Hitler's Germany, 1929-1945 Flashcards
When did the Reichstag fire happen:
Night of 27 February 1933 - during the election campaign
What was life like under Hitler…
He…
When did Hitler become Chancellor:
January 1933
How did Hitler become Chancellor:
Increasingly clear President Hindenburg could not continue to work with a chancellor who did not have support in the Reichstag
Von Papen simply couldn’t pass any of the measures he wanted
Hindenburg and von Papen decided to make Hitler chancellor
The most important reason Hitler was able to establish a dictatorship was because of the use of threats and violence. How far do you agree. 12 mark question.
Role of SA
Role of SS
Hitler Youth
Gestapo
Economical prosperity - job creation schemes
Destroyed the treaty of Versailles
Germans got pride back
Nuremberg laws 1935:
Jews could no longer be German citizens
Marriages between Jews and Aryans were forbidden
Jews had to wear a yellow star on their clothing
Boycott 1933:
Nazis organised a boycott of all Jewish businesses, doctors, dentists…
Jewish shops were marked with the Star of David
In education, Jewish children were intimidated at school and Germans were taught that Jews were unclean and responsible for German defeat in WW1
Kristallnacht:
November 1938, a polish Jew, Herschel Grynszpan, shot a German diplomat in Paris.
Hitler ordered immediate attack on Jews and their property in Germany
9-10 November - thousands of Jewish businesses were attacked and 200 synagogues burned down
How many Jews had died by the end of the war:
More than 1 million Jews had been killed in the gas chambers at Auschwitz
At least 2 million more Jews were killed in other death camps
Many perished as a result of terrible conditions in concentration camps and ghettos
Altogether about 6 million Jews had died by 1945.
Impact of the Wall Street Crash and the depression:
Many American ankhs forced to recall their loans. German companies were unable to pay.
German businesses began to close.
Millions lost jobs. By 1932, number of unemployed had reached 6 million.
Many became homeless as could not afford rent
More people felt left down by the Weimar Government and turned to extremist parties
The economy after Hitler came to power:
Hitler promised jobs
Public work schemes (RAD)
Auto balms
Military spending on weapons
Why did the Night of the long knives take place:
German army saw the SA as a rival - army would not support Hitler unless the SA was disbanded
Some members of the SA looked to Hitler to follow a socialist programme of reform - Hitler was opposed to this since he knew he would love the support of wealthy industrialists
Röhm was a threat to Hitlers dominance of the Nazi party
When was the night of the Long Knives:
30th June 1934
How many SA leaders killed in the Night of the Long Knives:
400 SA leaders were killed including the SA leader Ernest Röhm
Who killed all the SA in the Night of the along Knives:
The SS
What had been happening to the SA before the Night of the Long Knives:
Röhm had threatened Hitler and he believed the SA should be at the core of a new peoples army
What happened at the night of the Long Knives:
SS assassination squads murdered Hitlers potential SA rivals, including Röhm
What did Hitler need to pass an enabling act:
To obtain the votes of two-thirds of the Reichstag members
How many votes did Hitler get in order to pass the enabling act:
He had the support of only just over half. That was not enough.
What did Hitler do in order to pass the Enabling Act:
Hitler ordered his SA to continue intimidating the opposition
The 81 communist members of the Reichstag were expelled
Atmosphere heavy with violence and threats, the enabling Act was passed by 441 votes to 94.
Hitler given power to rule for four years without consulting the Reichstag
When did Hindenburg die:
Just over one month after the Night of the Long Knives
What did Hitler do after Hindenburg’s death:
Combined the posts of Chancellor and President and also became Commander in chief of the armed forces.
Soldiers now swore personal allegiance to Hitler, who officially became known as see Führer
What tactics did the SS and Gestapo use:
Terror tactics to intimidate, arrest and even kill any possible opponents
Who were often arrested by the SS and Gestapo:
Enemies of the nazis, such as liberals, socialists and communists.
They were often sent to concentration camps without trial
