History Timeline Flashcards
1
Q
When was WW1
A
1914 - 1918
2
Q
Consequences of WW1
A
- British naval blockade -> food shortages
- Spanish flu (more killed by this than WW1)
- kaiser abdicates and flees to Holland (1918)
- council of People’s representatives set up (1918)
- League of Nations set up (excluding Germany and USSR)
3
Q
When was the treaty of Versailles?
A
1919
4
Q
What were the events of the treaty of Versailles?
A
- Germany didn’t attend the talks, they only signed contracts
- Germany’s troops were reduced to only 100 000 men
- kaiser abdicates and flees to Holland in 1918
5
Q
Consequences of the treaty of Versailles?
A
- Germany had to take sole blame for WW1 (article 231)
- Germany had to pay reparations - bill came to around £6.6 million
- German people had to pay higher taxes
- rumours that Germany could’ve won had the war lasted longer spread -> looking for someone to blame
6
Q
When was the spartacist revolt?
A
1919
7
Q
Aims of the spartacist revolt (1919)
A
- workers wanted equal treatment and a more socialist society
- to overcome poverty
- doesn’t want to become a political party
8
Q
Events of spartacist revolt
A
- Rosa Luxembourg and Karl liebknecht appointed as leaders
- occupied newspaper offices, took over phone exchanges and tried to cause a general strike in Berlin
- friekorps (ex-military) sent to Berlin by government, Rosa and Karl both shot
9
Q
When was the Kapp Putsch
A
1920
10
Q
Aims of the Kapp Putsch
A
- to overthrow treaty of Versailles
- to overthrow Weimar government and replace with Kapp
11
Q
Events of Kapp Putsch
A
- friekorps (ex-military) joined forces with Kapp, refused to help government
- Ebert (president) called for a strike - no phone lines, transport, electricty, etc.
- rebellion came to a halt
- Kapp fled to Sweden
12
Q
When was the french invasion of the Ruhr?
A
1923
13
Q
Causes of the french invasion of the Ruhr?
A
- reparations had doubled by 1922 as Germany default on payments (didn’t pay)
14
Q
Events of french invasion of the ruhr
A
- France entered the Ruhr to take reparations in the form of coal
- Weimar government tell their workers to not mine coal - passive resistance
- France end up mining the coal themselves
15
Q
When was the hyperinflation crisis?
A
1922 - 1923
16
Q
Events of hyperinflation crisis
A
- Weimar government printed more and more money to pay workers and hand rising prices = hyperinflation
- left Weimar open to a lot of criticism
17
Q
Impacts of hyperinflation
A
- January 1923 : price of bread -> 3465 marks
- November 1923: price of bread -> 201 000 000 000 marks
- poor people suffered - lack of basic products
- middle class lost savings and investments
- pensions became worthless, retired suffered immensely
- some used opportunity to pay off debts
- farmers benefited, provided there was a good harvest (they could still produce food)
18
Q
When was the Munich Putsch?
A
1923
19
Q
Causes of the Munich Putsch
A
- Hitler wanted to gain support
- the hyperinflation crisis had made Weimar look weak and incompetent, in comparison o the Nazi party (one leader, big SA)
- Munich located in Bavaria, very right wing, more likely to get support
- head of Bavarian government hated Weimar
- 20 000 Nazi party members
20
Q
Events of the Munich Putsch
A
- Hitler storms beer hall and fires gunshot - designed to intimidate
- Kahr and von Lossow forced to support Hitler’s plan of marching into Berlin, also swore loyalty to Putsch
- Kahr and Lossow went back on their word after Ebert declared a state of emergency
- Hitler kept going - 2000 Nazis + supporters March into Munich but are stopped by police. 14 Nazis killed
- Hitler arrested 11th November
21
Q
Consequences of Munich Putsch
A
- Hitler used his trial as propaganda. He was allowed to make speeches by the judge, which were then spread by newspapers. Gave him somewhat of a celebrity status and brought attention to the Nazi party which was still small at the time
- Hitler changed his tactics. As forcefulness didn’t work, he decided to use democratic means instead and become voted in
- Hitler spent 9 months in prison where he was allowed visitors. Shared prison with Rudolf Hess, who typed up ‘Mein Kampf’ for Hitler.
