NAZI Flashcards
1
Q
What was the name of Hitler’s original private army, and what happened to them?
A
- They were called the SA, and they were Hitler’s army BEFORE WWII. They wore brown shirts.
- They were led by Rohm. However, Hitler no longer had full control over him and the SA, so he executed all of the leaders, to show how powerful he was.
- They wee replaced by the SS (black shirts), who controlled concentration camps and did many more tasks for Hitler.
2
Q
What were the effects of the Atomic Bomb, socially and economically?
A
- An immediate effect, was the devastating state of all the people. Whoever was within a kilometer of the explosion, was a pile of ash in seconds. Others had skin peeling/melting off due to the heat. The light which the bomb emitted, was harmful enough to burn citizens’ eyes, leaving their sockets hollow.
- Steel works and other factories were melted, making survivors unemployed, and destroying Hiroshima’s economy.
- The radiation from the nuclear bomb, was found in the soil, agriculture being the main profession in Japan. This destroyed food, and made many people lose their jobs, for many years after the actual event.
- Not only did the radiation destroy crops and livestock, it brought numerous diseases to Japan, thousands of deaths happening in the long-term.
3
Q
What were the reasons FOR dropping the Atomic Bomb?
A
- Japan had attacked the navy base, in the Pacific Ocean, called Pearl Harbor. It was very unexpected, killing many innocent soldiers, this being the excuse that many Americans used for dropping the bomb. This was also the day America went to war with Japan (got involved in WWII).
- Japan had shown no signs of surrendering, American experts, saying that they would never do so. They respected their Emperor very much, treating him like God. “Giving up”, would rid Japan of this wonderful leader-they had to win by force.
- The alternative to the bomb, was invading Japan with soldiers. This other form of attack, was predicted to cost more lives than the nuclear atrocity, 250,000 estimated Americans alone. The bomb was the least violent way-it would save more lives.
4
Q
What were the reasons AGAINST dropping the Atomic Bomb?
A
- It was against the morality of war, to MURDER innocent women and children. The first bomb killed around 146,000 civilians, around half of them instantaneously obliterated by the bomb.
- America used Japan as experiments for 2 atomic bombs-it was just inhumane.
- Future atomic warfare is frightening to think about. The world would be completely and utterly destroyed along with all life as we know it-why was it “right” for America to start the use of atomic weapons?
5
Q
What were the political effects of the Atomic Bomb?
A
- The atomic bomb droppings resulted in Japan surrendering in 1945, on the 14th of August. This finally meant that WWII was over.
- A very important thing occurred after the world was exposed to atomic warfare-the nuclear arms race. The United States, and the Soviet Union, raced to build up their nuclear weapons, affecting how each super power would use any tactic possible to gain an advantage over the enemy. This was a very dangerous move, countries all around the world, today, having access to these catastrophic weapons.
6
Q
How did the Nazis control the children of Germany?
A
- They changed the curriculum, and manipulated the subjects to suit how the Nazis wanted the future generation to think, and what to know. PE was very intense for boys (strong men for labor and the army/SS), and the Aryan race was taught in biology.
- Posters were put up around schools of Hitler. Children had to salute him whenever they saw the dictator.
- In 1936, a law was passed, to make the Hitler Youth and the League of Maidens compulsory. They used these clubs to indoctrinate children into what Hitler wanted. Boys were trained to be physically fit for war, and girls were taught to be traditional housewives rather than working. By 1938, 80% of the German youth were attending the groups.
7
Q
What did Hitler promise the German people?
A
- He promised to revoke the Treaty of Versailles, which had plunged Germany into a depression-enormous debt, hyperinflation, unemployment, etc.
- He promised to reduce and eliminate unemployment. Since the Wall Street Crash in America forced Germany to pay all loans back immediately, this made the majority of the country unemployed, and destroyed the economy. Hitler did manage to free the nation of unemployment.
- He promised to be a strong leader, unlike the Wiemar Government, which the German people resented as they signed the Treaty of Versailles, plunging Germany into a depression, which they failed to act upon.
8
Q
What was the terms which Germany had to follow in the Treaty of Versailles?
A
- B:Article 231, stated that Germany was to take all the blame for WWI.
- R:They were told that they had to pay £6.6 billion for reparations (compensation for war damage)
- A:The Germans were extremely proud of their army-however, the Treaty of Versailles took it all away. The soldiers were reduced to just 100,000 men. The navy cut down to 15,000 sailors, and only 6 battleships. Submarines, tanks and the air force were stripped completely.
- T:13% of German territory was taken away for them. This meant that lots of raw materials were lost, as well as lots of the German population.
9
Q
What were the stages that lead to Jews being prosecuted?
