History: Germany Flashcards
What is a Kaiser?
Germany’s ruler who could also ignore government advice. He made all military and foreign policy decisions.
What is a chancellor?
The head of the government in Weimar Germany
What was the Bundesrat?
The upper house of German parliament, with representatives from each state to express their interests
What was the Reichstag?
The German government building
Who created the idea of Weltpolitik and what was it?
Kaiser Wilhelm II
The idea of making Germany a global power
What was the SPD?
Social Democratic Party
A party which believed in socialism, where power and wealth was shared equally amongst people
What were the Navy Laws and how was money raised for them?
A series of German navy expansion policies. They were made to improve the navy for the Kaiser to enhance Germany’s power. They were funded using increased taxes and borrowed money, which left Germany in debt for a long time.
Who was Friedrich Ebert?
Leader of the SPD
Who were the Spartacists?
A group of communists in Germany who wanted Germany to be run by small councils of soldiers and workers
Who were the Freikorps?
A group of ex-soldiers who lost their jobs following the restrictions in the Treaty of Versailles. They were sent by Ebert to attack Spartacists.
What was the Weimar Republic?
The democratic government of Germany between 1919-1933 which tried to give power to all German adults
Who were the November Criminals?
Politicans who signed the armistace. They were accused of betraying the German army and people.
What was the Dolchstoss?
The German army felt like they had been ‘stabbed in the back’ by those who agreed to the Treaty of Versailles
What was Article 48?
A section of the Weimar Constitution which allowed the president to pass laws without the Reichstag’s approval in an emergency. However, an emergency wasn’t clearly defined, so this law was often misused.
When was the Treaty of Versailles signed and what was it?
June 28th 1919
It was a list of punishments for Germany for their involvement in starting WW1
What punishments were in the Treaty of Versailles?
- £6.6 billion in reparations
- Limitations to German army
- Germany must hand over colonies to winning countries
- No German soldiers can enter the Rhineland
- Germany must never unite with Austria again
- Large areas of German land was used to make new countries
Why did Germans hate the Treaty of Versailles?
- They felt it was too harsh
- They were ordered to sign the Treaty, no discussion
- Many Germans felt they had not lost the war, and that many German politicans had betrayed them
What was the Occupation of the Ruhr?
Germany had announced that they couldn’t afoord to pay reparations. French and Belgians didn’t believe them and took control of the Ruhr region.
What was hyperinflation?
The German government printed lots of money to pay striking workers and the reparations. But this led to shopkeepers increasing their prices. The German government printed even more money, so shops raised their prices again. This loop repeated.
What was the Kapp Putsch?
In March 1920, right-wing politician, Wolfgang Kapp gathered 5000 Freikorps and took over Berlin. He did this to try and take over the whole country and recover lost land. The uprsing failed as workers striked.
What is a ‘Putsch’?
A violent uprising
What was the Red Rising in the Ruhr?
Following the Kapp Putsch, left-wing workers in the Ruhr stayed on strike. They took over many towns. The government sent soldiers and Freikorps to deal with the rebellion
What was the Munich Putsch?
In November 1923, Hitler and the Nazis tried to seize control of the Bavarian government, promising to overturn the ToV. He planned to capture Munich. Hitler and 2000 supporters marched through Munich, but were met by armed police who engaged in a gun battle, leading to deaths and Hitler’s arrest.
What was the Dawes Plan?
A deal which resulted in the US lending 800 million gold marks to Germany to pay reparations
What was the Young Plan?
A reduction in the total payment of reparations from £6.6 billion to £2 billion, while also allowing 59 years for the money to be paid.
What was the Rentenmark?
A new currency, created by Streseman, which replaced the old Reichsmark which had become worthless due to hyperinflation.
Who was Gustav Stresemann?
Germany’s Foreign Minister from 1924 to 1929 who dealt with the problems Germany was facing
Which problems remained following Stresemann’s death?
- Many political parties
- Extreme political parties like Nazis
- Large groups of Germans were poor
- German prosperity was build on American loans, but what if they wanted their money back?
What was the ‘golden age’?
Also known as the golden twenties, it was a time of stability and flourishing culture in Germany following hyperinflation and WW1. It also involved key developments in art, literature and design.
What was the Locarno Pact?
In 1925, Germany, Britain, France, Belgium and Italy promised to never invade each other
What was the Kellogg-Briand Pact?
An international agreement between 62 countries includong Germany to never use war in disputes unless in defense
When was the Wall Street Crash and what was it?
October 1929
It was an event where values in shares in the stock market suddenly plummeted. This led to American companies and banks going out of business and millions losing their jobs. This was soon known as the Great Depression
What was the SA?
Also known as stormtroopers, they were Hitler’s brown-shirted supporters who were employed to beat up opponents and guard meetings
What was the SS?
Also known as the Schutzstaffel, they were Hitler’s elite personal bodyguards who became one of the main instruments of terror in Nazi Germany
Who was Joseph Goebbels?
One of Hitler’s most loyal followers who was put in charge of propaganda to spread the Nazi message
What factors made the Nazis popular?
- The Depression
- Discontent with the Weimar Government
- Hitler was appealing
- Fears about communism
- Rallies, youth organisations and propaganda
Which groups of people voted for the Nazis?
- Farmers
- Women
- Middle classes
- Wealthy classes
- Youth
Why did the Nazis appeal to farmers?
- The Depression hit farmers hard and Weimar governement offered little support
- Nazis promised them higher prices for crops, better quality of life and higer status
- Communists were unappealing to farmers
Why did the Nazis appeal to women?
- Nazis targeted women voters by saying family life, discipline and morals were important
- Many women agreed that Weimar culture had a poor influence on the young
Why did the Nazis appeal to middle classes?
- They felt their jobs would break down during the Depression
- Worries about communism destroying their way of life
Why did the Nazis appeal to wealthy classes?
- Hitler promised to let owners run factories how they wanted
- Communists wanted to take over businesses, but Nazis opposed this
Why did the Nazis appeal to the youth?
- Hitler’s promise to make Germany great again appealed to younger people
- Younger people wanted to be a part of Germany’s seemingly bright future
Who was Ernst Rohm?
Close friend of Hitler, co-founder and leader of the SA
What was the Gestapo?
The Nazi’s secret police force who formed a concentration camp for political prisoners
When was the Reichstag Fire, what was it and what was its significance?
27th February 1933
An event where the Reichstag burnt down. Hitler used this as an opportunity to blame a communist plot for it.
When was the Enabling Act passed and what was it?
23rd March 1933
An act which allowed Hitler to make laws without permission of the Reichstag for 4 years
When did Hitler ban other political parties and why?
14th July 1933
- Allowed Germany to become a one-party state. The Nazis now have no competition
When was the Night of the Long Knives and what was it?
30th June 1934
- Hitler and an assassination squad from the SS arrested Ernst Rohm and other SA leaders, who were later shot dead.
- Over the next few days, around 400 political opponents were executed
What was the impact of the Night of the Long Knives?
- Many who Hitler regarded as threats were now dead
- The SS was now responsible for Hitler’s security, along with the Gestapo. The SA remained but was no longer a major force
- Hitler showed that Nazis would use violent methods to gain power
Who was Heinrich Himmler?
Leader of the SS
