History - Nazi Germany Flashcards
What was Hitler’s involvement in WWI?
He was a soldier.
What was the name of the party that Hitler was asked to spy on?
The German Worker’s Party.
What name did Hitler change this to when he took the party over in 1920?
The National Socialist German Worker’s Party.
How many points did the programme of his new party have?
25.
Name 2 points (things the party wanted) in the party programme.
- The general increase in old-age pensions.
- That the German people have equal rights to those in other nations and that the Peace Treaty of Versailles and St. Germaine shall be abrogated.
Hitler’s party grew from 55 members in 1918 to 55,000 in 1923; true or false?
True.
Why was the SA set up?
To disrupt and intimidate opponents of the Nazi’s.
Which group of people was the SA primarily made up of?
Ex-soldiers and members of the Freikorps.
When did the Munich Putsch take place?
1923.
What was the aim of the Munich Putsch?
To take over the government and create a new one in Munich.
Why did it fail?
It was poorly planned. Hitler and the other Nazi leaders were arrested and sent to prison.
What were the immediate impacts of the Munich Putsch?
Hitler and the other Nazi leaders were arrested and sent to prison, the Nazi Party was banned from politics.
What was the long term impact of the Munich Putsch?
Hitler’s trial was publicised all around Germany which made him a household name. He was sentenced to five years in prison but only served 9 months. While in prison, he wrote his book ‘Mein Kampf’ which set out his key beliefs and how he wanted to achieve them.
How did Hitler change his tactics after 1924?
He realised the way to power lay in getting himself elected.
Who was Joseph Goebbels?
He was in charge of Nazi propaganda.
The 1928 election showed that 3% of Germans voted for the Nazis; true or false?
True.
Whose support did the Nazis lack?
The working class (communists).
Hitler was banned from public speaking after the Munich Putsch until which year?
1928.
In which year did the Nazis become the largest political party?
1929.
Name 3 reasons for this turnaround.
- Propaganda
- Change of tactics
- Appeal of ideas
How many people were unemployed by 1932?
6 million.
Who were the businessmen and farmers afraid of?
The Communists.
What was Article 48?
Where the President was allowed to put through any laws without needing any consent from the Reichstag.
Who was von Papen?
Chancellor of Germany in 1932 and Vice Chancellor in 1933.
Who was Hindenberg?
The President of Germany.
Name the specific types of propaganda used by the Nazi’s to gain support.
- Posters - Showed Anti-Semitic images and images of Hitler and Aryan families all over Germany. The purpoe was to pass on Nazi messages to as many people as possible.
- Newspapers - Goebbels controlled what was printed in the newspapers and banned all Jews from working in/owning a newspaper.
- Rallies - Held to demonstrate to the Germans and the rest of the world how organised and controlled they were, and took place in huge stadiums that held around 100,000 people.
- Radio - Nazi’s decided what was broadcast, which included Hitler’s speeches. Radios were mass-produced and sold cheaply to get their messages across to the masses. 70% of Germans owned a radio by 1939.
When did WWI end?
1918 November 11
What happened to the German Government that was run by Kaiser after WWI?
It was forced out of Germany and replaced by Weimar Republic
Why did the Weimar Republic become unpopular?
They signed the Armistice and agreed to terms which seriously weakened Germany’s power
What was the ‘stabbed in the back’ myth?
After the signing of the armistice, people believed Germany could have won the war if the army had not been betrayed by the weak politicians who lacked the will to fight on
What was one more point that led to a decrease in Weimar popularity?
Build up of economic problems led to widespread hunger and poverty
What were the key terms of the Treaty of Versailles?
L - Germany had to give up 13% of its LAND including colonies and important areas with raw materials such as coal
A - ARMY reduced to from 17.5 million-100,000 men. No conscription or aircraft allowed and reduction in size of navy
M - Had to pay a huge sum of MONEY (£6.6bn) in reparations to countries such as France and Belgium which had been devastated by trench warfare
B - The ‘war guilt clause’ meant Germany accepted BLAME for causing the war
What did the Treaty of Versailles show to opponents of Germany?
It showed the Weimar as much weaker
How was the old government run by Kaiser?
Kaiser had chosen ministers who would help run the country
How did this change when the Weimar Republic overtook the old government?
It allowed German people to choose who they wanted in their government
What did this mean for the new government voting terms?
- It was a fairer system, all Germans over the age of 20 yrs could vote and all adults had the right to free speech
- Votes were counted using proportional representation which often meant the government was made up of lots of different minor parties, meaning too much influence on other policies
- Major parties in Reichstag had to make deals with minor parties as they needed support
What was the issue with political violence?
- Not as many people felt the same about the leaders way of running the Weimar Republic
- Extreme parties wanted to destroy the Republic and government system. Their aim was to seize power and rule Germany their way
What was the Spartacist Rising and when did it take place?
