic * After the assassination of Rathenau, Germany's foreign minister, Stresemann's opinion of the government changed * He established the DVP (People's Party), a moderate right political group * As chancellor, Stresemann had three aims for Germany: * Bring inflation under control * Regain Europe's respect * Minimise the support for extremist parties

Answer 2

* Germany's currency, the mark, was beyond saving: * The largest note was 100,000,000,000,000 (100 trillion) marks * The government believed there were 400.3 billion trillion marks in circulation * In November 1923, Stresemann created a new currency called the Rentenmark * One Rentenmark was the equivalent of a trillion marks * Stresemann established a new state-owned bank called the Rentenbank * The German public brought marks into the Rentenbank to transfer them into Rentenmarks * The Rentenmark was a gold standard currency * This means that the value of the Rentenmark matched the price of gold * European countries trusted gold standard currencies * In August 1924, the government created the Reichsbank to control the Rentenmark * The government renamed the Rentenmark the Reichsmark * The new currency allowed German businesses to trade with foreign countries

Answer 3

The agreement of the Dawes plan helped Germany to economically recover?

Answer 4

The Locarno Treaties helped Germany's relationship with other countries

Answer 5

* The League of Nations was a forum where countries could discuss problems before resorting to armed conflict * Wilson, the American President, played a leading role in the creation of the League of Nations. It was based on his 14 Points * The Treaty of Versailles established the League * The League did not formally meet until 10th January 1920 * For a country to join the League of Nations as a permanent member, it had to receive two-thirds of the members' votes * A country could leave the League if it gave two years' notice * Due to Clemenceau's anger, the Treaty of Versailles banned Germany from joining the League of Nations * As a result of the Locarno Treaties, the League of Nations met with Stresemann to discuss membership * In September 1926, Stresemann obtained German membership of the League * The League permitted Germany to sit on the League of Nations Council

Answer 6

* French foreign minister Aristide Briand met with US Secretary of State Frank B. Kellogg to discuss further steps towards world peace * The USA was not in the League of Nations due to focusing on their own affairs * Some US politicians were idealists and wanted world peace * On 27th August 1928, they assembled Germany and 61 other countries to sign the Kellogg-Briand Pact * The Kellogg-Briand Pact stated that war should never be used as a means for resolving disputes between countries

Answer 7

Stresemann's policies were important for Germany because they helped Germany recover from hyperinflation (1). The occupation of the Ruhr caused the Weimar Republic to print more money. This caused a hyperinflation crisis. In 1923, Stresemann introduced a new currency called the Rentenmark (1). The Rentenmark was incredibly important for Germany. It allowed the country to have a valuable currency respected by foreign markets. This allowed Germany to trade, helping German industries to recover (1). Ensure you write two paragraphs in PEE format about why Stresemann's policies helped Germany to recover. Other points you could include are: * The end of passive resistance in the Ruhr * The reduction of reparations due to the Dawes and Young plans * Securing investment from the USA * Helping Germany to recover its international reputation

Answer 8

Historians debate the extent to which the lives of citizens improved under the Weimar Republic. Weimar Germany in the 1920s experienced a 'cultural explosion'. The Weimar government gave grants to artists and cultural organisations like theatres and libraries. The government supported, rather than censored, new approaches to the arts. New technologies such as radio and film provided German artists with new mediums to explore. The experimental nature of Weimar culture upset many right-wing and extremist groups. The arts of the Weimar Republic clashed with these groups' traditional values. The establishment of the Weimar Republic marked the beginning of the German welfare state. A welfare state is the concept that the government supports and improves the well-being of its citizens. While the government succeeded in some areas, there was a divide between the industrial and agricultural working classes. Workers in towns and cities benefitted the most from the reforms. High debt, low prices and increasing taxes damaged the standard of living in farming communities. By 1929, the income of agricultural workers was 44% below the national average. Weimar Germany became one of the most advanced societies for women's rights. The Weimar Constitution created universal suffrage. This was rare for European countries. The right to vote and opportunity to work led to the development of the 'New Woman' of the 1920s. A 'New Woman' was independent, career-minded and reluctant to become a wife or mother. They enjoyed freedoms that women of previous centuries had never experienced before. Germany's progressive approach to women's rights created many enemies within the Weimar Republic. The right-wing vilified the 'New Woman' for destroying the traditional family unit. Extremist parties like the Nazi Party campaigned to return women to their traditional role of wives and mathare

Answer 9

* Expressionism in Weimar Germany used grotesque or exaggerated figures in violent scenes * This aimed to make the audience uncomfortable. In doing so, the artist hoped people would begin to question the society in which they lived * Otto Dix was a famous New Objectivist artist in Weimar Germany. One of his paintings highlighted the issues war veterans had once they returned to Germany * George Grosz painted 'Grey Day', which used expressionism to represent the boredom of day-to-day life * Weimar art horrified the conservative upper classes and the extreme right-wing * Traditionally, the more educated upper classes controlled and produced Germany's cultural output. In the Weimar Republic, the upper classes no longer held this power * The meanings of the artworks were unclear. The pictures had many interpretations * These pieces could have undermined the authority of the upper classes * Many artists had strong left-wing beliefs. This challenged the traditional ways of life valued by the right

Answer 10

* In 1919, a new form of design called 'Bauhaus' emerged * Walter Gropius founded the movement in Weimar Germany in 1919. He aimed to create a unified style that connected all types of art forms * The Bauhaus design school existed in three German cities between 1919 and 1933, Weimar, Berlin and Dessau * Lecturers at Bauhaus College included the artist Paul Klee and the sculptor Oskar Schlemmer * 'Bauhaus' architecture uses geometric shapes to create practical buildings. The movement saw the beauty of technology and the use of familiar materials in different ways. For example, they constructed entire buildings using only concrete * The 'Bauhaus' movement inspired Weimar architects such as Erich Mendelsohn * He designed the Einstein Tower, an observatory in Potsdam, to look like a rocket

Answer 11

* The popularity of cinema exploded in the 1920s * By 1929, there were roughly 500 cinemas across Germany * Germany began to compete with American film production * The expressionist film The Cabinet of Doctor Caligari (1920) was one of the first horror films. The director, Robert Wiene, created the first 'plot twist' ending in cinema history * F. W. Murnau directed the fIm Nosferatu (1922) * It was the world's first vampire film * Many films today use the tension methods Murnau created while filming Nosferatu * The Weimar government funded Metropolis (1926) through an organisation called UFA * It cost 5 million Reichsmarks * Fritz Lang created a modernist science-fiction film that centred on the impact of technology on 20th-century life * It was unsuccessful at the time but has influenced many modern-day films such as Star Wars * Germany produced its first talking film, or 'talkie' in 1930 * The capability to play films with sound was available in 3,800 German cinemas by 1932

