Hitler and Nazi Germany 1919-1939 Flashcards
1
Q
weimar government problems in 1919
A
- some believed ‘stab in the back’ myth
- democracy got off to a bad start
- weak government (political uprisings, spartacist revolt, munich putsch) attacked from both sides
- political murders (rathenau)
- gov blamed for poverty and shortages after ww1
2
Q
the spartacists
A
- minister of defence formed freikorps
- january 1919 peaceful demonstrations in berlin turned violent
- no organised plans for revolution
- freikorps killed 700 spartacists
- spartacist leaders rosa luxemberg and karl liebknecht died during interrogation
- spartacists renamed german communist party and never trusted SPD again
3
Q
the constitution
A
- everyone over 20 vote
- everyone over 35 vote president
- proportional representation
- article 48
- basic rights
4
Q
criticisms of the constitution
A
- pr led to coalition
- coalition too weak to face problems
- constantly changing gov made democracy look weak
- article 48 misused in 1930s
5
Q
treaty of versailles
A
- loss of territory (germany split as land given to poland)
- rhineland demilitarised
- no union allowed between germany and austria
- germanies colonies taken away
- had to sign ‘war guilt clause’
- 6.6 billion reperations
6
Q
the ruhr
A
- 1923 germany fell behind on reparations so france and belgium invaded ruhr.
- france and belgium wanted germans in the ruhr to work under french control.
- germans refused and went on strike
- german gov printed money to pay workers
- german economy collapsed, hyperinflation struck
7
Q
effects of hyperinflation
A
- middle classes suffered badly as monthly salaries could not keep up with price rises. saving worthless.
- working classes paid twice a day and spent wages instantly
- people on fixed incomes faced homelessness and starvation
- property owners and businessmen profited by taking out loans
8
Q
reactions to hyperinflation
A
- upper classes wished for return of ‘good old days’ of kaiser
- working classes supported communism
- middle classes lost faith in weimar and listened to hitler in fear of unemployment
9
Q
the munich putsch
A
- hitler wanted to overthrow nation government and establish power in bavaria
- during a beer hall meeting, hitler and 600 supporters went in and claimed ‘The National Revolution has begun’
- Von Kahr, Seisser and Lossow promised ludendorff they would support hitler
- next day 3000 nazis marched behind ludendorf and hitler
- 16 nazis and 3 police killed
- hitler escaped but was arrested
- hitler put on trial and put in prison where he wrote mein kamf
10
Q
nazi policy
A
- ignore treaty of versailles
- jews blamed
- nazi party complete control
- hitler supreme leader
- germany expand to include all german speakers
- germans made master race, eliminate undesirable races
11
Q
steps taken to solve germanys problems
A
- chancellor stresemann brought hyperinflation under control by organising new currency, rentenmark
- 1924 dawes plan, reperations reduced. us loans helped recover
- french and germans agreed to leave ruhr and german industry got going again
- 1929 young plan reperations reduced again
- treaty of locarno 1925 germany accepted rhineland being demilitarised
- germany entred league of nations 1926, relations improved
12
Q
nazi party during 1920s
A
- few people voted nazi 1924 because of recovery
- nazis gained 14 seats 1924
- 1928 3% voted nazi
13
Q
the great depression
A
- after wall street crash usa asked for loans back
- 1932 6 million germans unemployed
- nazi biggest party as promised bread and work
14
Q
nazi promises to people
A
- unemployed
- nationalists (reverse treaty of versailles)
- farmers (good prices)
- middle class (protection from communism)
15
Q
nazi appeal
A
- propaganda (radios, swastika)
- good public speaker
- SA (private army)
