How successful was the Nazi Party in exerting control over Germany? Flashcards
Name 5 methods the Nazis used to control people in Germany:
- Propaganda - films, posters, speeches, radios, newspapers etc.
- Fear - concentration camps, SA, SS etc.
- Books - book burnings, changing textbooks in schools etc.
- Schools - Nazi teachers association.
- Hitler Youth - became mandatory.
What does propaganda mean?
Information, especially of a biased or misleading nature, used to promote a political cause or point of view.
What does Volksgemeinschaft mean?
People’s/national community.
Considerable resources were directed towards the development of the propaganda machine in order to achieve what aims?
- Glorify the regime.
- Spread the Nazi ideology and values (alongside censor the unacceptable).
- Win over the people and to integrate the nation’s diverse elements into the Volksgemeinschaft.
Can you identify common themes amongst the posters?
German people uniting and idolising/glorifying Hitler.
Which groups do the Nazis target in posters and why?
- Jewish people ~ anti-semitism.
- Children ~ Thousand Year Reich.
- Poor people and workers ~ uneducated and easy to persuade.
How effective do you think propaganda posters would be at controlling people in Germany?
Very effective because it spreads Nazi ideologies and propaganda.
Why were radios used as propaganda and how?
- Creation of the Reich Radio Company ~ all broadcasting = under Nazi control.
- Goebbels arranged the dismissal of 13% of the staff on political and racial grounds ~ replaced them with his own men.
How successful were radios?
1932 = 25% of German households owned a wireless ~ cheap set made by Nazis = People’s Receiver (Volksempfanger) ~ 1939 = 70% of German houses had a radio.
How did more people having radios help the Nazis exert control?
They became a medium of mass communication controlled completely by the regime and broadcasting was also directed at public places.
What was the People’s Receiver (Volksempfanger)?
A production of a cheap set of radios.
Why was control of the press not easily achieved by Goebbels?
Germany = over 4700 daily newspapers in 1933 - all owned privately and traditionally owned no loyalty central government.
What measures were taken to achieve Nazi control of the press?
- Eher Verlag brought numerous newspapers ~ by 1939 it controlled two-thirds of the German press.
- Various new agencies were merged into one, the state-controlled DNB ~ vetted news material before it got to journalists.
- Goebbels introduced a daily press conference at the Propaganda Ministery ~ provided guidance on editorial policy.
What did the Editors’ Law in October 1933 do? (press)
Made newspaper content the sole responsibility of the editor ~ had to satisfy the requirements of the Propaganda Ministry or face the appropriate consequences.
What was the Eher Verlag?
The Nazi publishing house.
How successful was control of the press?
- Frankfurter Zeitung (internationally renowned) = forced to close (1943).
- Völkischer Beobachter = 1.7 million by 1944 ~ growing.
- 10% decline in newspaper circulation before 1939.
What was the Völkischer Beobachter? (press)
Nazi Party’s official newspaper.
When was the Berlin Olympics?
1936
What were the aims of Goebbels and Hitler at the Berlin Olympics?
- Glorify the regime.
- Try to spread Nazi ideological themes.
How did the Nazi government prepare for the Berlin Olympics?
- Could seat 110,000 spectators.
- 42 million+ Reichsmarks = spent on 325-acre.
- Radio - 20 transmitting vans and 300 microphones = put at disposal of the foreign media ~ 28 different languages.
How was the Berlin Olympics filmed and why was this significant?
- 33 camera operators and shot over a million feet of film ~ four hour film - Olympia ~ released in two parts beginning in April 1938.
- Broadcasts of the games were made ~ seen by 150,000 people in 28 public television rooms in Berlin.
How successful were the Berlin Olympics of 1936?
- Athlete Siegfried Eifrig lighting the torch at the start of the games ~ emphasised the Nazi ideal of the tall, athletic, blue-eyed Aryan race.
- Gained 89 medals.
- Gained praise for their excellent management and impressive spectacle.
How many of Germany’s writers left their homeland during the years 1933-1945?
What did this lead to?
- 2,500
- Lesser literacy group took their place who either sympathised with the regime or accepted the limitations.
What did Goebbels’ recognition of the importance of expanding the film industry lead to?
Out of 1097 featured films produced between 1933 and 1945, only 96 were specifically at the request of the Propaganda Ministry.
What three types can the films be divided into?
- Overt propaganda.
- Pure escapism.
- Emotive nationalism.
What is an example of Overt propaganda in film?
- The Eternal Jew (Ewige Jude) - a tasteless, racist film that portrayed Jews as rats and
- Hitlerjunge Queux - based on the story of a Nazi murdered by communists.