Answer 12

* To improve standards of living, the Weimar government: * Passed the Unemployment Insurance Act in 1927 * This money funded insurance that covered unemployment and sickness * 16.4 million workers had 3% of their wages diverted to the government * If an insured German did not have a job or was unable to work due to poor health, the scheme paid them 60 Reichsmarks per week * Created better working conditions * They lowered the hours in a working week from 50 in 1925 to 46 in 1927 * Workers' 'real' wages rose 25% from 1925 to 1928. This measurement considers the cost of living and inflation to calculate the actual value of a worker's wages * Focused on housing * The Länder utilised foreign loans to fund building projects * The government introduced a rent tax of 15% to create building associations * Private companies created 37,000 new homes from 1925 to 1929. In the same period, building associations constructed 64,000 homes * Passed the Reich Pension Law * Over 1.3 million people (widows and ex-soldiers) received a war-related pension * Weimar Germany spent roughly 40% of its GDP on this scheme

Answer 13

* Extremists used people's hatred of the 'New Woman' to increase support for their ideals * Hitler blamed the 'New Woman' for increasing unemployment rates among the working class * He campaigned against the 'New Woman' and encouraged a return to women's traditional role in the household * Trade unions had a negative reaction to the presence of women in the workplace * Men dominated the trade unions * They believed that equality for women in the workplace would negatively affect male workers * They resented 'double earners'. This term referred to households where the husband and wife both worked

Answer 14

Weimar government gave grants to artists, which allowed the arts to grow (1). New painting styles emerged like that of George Grosz (1). In architecture, the Bauhaus style used geometric shapes to create practical buildings (1). The Weimar government funded cinema projects such as the film Metropolis (1).

Answer 15

Adolf Hitler served as a messenger in the First World War. His role was to pass messages between regiments. Being a messenger was a dangerous job and Hitler was awarded two medals for his bravery. In October 1918, a mustard gas attack injured Hitler. He was temporarily blinded and required hospital treatment. It was in the hospital that Hitler learnt about the armistice of the First World War and Germany's defeat. He, like many other soldiers, believed that Weimar politicians committed a 'dolchstoss' by agreeing to the Treaty of Versailles. The abdication of the Kaiser in November 1918 led to the creation of many new political parties. The Weimar Republic became increasingly worried about the threat these new parties posed to public safety. As a result, the government employed Hitler as part of their intelligence operation. His job was to attend a meeting of a new political party and report back to the government how dangerous it was. This was when Hitler discovered the DAP - The German Workers' Party. Over the next two years, Hitler's involvement in the party grew until he became leader. His skill as an orator and his political vision caused an increase in party membership. As a result, he rebranded the party to the NSDAP or the Nazi Party.

Answer 16

* Anton Drexler founded the DAP in February 1919 * Drexler was a railway mechanic from Munich * In September 1919, the DAP had 23 members * It was a right-wing party that targeted the working classes * The government hired Hitler to spy on political parties in Munich * The Weimar Republic had struggled to survive threats from extremist parties * As an ex-soldier, Hitler desperately needed the work * The majority of Germany's armed forces had been made unemployed after the Treaty of Versailles restricted the German army to 100,000 soldiers * Hitler attended his first meeting of the DAP on 12th September 1919 * The ideas discussed at the meeting aligned with Hitler's personal beliefs * On 19th September 1919, Hitler signed up as a member * This went against his government assignment

Answer 17

* By 1920, the DAP had changed its name to the National Socialist German Workers' Party (the NSDAP or Nazi Party) * Hitler implemented his takeover of the NSDAP by 1921 in five ways: 1. Changing the party's policies to the Twenty-Five Point Programme 2. Hitler's personal appeal 3. Developing the party's organisational structure 4. Forcing a change of leadership and choosing members for key positions 5. Creating the NSDAP's private army, the SA (Sturmabteilung) A common misconception that students have is that Hitler created the Nazi Party from nothing. Hitler took over an existing party. He changed the party's name and formulated its policies. You will notice a recurring theme throughout this course of Hitler taking existing ideas and rebranding them as his own.

Answer 18

* When Hitler became responsible for the DAP's propaganda, he realised the party needed an official document stating its policies * The DAP already spoke on key issues such as: * Removing Weimar politicians who had signed the Treaty of Versailles * Rewriting of the Weimar Constitution to increase restrictions on democracy - Blaming the Jewish people for all of Germany's issues * In January 1920, Hitler and Drexler wrote the Twenty-Five Point Programme, which formalised the aims of the DAP This was the political programme of the Nazi Party, written in 1920 (1). It had a mixture of socialist and nationalist ideas (1). It opposed the Treaty of Versailles (1). It said that Jews would not be allowed to be German citizens (1).

Answer 19

* The Sturmabteilung ('Stormtroopers' or 'SA') was the NSDAP's private army * The political violence in the streets of Weimar Germany made many political parties adopt a paramilitary force * The SA was formed in August 1921 * They gained the nickname 'Brownshirts' due to the colour of their uniform * Hitler hired the unemployed, students and ex-soldiers into the SA * These groups were very angry with the Weimar government * Hitler offered them money and a daily structure * Hitler used the SAto: * Control crowds at meetings * Start fights on the streets * Disrupt the meetings of opposition groups like the KPD Strengthen the image of the NSDAP * The SA became problematic * By 1922, there were 800 Brownshirts. This number was increasing * Ernst Rohm became the leader of the SA in 1923 * The SA was not under Hitler's direct control * Ernst Röhm was popular among the stormtroopers * To combat this, Hitler created the Stosstrupp or 'Shock Troop' - These were Brownshirts specially selected by Hitler as his bodyguards

Answer 20

* In January 1922, Hitler called a party conference. Hitler established his autocratic control of the party * He spoke fortwo and a half hours * He persuaded the NSDAP members to surrender their right to elect the leader of the party * This effectively made the NSDAP a dictatorship * The popularity of the NSDAP accelerated in 1923 * By November 1923, the NSDAP had 50,000 members * The Weimar government was dealing with the hyperinflation crisis. Many Germans began to look at extremist parties like the NSDAP for solutions It is important to link parts of the course together to understand the historical context. The hyperinflation crisis caused a surge in popularity for the Nazi Party. Without this event, the NSDAP would have remained a small, extremist party. The party also benefited from the Wall Street Crash in 1929. This would eventually lead to them becoming the biggest political party in Weimar Germany in 1932.

Answer 21

Historians call the support for the Nazi Party 1924-1928 'The Lean Years'. This means that the German people considered the NSDAP a small, extremist group after the Munich Putsch. There is a clear link between the 'Golden Age' of the Weimar Republic and 'The Lean Years' of the Nazi Party. For extremist parties to succeed, a country's economy or political leadership needs to be failing. The public is more likely to look for alternative solutions offered by extremism if moderate government is ineffective. The recovery of the Weimar Republic through Stresemann's policies limited the need for the NSDAP. This resulted in a decline in support for Hitler's party. Although the Nazi Party lost support, Hitler used 1924-1928 as a period to restructure the party. Hitler had learnt much from the Munich Putsch. He wanted to ensure the NSDAP was ready to benefit if Germany experienced political or economic turmoil again. Without 'The Lean Years', the Nazi Party would not have been able to benefit from the subsequent impacts of the Wall Street Crash on Germany from 1930.