22
Q
When was Streseman’s foreign policy?
A
1924 - 1928
23
Q
What was Streseman’s foreign policy?
A
- Streseman is made foreign secretary in 1924
- introduces a new currency (the retenmark) and controlled amount of money produced. Currency is now stabilised.
24
Q
When was the Dawes Plan?
A
1924
25
Q
What is the Dawes plan?
A
- USA would loan money to Germany (approx. 800 million gold marks)
- this money would be put into the German industry, profits would be made and the reparations would be paid
- brilliant in the short terms however not so good in the long term as USA pulled out during Great Depression
26
Q
Reparations negotiation
A
- reparations were renegotiated to make them possible to pay
- french happy + withdrew from Ruhr
27
Q
When was the Locarno Pact?
A
1925
28
Q
What was the Locarno pact?
A
- guaranteed Germany’s western borders and promised to only use force if attacked
- Germany acknowledges Alsace-Lorraine belongs to France. France agree to not re-enter the Ruhr
- This pact calmed some tensions and potentially paved the way for renegotiating Versailles. However, the nationalists hated it.
29
Q
When did Germany join the League of Nations?
A
1926
30
Q
Germany joining the League of Nations
A
- until now, it consisted of Britain, France, Japan and Italy
- in 1926 Germany joined as a permanent member
- involved in world affairs, could engage in negotiations, etc
- once again, nationalists hated this plan however it meant Germany was seen as an equal
31
Q
When was the Kellog-Brian’s pact?
A
1928
32
Q
Kellog - Brian’s pact
A
- 62 countries signed in total including US, Britain, France and Germany
- promised to solve disputes diplomatically
- Germany are more respected and not so isolated
- Weimar have gained confidence
33
Q
Did the German economy recover?
A
- industrial output doubled between 1924 - 29, higher employment
- wages increased
- Living standards better
- increase in cultural activities - Art Deco movement and cabaret culture
- Weimar popular among women especially as it gave them more freedom
- people could spend money on what they wished and enjoy life - also meant they were less likely to vote for a radical political party
34
Q
When was the Great Depression?
A
1929
35
Q
Events of the Great Depression?
A
- there was a market crash in New York which led to the Great Depression
- America recalled the loans agreed through Dawes plan, causing many German businesses to collapse
- production fell by 25% and investments by 15%
- world trade halved
- speculation on whether communism would be the best option as capitalism was proving to be inefficient
36
Q
Consequences of Great Depression
A
- second German economic crisis within a decade - people losing faith in the government
- 1932 - 6 million germans unemployed
- thousands of businesses forced to close
- 1932 - five German banks crashed - middle class lost savings and investments
- 1933 - 50% of 16-30 year olds unemployed, 40% of factory workers unemployed
37
Q
What was the Bruning policy
A
- increased taxes
- reduced government expenditure
- high tariffs on foreign agricultural products
- salaries and unemployment benefits cut
- unemployment skyrocketed and standard of living dropped
- needless to say this policy was not popular and did more harm than good
38
Q
How did hitler use the handling of depression to his advantage?
A
- hitler could use all of this to criticise Weimar - he himself had nothing to do with this as he was in prison
- the higher the number of unemployed, the higher the number of people who voted Nazis
- absorbed some unemployment into the SA - good for the young
- set up soup kitchens manned by SA
- strength and organisation of the SA in a time of crisis made the Nazis look well put together and efficient
- opportunity to display anti -semitism
39
Q
When did Hitler’s rise to power begin?