- It was an extreme left uprising in 1919
- Members of the Spartacist league were communists who wanted a revolution in Germany
- Government ordered army and Freikorps to crush them
- Leaders executed for their part in uprising
What was The Red Rising and when did it take place?
- It was an extreme left uprising in 1920
- A communist army of around 50,000 workers occupied the Ruhr
- Army and Freikorps crushed them, rising lost around 1000 communists
What was the Kapp Putsch Uprising and when did it take place?
- It was an extreme right wing rising in 1920
- Leader of Freikorps, Wolfgang Kapp, attempted to seize power using the Freikorps
- Workers went on a general strike to protest and managed to stop e uprising
How many members of Hitler’s Nazi Party took part in the Munich Putsch?
50,000 members and own private army (SA)
What did the National Socialist German Worker’s Party (Nazi’s) believe?
- Democracy only led to weak government
- There should be only one political party with one leader
When did Hitler become the leader of the Nazi Party?
1921
How many members did the Nazi Party have?
55,000 members but we’re still seen as a marginal political party
What were some points from the Twenty-Five Point Programme?
- Unite all German-speaking people
- Abolish the Treaty of Versailles and end reparations
- Share all profits made by profiteers during the war
- Form a strong central government with unrestricted authority
- Take over land and colonies in Eastern Europe to feed Germany’s population
Why did economic crisis nearly bring the Weimar to its knees in 1923?
Germany missed the reparations payment in 1922
What did the missed reparations cause?
Hyperinflation and economic crisis. Hitler and the Nazi’s failed to seize power
Which new leader took bold decisions to help the government survive?
Stresemann
What was the period of 1924-29 known as and why?
The Golden Years as Germany’s prosperity and stability increased
When and why did France invade the Ruhr?
In 1923 to take what was owed in form of raw materials and goods. Public were told not to cooperate and to go on strike with passive resistance
Why did the government run out of money?
Workers families had to be paid which meant more money had to be printed
What problems did more money printing lead to?
- Workers were paid more with printed money meaning money lost value
- Shops and supplies put up prices, people were paid more money
- This went out of control and led to hyperinflation
- Goods became unaffordable but not everyone was affected, yet most suffered
- Everyday goods such as eggs and breads became unaffordable
What are some results of hyperinflation?
- People with loans found it easier to pay back debts as loans were worth much less
- Anyone with savings watched them reduce and become worthless
- Some businessmen were able to pay back loans used to set up companies
- People had died during Ruhr crisis
- Those with fixed incomes suffered (i.e. Workers and pensioners). Even increases that some workers had could not match rise in prices
- Confidence lost in government as was seen to be powerless over hyperinflation
- More people turned to extremist parties
Who did Hitler trick into allowing him to use his troops as part of the Munich Putsch?
General Ludendorff
How was the Munich Putsch carried out?
- Hitler and 600 SA members interrupted a meeting of the Bavarian government in a beer hall. He announced he was going to overthrow the government
- The next day around 3000 Nazis, including Hitler, marched through Munich. Police broke up the match and Hitler was arrested
What was one of Stresemann’s first actions?
- He recalled the old currency and replaced it with the Rentenmark. Inflation was quickly controlled
- However, many people had lost savings and so could not forget the effects of hyperinflation
What did Stresemann negotiate in 1924?
- The Dawes Plan - gave Germany longer to pay off reps. and brought in more US loans
- Govt. used money to build new infrastructure such as railways and factories
- some believed the loans made Germany too dependant on the U.S. economy
What did Stresemann sign in 1925?
- Locarno Treaties - With countries such as Britain, France, and Belgium, he improved relationships.
- By joining the League of Nations in 1926, Germany became more involved in major decisions internationally
- Some believed Stresemann didn’t do enough and should have won back the land lost in the Treaty of Versailles
What plan was negotiated in 1929?
- The Young Plan - gave Germany even more time to pay off reps.
- Some felt they should not be paying reps. at all and only meant extending the time they would be paying them for
Name two Nazi organisations
- Hitler Youth (boys)
- League of German Maidens (girls)
Why was 1924-28 a time of prosperity?
- Stresemann’s economic and political policies had been successful.
- Unemployment was low and Germany had built up positive relationships with other countries
Why did people believe Nazi ideas were too extreme?
- They invaded other countries
- Used violence as a form of control
From 1929, why did support for the Nazi’s increase?
- In 1930, they won 18% of the vote and got 107 seats in the Reichstag
- In July 1932, they won 37% with 207 seats and were now the largest political party. Did not have an overall majority therefore Hitler did not become Chancellor
Effects of the Wall Street Crash and the Great Depression
- Germany was dependant on US loans
- 1929, Wall Street Crashed = economic collapse and Great Depression
- US banks recalled loans, German companies unable to pay
- Many German firms bankrupt. Millions of jobs lost
- More unemployment meant less demand for food and goods, Germany sank deeper into depression
- 1932, unemployment reached 6 million
- Govt. scared of hyperinflation repeat and so did not spend money it did not have on solving unemployment
What were the Nazi promises?