Answer 22

* By November 1923, Hitler decided that the NSDAP was ready to take control of Germany * Support for the Nazi Party had increased due to the Weimar government's failure to deal with the hyperinflation crisis * Many people were looking to extremist parties for economic and political solutions * Hitler had studied the failed putsches launched by the Freikorps and the Spartacists * He had learnt that a putsch needed the support of the military and the police to succeed * The inclusion of General Ludendorff, a respected military veteran, in the putsch aimed to rally the support of the army * Hitler also needed the backing of the police

Answer 23

Hitler left the beer hall placing Ludendorff in charge of watching the Bavarian officials * Ludendorff failed in this role by being persuaded to let Kahr, Seisser and Lossow go * Without their support, the putsch had no official backing and the army suppressed the SA with ease * Hitler continued with the putsch after learning he had lost the support of the Bavarian officials * Hitler and the SA only had 2,000 guns. This meant the NSDAP and their supporters could not fight the German army when they attacked * The army remained loyal to the government despite the inclusion of General Ludendorff in the putsch * Hitler rushed the execution of the Munich Putsch in an attempt to benefit from the hyperinflation crisis * If Hitler had delayed the putsch, this would have allowed for better preparation and a bigger chance of success * Hitler needed to gain more support from the Bavarian people. Most citizens in Munich did not stop the uprising but also did not actively support it

Answer 24

* After his arrest, Hitler and General Ludendorff went on trial for committing high treason * Treason is one of the most serious crimes a person can commit * In February 1924, Hitler represented himself in court * Usually, a person would hire a lawyer to represent their case in court and persuade the judge of their innocence * Hitler wanted to use his oration skills to defend himself * Although Hitler was found guilty, his approach to the trial rewarded him with successes

Answer 25

When comparing Mein Kampf to the Twenty-Five Point Programme, it is clear that Hitler had moved the party firmly towards nationalism. While there were still elements of socialism, this was more in name rather than in policy. This move to the extreme right-wing created a clearer political identity. It also shrunk its potential support base as Mein Kampf made NSDAP's policies more extreme.

Answer 26

* Hitler left prison after serving nine months of his five-year sentence * Judges were much more lenient on right-wing offenders * The government lifted the ban on the NSDAP in February 1925 * Hitler relaunched the party on 27th February 1925 * The failure of the Munich Putsch made Hitler rethink the organisation of the party * To make the Nazi Party electable, its systems needed to be a lot clearer

Answer 27

By 1925, Hitler was losing trust in the SA * The SA had 400,000 members * Ernst Röhm had increased his control over the SA during Hitler's time in prison * The SA were hard to control * Many middle- and upper-class Germans considered the SA to be violent thugs * If Hitler wanted to make the NSDAP electable, he had to change the image of the party * Hitler took two steps to improve his paramilitary forces: 1. Hitler sent Ernst Rohm abroad. He returned to the Nazi Party in 1930 2. Hitler created a new private army called the Schutzstaffel ('Protection Squad"), or SS * The SS was a much smaller group than the SA * They wore black uniforms from 1932 * Many members of society found them intimidating * They conducted themselves better and less violently than the SA * Hitler selected and trusted members of the SS. They became Hitler's personal bodyguards * Heinrich Himmler, one of Hitler's most trusted party members, became head of the SS * Under Himmler, by 1930, there were 3,000 SS members

Answer 28

* Hitler began to realise that the Nazi Party was splitting into 'nationalist' and 'socialist' sides * In North Germany, where Strasser and Goebbels were gauleiters, they were winning the support of the workers by emphasising the socialist aspects of the NSDAP. They verbally attacked local businessmen * In South Germany, where Hitler was based, Nazi leaders emphasised the nationalist aspects of the NSDAP. They campaigned for a strong state and anti-semitism * In 1926, Hitler called a party conference in Bamberg, Bavaria * Due to the conference's location in the south, the majority of attendees were southern gauleiters * Key outcomes of the Bamberg Conference were: * Hitler called the 'socialist' side of the NSDAP "Communists" who were the enemy of the Nazi Party * Hitler's statement weakened the socialist aspects of the NSDAP, bringing the party's policies in line with Hitler's beliefs in Mein Kampf * Hitler persuaded Goebbels to switch to the 'nationalist' side of the Party * Strasser believed Goebbels had betrayed him. After this, Strasser lost Hitler's trust. In 1934, a cull of the Nazi leadership structure resulted in Strasser's murder * Hitler promoted Goebbels to gauleiter of Berlin * The Bamberg Conference allowed Hitler to develop new policies. Hitler placed more emphasis on nationalist aspects such as: * Reminding Germans of the 'dolchstoss' committed by the Weimar government in 1919. He campaigned for revenge on the 'November Criminals' for ending the First World War and signing the Treaty of Versailles * Accusing the Jewish people of being 'enemies of Germany'. He argued that the Jewish people were responsible for all of Germany's issues

Answer 29

One reason why the Nazis had limited support was because of the failure of the Munich Putsch (1). In November 1923, Hitler attempted to seize power in Munich to allow a takeover of the whole of Germany. The plan failed due to the mistakes made in the planning process and General Ludendorff's actions (1). This caused a lack of support for the Nazi Party because Hitler was arrested and the party was banned. This meant that the gains that the party had made in 1923 were taken away. When Hitler was released from prison in 1924, he had to rebuild the party (1).

Answer 30

Some Germans were 'pushed' towards fascism because of the Wall Street Crash. Experiencing a second economic crisis within a decade made people lose hope in Weimar politicians. They distrusted democracy as they could not see the Weimar Republic working in times of crisis. More Germans began to wish for the return of a totalitarian government. A strong government would take control of Germany and resolve the country's issues. In 1930, the NSDAP experienced some success in the elections. The Nazi Party achieved 18.3% of the vote, which corresponded to 107 of the 577 seats in the Reichstag. At this stage, this was the largest proportion the NSDAP had achieved in its history. By 1932, the NSDAP became the largest party in the Reichstag. Chancellor Brüning's unpopular policies to combat unemployment and recession in Germany were failing. Many sectors of the German public had lost faith in moderate political parties resolving the crisis. Hitler and the Nazi Party took advantage of the situation by increasing their production of propaganda. Hitler became a national celebrity. His oration skills converted many sceptics of the NSDAP's policies to back him. Hitler's plan to use the electoral system to become chancellor succeeded in January 1933. President Hindenburg had very limited options but to give the chancellorship to Hitler. Due to his right-wing beliefs, Hindenburg could not accept a Communist government under the KPD. At the same time, Hindenburg could no longer ignore Hitler's power over the German people. Historians agree that Hindenburg made a serious misjudgement in believing he could control Hitler by appointing von Papen as co-chancellor. Within a year of his chancellorship, Hitler combined the powers of chancellor and president to become the Führer of Germany.

