Government of Nazi Germany Flashcards
3
Q
When was the Reichstag Fire?
A
27 February 1933
4
Q
What were the events of the Reichstag Fire?
A
Reichstag (parlimentary building) was burned down
–> Dutch Communist Van Der Lubbe arrested at scene
-Worked alone
BUT Hitler used this to persuade Hindenburg–> emergency powers
–>Arrested and detained communists & anti-communists
Spread anti-Communist propaganda
5
Q
What Fundamental Law did the Nazis arresting and detaining communists & those who opposed the Nazis break following the Reichstag Fire?
A
1st–> Personal Freedom
can’t be arrested unless has broken the law
6
Q
When was the Enabling Act signed?
A
24 March 1933
7
Q
What did the signing of the Enabling Act see the end of in Germany?
A
Democracy
8
Q
How did Hitler get the Enabling Act easily passed by govt?
A
3/4 of the Reichstag had to vote in favour Communists expelled from Reichstag -Unable to vote Centre party voted for -promised to protect church Social Democrats=only that voted against won=444 vs 94
9
Q
What did the Enabling act give Hitler the power to do?
A
Triggered Article 48
–>Could pass laws w/out permission of Hindenburg or Reichstag
10
Q
What happened to Trade Unions on 2 May 1933, following the passing of the Enabling Act?
A
All trade unions merged–>DAF
=under Nazi control
Leaders of past unions arrested
11
Q
What happened to political parties in July 1933, following the passing of the Enabling Act?
A
Setting up a new party= banned
(Social Democrats and Communists already banned)
=One-party state
12
Q
What was the White Rose Resistance?
A
non- violent resistance group
Philosophy teacher and student
created and distributed anti Nazi leaflets
Sophie & Hans Scholl
discovered 1943, someone saw them chuck a leaflet in the air
interrogated by Gestapo
13
Q
Who was Martin Niemoller?
A
Ordained in 1924
1933 didn’t agree with the Reich Church’s racism
1934 set up Confessional Church w/ other Protestants
1936 wrote strong speech opposing hitler
arrested- kept in concentration camp 1938-1945
14
Q
Why was opposition to Hitler weak?
A
Because he was ruthless with exterminating any threats, people were scared
15
Q
Who was the leader of the Reich Church?
A
Ludwig Muller
16
Q
What happened after the death of Hindenburg?
A
Hitler made himself President, now in control of the entirety of Germany
17
Q
What were the two methods of control in Nazi Germany?
A
Terror
Propaganda
18
Q
What were the events that led to Hitler becoming Fuhrer from Chancellor?
A
Feb 1933- Reichstag Fire (=got rid of Communist threat) March 1933- Enabling Act (=triggered Article 48) May-July 1933- Political parties & Trade Unions banned (removed opposition Germany= one-party state)
June 1934- Night of the Long Knives
(sent warning of Nazi power)
August 1934- Hindenburg’s death
(Hitler combined Chancellor & President
=FUHRER)
August 1934- Oath of the Army
(Army= swore allegiance + promised to obey Hitler)
19
Q
When was The Night of the Long Knives?
A
29-30 June 1934
20
Q
What lead to the Night of the Long Knives?
A
Hitler=concerned w/ growing power of SA–> 3 mil. members could overthrow him
-Leader=Ernst Rohm (Hitler’s friend + rival)
Rohm wanted to merge Army + SA
–>Army wasn’t happy + wanted to be reassured
(Army=smaller than SA, more discipline)
21
Q
What was the population of the SA before The Night of the Long Knives?
A
3+ mill.
22
Q
What were the events of The Night of the Long Knives?
A
SA leaders dragged from beds -Taken to Nazi headquarters -Shot Rohm arrested -refused to commit suicide -Shot =Sent warning of Nazi power
23
Q
What did The Night of the Long Knives show the German public?
A
Nazi power
+ ruthlessness to opposition
24
Q
When did Hindenburg die?
A
2 August 1934
25
Q
What did Hitler do immediately following the death of Hindenburg?
A
Combined roles of Chancellor and President
=FUHRER
26
Q
When did the Army swear an oath of allegiance to Hitler?
A
August 1934
27
What oath did the Army take in August 1934?
Swore allegiance to Hitler
Accepted him as Supreme Leader
Promised to obey him
28
What are the characteristics of a dictatorship?
```
No/rigged elections
Only one party
One supreme leader
Leader makes all rules
No criticism of govt. allowed
Trade unions= banned
```
29
Who was in charge of terror as a means of controlling the German public in Nazi party?
Heinrich Himmler
30
Was was the timeline of Himmler's career in the Nazi party?
1923- Joined Nazi Party
1929- Formed SS
1936- Head of all police
31
Who were the SS?