- Solve economic crisis and decrease unemployment
- Destroy Treaty of V.
- Restore power of army
- Make Germany powerful again
- Be strong leaders of country
Why were farmers and workers afraid of communists?
- They’d see communism in action in SU where government had taken over land and wealth from big industries/farmers
- Turned to Nazi’s
How effective was Hitler’s leadership?
- Hitler was a charismatic and influential public speaker
- Able to get across Nazi ideas and make people believe what he was saying
How many members did the Nazi’s have by 1929?
100,000
What did local organisations include?
- Public meetings from local leaders who were carefully trained at speaking
- Local parties helped unemployed - soup kitchens and shelters or recruiting into local SA
- Hitler Youth from 1922 provided activities
- SA gained reputation for being disciplined young men
Who were the two opponents of the Nazi Party?
- Social Democrats and Communists
- Neither took Nazi’s seriously, battled one another
- Were not trusted by voters as they did not know what to do
Why didn’t Hindenburg want Hitler as chancellor?
He didn’t trust him
Who did Hindenburg appoint instead?
Von Papen but he was unpopular and the Reichstag did not support him
When was the next election called?
November 1932
What did Von Papen do to get Hitler appointed chancellor?
- He did a deal with Hitler then went on to persuade Hindenburg to appoint Hitler as chancellor and himself as vice chancellor
- Von Papen believed he could control Hitler, however he could not
How much did the Nazi support decrease?
33%
Why did their support decrease?
The SA were making voters feel uneasy due to their violent methods of control
When did Hitler become chancellor?
30th January 1933
What were the 7 steps to Hitler earning his place as Dictator?
- Reichstag Fire, 27th February 1933
- New elections, 5th March 1933
- The Enabling Act, 24th March 1933
- Political parties/trade unions banned, May-July
- The Night of the Long Knives, 29-30th June 1934
- Death of Hindenburg, 2nd August 1934
- Oath of the Army, August 1934
What was the Reichstag Fire in 1933?
- Reichstag was burnt down
- Dutch communist called Van der Lubbe was found and arrested at the scene
- Hitler was able to persuade Hindenburg to give him powers, and so arrested and detained communists and other opposing parties
What did the New Elections mean in 1933?
- Third election held in Germany in 9 months
- SA attached opponents as Nazi’s delivered their anti-communist message through propaganda
- Despite best every results of 288 seats, 22 million did not vote for them
- Only achieved 52% of the vote
What was the Enabling Act in 1933?
- End of democracy
- Communists expelled from Reichstag, could not vote
- Act was easily passed by government
- Gave Hitler power to pass laws without the need to get permission from Reichstag or Hindenburg
Explain the banning of political parties and trade unions in 1933
- Hitler continued to remove any element of opposition by getting rid of trade unions
- In July he banned all political parties
- Other parties banned, successfully made a one party state
What was the Night of the Long Knives in 1934?
- Ernst Röhm and 400 other SA leaders killed on Hitler’s orders
- Hitler worried their power was beginning to rival his and were in a position to overthrow him
- Röhm became demanding and wanting to merge SA with Army = more powerful
- Röhm not liked by Army leaders and Hitler demanded to take action
- 30 June, Röhm was murdered while on holiday
- Army no longer felt threatened
Explain the death of Hindenburg in 1934
- When Hindenburg died, Hitler combined the position of chancellor and president making him Führer of Germany
Explain the Oath to the Army in 1934
- Final piece occurred when the army swore their allegiance to Hitler and accepted him as their supreme leader and promised to obey him
What percentage of Germany belonged to the Catholic Church?
30%
What percentage of Germany belonged to the Protestant Church?
60%
Which church were the Nazi’s opposed to and why?
- Christian Church as they thought they would be a threat to Nazi power
- But they struck deals with churches in exchange for support
What did Hitler and the Catholic Church sign?
The Concordat
What did the signing of the Concordat ensure?
- The Catholic Church would not interfere in politics and Nazi’s would leave the Catholic Church alone
What was set up after the Protestant Church came under Nazi’s control?
The Reich Church - Pastors had to swear loyalty to Hitler
What was the church called for those who opposed the Nazi interference?
Confessional Church
Which movement was set up which was the Nazi’s ‘pagan’ alternative to Christianity?
The Faith Movement
Who were the Edelweiss Pirates 1938-44?