Answer 31

* The economic issues triggered an employment crisis * The USA's crash affected other countries across the world. Other countries stopped purchasing German goods, which increased unemployment * Unemployed workers did not spend money on goods or services. This resulted in even more redundancies * By September 1931, 4.3 million German workers were unemployed * 40% were factory workers * Half of all 16- and 30-year-olds had no work * By January 1933, unemployment hit 6.1 million people

Answer 32

* Goebbels was a loyal member of the Nazi Party * Goebbels organised Hitler's political campaigns in 1930 and 1932 * Financial support from big businesses funded Hitler's tour around Germany. During the tour, Hitler: * Used his oration talents to make numerous speeches to the people * Hired aeroplanes for travel across the country * Organised impressive marches and rallies * Goebbels also used the money to produce posters, radio broadcasts and pamphlets to spread Nazi propaganda * They criticised the government for its handling of the Depression * This allowed them to gain more public support

Answer 33

The chancellor in 1932 was Heinrich Brüning * He became chancellor in 1930 * He was the leader of the Centre Party * He raised taxes for workers * He reduced the monetary benefits to the unemployed * From 1930-1932, he implemented harsh policies in an attempt to control the economic and unemployment crisis in Germany

Answer 34

* The Reichstag elections in July 1932 created chaos in the streets of Germany * During June and July, the SA and the KPD's Red Front Fighters fought * These fights resulted in 7,000 injured people and over 100 deaths * The election results announced the NSDAP was the biggest party in the Reichstag * The Nazi Party received 38% of the vote * This was not the 50% needed to have a majority in the Reichstag * The NSDAP's share of the votes had increased from 18% in 1930 * Hitler demanded that Hindenburg appoint him as chancellor * Hindenburg ignored Hitler's request and kept von Papen as chancellor. He called for another election in November 1932 * Hindenburg did not like Hitler. Hitler was a corporal when he was in the First World War. Hindenburg believed he acted in an unsuitable way for a person of his lowly rank * Hindenburg was gambling on the public turning against the NSDAP * In the November 1932 Reichstag election, the NSDAP retained their position as the biggest party * Their share of the votes had reduced to 33% * Hitler lost some of the middle-class support by verbally attacking von Papen * The KPD had grown their representation in the Reichstag, achieving 17% of the votes * The increase in votes for the KPD scared moderate and right-wing politicians * Von Papen could no longer remain chancellor of Germany * Von Schleicher abandoned the coalition * He went to Hindenburg arguing that, if von Papen remained chancellor, there would be civil unrest on the streets. The army would struggle to keep control * Hindenburg persuaded von Papen to resign

Answer 35

* Out of desperation to avoid a Nazi government, Hindenburg appointed von Schleicher chancellor on 2nd December 1932 * Von Schleicher told Hindenburg that the November 1932 election results proved that the NSDAP's popularity was declining * Von Schleicher's government could not function * It had no majority in the Reichstag * The people had not elected Von Schleicher * Hitler and the Nazi Party openly opposed von Schleicher at every opportunity * Von Schleicher called for Hindenburg to suspend the Weimar Constitution * A suspension of the constitution would allow von Schleicher to form a military dictatorship * Hindenburg refused * Von Papen heard about von Schleicher's plans. Von Papen contacted Hindenburg on 30th January 1933 * He stated that, if Hindenburg did not form a new government, von Schleicher would take control through a military coup Students find Hitler's path to becoming chancellor very confusing. Try to remember that, from July 1932, Hitler had won the right to become chancellor. However, Hindenburg's hatred and distrust for the NSDAP meant he wanted to try any solution to avoid Hitler gaining power. By December 1932, Hindenburg had run out of choices. He was not willing to enact von Schleicher's suggestion of a military dictatorship. Despite his right-wing tendencies, he did not believe in placing Germany under martial law. He knew he could not delay Hitler's chancellorship any longer.

Answer 36

* On 30th January, von Papen suggested that he should be co-chancellor to Hitler's chancellorship * Hindenburg and von Papen believed they had Hitler 'in their hand' and could make all the decisions about Germany * Von Papen's plan succeeded in persuading Hindenburg to make Hitler chancellor

Answer 37

The Depression was important to the Nazis because it meant that Germany was in a terrible state (1). The policies of Stresemann linked the German economy with the US economy. After the US economy collapsed, it created an economic and employment crisis in Germany. This resulted in widespread unemployment - it went up to 6.1 million (1). This gave the Nazis a great opportunity to do well in the elections. They criticised the government for not dealing with unemployment. This gave them a lot of votes and they became the largest party in the Reichstag in the July 1932 election, which meant that they would have to be given a part in government (1).

Answer 38

Hitler's appointment as chancellor on 30th January 1933 was the first step in his taking power and complete control of Germany. The Reichstag Fire provided the Nazi Party with the legal means to limit and restrict the power of the KPD. With a two-thirds majority following the March 1933 election, Hitler was able to pass the Enabling Act - a law that transformed Germany into a one-party state. Opposition was silenced, trade unions banned and local governments ruled by pro-Nazi leaders. With external opposition to Hitler and the Nazi Party greatly reduced, attention was turned to dissent within the Nazi Party. Ernst Röhm - head of the SA - had distanced himself from Hitler. The SA were becoming more and more unsettled, frustrated by unemployment like the Freikorps before the Kapp Putsch of 1920. Hitler struck during the Night of the Long Knives, when leading members of the SA were purged. The death of President Hindenberg in August 1934 allowed the rise of Hitler to Führer. The Weimar Republic had ended and the era of Nazi Germany had begun.

Answer 39

* Hitler became Chancellor of Germany on 30th January 1933, but still did not have complete control of Germany: * The Nazi Party only controlled one-third of the Reichstag * Hindenburg was President of Germany * The Weimar Constitution limited the power of the chancellor * A fire destroyed the Reichstag building on 27th February 1933 * The police arrested a Dutch Communist named Marinus van der Lubbe at the scene * He was later executed for the crime * The fire resulted in the arrests of around 4,000 Communists * Hitler persuaded Hindenburg to pass the Reichstag Fire Decree * The Reichstag Fire gave Hitler the opportunity to scapegoat the KPD * Hitler imprisoned political opponents and shut down Communist newspapers * The SA used the decree to justify using violence and intimidation towards political opponents The Reichstag building burnt down in 1933, just before the March election (1). A Dutch Communist called van der Lubbe was arrested on the grounds (1). Hitler claimed that there was a Communist plot against Germany (1). President Hindenburg issued an emergency decree, which led to the arrest of political opponents (1).

