Hitler and the Rise of the Nazis Flashcards
1
Q
Why was Hitler made Chancellor?
A
- Leader of largest party
- Von Papan thought he could control him and make him do what he wanted
- Because of the Wall Street crash and the Great Depression, many people saw him as a strong leader
- Hidenburg and the army were scared of a Communist uprising and wanted to use the army to crush them
- Appealed to many (promises) - socialists, nationalists, racists, fascists, the rich, the poor)
2
Q
Why did people support the Nazis?
A
- Powerful speeches
- Discipline and order (SA)
- Unity behind one leader
- Propaganda
- Decisive action
- Blaming the Jews for everything bad in Germany, shifts the blame from the people in power
- Unhappiness with Wiemar
- Promises and policies
- Hitler’s charisma
- Terror state, strength of Nazis, SA
3
Q
How was the economic problem solved?
A
- Economists across Europe and the USA realised that if German economy collapses all of Europe would be unstable
- Charles Dawes (American) arranged for the USA to lend Germany money. This was the DAWS PLAN: French and Belgian troops were ordered to leave the Ruhr and reparation payments we changed
4
Q
Nazi Intimidation
A
- The Terror State - fear of camps
- The Gestapo - secret police
- The SS - protection squads, controlled concentration camps
- The SA - paramilitary formations
- Courts and police under Himmler - (Only gave out guilty verdicts then sent to concentration camps, normal police under his rule, justice system was all Hitler’s - part of terror state
- Political opponents arrested
5
Q
Hyperinflation
A
- Caused by the gov printing off more money to pay workers who went on strike in response to the Rhur invasion
- Marks lost all value
- Savings were lost
- Fixed income receivers suffered greatly
- Those paid monthly struggled
- Food shortages
- Rise in crime
- Solution - the Dawes Plan and the Rentenmark
6
Q
Discontent with Weimar
A
- Spartacist Revolt
- Hyperinflation
- Munich Putsch
- ‘November Criminals’ - those who supported WR
- Debt to other countries
- Lack of action and decisions
- Not trusted
7
Q
Why did France want to treat Germany so harshly?
A
- To ensure that Germany remains weak
- Previous wars - Napoleonic wars and the Franco - Prussian war
- Lost a lot of land
- France suffered the most during the war and wanted to ensure that German could not attack again
8
Q
ToV
A
- Germany had to pay the Allies £6.6 billion in reparations
- Army had to be reduced to 100,000 men, navy reduced to 6 battleships and air force banned
- Germany had to accept full responsibility of starting the war
- Rhineland became a demilitarised zone
- Alsace and Lorraine was to be given to France as well as other land to Belgium, Denmark and Poland
9
Q
Opposition to ToV
A
- Germany hated everything about the treaty
- Angry that they had not been allowed to negotiate
10
Q
Ecomomic problems of WR
A
- Hyperinflation
- Loss of resources - ToV took areas of land containing valuable resources
- Ruhr invasion - Germany got behind on reparations payments so French and Belgian troops invaded
11
Q
Political problems of WR
A
- Rebellions and terrorism
- ‘Stab in the back theory’ - military thought that politicians stabbed them in the back by signing the treaty and ending the war
- War guilt clause - humiliation
12
Q
Social problems of WR
A
- Suffering - resources poured into war effort
- Changing borders - many Germans now living outside borders, felt like rights were not being recognised
13
Q
Characteristics of Wiemar Government
A
- Article 48 - in an emergency, President could take control of Germany and issue laws and decrees
- This would potentially allow for dictatorship to develop
- All men and women over the age of 20 could vote
14
Q
Munich Putsch Uprising
A
- 8th Nov 1923 during hyperinflation
- Planned to overthrow gov as they hated the treaty and economic problems it caused
- 600 Nazis surrounded building
- Hitler knew no. of important politicians were inside
- Stormed stage
- Hitler waved gun and he forced them to agree to rebel, declared national revolution had begun
- SA took over army headquarters and offices of local newspapers
- Next day Hitler and SA marched into Munich, police killed 16 members of SA
15
Q
Spartacist Revolt
A
- Jan 1919, 100,000 workers went on strike and demonstrated in Berlin
- Wanted power to be in the hands of the working class
- Demonstrators armed themselves and newspaper and communication buildings armed themselves
- Over in 1 week
- The freikorps helped gov arrest and shoot protestors
- Both leaders arrested and murdered
- Many people returned home due to lack of planning
- Began peaceful and turned violent
16
Q
Reichstag Fire 1933
A
- 27th Feb 1933
- Reichstag building (German parliament) burnt down
- Communists blamed because a Dutch Communist was found at the scene with a lighter
- Hitler used this fire to expel communists from parliament and imprisoned communist leaders
- Announced country was at danger because of Communists
- Encouraged more people to support Nazis
- Because of these actions the Nazi party gained more seats in parliament
- Fire so beneficial to Nazis it has been suggested that they started it themselves
17
Q
Why did Hitler and the Nazi’s appeal to people?
A
- Promises - promised more money, if they invested they would get a Volkswagen beetle but no one got, money went towards weapon factories
- Strong and powerful after the Kaiser’s resign
- Decisive action
18
Q
Nazi consolidation of power
A
- Nazis win 288 seats in the Reichstag
- Hitler sets up the Gestapo
- Hitler sets up agreement with pope which states that the church will be protected but will stay out of political matters
- SA cause problems by demanding to take over the army
- Hitler unifies the offices of President and Chancellor and became head of the German army.
- He takes the title of Fuhrer and has complete dictatorial powers.
19
Q
Formation and characteristics of the National Socialist Gov
A
- Racism
- Autarky - Germany must be economically self-sufficient and not dependent on goods imported from abroad
- The Führer Principle - there must be a single leader of a single party, holding complete power
- Control through fear and opression
20
Q
Intimidation
A
- SS
- SA
- Gestapo
- The terror state
- In charge of police and courts - no crimes investigated that were committed by Nazis
- The army - flags and symbols, marches, uniformed troops on streets
- Political opponents arrested
21
Q
Treatment of Jews
A
- Concentration camps
- Kristallnacht - vandalism, violence, persecution
- Boycotting
- Nuremburg laws removed rights
- Children denied education
- Ghettos (poor urban areas created for certain groups) opened to separate Jews and others
22
Q
Opposition to Nazis
A
- Some Catholic priests opposed Hitler
- Joke books made about them disguised as something else
- The White Rose
- Youth groups
- Graffiti
- Refused to do Nazi greetings and refused to contribute to trust funds
23
Q
How did young people resist youth groups?
A
- Refusing to join
- Formed other groups such as the Edelweiss pirates, the Navajos and the Texas bands
- Wrote graffiti, attacked Nazi officials, listened to jazz music, wore makeup
24
Q
Nazi Economic Policies
A
- Wanted to make Germany self -sufficient so that it didn’t have to rely on other countries: invasion of countries with materials and food
- Wanted to control workers and their leisure time: Volkswagen car manufactured, workers could buy it on a scheme
- German economy had to be ready for war: ignored ToV and started to re-arm Germany
- Promises to solve unemployment: new stadiums, hospitals, schools and motorways were built
25
Q
Militarism
A
- Nazis was determined to make Germany ready for war at any time
- Hitler youth developed survival skills and physical strength
- Army size increased
- Conscription introduced: most young men then draughted into the army
26
Q
Nuremburg Rallies
A
- Involved hundreds of thousands of Nazis, all immaculately dressed
- Form of propaganda
- Aimed to show how powerful Germany was
- Speeches
- Dances
- Marches
