Hitler and the Nazi party Flashcards
who were the Nazi leaders in 1933
Adolf Hitler, Joseph Goebbels, Wilhelm Frick, Ernst Rohm, Hermann Goring, Rudolph Hess and Heinrich Himmler
who was Joseph Goebbels
Goebbels was the minister of propaganda and as a highly educated man from the middle classes he realised the power of modern media and utilised posters, newspapers and new technology in the forms of radio and film. Goebbels used simple bold messages to make a point. during the great depression e.g. the Nazis had fought the election on the campaign motto ‘bread and work’ appealing to the two basic demands of the needy population. he had deeply anti-Semitic ideas. his propaganda also emphasised the strength of Hitler who was portrayed as a gold-like supreme being
who was Wilhelm Frick
he was a long standing member of the party. in 1933 when Hitler was made Chancellor only two other Nazis were given roles in the Cabinet: Goring was one and Frick was the other. He was made Minister of the Interior, with overall responsibility for most aspects of life in German society. From 1930 to 1931, he had experience of high office in one of Germany’s state parliaments where he used his powers to promote Nazis into important positions and to spread Nazi ideas in schools. Frick helped to shape the party’s racial policy
who was Ernst Rohm
he was the leader of the SA (known as the brownshirts) and it was originally set up as bodyguards for Hitler, the SA had turned into the Nazi’s private army. Rohm took charge of the SA in 1930 and greatly increased its strength so that it had 400000 ‘storm troppers’ by 1933. these were used to intimidate voters and other political parties and during the election they stood outside polling booths and intimidating voters into voting for the Nazis and they also physically attacked Communists
who was Hermann Goring
he was an ex-first world war fighter pilot and was second in power to Hitler. he joined the german cabinet along with Frick and Hitler in 1933. he had no clear role at first but he helped the party to run smoothly. before long his government responsibilities included controlling the police in Prussia, the largest German region. in 1933 Goring formed the Gestapo the Nazi secret police that would spy on the German people to stop opposition to the party
who was Rudolph Hess
he was another ex- first world war hero and he was third in power to Hitler. he was deputy leader of the party and it was his job to sign off all new legislation to ensure that is closely followed the Nazi ideology. he worked in Munich at the headquarters of the party and made certain everyone was following the same goals
who was Heinrich Himmler
he led the SS (also known as blackshirts). this like the SA had started as a group of Nazi volunteers who provided security for party leaders. by the end of 1933 the SS had about 200000 members. its ‘elite guard’ was a paramilitary force with strict entrance requirements whose members were fanatical about Nazi ideology. they numbered over 50000 and under Himmler were developing the methods of surveillance and terror that would later gain them notoriety. the SS would fo on to be one of the defining features of Nazi Germany, running the concentration camps, spying on its people and striking fear into the hearts of anyone living under a Nazi-led regime
what was the treaty of versailles in 1919
this treaty severely restricted German armed forces e.g. they were only allowed an army of 100000 soldiers and it reduced German territories and imposed a crippling bill of 6.6 billion that the Germans owed to repair the damage they had caused throughout Europe
what were the main Nazi demands
Scrap the treaty of Versailles: the Nazis believed that Germany should ignore the harsh restrictions placed on it by the allies, especially those that restricted the armed forces. they also wanted to take back former German lands that had given to nations such as Poland
‘Bread and work for all’: these bare necessities were promised to all unemployed Germans so that their needs would be met and the German people would be met and the German people would be more united and contented
destroy Marxism: Marxism is a type of communism. the Bolsheviks (a Marxist party) had led the communist revolution in Russia in 1917. according to the Nazis, the Bolsheviks were led by Jews. they needed to be stopped so that they could not stir up a similar communist revolution in Germany
Subdue the Jews: Nazi ideas were fuelled by anti-Semitism. this means that they saw Jews as Untermenschen (sub-humans). Jews were blamed as the cowards who had made Germany surrender in 1918 as the communists who had plotted revolution and as the money-grabbers who had benefited as the expense of the poor
Ensure Aryan supremacy: the Nazis believed that northern Europeans were Ubermenschen (super human) and they called the Slavs of Eastern Europe Dungervolk (dung people). the ideal Aryan had blond hair and blue eyes but northern Europeans without these features could still be considered Aryan
fight for Lebensraum (living space): Lebensraum was needed to grow the food that the German people needed to grow the food that the German people needed. the Nazis wanted to take large parts of eastern Europe by force, believing that it was wasted on the Slavs who lived there
Build nationalism: the nazi extreme form of patriotism included the belief that Germany should be run by Germans for Germans. the Nazis believed that foreign influence or the involvement of non-Aryan, especially Jews should be removed from society
Strengthen central governments: in Germany there was a tradition of local government having lots of power to make decisions. the Nazis believed that his should be removed and the power of the central national government should be increased
Nationalise important industries: the Nazis believed that services such as the supply of electricity, water and railway transport should be provided by the government for the good of the nation rather than by independent companies for private profit
improve education: education was seen by the Nazis as crucial to improving the economy. they believed that Germans needed an improved education system so that the German people could work more efficiently, make Germany strong again and learn to accept Nazi ideology