Answer 40

* The Enabling Act became law on 24th March 1933 by 444 votes to 94 * All 81 members of the Communist Party were absent * Only the SPD opposed the vote * The SA intimidated other members of the Reichstag before the vote took place * The Act gave the Nazi Party several powers * As chancellor, Hitler could propose new laws * Hitler's cabinet could pass these laws without the Reichstag's approval * These laws could overrule the Weimar Constitution * The Enabling Act was only valid for four years, but it was renewed again in 1937 * Parties in the Reichstag could no longer oppose new laws, marking an end to democratic rule in Germany

Answer 41

* The Enabling Act allowed Hitler to remove external opposition to the Nazi Party * Hitler was concerned about internal opposition, particularly from the head of the SA - Ernst Röhm: * Rohm was a suspected homosexual, which did not align with Nazi Party values * Röhm led around three million SA members, around 60% of which were unemployed by 1933 * Röhm believed in merging the SA with the army * Röhm wanted a 'second revolution' with a greater focus on supporting the working class * This contrasted with Hitler's desire to win the support of the rich * It sounded like a Communist strategy * Röhm's SA clashed with the SS, led by Heinrich Himmler and Reinhard Heydrich * The SA had a poor reputation * Hindenburg threatened to impose martial law if Hitler could not bring the SA under control * Hitler arranged a meeting with Röhm and other SA leaders at a hotel in the town of Bad Wiessee on 30th June 1934: * Rohm and around 400 SA members were arrested and later shot * Other opponents such as von Schleicher, Gregor Strassor and von Kahr were also arrested and killed * The Nazi Party told the public that * Rohm had been planning to replace Hitler * Röhm's death served the interests of the country

Answer 42

One reason why the Night of the Long Knives took place was Hitler's desire to remove opposition (1). Ernst Röhm was a potential threat to Hitler. The SA had about three million members loyal to Röhm (1). This caused the Night of the Long Knives because Hitler needed to violently remove Röhm and before the SA became too powerful (1). A strong response to this answer would contain two PEE paragraphs explaining the reasons why the Night of the Long Knives took place. Other reasons could include: * To secure Hitler's position * To gain the support of senior army officers * To reduce the power of the SA as the upper classes considered them thugs * Röhm wanted to merge the SA with the army and take control of the army

Answer 43

* Paul von Hindenburg had been President of Germany since 1925 * On 2nd August 1934, he died of lung cancer aged 86 * Hitler combined the positions of president and chancellor to make himself Führer * 90% of the public voted in favour of Hitler becoming Führer * Hitler forced every soldier to swear an oath of loyalty to him * This marked the end of the Weimar Republic and the beginning of Hitler's Nazi Germany

Answer 44

From 1933 to 1945, the Nazi Party received a high level of support, and there was conformity from the German people. Control over the distribution of information enabled the Nazis to communicate their beliefs and ideas to society. The Nazi Party used the police forces as a tool to spread fear and censor opposition. Hitler placed Nazi judges in court trials to fix the outcome of legal cases. The Nazis sent many political opponents to concentration camps. Resistance came from all areas of society, even from inside Hitler's armed forces. The majority of the opposition was private. It was incredibly dangerous to openly oppose the Nazi regime. Both the Catholic and Protestant churches had members who opposed Nazi attempts to control Christianity. The Nazis sent many pastors and priests to concentration camps for speaking out against the Nazi Party. A section of the German Protestant community set up the Confessing Church in opposition to Nazi interference in the Church. While most of Germany's young adults attended groups such as the Hitler Youth and League of German Maidens, some people hated the strictness and focus on military activities. The Swing Youth, Edelweiss Pirates and White Rose group demonstrated more physical, public and cultural resistance to the Nazi regime. 1943 marked a significant turning point. Germany was performing poorly in the Second World War. This increased opposition from more areas of society.

Answer 45

* Even before the Enabling Act removed political opposition, the Nazi Party were popular * Hitler won 36% of the votes in the second 1932 presidential election * The Nazi Party won 38% of the votes in the July 1932 election * There was a high level of conformity towards Hitler and the Nazi regime after 1933: * Four million people joined the Nazi Party from 1933 to 1939 * Hitler's policies reduced unemployment * Young people joined youth groups and embraced Nazi ideology * The Nazis rewarded women for getting married and having children * Propaganda created a cult of personality about Hitler * Censorship banned criticism and only promoted success * Hitler began breaking the Treaty of Versailles * Millions of soldiers joined the German Wehrmacht after 1935 * Germany remilitiarised the Rhineland in 1935 * The Saar coalfields were returned in 1935 * There were still groups who opposed the Nazi regime:

Answer 46

* Most Germans publicly supported the Second World War because: * They believed that Germany was right to invade Poland in 1939 * The Nazis controlled information about the war * The Nazis harshly punished any sign of dissent * After the failure of Operation Barbarossa, many Germans turned against the Nazi Party

Answer 47

There was some opposition to the Nazis because not all young people wanted to conform (1). Some of them found the Hitler Youth too regimented. As a result, young people created alternative youth groups. An example of this was the Swing Youth. They rebelled against the Nazis by listening to jazz music (1). This shows that there was opposition because the Nazis banned jazz music. This shows some opposition as young people created groups outside of what Hitler and the Nazis wanted. They actively disobeyed laws to gain more freedom (1).

Answer 48

* The SS was created in 1925 to act as personal bodyguards to Hitler * Members had to be both 'racially pure' and radically loyal to the NSDAP * Heinrich Himmler became leader of the SS from 1929 * The SS wore black uniforms to be easily identifiable from the SA * The SS had several roles: * Protect Hitler and other Nazi leaders * Provide security during political meetings * Urge people to subscribe to the Nazi newspaper, Der Volkischer Beobachter * Marry 'racially pure' wives to create 'racially pure' children * Manage and control other police forces, including the SD and Gestapo * The SS were responsible for carrying out the arrests and murders of SA members during the Night of the Long Knives in 1934

Answer 49

* The SD was created in 1931 by Heinrich Himmler * Reinhard Heydrich was placed in charge * They gathered intelligence on anyone they suspected or knew opposed the Nazi Party, which included: * Existing and new Nazi Party members * Leaders and activities within other political parties * Minority groups such as Jewish people, Jehovah's Witnesses and Freemasons * Government officials * Heydrich and the SD compiled a list of SA members during the Night of the Long Knives * The SD became the only police agency to collect and manage intelligence from 1934 * They continued this work during the war

Answer 50

* Hermann Goering initially created the Gestapo to "investigate and combat all attempts to threaten the state" * By 1934, Reinhard Heydrich led the Gestapo * They wore plain clothes so they could not be easily identified * The Gestapo had several roles: * Tapping phones and spying on opponents * Arresting, questioning and torturing suspects * Around 160,000 people were arrested in 1939 for political crimes * Sending people directly to concentration camps using protective custody * Releasing information about concentration camp conditions to spread fear * They relied on denunciations from the public to target suspects: * Only around 10% of political crimes committed were discovered by the Gestapo, compared to 80% reported by ordinary citizens * Towns such as Hamburg and Frankfurt only had 40-50 Gestapo agents, which demonstrates the reliance on fear to reduce opposition