A
- In April, 1933, the year Hitler became chancellor of Germany (first real power), Jews were banned from government jobs, Jewish civil servants being fired. The Nazis also encouraged the boycott of Jewish shops and businesses.
- In May, 1935, Jews were not allowed to join the army.
- From 1934, local councils had stopped Jews from entering swimming pools and even parks!
- In 1935, Nuremberg Laws prevented Jews from being citizens, only those with pure German blood could be German civilians-this forbid Jews from marrying Germans.
- Kristallnacht (the night of the broken glass), in 1938, was when violence was unleashed on the Jews. Gangs, smashed and burned Jewish property, around 100 synagogues being destroyed, 200,000-250,000 Jews being murdered.
10
Q
Who were the “Big three”, and what were their contributions to the Treaty of Versailles?
A
- The French Prime Minster-George Clemenceau. He thought that Germany should have payed for what they’d done, writing the harsh conditions in the Treaty of Versailles.
- The British Prime Minster-David Lloyd George. He predicted that giving Germany such harsh rules, would “bite” them back in the future. Of course, he wanted some revenge, but what he’d stated, eventually turned out to be true…
- The American President-Woodrow Wilson. He was neutral, and more about peace, and the prevention of war. He was calm, and didn’t want the Treaty of Versailles to be too harsh.
11
Q
What was propaganda like under Nazi control?
A
- Joseph Goebbels was in charge of the propaganda sector, portraying Hitler as a father, protector, God, and many other important, savior type characters.
- The propaganda ministry, controlled radio stations and transmitters, to give the “Nazi message” to thousands of Germans.
- The development of Hitler’s image is known as the “Hitler Myth”. It created a false, but likable image of Hitler, which the people trusted.
12
Q
How did the Nazi party rule with FEAR?
A
- The Gestapo was the secret police, who took orders from Hitler. They could do ANYTHING, to drive “anti-Nazis” and later minority groups such as the disabled, gay community and Jews, out of their homes. They could open mail, spy and tap into telephones to find out , so n one was safe.
- Hitler’s original private army-The SA-were executed to show power. These soldiers accompanied him on the way to being leader of Germany, but were eliminated soon after and replaced by loyal SS members. These people weren’t even safe, if not doing all tasks proposed in the time limit, loved ones and even themselves paying the price-death.
- Concentration camps were set up for “anti-Nazis”. They involved working until death took over them, however, there wasn’t enough “enemies” dying (Jews), so extermination camps were introduced-camps just for slaughter.
- The 1st concentration camp opened in 1933, and was called Dachau. It was the year Hitler became chancellor, him having a clear vision of what he was going to do…
- In 1939, the SS had 240,000 members-too many to be overpowered.
13
Q
What was Treblinka?
A
- Treblinka was a concentration camp, originally, located in Poland. It was disguised by a forest, and there was no town or inhabited place for a couple of miles in each direction. Jews, and disabled people were sent here to do work in the labor sector, until they were too tired to carry on-they were killed.
- Treblinka was rebuilt as an extermination camp, merely to kill people. During this time, the gas chambers on the new and improved building were paused, until the original construction was demolished. It was disguised as a hospital on the exterior, but had numerous ways to murder people in masses and dispose of them without a trace.
- It contained a zoo for the SS guards, for entertainment, and also high quality living quarters. The Nazis didn’t care about killing millions of people-it was just a chore.
14
Q
What was Hitler’s childhood like?
A
- He was born in Austria, on the 20th of April, 1889, in Braunau am Inn.
- He used to go to a Church choir, himself being quite religious. He was honest and innocent as well.
- He was a very demanding child, always wanting his own way. Hitler was hateful and judgmental, especially towards adults. He despised education, but surprisingly liked his history teacher.
- Hitler was also abused by his father, himself having a very harsh and brutal childhood. He was bullied, and was a damaged child.
- His father died when he was only 13, in a bar, from Pleural effusion ( a problem with the lungs). He died in minutes after he collapsed.
15
Q
What was Adolf Hitler’s adulthood like, before he got involved in politics?
A
- During his early adulthood, he wanted to be an artist. He applied to a professional art school called the Vienna academy for fine arts. He failed the entry exam, which was very devastating for Hitler. His mother died soon after, when he returned home, at Christmas, from breast cancer. When he attempted to re-enter, he managed to go into poverty in Vienna, sleeping on park benches, and getting food from charity kitchens.
- During his time in Vienna, he developed ideas about race, and created a hate for the Jews.
- However, he was very optimistic, and with no parents left, he relied on his friends, which he wrote letters to.
- He fought in the army in WWI, not for Austria, but for Germany. He fled Austria to avoid conscription, but ended up joining the army anyway by choice! He was very dedicated to doing what was right, and was very brave and selfless towards others.