What is an example of Pure escapism in film?
The Adventures of Baron von Munchhausen - comedy based on an old German legend which gives the baron the powers of immortality.
What is an example of Emotive nationalism in film?
- Olympia (docu-drama of the Berlin Olympics).
- Triumph of the Will (about 1934 Nuremberg rally).
- Kolberg (an epic produced in the last year of the war).
What does Coercion mean?
Force people to do something.
What does Denunciation mean?
Spying on people.
How did the Terror State operate?
How did Courts help the Nazis maintain control?
- Judiciary was biased towards the Nazis.
- Judges and lawyers were obliged to join the Nazi lawyer association and make the oath.
-The judiciary was not immune from Nazi interference.
Who was targeted by Courts?
Oppositions were targeted in cases of high treason ~ jury = specifically composed of Nazis ~ 7000 out of 16000 cases = death sentences
What were the limits of Courts’ impact?
- Regime could’ve been seen as corrupt.
- Judiciary state continues to function was severely subverted.
How effective were Courts?
Extremely effective - able to control the court system fully but was barely needed due to the SS.
How did the SS help the Nazis maintain control?
- Formed in 1925 as an elite bodyguard service for Hitler.
- By 1933, its members totalled 52,000.
Who was targeted by the SS?
Opposition.
What were the limits of the SS’ impact?
- Himmler = leader in 1929 ~ diverted Hitler’s control of SS.
- Himmler = enough power to create SD ~ demonstrating another person in a position of power.
How effective were the SS?
Full control over every corner of Germany.
How did Gestapo help the Nazis maintain control?
- Ordinary people pressured to inform on their neighbours.
- Presented itself as all-seeing.
How many members were in the Gestapo?
20,000-40,000 members.
Who was targeted by the Gestapo?
Jewish, Socialists, Political opponents and Religious dissenters.
What were the limits of the Gestapo’s impact?
- Most members = office workers ~ relied on informers ~ unable to ‘impose a regime of terror’.
- Only 40,000 agents.
- A lot of what informers reported was just ‘gossip’.
How effective were the Gestapo?
Very effective - could overhear people’s conversations without being caught ~ Hitler knew everything ~ complete control of people.
How did Concentration Camps help the Nazis maintain control?
Opposition and threats could be removed by sending them to Concentration Camps.
Who was targeted by Concentration Camps?
- Opposition.
- Marginalised people.
What were the limits of Concentration Camps’ impact?
Could be seen as corrupt ~ threat to support.
How effective were Concentration Camps?
Effective at silencing opposition and creating fear.
What were the Nazis aims for the Church?
- Control over existing churches.
- Weaken hold of traditional Christianity.
- Replace Christianity with a new Nazi religion.
In 1933 how many German Christians were Protestant?
2/3
In 1933 how many German Christians were Catholic?
1/3
What were the 1939 census results/which religion was bigger?
- 1,944,000 Roman Catholics.
- 42,636,000 Protestants = biggest.
- 1,208,000 Without belief.
- 2,746,000 Neo-pagan.
Which Church did the Nazis target more and why?
Protestant ~ more people in Germany were Protestant, Protestant Church has no leader.
What was the aim of the establishment of the Reich Church in 1933?
- Bring all Protestant Churches under Nazi control.
- Attempt to combine all Protestants within one structure.
What was the Confessional Church and how did it oppose the Nazis’ aim to control the Church?
Set up by over 100 Pastors to preserve the independence of Protestantism.
What did the requirement of Pastors to swear Oath of Loyalty to Hitler and when two Pastors arrested lead to?
Public outcry.
Why was the Catholic Church harder to control?
Pope.
How did the Pope initially cooperate?
Agreed to disband Centre Party.
What did the July 1933 Concordat do and what was it?
Pope recognised new regime and Regime promised not to interfere with Church – kept educational institutions, youth groups and other communal facilities.
How was the Concordat of July 1933 not adhered to by the Nazis?
1936 Catholic youth groups disbanded and parents pressured to send children to state schools ~ 1935 = 65% at denominational schools. 5% by 1937.
How many Priests were accused of financial and sexual misbehaviour and what did this lead to?
200 ~ show trial ensued and some monasteries closed down.
How was the Concordat of July 1933 not adhered to by Pope Pius XI and what did this lead to?
- Pope Pius XI became disillusioned and issued ‘With Burning Grief’ - outspoken attack on Nazism ~ Pope Pius XII elected.