```
Protection squad
(-originally Hitler's bodyguards)
Aryan
Could arrested public w/out trial
-Search houses
Hunted down opposition to Hitler
-->destroyed it
Ruthless
Fiercly loyal to Hitler
```
32
What was the population of the SS in 1939?
240,000
33
How did Himmler control the German public through terror?
```
SS
Conc. camps
Gestapo
Police
Local Wardens
Rigged courts
```
34
What did concentration camps start of as?
```
(Constructed in rural areas)
Held political opponents
-short periods of time:
questioning
torture
hard labour
forced instruction
```
35
What did concentration camps turn into during the later years of Nazi Germany?
```
Held Untermensch
e.g:
Jews
Communists
Socialists
Homosexuals
-->slave labour for Nazi-ownded businesses
(making tings like weapons)
```
36
What were the Gestapo?
Secret police
37
How did the Gestapo control the German public?
```
tapped phones
opened mail
network of informers
Arrested anyone seen as anti-Nazi w/out trial
-->tortured
-->imprisoned in conc. camps
```
38
How were the police affected by the Nazi regime?
Controlled by Nazis
-bosses=Nazis
Became part of informer network
Ignored crimes committed by Nazis
39
How did the Gestapo control the German public during the Nazi regime?
```
Each town= divided into blocks
Every block=Block Warden
--> Visited every house:
Collected donations
Watched out for anti-Nazi behaviour
Wrote reports on everyone
-Reported any independant thinking
Reports=to Gestpo
-->Decide who got jobs & who needed to be arrested for being Anti-Nazi
```
40
How were the courts affected during the Nazi regime?
All judges:
took pledge of loyalty to Hitler
Became Nazi party members
-->fair trials=impossible
41
How did terror control the German public?
Scared them into following Nazi message
42
Who was the Minister of Enlightenment and Propaganda in Nazi Germany?
Joseph Goebbels
43
What was the timeline of Goebbels' career with the Nazis?
1922-Joined Nazis
1928-Put in charge of propaganda
1938-Gave orders for Kristallnacht
1943-Put in complete control of war effort
44
How did Goebbels control the German public using propaganda?
```
Newspapers
Rallies
Books
Radio
Films
Posters
```
45
How were newspapers used to control the German public during the Nazi regime?
```
Anti-Nazi ones=shut down
Jews=banned from working for newspapers
Newspaper companies told what to include
-->Only Nazi messages
Display boards in towns=presented what was included
```
46
How were rallies used to control the German population during the Third Reich?
```
Impressive
-->Nuremburg stadium built especially
Huge scale show of unity and strength
Presented an image of:
order
control
discipline
-->overwhelming power and unity
=what Germany needed
```
47
How did books control German people during the Nazi regime?
```
Official book burnings
-Books by:
-Communists
-Jews
-Socialists
-Anyone they disapproved of
-Any anti-Nazi messages
New books=censored
-->Prevented rebellious/free thinking
```
48
During the Third Reich, how was film used to control the German public?
Goebels=Controlled every film made
- ->Still made 'normal' films
- Anti-Semitic messages
- Openly Pro-Nazis
49
How did propaganda control the German population during the Third Reich?
Persuaded people to follow Nazi ideals
50
How did posters control the public during the Nazi regime?
```
Clever imagery
Hitler=Presented as almighty,strong,formidable
Pictures of Aryan families
Anti-Semitic messages
-Jews=displayed as animalistic
-->displayed throughout Germany
-Passed on Nazi ideas
```
51
What fraction of the German population was Catholic in 1933?
1/3
52
Why did Hitler sign the Concordat with the Center Party in 1933?
Needed to have Center Party's vote for Enabling Act
53
When was the Concordat signed?
1933
54
What was the Concordat?
Agreement between Catholic Center Party and Nazis
- Church would have freedom of worship and education
- Church wouldn't get involved in politics
55
How compatible are Christian and Nazi beliefs?
```
NOT AT ALL
Christian:
strong helping weak
love
forgiveness
tolerance
only one God
sin to idolise anyone other God
```
```
Nazi:
dominance of strong over weak
racial superiority
use of violence
idolising Hitler as God-like
```
56
How did the church pose a threat to the Nazis?
```
Population= Christian
1/3= Catholic
-->wide influence
Promoted love and tolerance
Could hold anti-Nazi meetings
```
57
Why did the Nazis need the church?
Pro Hitler members of church could promote their ideas
-Source of propaganda
Agreed on traditional family roles/values
58
Did Hitler stick to the terms of the Concordat?
NO
Tried to Nazify church
Sent some priests to conc. camps
-->Pope Pius condemned Hitler
59
What was the relationship between the Protestant church and Hitler?