A
1933
40
Q
Failure of Weimar politicians
A
- Streseman died in 1929
- subsequent leaders handled Great Depression badly
- coalition between the centre party and the socialists doesn’t work
- brining becomes chancellor, German people started to lose faith again as he didn’t have a majority
- not democratic - article 48 had to be used to pass laws
- bruning earned the nickname ‘hunger chancellor’
- Bruning’s unpopularity led to people voting for more extreme parties
41
Q
Hitler’s appeal and propaganda
A
- good at scapegoating (jews, communist, weimar)
- charismatic, good orator
- had funding from large companies for campaigning
- Führer flights - used aircraft to move from place to place to speak to the crowds personally
- powerful propaganda was used - SA parades, posters, speeches, rallies etc.
- organised, controlled, popular - huge contrast to Weimar
42
Q
Political intrigue
A
- July 1932 37% of reichstag seats are won by the Nazis
- Brüning’s position as chancellor is taken over by Kurt von Schleicher ( lasts one month) - German people start to realise ridiculousness government very quickly
- November 1932 election Nazi votes drop to 32% however they remain the majority
- Von Papen is suggested as next chancellor instead of Hitler, however he allows Hitler into his coalition thinking he would be easy to control
- Von Papen is unsuccessful and replaced by Von Schleicher
- January 1933 industrialists write to Hindenburg suggesting Hitler as chancellor; at the same time von schleicher’s reputation was suffering as he had suggested a military dictatorship which had been leaked to the press
- Hindenburg is still suspicious so he makes hitler chancellor and von paper vice chancellor so that he could control hitler
- he only allowed 2 other nazis in the cabinet so they could always be outvoted
- hitler becomes chancellor on 30th January
43
Q
Methods of consolidation of power
A
- legal methods - votes
- propaganda
- force and terror
44
Q
Reichstag fire
A
- February 1933
- hitler had been in power for one month
- a dutch communist Marius van der Lubbe was found near the building with a box of matches in his pocket
- confessed immediately and claimed he acted alone
- executed
45
Q
consequences of reichstag
A
- 4000 communists were arrested that night and sent to Dachau
- creates the ‘Law for the Protection of People and State’
- entailed : - police could search houses without a warrant
- police could arrest someone without a trial
- political party meetings could be banned
- nazis closed all newspaper down except for their own - gave nazis complete control over flow of information
- holds election on 5th march, only gets 43% of seats In Reichstag
46
Q
When was the Enabling act?
A
1933
47
Q
events of enabling act
A
- allowed hitler to make any laws without consulting the Reichstag or Hindenburg
- Catholics supported this as long as their church was maintained
- nationalists supported the nazis
- communists were in prison
- only socialists voted against it
48
Q
consequences of enabling act
A
- January 1934 closed down 18 state parliaments
- nazis break into trade union offices, take their funds and close them down
- replaces them with nazi ones
- may 1933 suspense social democrats
- may 1933 suspends communist parties
- by July all parties except nazis are banned
49
Q
When was the Night of the long knives?