When was Pope Pius XII elected and how did this help the Nazis?
March 1939 ~ didn’t condemn Nazism – just Communism. No comment on Anti-Semitism. Refused to excommunicate those who were involved in genocide.
When did the Nazi Party launch a ‘Church Secession Campaign’ to encourage Germans to abandon their Churches and how did it influence Germans?
Mid 1930s.
1937 = over 100,000 Christians left the Church.
1939 = 3.5 million Germans = members of neo-pagan movement.
What were the similarities between the different groups of opposition?
Army and Youth group = most were executed.
Why were these groups able to oppose when others weren’t?
Status, money, connections.
How was opposition punished?
Execution or being sent to concentration camps.
How effective was opposition to the Nazis and why?
Not very effective ~ all assassination attempts didn’t work and most were executed.
Why were most religious people sent to concentration camps instead of being executed?
If they were executed they would be seen as martyrs.
How did Pastor Dietrich Bonhoffer oppose the Nazis and what happened to him?
Criticised Nazism ~ tried to get help for resistance abroad ~ executed April 1945.
How did the White Rose group from 1941-1943 oppose the Nazis and what happened?
- Leaflets dropped at universities about Euthanasia Programme and atrocities on the eastern front.
- Arrested ~ leaders Hans and Sophie Scholl = executed.
Who were the leaders of the White Rose group of 1941-1943?
Hans and Sophie Scholl.
Who were suspicious of Hitler and the Nazis in the army?
Aristocratic leaders.
How did the German Military intelligence organisation (Headed by Admiral Canaris) of 1935 oppose the Nazis and what happened?
- Tolerated resistance activities and helped Jews escape Germany ~ 1944 this was absorbed into SS and the opposition was shut down.
Why did General Ludwig Beck oppose Hitler and what did this lead to?
Opposed Hitler’s invasion of Czechoslovakia - involved in the July Bomb plot ~ shot 1944.
What did Colonel Claus Schenk Graf von Stauffenberg attempt to do in 1944 and why did this fail?
Assassinate Hitler ~ Hitler = only injured.
How did General Hans Oster oppose Hitler and what happened to him?
Advised British government to stand against Hitler ~ sent Britain some of Germany’s military plans ~ died in concentration camp.
How did the Government and the Civil Service oppose Hitler in June 1954?
Von Papen speech pleaded for greater freedom.
How did Julius Leber (government and the Civil Service) oppose Hitler in 1933?
(Leader of the SPD)
Arrested 1933 ~ sent to a concentration camp until 1937.
Joined the Kreisau Circle ~ betrayed by a German spy and hanged in 1945.
How did Judiciary oppose Hitler and what did this lead to?
Some judges tried to keep proper standards of justice ~ judges were ‘co-ordinated’ and obliged to join the Nazi Lawyers’ Association and make Oaths of Loyalty to Hitler.
In 1933-35 how many workers went on strike?
400.
What did some workers do to oppose the Nazis and how did this lead to the replacement of unions with who in May 1933?
- Maintained links with illegal political parties.
- May 1933 - German Labour Front (DAF) = announced as new nationwide labour organisation to replace the unions ~ no legal organisations that could be used for opposition.
How did Left Wing parties oppose the Nazis?
Continued some illegal activities.
What did the SPD do to oppose the Nazis and what did this result in in July 1935?
Organised underground groups who distributed leaflets and propaganda campaigns e.g. Berlin Red Patrol ~ July 1935 all political parties were banned.
How did the KPD oppose the Nazis and how many of their members were arrested?
Formed underground cells ~ 2/3 of their members were arrested.
When the Kreisau circle come together in 1933 to oppose Hitler, what did they do?
Drew up a plan for a new Germany called the Basic Principles for a New Order.
How were the Kreisau circle caught?
Mass round up of suspects after July 1944 Bomb Plot ~ torture of these suspects ~ Gestapo gained the names of many plotters or supposed plotters – including men in the Kreisau Circle.
What did the mass round up of suspects after the July 1944 Bomb Plot and the torture of these suspects lead to?
The Gestapo gaining the names of many plotters or supposed plotters – including men in the Kreisau Circle.
What happened to Yorck von Wartenburg?
Arrested as part of the July Bomb Plot ~ tried ~ found guilty and executed in August 1944.
What happened to Von Moltke?
Already been arrested (January 1944) and tried before the People’s Court ~ found guilty of treason, he was executed in January 1945.
How did the Government and the Civil Service oppose Hitler in August 1935?
Schat spoke out against Anti-Semitic violence. Some government officials maintained contact with opponents.
