Holocaust Flashcards
Who played a significant role in the rise of Nazi Germany?
Joseph Goebbels
He was the Minister of Propaganda and Public Enlightenment.
What was Goebbels tasked with as the Minister of Propaganda?
Shaping public opinion and promoting Nazi ideology.
How did Goebbels contribute to the Holocaust?
By spreading anti-Semitic propaganda that dehumanized Jews.
What event did Goebbels incite that marked a violent escalation in anti-Semitic policies?
Kristallnacht.
What was Kristallnacht also known as?
The Night of Broken Glass.
When did Kristallnacht occur?
November 9-10, 1938.
What were the consequences of Kristallnacht?
Over 7,000 Jewish businesses destroyed, 267 synagogues burned, and around 30,000 Jewish men arrested.
What did Goebbels use as an excuse for the violence during Kristallnacht?
The assassination of a German diplomat by a Jewish teenager.
What financial penalty was imposed on the Jewish community after Kristallnacht?
1 billion Reichsmarks.
What did Kristallnacht signal about the treatment of Jews?
Jews were no longer just discriminated against but physically targeted.
What did Goebbels deliver on February 18, 1943?
The ‘Total War’ speech.
What was the goal of Goebbels’ ‘Total War’ speech?
To mobilize the entire German population for war.
Where was the ‘Total War’ speech delivered?
Berlin Sportpalast.
What phrase was prominently displayed at the rally during Goebbels’ speech?
‘Totaler Krieg-Kurzester Krieg’.
What was the audience’s response to Goebbels’ question, ‘Do you want total war?’
Loud cheers.
What did Goebbels urge Germans to do in his speech?
Devote themselves fully to the war effort.
What policies intensified as a result of Goebbels’ speech?
- Military conscription
- Labor exploitation
- Suppression of civilian freedoms.
True or False: Goebbels’ speech had a lasting positive impact on the war effort.
False.
What legacy did Goebbels’ actions leave behind?
A reminder of the destructive power of propaganda and manipulation.
What does the legacy of Kristallnacht represent?
The beginning of systematic persecution of Jews.
Fill in the blank: Goebbels justified brutal acts through his _______.
Total War speech.
What did Goebbels’ Total War speech reinforce?
Extreme nationalism and justified repressive measures.
What does the conclusion of Goebbels’ legacy emphasize?
The importance of protecting intellectual freedom and resisting oppressive ideologies.