Answer 51

* Most arrests were for 'political crimes' * Political crimes involved speaking out against the Nazi Party * Dachau was opened in 1933 and became the first concentration camp in Nazi Germany * Concentration camps were created to imprison many groups: * Minority groups such as Jewish people and Jehovah's Witnesses * 'Undesirables' such as homosexuals, prostitutes and Romani * Political opponents, including journalists, writers, intellectuals and Communists * Concentration camps had poor living conditions and inmates had to do hard labour * During the Second World War, the Nazi strategy changed * Concentration camps did not reduce the number of 'undesirables' in Germany * Germany's progression into Eastern Europe increased the number of 'undesirables' under Nazi occupation * Hitler and the Nazis developed the 'Final Solution' in 1942 * This led to the development of six extermination camps * The most notorious camp Aucchwitz-Rirkenau

Answer 52

* Control of the legal system allowed the Nazi Party to remove opposition under the illusion that it was fair and just * However, cases were often pre-determined and biased in favour of a conviction judges and Lawyers * Judges and lawyers were required to prioritise the interests of the Nazi Party above all else: * Judges joined the National Socialist League for the Maintenance of the Law * Judges were dismissed if they did not join * Lawyers joined the German Lawyers Front * Judges had to wear the swastika from 1936 * Judges decided the outcome of cases, not the jury

Answer 53

* The Nazis removed trial by jury so that judges could decide the outcome of the case * The People's Court was introduced to hear cases of treason * The Nazis selected judges radically loyal to them * Trials were held in secret * The right to appeal was removed * Control of the legal system led to a rapid rise in the number of political opponents executed: * Between 1930 and 1932, only eight people were executed * Between 1934 and 1939, this increased to 534 people

Answer 54

* Many Protestants supported the Nazi Party by 1933 as the party had promised protection from Communists, who were anti-Christian * Ludwig Müller became Reich Bishop of a unified Protestant Church called the Reich Church: * Around 2,000 individual churches joined * The swastika was displayed in some churches * Jewish people were not allowed to be baptised in the Reich Church * Pastor Martin Niemöller resisted Nazi intervention and set up the Pastors' Emergency League (PEL) * The Confessing Church was created in 1934 and 6,000 churches joined

Answer 55

Some historians argue that the Nazis maintained control of the German people. They did this by terror (1). They used the SS and the Gestapo to establish the police state. They spied on people and sent them to concentration camps. People like Communists and Social Democrats were sent there (1). This kept people in control because many Germans were scared. They did not want to face this harsh punishment. They also did not know where the Gestapo or Nazi informers were. This made the majority of people conform to the Nazi regime (1).

Answer 56

Fear and intimidation was not enough for the Nazis to guarantee compliance with their totalitarian regime. The Nazis - championed by Joseph Goebbels - used propaganda and censorship to control and influence the attitudes of the German people. They objected to many modern aspects of culture and arts. The Weimar Republic had embraced nev ideas during the Golden Years of Germany such as the Bauhaus movement. The Nazi Party believed in restoring traditional values and the family structure. These were beliefs that Goebbels could communicate through art, film, music and literature. Therefore, the Nazis quickly set about reforming the culture and arts sector. In the 1930s, newspapers and radio were the most popular media outlets. The Nazis embraced these mediums to distribute information. Demonstrating to the German people the power and strength of the Nazi regime was very important. Rallies such as that at Nuremberg in 1934 were opportunities to present the unity and organisation of this new Nazi-led Germany. This contrasted with the disorganised and helpless Weimar Republic. Through the Reich Chamber of Culture, Goebbels ensured that occupations such as artists, musiciar and authors all adhered to strict rules and laws. Failure to follow the regulations set out often led to persecution and interference by the SS or Gestapo. As a result, throughout the 1930s there was a complete overhaul of cultural ideas.

Answer 57

* Goebbels was a loyal member of the Nazi Party * His work helped gain the Nazi Party election success by 1932 * As Minister for People's Enlightenment and Propaganda, Goebbels was responsible for ensuring the Nazis controlled all areas of German life: The best propaganda is that which works invisibly, penetrating every cell of life

Answer 58

* The Nazis told journalists what they could and could not publish * Control of newspapers allowed the Nazis to spread their messages to the public: * They controlled most newspapers by 1939, compared to 3% in 1933 * Around 1,600 newspapers were closed down in 1935 * Der Völkischer Beobachter (The People's Observer) was the official newspaper of the Nazi Party and was published daily: * It reached 1.1 million people by 1941 Radio * Radios were an increasingly popular tool to communicate political messages: * Goebbels had relied on radio during the election years of 1932 and 1933 * After 1933, Goebbels censored most radio stations. Nazi-controlled stations spread propaganda * The Nazis insisted that employers placed radios in workplaces * The introduction of the Volksempfänger (The People's Receiver) in 1933 was hugely important for several reasons:

Answer 59

* Hitler and Goebbels believed that success in sport was essential: * To "Strengthen the character of the German people" * To promote the Nazi belief that the Aryan race was superior * The 1936 Berlin Olympics was an opportunity for Hitler to show the might of Nazi Germany: * Jesse Owens angered Hitler and the Nazis by winning four gold medals and becoming the most successful athlete at the games * Leni Riefenstahl directed the filmOlympia, which was released in 1938 and documented the events of the 1936 Berlin Olympics

Answer 60

The 1936 Berlin Olympics were important to the Nazis because it was a perfect propaganda opportunity (1). A new stadium had been built in Berlin that could hold up to 110,000 spectators. The film-maker Leni Riefenstahl directed the film Olympia, which showed the scale of the event (1). This created positive propaganda for the Nazis. The Olympics was an international event with many countries sending their athletes to compete. This allowed the Nazis to show the whole world how modern, strong and successful Nazi Germany was (1).

Answer 61

* The Nazis objected to the Weimar Republic's focus on modern art and culture * They instead favoured romantic ideas about Germany's past, the importance of family and strong values * The Reich Chamber of Culture was set up in 1933 to make sure that all aspects of culture and the arts aligned with these Nazibeliefs * Several Chambers formed the Reich Chamber of Culture: Nazi Art * All those involved in art were required to join the Reich Chamber of Creative Art: * Those who didn't or couldn't join were forbidden to teach, produce or sell art * Around 42,000 artists were accepted * Art that did not conform with Nazi beliefs was removed: * Expressionist artwork produced by Picasso and Van Gogh was seen as too modern * In 1936, over 12,000 paintings and sculptures were removed from galleries * Gestapo members would visit art studios to monitor the art being produced * Artists were rewarded for producing art the Nazis did approve of: * The Greater German Art Exhibition featured 900 exhibits in 1936 Nazi Architecture * The Nazis disliked the modern designs of the Bauhaus movement during the era of the Weimar Republic * Hitler's favourite architect was Albert Speer, who designed some of Nazi Germany's most important buildings: * The Zeppelinfeld, the parade ground for the Nuremberg rallies * Helped to add to the design of the Berlin Olympic Stadium * Many buildings were never completed because Nazi Germany was defeated in 1945 Nazi Architecture * The Nazis disliked the modern designs of the Bauhaus movement during the era of the Weimar Republic * Hitler's favourite architect was Albert Speer, who designed some of Nazi Germany's most important buildings: * The Zeppelinfeld, the parade ground for the Nuremberg rallies * Helped to add to the design of the Berlin Olympic Stadium * Many buildings were never completed because Nazi Germany was defeated in 1945

