How effectively did the Nazis control Germany, 1933-45? Flashcards
What were the main Nazi aims?
- A strong Germany
- A racially pure Germany
- A People’s Community (or Volk)
What did a strong Germany look like to the Nazis?
- Hitler blamed Germany’s problems on weak leadership
- He wanted strong leadership as in the days of the Kaiser
- He wanted strong Germans who were ready for war and who were able to restore Germany’s military pride
What was Hitler’s idea of a racially pure Germany?
- Hitler believed in Aryan supremacy
- He blamed Jews for many of Germany’s problems
- Wanted to remove Jews and other non-Aryans from any positions of leadership
What was the People’s Community/Volk?
- The Nazis wanted people to give their hearts and minds to Hitler
- In the Volk people would see their contribution to Germany as more important than their own fulfilment
How Nazis seized power in the town of Northeim: Bullying and Intimidation
- They took over the council by bullying and intimidation
- Had a majority
- The police arrested one opposition councillor before the first council meeting
- SA officers were stationed all around the room
- Opposition councillors weren’t allowed to speak
- They walked out in protest and were spat on by the SA officers
- That was the end of democracy in Northeim
How Nazis seized power in the town of Northeim: Searching all houses in Northeim
- Supposedly looking for illegal guns and ammunition
- Ransacked homes
- Arrested 22 people
- Seven were taken to the local concentration camp
- Deeper impact: ordinary Northeimers got the message that the violence the Nazis used against political opponents would also be used against anyone who stepped out of line
How Nazis seized power in the town of Northeim: Gleichschaltung (co-ordination)
- They ordered co-ordination of all organisations
- All local organisations/bodies should have a Nazi majority since there was a Nazi majority in the national government
- The four sports clubs in Northeim were combined into one Nazi-run sports club
- Even singing groups and choirs were combined
- The aim was that whenever ordinary people got together to do anything they would be watched by a loyal Nazi
How Nazis seized power in the town of Northeim: Boycotting Jewish businesses
- A newspaper campaign told Northeimers not to shop at Jewish-run businesses
- SA men were stationed outside to turn people away
How Nazis seized power in the town of Northeim: Ending unemployment
- Key reason why Nazis had been elected
- In June 1933 there were 500 registered unemployed in Northeim
- Within 3 months there were none
- Most were put to work repairing roads and clearing the woods
- However, socialists were dismissed from jobs which were then given to Nazis
- They were offered physically demanding work only if they agreed to give up politics
How Nazis seized power in the town of Northeim: Producing relentless propaganda
- In the first three months of Nazi power they organised a torrent of propaganda events
- Ceremonial burning of the Weimar flag
- A book burning to destroy unacceptable books
- A torchlight parade joined by 3000 people led by Nazi leader Ernst Girmann
How Nazis seized power in the town of Northeim: Northeimers rushing to join the Nazi party
- To get anywhere in Nazi Germany Northeimers saw that you had to join the party
- By May members had rocketed to 1200 people in a town of 10,000
- Many weren’t Nazi fanatics
- They joined to keep safe or keep their jobs
Summarise the 7 ways the Nazis seized power in the town of Northeim
- Took over the council by bullying and intimidation
- Set up a search of all houses in Northeim
- Ordered co-ordination of all organisations
- Boycotts of Jewish businesses
- Ended unemployment
- Produced relentless propaganda
- Northeimers rushed to join the Nazi party because of pressure
