Hitler and Nazi Germany

Question 1

What was the German Home Front towards the end of the War like

Answer 1

Allies Naval Blockade prevents food and supplies getting to the German people.

Farming was suffering because most farmers had joined the army, which led to a lack of food.

Consequently the German people had very little to eat and had to rely on Turnips - This is known as the Turnip Winter.

By November 1918 Germany was facing certain defeat, there were strikes, riots and food shortages in German cities.

The Spanish Flu swept through Europe and in particular Germany, 400,000 German people died from the outbreak.

Question 2

what happened during The Fall of the Kaiser and the creation of the Republic

Answer 2

America entered the war and it became clear to many soldiers that Germany could not win and as a consequence some soldiers and sailors began to mutiny.

Fearful of reprisal and faced with the loss in support of his army and navy the Kaiser abdicates (steps down) and flees to the Netherlands.

A new provisional Republic (democracy) is set up in his place. This Republic goes on to become known as the Weimar Republic.

The Republic signed the armistice in November 1918, which signals Germany’s surrender in WWI. This act gained the new government the nickname the ‘November Criminals’.

Many German soldiers also claim that they have been ‘stabbed in the back’ by this new government.

Question 3

what happened during The German Revolution/Spartacist Revolution
The Spartacists Revolution

Answer 3

The Spartacists Revolution was a Communists revolution which sought to overthrow the government, through an armed revolution, and set up a Communist state.

The leaders were Karl Leibknecht and Rosa Luxemburg.They organised general strikes and attempted to take over Berlin.

They took over important buildings, for example, railway stations and newspaper offices.

They also erected barriers and stood guard on the streets of Berlin.

Question 4

what happened during the Failure of the Revolution

Answer 4

Ebert employed the Freikorps, ex-army officers, to put the revolution down.

These were battle hardened men and gathered uniforms, weapons, machine guns and began attacking the Communists.

Liebknecht and Luxemburg were arrested and murdered by the Freikorps.

They were tortured and battered to death in the streets in a very brutal and public execution.

Question 5

What happened during The Treaty of Versailles
Territorial Terms

Answer 5

Germany lost land to Belgium and Poland.

Germany had to return Alsace-Lorraine to France.

All colonies were taken and handed to the League of Nations.

The Anschluss (The union of Germany and Austria) was forbidden.

Question 6

What were Economic Terms

Answer 6

Article 231 – War Guilt Clause - Germany was forced to accept sole blame for starting the war.

Article 232 of the Treaty outlined that Germany had to pay £6.6 Billion in reparations to the allied countries.

The territorial demands also had an economic impact. The lost lands included 75% of Germany’s iron ore necessary for industrial production.

Question 7

what were the Military Terms

Answer 7

German army limited to 100,000 – a mere police force.

Forbidden to have any military aircraft or submarines.

The Rhineland was to be kept as a demilitarised zone.

Conscription was banned.

The Navy was reduced to six battleships.

Only Germany was forced to disarm.

Question 8

Hyperinflation, 1923
Why did hyperinflation occur?

Answer 8

Germany was struggling to keep up with reparation repayments imposed upon Germany within the Treaty of Versailles.

In 1923 Germany missed a payment and French and Belgian troops invaded the Ruhr.

Ebert ordered a strike in the region, which had a damaging effect as industrial output from the Ruhr was key to the German economy.

In order to solve the problems facing Germany Ebert printed more money, which ultimately led to hyperinflation.

Question 9

Effects of hyperinflation

Answer 9

Prices rose rapidly in an extremely short space of time.

Those on fixed incomes were particularly hard hit, for example, those on an annual salary.

Similarly, those living on a pension suffered greatly.

Many Germans lost their life savings.

Those who had taken out loans, found it much easier to pay them back.

There was a rise in crime as Germans became desperate.

Question 10

What was The Weakness of the Weimar Republic, like 1918-1923
A difficult beginning

Answer 10

Many Germans disliked the Weimar as they were associated with defeat in WWI. Following the abdication of the Kaiser the Republic was created and signed the armistice (Germany’s surrender in WWI), this led many to suggest that the Weimar Republic was ‘born into failure’.

Many Germans felt that Weimar was an imposed democracy. The Republic was said to have been forced upon Germany and as such had no roots, meaning it was unpopular/lacked support from the beginning.