Answer 62

* The Nazis promoted music that represented traditional aspects of German culture * Wagner, Beethovan and Bach were liked for their focus on folk music * The Nazis censored music produced by Jewish composers * A monument dedicated to the composer Mendelssohn was removed in 1936 * Jazz music was disliked because it was associated with Black people * Many jazz artists at the time were also of Jewish origins Nazi Literature * The Chamber of Culture approved books before they were published * The Nazis banned around 2,500 writers because they did not conform to Nazi beliefs: * Works by Einstein and Oppenheimer were banned because of their Jewish origins * Lenin's work was banned because it spoke about Communism, an ideology hated by the Nazis * Nazis removed millions of books from libraries and universities and burned them on bonfires: * In May 1933, students in Berlin burned 20,000 books by anti-Nazi authors * Books from 34 cities in Germany were burned for being "unwanted" * Joseph Goebbels delivered a speech encouraging the burning of books to an audience of 40,000 Nazi Cinema * The Nazis embraced the 'modern' and popular technology of film * The Nazis had to approve all film plots and foreign films underwent censorship * Newsreels showing Germany's achievements were played before the start of films * Films like Triumph of the Will by Leni Riefenstahl presented the strength and power of the Nazi Party * Films like Hitlerjunge Quex were used to spread political messages about the threat of communism * In total, the Nazi Party made 1,300 films

Answer 63

Radios were in public places and work places so that everyone could hear Hitler's speeches (1). Newspapers like Der Völkischer Beobachte were used to spread support for the Nazi government (1). Theatre, cinema and music were used to support Nazi values (1). Books were censored or burnt (1).

Answer 64

* The Nazis aimed at making Germany as 'strong' as possible: * Policies towards women, children, the Church and culture were all to strengthen the state * Their beliefs in eugenics and racial hygiene showed that they also wanted to increase the strength of the 'German' population

Answer 65

Many Roma and Sinti gypsies were sent to concentration camps (1). Homosexuals were arrested and forced to wear pink triangles in concentration camps (1). The Nazis sterilised physically and mentally disabled people (1). The T-4 Programme, which began in 1939, killed 250,000 people by carbon monoxide poisoning (1).

Answer 66

Around 800 Jewish businesses were attacked and their windows broken (1). 191 Synagogues were destroyed (1). Jewish people were made to pay 1 billion marks for the damage (1). Around 20,000 Jewish people were sent to concentration camps (1).

Answer 67

* All Germans knew how the Nazis were treating Jewish people * Acts of violence and discrimination towards Jewish people shocked many Germans * They were too scared to help because of groups like the SS and Gestapo * Other people took part in acts of persecution, like during the boycotts in 1933 and 'Kristallnacht' in 1938 * Some Germans chose to ignore Jewish persecution

Answer 68

In some ways, the Nazis did not have full control over Germany (1). Although many people were afraid to speak out against the Nazis, some people did publicly object to Nazi policy. For example, many Germans spoke out against the T-4 Programme that killed many physically and mentally disabled people (1). As a result of the public's anger towards the T-4 Programme, the government publicly stopped the policy in 1941. The Nazis continued to secretly murder disabled people. However, the incident shows that the public could oppose Nazi actions if they collectively challenged it (1). Therefore, this example shows that the Nazis still relied on public support to rule, showing that they lacked full control (1). A strong response for this Paper One question needs to examine both sides of the argument. The next paragraph would explain why the Nazis did have control. You could use the Nazi use of the Gestapo and concentration camps as evidence that the Nazis ruled by fear. Continue to use a clear PEE structure as shown above. You would then need to write a conclusion explaining how effective was Nazi control over Germany. Rememberto use phrases like 'fully' or'partially' to explain how much control Hitler and the Nazi Party had over Germany. Consider how this level of control changed between 1933 and 1945.

Answer 69

* Hitler and the Nazis wanted to create a Third Reich that would last a thousand years * Hitler was aware that adults in Nazi Germany had mixed opinions of the Nazi Party * Adults were more difficult to influence and change than the young * Control of the youth and future generations would ensure that the Nazi Party would always have public support * The Nazis had some key beliefs towards the young:

Answer 70

* Baldur von Schirach was the Hitler Youth leader * Boys aged 14 could join the Hitler Youth * At age 18, boys became members of the Nazi Party and worked or joined the armed forces * Training was split into four distinct areas:

Answer 71

* The Bund Deutscher Mädel or League of German Maidens (BDM) was the female equivalent of the Hitler Youth * They shared some similarities with the Hitler Youth, but the emphasis was on training girls to be good wives and mothers: * Activities focused on the 'three Ks' * Kinder (Children) * Kirche (Church) * Küche (Cooking) * In 1938, the Nais created a sub-group of the BDM called the 'Faith and Beauty Society.' Its members were girls aged 17-21: * The Nazis were concerned that members of the BDM would forget their teachings when they left the group at the age of 18 * The 'Faith and Beauty Society' served as a way for women to receive further education until they were old enough to join the National Socialist Women's League

Answer 72

Young people were important to the Nazis because Hitler wanted girls to become wives and mothers (1). The Nazis wanted girls to be physically fit to increase their chances of producing healthy children. They also taught them about racial hygiene (1). This made girls important to the Nazis. If the Nazis could win the girls' support, they would raise healthy children that were indoctrinated with Nazi ideas. This would secure support for the Nazi Party for generations to come (1).

Answer 73

* The Nazis saw women as a fundamental part of the Third Reich: * Goebbels said: the mission of the woman is to be beautiful and bring children into the home * Nazi Germany had these expectations about women:

Answer 74

* Before the Second World War, the Nazis achieved some success with their policies * The number of marriages increased from 500,000 in 1932 to 750,000 by 1934 * The birth rate gradually increased from 15 per 1000 in 1933 to 20 per 1000 in 1939 * However, the build-up to and during the Second World War impacted Nazi policies towards women * By 1937, Germany experienced a national shortage of workers * By 1939, women fulfilled factory jobs but women's employment rates did not increase to 1930 levels * Over 500,000 women worked in the Wehrmacht as nurses or other non-combat roles

Answer 75

Some historians argue that Nazi policies towards women were successful (1). This is because, before 1939, many women embraced their traditional role as housewives (1). By the end of 1934, 360,000 women had left their jobs and by 1937, over 700,000 couples received loans from the Law for the Encouragement of Marriage (1). This shows that many German women complied with the Nazi policy of leaving the workplace and getting married. This could be considered a success as, in peacetime, the Nazis achieved their aim of restoring the traditional family values of Germany (1).