- Working class youth gangs who opposed nazism and the war
- Believed in freedom, saw Nazi regime as enemy
- Played music, go on walks, hand out leaflets
- Some hunted down Hitler Youth members and beat them up
How did the Nazi’s deal with the Edelweiss Pirates?
- Sent to concentration camps/prison
- In 1944, around 12 members hanged by Nazi’s for their action
Who was Martin Niemöller?
- Church leader who opposed Nazi ideas and was sent to a concentration camp
Who were the White Rose Group 1942-43?
- Small group of University students lead by Sophie Scholl, Hans Scholl, and Christoph Probst
- Believed in justice and wanted to raise awareness for atrocities against minorities
- Spread anti-Nazi messages with leaflets and graffiti
How did the Nazi’s deal with the White Rose Group?
- After being spotted by a Nazi informer, Hans and Sophie were arrested, tortured and executed
- Group disbanded
What was the 1944 July Bomb Plot?
- Group of upper class army officers, such as Claus von Stauffenberg
- Many officers opposed brutal methods used by SS
- Von Stauffenberg hatched plan Operation Valkyrie to assassinate Hitler with a bomb in a briefcase. Went off but failed to kill him
- Around 5000 people including von Stauffenberg were arrested
After the Nazi’s came into power, what were women and children expected to do?
- Become mothers and housewives
- Hitler Youth and school curriculum trained girls and boys for traditional roles and turned them into loyal Nazi’s
What were husbands and wives expected to do?
- Women were to stay at home and have children, while the men went out to work
What were the three K’s?
- Kinder (children)
- Kirche (church)
- Küche (kitchen)
What were women expected to do?
- Wear simple traditional clothes and no high heels or makeup
- Be strong and healthy to help with child bearing - slimming was seen as bad
What was the result of change in women’s lives?
- From 1933, many women forced to leave their jobs as doctors, lawyers, and teachers. Employers were told to favour men
- Women were awarded medals if they had a certain amount of children
- Bronze = 4 children
- Silver = 6 children
- Gold = 8+ children - Persuasion through propaganda
- Local wardens would report women who would not follow Nazi ideas
- Women’s organisations set up, such as the Women’s League, to encourage women to embrace the three K’s
Success of the policies
Pro:
-Birth rate increased between 1933-39
- In 1930’s, number of married women in employment fell
- 6 million women joined women’s organisations, many found rewarding
Con:
- Number of women workers increased between 1933-39 as economy was doing well and many women did not want to give up jobs
- Employers hired more women as their wages were lower
- Most married people still had an average of two children per family
What was the treatment in 1933 like for Jews?
- Jewish and Aryan children forbidden to play together
- Jews banned from certain jobs: teachers, judges, civil servants, lawyers
What was the treatment of Jews like in 1935?
- Nuremberg Laws
- Jews cannot be German citizens and cannot marry Aryans
What were Jews banned from in 1938?
- Being doctors and running their own businesses
- Going to state schools, cinemas and swimming pools
What event happened in 1938?
- Kristallnacht - in retaliation for German diplomat being shot by Jewish student, Nazi leaders encourage supporters to attack and smash up Jewish homes and shops
- Many Jews were arrested and sent to concentration camps after
Treatment of Jews in 1939?
- Jews to be in their homes by nightfall
- hand over jewellery, gold, silver to police
What was the Einsatzgruppen 1939-42?
- SS units rounded up Jews in towns, made them dig trenches and then shot them so they fell in
How were Jews and Aryans separated?
- Jews sent into overcrowded ghettos in major cities such as Warsaw, where many died
What was the ‘Final Solution’ 1942?
- Nazi’s realised solving the ‘Jewish problem’ with Einsatzgruppen and ghettos was inefficient.
- 1942, Wannsee Conference, decided they needed to kill people in large numbers
- Built special camps such as Treblinka and Auschwitz
- Nazi’s drew list of Jews, arrested and transported them to camps
- Nazi doctors would decide who was fit enough to work and who was to go straight to the gas chambers
- Up to 2000 at once could be killed in gas chamber
- 6 million Jews/other minorities murdered by Nazi’s at end of WWII, and around 4 million Russian prisoners
What did it mean if you were disabled?
- Believed to be a disease that could be passed on from generation to generation
- Firstly sterilised disabled/mentally ill people
- Eventually secretly murdered them in specialised hospitals
What did it mean if you were a gypsy?
- Viewed as a problem as they were not Aryan, moved around too often and did not hold down a steady job
- Many sent to concentration camps
What did it mean if you were black?
- Similar treatment to Jews
- Marriages between Germans and black people made illegal
- Children already born from a mixed race couple were sterilised
What was the Aryan race?
- Believed the German people were master race (Aryan), that they were superior to all other races
- Hitler believed he could make this master race by carefully breeding those who had the features of an Aryan (blonde hair and blue eyes)
- Germans who fitted this description were encouraged to marry and have children