1930s=suported Hitler
- ->H tried to surpress them
- Nazi campaigns against church school
- Banned carols
- Limited freedom of worship
60
Who was the most famous Protestant that offered opposition to Hitler?
Martin Niemoller
61
What fraction of Germans were Protestant in the 1930s?
2/3
62
What did Martin Niemoller do to provide opposition to the Nazis?
Set up Confessional Church-1934
-Protestants who opposed Hitler
Him and 800 ministers sent to conc. camp-1938
63
When did Niemoller set up the Confessional church?
1934
64
What happened to Niemoller and 800 of his ministers?
1938- Sent to conc. camp
65
What was the Reich church?
Church formed by Nazis in collaboration w/ some Protestants
-->carried on w/ services as normal
Ludwig Muller-1933
66
What was the Reich church?
Church formed by Nazis in collaboration w/ some Protestants
Pastors=swore loyalty to Hitler
-->carried on w/ services as normal
Ludwig Muller-1933
67
In the 1939 Nazi census, what percentage of Germans identified as Christian?
60%
68
Who were the Edelweiss Pirates?
Gangs of working class kids who opposed Hitler
69
What did the Edelweiss Pirates do in their opposition to the Nazis?
```
meet up:
Play music-Jazz
Go on walks
Hand out leaflets
Wear American clothes
-America=influence
Hunt down members of Hitler Youth and beat them up
```
70
When were the Edelweiss Pirates in action?
1938-1944
71
How did the Nazis deal w/ the Edelweiss Pirates?
Many sent to conc. camps
| 1944-->12 hanged
72
Who were the White Rose Group?
Group of university students who opposed Hitler
-->Hans and Sophie Scholl
(brother and sister)
73
What did the White Rose Group do?
```
Believed in justice
Wanted to make German people aware of atrocities carried out to minorities
Spread anti-Nazi methods:
Handed out leaflets
Wrote graffiti
```
74
When were the White Rose Group active?
1942-1943
75
What happened to the White Rose Group?
```
Informer saw them handing out leaflets
-Hans and Sophie:
Arrested
Tortured
Executed
-->group disbanded
```
76
Who organised the July Bomb plot?
```
Group of upper-class army officers
-->Claus von Stauffenberg
```
77
What was the July Bomb plot?
Opposed brutal methods
Operation Valkyrie-1944
-assassinating Hitler using bomb in briefcase
-->Went off but didn't kill him
78
When was the July Bomb Plot?
20 JUly 1944
79
What happened to those involved with the July Bomb Plot?
~5000 arrested
executed
-->including von Stauffenberg
80
What was Klaus von Stauffenberg's relationship with the Nazis?
1930=supporter
Fought in WW2
-->Wounded
-->Suffering of army in Russia & brutality of SS pushed him to opposition
81
What were the two aspects in which the Nazis controlled the German youth?
Education
Personal lives
82
How did the Nazis control the youth of Germany through their education?
```
Hitler=wanted children to idolise him
Nazification of text books and lessons
All teachers=Nazi approved
-Teachers who refused:
Sacked
OR
Conc. camps
Elite= Adolf Hitler schools
Strong focus on physical education
-->Strong race
Traditional gender roles:
Boys:
boxing
strength focused excersize
maths
science
-->Prepared for Army
Girls:
childcare
home-making
-->Prepared for home-making
Learnt about
- German history-injustices faced (e.g TofV)
- Superiority of Aryan race
- Jews & Communists= BAD
-->ALL SUPPORTED NAZI IDEAS
```
83
How did the Nazis control the youth of Germany through their personal lives?
1926- Hitler youth for Boys
-Swore oath to H
Lots of strength building
Nazi ideas
League of German Maidens
Focus:
keeping fit
home-making
--> 1939= COMPULSORY
84
When did Hitler form the Hitler Youth?
1926
85
When did all youth clubs in Germany become under Hitler's control?
1936
86
When did the Hitler Youth and German League of Maidens become compulsory?
March 1939
87
What did the Nazis expect of women?
```
Aryan
Healthy & fit
Not slim
(child-bearing)
Modest
Thrifty
Undemanding
Demure
Well behaved
-quiet
-polite
Moral
Reliant on husband
No make-up
Simple, plaited hair
No smoking
Focus:
KINDER
KIRCHE
KURCHE
```
88
What are the three Ks that the Nazis expected women to focus on?
Kinder
-children
(lots of children- building Aryan race)
Kirche
-church
(must teach her family good morals)
Kurche
-cooking
(build Aryan race up strong and healthy)
89
What were Nazi methods of imposing their expectations onto women?