Answer 76

Unemployment was one of the factors that helped Hitler gain popularity during the impact of the Great Depression. Many people voted for the Nazi Party because they had promised to make Germany great again. Hitler needed more workers for the production of armaments and the improvement of German infrastructure. Hitler also needed to reduce unemployment. By 1939, Hitler and the Nazis had successfully reduced unemployment to low levels. At first glance, it appeared that many Nazi employment policies were successful. However, they also excluded certain groups from employment figures, meaning that unemployment was in reality far higher. This is called invisible unemployment. Hitler also wanted to improve workers' happiness. The Nazis provided theatre performances and tickets to sports events. Improvements to work facilities were also designed to boost morale and productivity. Wages increased for most throughout the 1930s, but so did working hours. Many workers experienced better living standards under the Nazi regime. For others, the soaring cost of food prices exceeded the amount of money they were earning.

Answer 77

Strength Through Joy was created in 1933 (1). It provided out-of-work leisure activities, trips, holidays and even cars to workers (1). By 1936, there were 35 million members of the KaF (1). The Volkswagen scheme failed as no worker received their car (1). * The KdF ran a scheme so workers could purchase a new car: * The Volkswagen - 'people's car' - was an affordable and fuel-efficient car * Workers in the KdF gave five marks per week from their wages so they could eventually receive a Volkswagen * However, car factories switched to producing armaments after 1938 and workers never received their Volkswagens Beauty of Labour * The Nazis created Beauty of Labour (SdA) programmein in 1934 * The SdA aimed to provide better facilities for workers to improve their working environment * It provided facilities such as toilets, changing rooms, showers and canteens * By 1938, around 34,000 companies had improved their facilities * The Nazis expected the workers to build and decorate the new facilities themselves: * For no extra pay * Outside of their typical working hours

Answer 78

* The Nazis wanted to create an approximately 11,000 kilometres autobahn (motorway) system to improve transport around Germany: * Hitler personally started the project in September 1933 * By 1935, the project had 125,000 workers * Around 3,500 kilometres had been completed by 1938 * The Nazis financed other public works in Germany: * These included roads, bridges and sports facilities such as the Berlin Olympic Stadium * Spending on public works more than doubled from 18 billion marks in 1933 to 38 billion marks in 1938

Answer 79

* Hitler appointed Dr Schacht as Minister of the Economy * He was a well-respected banker * He had helped to resolve the hyperinflation crisis in 1923 * Hitler tasked Schact to: * Reduce unemployment * Recover Germany's economy from the effects of the Great Depression * In 1934, Schact developed the New Plan. The plan consisted of: * Cutting welfare spending * Investing in industry * Creating trade deals with other countries, for example, Hungary * By 1936, the New Plan recovered the economy and reduced unemployment

Answer 80

* Hitler wanted to increase the size of the military because it would: * Restore Germany's pride * Make Germany stronger * Provide jobs for the unemployed * The terms of the Treaty of Versailles limited the army to 100,000 soldiers * Hitler ignored this and announced conscription in 1935 * By 1939, there were around 1.4 million men in the German armed forces * The Nazis also needed to produce more weapons and armaments to supply their larger army * Spending on armaments increased from 3.5 billion marks in 1933 to 26 billion marks by 1939 * Employment in aircraft construction increased from 4,000 people in 1933 to 72,000 people by 1935

Answer 81

* Invisible unemployment refers to people who do not have full-time jobs but are not counted in official unemployment statistics * Nazi Germany did not include many people in their employment figures * Schemes to tackle unemployment were too expensive to become long-term policies * A focus on rearmament only created jobs if Germany was preparing for war

Answer 82

The Nazis created public work projects like the building of the autobahn (1). All 18 to 25-year-olds had to join the National Labour Service for six months (1). Rearmament meant more people employed in industries like armaments and engineering (1). Women were encouraged to leave employment and were not counted as unemployed (1).

Answer 83

Many Germans approved of the Nazis' actions at the outbreak of war in September 1939. Even by 1941, support for the Nazi Party remained high. Using blitzkrieg tactics, the German Army was able to defeat the French in six weeks. The Nazis had forced the British Army out of Europe. Many European countries had fallen under Nazi control. Operation Barbarossa was a significant turning point for the success of the war and for public opinion. Poor German tactics and planning led to many Germans losing faith in their government. The defeat at the Battle of Stalingrad in 1942 signified that this would not be a quick war as the Germans had hoped for. By this point, all areas of society felt the impact of war. Rationing, shortages of resources, high levels of casualties and aerial bombings angered the German public. Despite a Nazi propaganda campaign in 1943, an increased number of Germans began to oppose the regime. By 1944, Germany faced a war on two fronts that it could not win. By April 1945, Hitler and Goebbels committed suicide and Germany surrendered to the Allied forces. Many historians debate about if Nazi Germany would have collapsed without the Second World War. Some historians state that Germany's economy was failing by 1939, causing discontent with the German public. They argue that Hitler sped up plans to invade Poland to win back public support. Other historians claim that the Nazi Party had strong support before the war. It was only the impact of total war that weakened the regime and decreased support.

Answer 84

* In 1936, Hitler fired Dr Schacht and placed Hermann Goering as Minister of the Economy * Hitler wanted a more radical economic policy * Hitler had four main objectives for the economy: * To achieve autarky * Autarky would mean a blockade would not destroy Germany's economy or food supply This happened during the First World War * To increase farming output * To increase rearmament * To implement more government control on industry * The Four Year Plan began in 1936 and lasted until 1939. Goering: * Established the Reich Food Estate to guarantee prices for farmers * Increased ersatz goods. The Nazis used: * Coal to make rubber * Acorns to make coffee * The government set production targets for industry * The government controlled the production of iron ore, coal mining, steel and armament factories * Goering created the Hermann Goering Works which were industrial centres for heavy industry * Used enslaved labour from * People in concentration camps * People from newly-occupied German territories * The Four Year Plan faced criticism * Many Nazi members did not believe that Goering was the right man for the job * He had no experience in economics, unlike Schacht * Business leaders did not support the plan * Excessive rearmament decreased Germany's standard of living * This is called a 'guns, not butter' economic approach

Answer 85

Goering oversaw the plan (1). It focused industries on rearmament (1). Hitlerwanted Germany to achieve autarky (1). The government set production targets for industry (1).

Answer 86

* Many historians argue that the Nazi economy was a significant weakness in the Second World War. This is because * Germany had not achieved autarky * By 1939, Germany still imported one-third of its raw materials * The economy was not designed for war * Only by 1943 had Albert Speer, the new Minister of Armaments and War Production, switched Germany to a war economy * Germany's economy could not support the war effort * Germany had shortages in fuel, coal and food. It did not have enough workers to make enough products * Germany relied on plundering from occupied countries to supply their citizens with resources * During Operation Barbarossa, Germany did not have enough supplies. This meant that they could not use blitzkrieg tactics properly against the USSR * Battles reduced their war supplies * The government relied on enslaved labour in ghettos and concentration camps * By 1944, one-quarter of Germany's workforce was enslaved

Answer 87

Life in Germany changed because of the intensive bombing by the Allies (1). In February 1945, the Allies bombed the city of Dresden causing 150,000 civilian casualties (1). This changed people's lives because it destroyed people's homes and made some people homeless. The loss of family members in the bombings would have an enormous effect on people's lives (1).