The association with the loss of WWI and the lack of support for the Weimar led many to suggest the Weimar was ‘doomed from the start’.

Question 11

How did the Weimar Republic Continue weakness

Answer 11

The Weimar was disliked as many felt it was incapable of controlling Germany. The failed Spartacists Revolution highlighted the weakness of the Weimar in maintaining law and order and the lack of support for the new Republic.

The Weimar Republic was unpopular as it used a system of voting known as proportional representation. These often created weak coalition governments that could not govern Germany effectively.

The Weimar Republic was unpopular due to its association with the Treaty of Versailles. The TOV inflicted humiliating terms on Germany and placed huge financial strain on her economy.

The Weimar was unpopular due the French and Belgian invasion of the Ruhr. French and Belgian troops entering the Ruhr embarrassed Germany and highlighted how weak she had become.

The Weimar was unpopular due to Hyperinflation of 1923. Many Germans lost life savings and those on fixed incomes were pushed into poverty, which angered many Germans who blamed the government for their suffering/loss.

The Weimar was unpopular due to its inability to deal with the problems created by the Wall Street Crash. The Wall Street Crash led to mass unemployment, poverty and suffering and the Weimars inability to solve these problems angered many Germans.

Question 12

what happened during the Munich Putsch
Events of the Munich Putsch

Answer 12

On the night of 8 November 1923, Hitler and 600 SA members burst into a meeting that Kahr and Lossow were holding at the local beer hall.

SA members surrounded the building and would not let anyone leave.

Hitler climbed on a chair in the Beer Hall and fired a shot.

Von Kahr and Bavarian leaders (Police Chief, Von Seisser, and Army Chief, Von Lossow) were ordered into a private room and threatened into supporting the Nazis.

Hitler declared that a national revolution had begun.

Ludendorff let Von Kahr and others go and they alerted the police and army.

Next day (9th November) Hitler marched to the town centre in Munich, with 3,000 Nazis.

Nazi supporters were forced back by troops and police and the Putsch was unsuccessful.

Hitler was later arrested and sentenced to 5 years in prison but only served 9 months.

Hitler was later arrested and sentenced to 5 years in prison but only served 9 months.

Question 13

What happened during The Golden Years/Years of Hope, 1924-1929

Answer 13

Stresemann introduces a new currency called the Rentenmark
The USA provided loans to Germany under the Dawes Plan which helped rebuild the economy.

Weimar witnessed an economic and cultural boom.

It attempted to reverse terms of Treaty of Versailles.

The Locarno Pact improves international relations with surrounding countries.

Germany entered into the League of Nations.

Stresemann was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

Young Plan reduced reparation repayments.

Hitler and the Nazis received 800,000 votes in the 1928 election.

Question 14

What happened during Hitler and the Nazis

Answer 14

Appeal of Hitler
Unity under one strong leader who would provide the decisive action that Germany required, and was not getting from the Weimar, following the devastating effects of the Wall Street Crash.

Hitler was an excellent public speaker and was said to hypnotise his audience with his speeches.

Hitler campaigned all across Germany making full use of the aeroplane to speak/campaign at several rallies in one day and generate support.

Question 15

What were the Policies and promises made

Answer 15

Hitler and the Nazis promised to destroy the hated Treaty of Versailles by overturning its terms, for example, refusing to pay reparations.

They promised to restore national pride to Germany, for example, by rebuilding the army and navy.

They promised work and bread to the millions of Germans unemployed following the Wall Street Crash.

They promised to destroy the communists, which appealed to the middle class and wealthy as they were fearful of losing their wealth.

The Nazis promised to provide order and discipline, through groups such as the SA, at a time of social problems, crime and political violence.

Question 16

How was Propaganda used

Answer 16

The Nazis were said to be masters of propaganda and effectively communicated their promises and policies to the German people, whilst weakening their enemies and opponents, for example, they regularly made the Weimar look weak.

The name of the party itself - National Socialist German Workers Party, appealed to a broad range of people, and groups across the entire political spectrum.

Question 17

what happened during The Nazis.

Answer 17

Reichstag fire, 1933
On the 27th February, 1933, the Reichstag building was set on fire.

A young communits, Marinus Van der Lubbe, was found at the scene and blamed for starting the fire.