```
Women were sacked from jobs
-Men employed instead
Marriage loans:
-Encouraged marriage and house-wifery
Medal for having children
-Bronze=4
-Silver=6
-Gold=8+
-->v. respected
Women w/ genetic weakness sterilized
Restaurants banned women from smoking
Fashion looked down upon
-->Rejected American liberation of women
Slimming=unacceptable
```
90
How many children did a woman need to get a bronze Motherhood Cross?
4
91
How many children did a woman need to get a silver Motherhood Cross?
6
92
How many children did a woman need to get a gold Motherhood Cross?
8
93
What were the results of Nazi methods to control women?
```
Marriages rose
Birth rate rose
Women wouldn't give up jobs easily
-would work for less
-->Employers wanted them
```
94
What were the two plans for reducing unemployment in Nazi Germany?
The New Plan
-1933-1937
The Four year Plan
-1936-1940
95
Who developed The New Plan?
Dr Schacht
| -President of Reich bank
96
When was The New Plan in action?
1933-1937
97
When was The Four Year Plan in action?
-1936-1940
98
What were the economical aims of the Nazis?
Self-sufficiency for Germany
Solve unemployment issue
Control workers
Economy=needed to be ready for war
99
How did the Nazis work towards their aim of a self-sufficient Germany?
Invaded countries w/ raw materials
Maunfactured Volkswagen
-workers paid in installments
Four Year Plan
100
How did the Nazis work towards their aim of solving the unemployment crisis?
```
Rearmament
(ignored TofV)
-provided jobs
National Labour Force set up
-men aged 18-25 did labour jobs
Minorities sent to labour & conc. camps= recorded as employed
Women=Forced to leave work
German Labour Front
-organised public works programmes
(e.g builiding motorways, school)
```
101
How many Germans were unemployed in 1933?
5 mill.
102
How did the Nazis work towards their aim of a controlling workers?
Strength Through Joy
-organised leisure activities
All workers=Member of German Labour Fron
103
How did the Nazis work towards their aim of making the German economy ready for war?
Introduced conscription
| -arms industry massively grew
104
What was happening at Grafeneck Asylum?
```
Vans of mentally ill patients were drove in
-Never came out
Killed
Mass cremations
Ashes used for fertiliser
```
105
Who were considered 'undesirable' in Nazi Germany?
```
Unemployed
Unhealthy
Gypsies
Disabled
-physically
-mentally
Alcoholics
Tramps
Homosexuals
Prostitutes
Juvenile Delinquents
```
106
How was propaganda used against the 'untermensch'?
Stirred up resentment against 'burdens' of society
107
What was the Sterilisation Law?
1933- allowed to sterilise people w/ illnesses
(as petty as 'simple-mindedness)
-->term interpreted freely
108
When was the Sterilisation Law passed?
July 1933
109
How many people were forcibly sterilised between the year 1934-1945?
320000-350000
110
Who started to be sent to concentration camps in 1936?
```
Work shy
Tramps
Alcoholics
Prostitues
Homosexuals
Juvenile delinquents
```
111
When did the Nazis start secretly euthanising the mentally ill?
1939
112
Define persecution
The subjecting to of a race or group of people to cruel or unfair treatment becaus of who they are or what they believe in
113
When did the Nazis introduce the boycott of Jewish shops?
What stage of attitudes to Jewish people was this?
1933
Non-violent discrimination
114
What were the different stages of attitudes to Jews?
Long history of hatred
Non-violent discrimination
Lawful act
Outrght violence
Systematic extermination
115
When were Jewish people banned from certain jobs?
What stage of attitudes to Jewish people was this?
1933
Non-violent discrimination
116
When were Jewish and Aryan children prohibited from playing with each other?
What stage of attitudes to Jewish people was this?
1933
Non-violent discrimination
117
When were the Nuremberg Laws passed?
What stage of attitudes to Jewish people was this?
1935
Lawful discrimination
118
What did the Nuremberg Laws decree?
Jews=not allowed to marry Germans
| Jews=can't be German citizen
119
When were Jews banned from owning businesses?
What stage of attitudes to Jewish people was this?
1938
Non-violent discrimination
120
When was Kristallnacht?
What stage of attitudes to Jewish people was this?
November 9-10 1938
Outright violence
-->turning point
121
When were Jews forced to wear the Star of David?
What stage of attitudes to Jewish people was this?
1938
Start of systematic extermination
122
When were Jews forced to be home before nightfall?
What stage of attitudes to Jewish people was this?
1939
Lawful discrimination
123
When were ghettos introduced for Jews?
What stage of attitudes to Jewish people was this?
1941
Lawful discrimination
124
When did the Final Solution start?
What stage of attitudes to Jewish people was this?
1941
Systematic extermination