A
1934
50
Q
causes of the night of the long knives
A
- SA was too powerful, could overthrow Hitler
- army suspicious of SA, hitler needed army’s support for foreign policy
- rohm (leader of SA) was gay, contradicted Aryanism
- Himmler (runs SS) wanted to get rid of more numerous SA and raise status of SS
51
Q
events of the night of the long knives
A
- 200 leaders of SA arrested and many executed
- other enemies also removed ( von Kahr, and von Schliecher)
- public told rohm was planning a coup to overthrow government; hitler was supposedly ‘saving’ Germany
- rohm executed in prison
52
Q
consequences of the night of the long knives
A
- army takes an oath of loyalty to hitler - gratitude, good for future foreign policy - makes hitler more powerful
- SA remains a paramilitary organisation but they are subordinate to the SS. they never have the power they had in 1933 again
- reaction from people - SA felt weekend while SS felt stronger as they had proved their loyalty
- hitler is pleased
- opponents are terrified
- supporters pleased, nazi strength
53
Q
Life in Germany: use of terror
A
- two types of police - ordinary and race
- security police (gestapo) secret police - used for spying on people
- normal courts were biased and very right wing
- elite army unit for use against non-aryan racial groups
- this police system left little room for opposition as you never knew who might be a member of the secret police. If you tried to oppose or rebel in an way, you might have been put in prison
- people would volunteer to spy and gather information in more local areas such as clocks of flats and even floors
54
Q
Life in Germany: propaganda
A
- goebbels was the head
- mass events such as marchers and rallies took place (nuremberg was famous for this, in 1938, 500 000 people attended)
- posters, radio broadcasts, loud speakers, cinemas, books/plays/ scripts, newspapers
- designed to suit a wide range of people
55
Q
common themes of propaganda
A
- stereotypes, such as anti-semitism, communism
- aryanism, tall, strong
- hitler - paternal, loved, always depicted in uniform
- nationalist/ patriotic/ hardworking
- repeated symbols
56
Q
Nazi policies - education
A
- history - glorified Germany, selective memory
- geography - army related, map reading
- maths - engineers army related, weaponry
- pe - war fitness, aryan ideals (survival of the fittest)
- German language- chose texts that glorified Germany
- biology - links back to aryanism
- eugenics - genetics, linked to biology
- Domestic science (for girls)-sewing, cooking, motherhood
Not taught: - R.E-God was seen as a competitor to Hitler + conflicting ideology
- Physics-Einstein was Jewish
- Languages (apart from German)-patriotic
57
Q
Hitler youth movements
A
Aims:
- Obey the state and worship Hitler
- Help the nation-defence, public works, etc
- Loyalty
- Understand Nazi ideology
- Two sections: For boys between 10-14 there was the ‘Young German Folk’, for boys between 14-18 there was the ‘Hitler Youth’
- For girls between 10-14, there was the ‘German Young Girls’, for girls between 14-18, there was the ‘League of German maidens’
- All wore uniforms, designed to look like young version of SA
- Passersby would have to give the ‘Heil Hitler’ salute if you were wearing uniform
- Activities included hiking, camping, singing, drills, assault courses, lectures, and sports activities according to gender
- Popular at the beginning, appealing and free of charge
- Over time however it started to become a brainwashing technique and the appeal ran dry
- Naturally not everyone wanted to attend in the first place, some worried about consequences, others about safety factors (dark, etc)
- Aimed to teach children that obeying a higher power is normal, discouraged independent thinking
- By 1936 these youth groups became compulsory, membership hits 8 million by 1939
58
Q
Hitler’s opposition
A
- swing movement - dressed differently ( e.g. girls wore trousers and makeup), played music (swing in particular)
- edelweiss pirates - formed from working class/urban teenagers who came up with their own names depending on religion
- mocked hitler youth and had more liberal attitudes
- in 1942 the gestapo broke up 28 groups and contained 739 young people
- by 1944 this opposition was becoming more active. youth groups began to spread anti - nazi messages, help jews and shelter and deserts
- 1944, 12 ringleaders were hung in cologne
- the white rose group:
- Hans and Sophie scholl, two university students, became concerned about the treatment of jews and eastern - europeans
- they wrote a series of leaflets attacking nazi policy and Sophie pushed them off the top of Munich university
- tis was witnessed by a caretaker and she was arrested by the gestapo along with several others
- Hans and Sophie were tortured to find out other identities of white rose group
59
Q
women
A
- nazis believed women played a crucial role in aryan ideals - needed a domestic role
- wanted women to believe in nazi ideology so they could pass it on to their children
- nazis didn’t view women as less than men, they simply had a different role
- hitler believed in the three ‘K’s - something that the ideal nazi woman should have:
- Kinder - children
- Kuche - cooking
- Kirche - church
- as the nazis came into power, rates of employed women were very high
- families were getting smaller due to contraception which didn’t fit nazi ideals