Hindenburg declared a state of emergency using Article 48 of the Weimar Constitution, which allowed the Nazi Party to use the law to get rid of opposition.

The communists are expelled from the Reichstag following the Reichstag fire
Many of the opposition’s leaders were imprisoned after the fire.

Newspapers were censored and letters and phone calls were checked which hindered opposition to the Nazis.

In the election of 5 March 1933, the Nazis joined forces with the Nationalists and increased their share of the vote from 33 per cent to 44 per cent.

On the 27th February, 1933, the Reichstag building was set on fire.

Question 18

What was the Establishment of a totalitarian regime

Answer 18

Quickly after achieving power, Hitler and the Nazis removed their main political opponents, the Communists and the Socialists, and placed them under arrest or in concentration camps.

The Nazis took control of the civil service and other key professions, such as teaching, within Germany by removing those who did not support the Nazi views and replacing them with Nazi supporters.

On the 20th June, 1933 the Concordat was signed - This agreement between the Nazis and the Pope stated that the Catholic Church in Germany would be protected. In return the Church would stay out of political matters and not criticise the Nazis.

Joseph Goebbels was appointed Minister of Propaganda in 1933 and censorship of the press began. All newspapers were controlled by the government and could only print stories favourable to the Nazi regime.

In 1933 Nazis created the Gestapo, secret police who gathered intelligence on people living in Germany.

They had powers to arrest and detain those people who were considered enemies of the state/Nazi Party.

In 1934, President Hindenburg dies and Hitler appoints himself President, at which point he holds the two most powerful positions in Germany; Chancellor and President and he is now declared the ‘Fuhrer’ (leader).

Question 19

The Nature of the Nazi Government

Answer 19

The Führer Principle -
There must be a single leader of a single party, holding complete power.

Racism -
Germans were the ‘Master Race’ as they were descended from the Aryans and all other races were inferior. Jewish people and Slavs were regarded as subhuman. All inferior races had to be removed or made slaves of the Master Race.

Lebensraum (living space) -
The territorial expansion of Germany was required in order to allow the Master Race to grow.

Autarky -
Meaning that Germany must be economically self-sufficient and not dependent on goods imported from abroad.

Question 20

What happened during Control through fear and oppression - The Gestapo

Answer 20

The Gestapo were the Nazis secret police who gathered intelligence on people living in Germany.

They had over 150,000 informants throughout the country who would report any anti-Nazi sentiment to the Gestapo. The Gestapo and their informants did not wear uniforms and, therefore, Germans did not know when they were being spied on. This created tension and fear throughout the country.

They had powers to arrest and detain those people who were considered enemies of the state/Nazi Party. These people were often violently questioned before being released or imprisoned.

Question 21

What happened during Control through fear and oppression - Concentration Camps

Answer 21

People’s courts were used to guarantee that those who the Nazis considered to be enemies were charged with treason and interned in concentration camps.

By 1934, the SS had been put in charge of protecting Germany from internal and external enemies. The SS also controlled the concentration camps where ‘undesirable people’ were imprisoned. The first concentration camp was established in Dachau in 1933. These ‘undesirable people’ included; political opponents, homosexuals, criminals, gypsies, Jewish people, religious figures and any out-spoken critics (including journalists and artists).

The arrest and disappearance of thousands of people, then their subsequent reappearance with tales of the concentration camps, terrified the population. This meant that there was little opposition to the Nazis in the 1930s.

Question 22

What happened during Control through propaganda and censorship

Answer 22

Josef Goebbels was appointed Minister of Propaganda in 1933 and controlled the media and arts to brainwash people into obeying the Nazis and idolising Hitler.

Any media that conveyed anti-Nazi ideas or even other ways of life, were censored. Censorship of newspapers, radio, cinema and the theatre was enforced. Only books which agreed with the Nazi point of view were allowed. All other books were banned and many were publically burned from May, 1933.

Hitler’s picture was everywhere and he was portrayed as Germany’s saviour. Simple slogans were used to introduce Nazi ideology to the German people; “Free Germany from the Jews”, “Work and Bread”, “Smash Communism”, “Blood and Soil” and “One People, One Empire, One Leader”

Radios were cheap to buy and would broadcast Nazi Party messages and speeches. Loudspeakers in public places blurred out Nazi propaganda.

The Nuremberg Rallies, held annually from 1933, glorified war, the military and the strength of Nazi Germany

The 1936 Berlin Olympics were intended to showcase the superior athleticism of the Master Race.

Question 23

What happened during Control of the Church

Answer 23

There were approximately 45 million Protestants and 22 million Catholic Christians in Germany in 1933. Hitler saw Christianity as a threat and a potential source of opposition to Nazism and as a result sought to control the Churches.

A state Reich Church under the leadership of the Nazi Bishop, Ludwig Müller was established to unify the different branches of Protestantism. This enabled the Nazis to use a group called the ‘German Christians’ within the Reich Church to promote Nazi ideas.

In 1933 Hitler agreed a Concordat with the Pope, which was to ensure that Hitler and the Nazis would not interfere in the running of the Catholic Church if it stayed out of political matters. However, Hitler did intervene in the running of the Catholic Church.

The Catholic Youth League was broken up, Catholic priests were arrested and religious teaching was banned.

Non-Nazi Catholic priests and Protestant pastors such as Martin Niemöller and Dietrich Bonhöffer were sent to concentration camps.

Question 24

What happened during the Persecution of Jews

Answer 24

The treatment of Jews in Nazi Germany increased in its severity from 1933 to 1945. Initially the Nazis sought to separate Jews from German society, then remove them from society and ultimately destroy Jews from Europe through the ‘Final Solution’.

In 1933 Jewish people were removed from public office and professions – civil servants, lawyers and teachers were sacked.

School lessons were to reflect the view that Jewish people were ‘Untermensch’ (subhuman).

On 1 April 1933, a boycott of Jewish shops and other businesses took place.

SA officers actively encouraged Germans to avoid entering Jewish places of work and many Jewish shops were vandalised.

The Nuremberg Laws were introduced at the Nuremberg Rally on 15 September 1935 and removed many Jewish rights, for example, Jewish people were denied the right to be German citizens.

In addition to this marriage and relationships between Jewish people and non-Jewish Germans became illegal.

In 1938 Jewish people were banned from becoming doctors.

Moreover, in 1938 Jewish people had to carry identity cards which showed a ‘J’ stamp.

In 1938, Jewish children were denied education and banned from schools.

On the night of the 9 November 1938 Jewish homes, businesses and synagogues were attacked throughout Germany and Austria in what became known as Kristallnacht (the Night of Broken Glass). Almost 100 Jewish people were killed and 30,000 were sent to concentration camps.

In addition to this around 7,500 Jewish shops were damaged or destroyed and 400 synagogues were burned to the ground.

Jewish people were ordered to wear a yellow star of David on their clothes.

In 1939 Jewish people were banned from owning businesses.

The first ghettos (segregated housing within towns, with a controlled entrance and exit) were opened in Eastern Europe to separate Jewish people from ‘ordinary’ citizens.

The Nazis persecution of the Jewish people meant that many other Germans lived in fear of the Nazis turning on them.

This severely reduced the number of people who were willing to openly oppose the Nazis.

Question 25

What happened during the Lack of opposition to the Nazis

Answer 25

The ‘Night of the Long Knives’ had eliminated potential opposition within the Nazi party.

In July 1933 all other political parties were banned.

Censorship and propaganda eliminated opposition to the Nazis in the media.

The banning of trade unions in 1933 eliminated economic/workers opposition.

The agreement made between hitler and the Churches meant there was no full scale organised opposition from the Churches.

Germans lived in fear of being denounced by spies, interrogated by the Gestapo and sent to concentration camps.and as such many did not speak out against the Nazis.

Many Germans genuinely believed that the Nazis were improving Germany and were supportive of a number of their policies, consequently they saw the treatment of minority groups as a ‘necessary evil’ if Germany was to be great again.

Question 26

What happened Opposition to the Nazis

Answer 26

Some Catholic priests opposed Hitler. In 1937, the Pope issued a message called ‘With Burning Concern’ which was read in every Catholic Church. It described Hitler as “a mad prophet with repulsive arrogance”.

The Catholic Archbishop of Munster led a successful campaign to end euthanasia of mentally-disabled people.

Many Protestant pastors, led by Martin Niemöller, formed the Confessional Church in opposition to Hitler’s Reich Church.

The Meuten were gangs of working-class teenagers and young adults who sympathised with socialist ideology and regularly fought with Hitler Youth kids.

The Swing Kids challenged the Nazi image of youth by growing their hair, wearing fashionable clothes and listening and dancing to jazz music.

The White Rose Movement, formed by students at Munich University, published anti-Nazi leaflets.

The Edelweiss Pirates painted anti-Nazi slogans, sheltered deserters and beat up Nazi officials.

Question 27

What is Nazi social and economic policies

Answer 27

Economic policies
The Nazis followed a policy of ‘Autarky’, i.e They tried to make Germany self-sufficient by producing all the goods it needed without having to rely on imported supplies.

The Nazis implemented a major programme of public works, such as building and repairing roads, railways and houses, this significantly helped reduce unemployment.

Germany followed a process of re-armament through Goring’s policy of ‘Guns before butter’, by building up its armed forces, thousands of jobs in the iron, steel, aviation and shipbuilding industries were created.

The Strength Through Joy movement provided Nazi-approved leisure activities and holidays for loyal workers, this generated the Nazis support from a large number of Germans.

The German Labour Front was established in 1933 and operated as a trade union for its members, this Labour Front was controlled by the Nazi Party and prevented workers from disputing their pay, conditions and workers rights.

The German Labour Service set up in 1935 made it compulsory for young men to be employed in public works schemes for six-month stints; this was an attempt to reduce unemployment figures.

Question 28

How did Growing militarism happen

Answer 28

The size of the army was increased from 100,000 men to 1,400,000 and men under 25 had to carry out at least two years of military service, this helped to reduce unemployment figures.

Conscription was introduced in 1935 and as a result most young men were drafted into the army, which again reduced unemployment figures.

From 1936 to 1939, Hitler’s armed forces helped fascist leader Franco to victory in the Spanish Civil War. This provided the Nazis with an opportunity to train men and test equipment and tactics.

Question 29

What happened during Control of Education and the Young

Answer 29

Teachers and university lecturers had to join the National Socialist Teachers’ League, which would question their suitability to teach. They were forced to teach a very specific curriculum which promoted Nazi beliefs.

Anti-Nazi and Jewish teachers were sacked.

School subjects were given a pro-Nazi bias.

History was taught to glorify Germany.

Biology taught that pure Germans were superior.

Textbooks were rewritten to emphasise militarism, as well as Nazi political and racial beliefs.

Regular physical exercise was a key part of the school day for boys and girls.

Girls attended classes that taught them how to be good mothers and wives.

Specialist schools (Napolas) were set up for those destined to become future leaders of Nazi Germany.

Boys were encouraged to join youth groups which progressed to the Hitler Youth, these groups taught survival techniques, military skills and the importance of physical fitness.

Girls were encouraged to join youth groups which progressed to the League of German Maidens, these groups taught the importance of motherhood and how to be a good wife.

Question 30

What was the Role and expectation of Women

Answer 30

Womens role in the Nazi state was at the centre of family life; they were viewed as housewives and mothers.

Female doctors, teachers and civil servants were forced to give up their careers. Even at the end of the war, women were never asked to serve in the armed forces.

Hitler wanted Germany to have a high birth rate, so the population would grow. The Nazis even considered making it law that families should have at least four children.

Hitler wanted Germany to have a high birth rate, so the population would grow. The Nazis even considered making it law that families should have at least four children.

The Law for the Encouragement of Marriage gave newly-wed couples a loan of 1,000 marks, and allowed them to keep 250 marks for each child they had. Mothers who had more than eight children were given a gold medal.

Women were supposed to copy traditional German peasant dress - plain peasant costumes, hair in plaits or buns and flat shoes. They were expected not to wear make-up or trousers, dye their hair or smoke in public.

Hitler wanted Germany to have a high birth rate, so the population would grow. The Nazis even considered making it law that families should have at least four children.

The Law for the Encouragement of Marriage gave newly-wed couples a loan of 1,000 marks, and allowed them to keep 250 marks for each child they had. Mothers who had more than eight children were given a gold medal.

Women were supposed to copy traditional German peasant dress - plain peasant costumes, hair in plaits or buns and flat shoes. They were expected not to wear make-up or trousers, dye their hair or smoke in public.