Nazi dictatorship 1933 - 1939 Flashcards
What obstacles did Hitler face in trying to establish a legal dictatorship?
Reichstag
Role of president needed to be removed (Hitler needed article 48)
Internal opposition
Trade unions, communists + armed forces
Armed forces pledged allegiance to country not Hitler.
What did Gleichschaltung mean?
Co-ordination.
Nazi term for process by which the regime establishes a fully totalitarian control.
When was the Gleichschaltung period?
Jan 1933 - August 1934
When was the Reichstag fire?
February 1933
What did the Reichstag fire do in Hitler’s rise to power?
Allowed secret police to hold people indefinitely, as the fire itself was said to be a communist threat - which allowed Hitler to get rid of his communist opposition.
What was the significance of the March 1933 elections in helping Hitler create a legal dictatorship?
Hitler used media to encourage the voters to support him and made the SA highly visible to intimidate people in the run up as well as widespread arrests of communists and SDP, secured themselves 44% of votes, 288 seats (from 196 in November)
When was the Enabling Act?
March 1933
What did the Enabling Act do in Hitler’s rise to power?
Created dictatorship - Hitler the head of a legal dictatorship. Needed 3/4 of the Reichstag to vote for it to be passed. 444 in favour, 94 against, so Reichstag in essence voted themselves out of existence.
As head of legal dictatorship - Communists + SPD in hiding, political concentration camps, or left country.
Hitler still needed catholic support
When was the Jewish Boycott?
April 1933
What did the Jewish Boycott do in Hitler’s rise to power?
Started the separation and segregation of the Jews. 7th April - Law for the restoration of the civil service (bureaucratic bodies, court schools and unis) purged of Jews, Political opponents, e.t.c
SA stood guard in front of Jewish shops, offices, doctors + lawyers. Star of David painted across doors and windows telling people not to buy from Jews, all non-aryan decent to be fired.
Many Germans ignored this and continued to shop.
When were Trade Union’s occupied?
May 1933
What did the occupation of Trade Unions do in Hitler’s rise to power?
Offices occupied by SA as German Labour Front was announced as the new nationwide organisation to replace unions. There were no strikes.
When was the law against the formation of new parties?
July 1933
What did the law against the formation of new parties do in Hitler’s rise to power?
Communists + SPD banned, other parties dissolved - Germany now a one party state. 5,000 prisoners in concentration camps - all communists, social democrats, political or trade union leaders.
When was the Concordat?
July 1933
What did the Concordat do in Hitler’s rise to power?
It placed constraints on the political activity of the church, whilst guaranteed independence under the Nazi regime. - Papen signed on behalf of state while pope Pius 12th signed on behalf of catholic faith.
When was the Night of the Long Knives?
June 1934
What did the Night of the Long Knives do in Hitler’s rise to power?
Hitler authorised killing of 90 members of SA, 50 of which were significant leaders of the SS - including Ernst Rohm. This meant that he gained support of conservative right, Army made oath of allegiance to him, SS emerged as independent (Hitlers personal bodyguards), Hitler also secured his dictatorship - removed all internal and external opposition. He was described as saving the country - gained support.
When does Hindenburg die?
August 1934
What did the death of Hindenburg do in Hitler’s rise to power?
Consolidated his power. He was now president and chancellor which he moved into one new position of Fuhrer.
What was Hitler like as a dictator?
He demonstrated himself as a strong and dynamic new leader who promised a new, better, dynamic Germany.
What became Hitler’s biggest economic priority?
Rearmament.
What was the Hitler Myth?
A carefully cultivated image showing him as someone who;
Personified the nation
Understood German people and stood for popular justice
Defended Germany against it’s enemies - Jews, corrupt SA, extremists.
Architect of Germany’s economic miracle
Responsible for major successes of German govt.
Re builder of Germany’s strengths.
Why did the Hitler Myth grain credence (belief)?
It was a reaction to the weakness of the previous Wiemar Government, satisfied people’s needs for a stronger government, Reinforced traditional German authoritarian leader. This was then sustained by Hitler’s success after 1933 and enhanced by Nazi propaganda.
What were the effects of the Hitler Myth?
It contributed to Hitler’s personal popularity (Late 1930s, 90% Germans admired him)
Helped cover up the regimes inconsistencies + failures
Day to day failures blamed on minor party leaders not Hitler.
Hitlers popularity gave him more freedom from elites, leading to radical momentum weakening the regime.
What led to a decline in the belief of the Hitler Myth?
Major military failures after 1941 and Hitler’s growing belief in it meant he thought himself infallible. Weakened his calculating skills as a politician.
What were the 4 Nazi economic aims of 1933?
- Drag Germany out of worldwide recession
- Solve unemployment
- Make Germany an ‘autarky’ - self sufficient country
- Transform the economy to focus on rearmament and war.
Who was Hjalmar Schacht?
President of Reichsbank and partly responsible for the Rentenmark. Economic elite and member of the Nazi party. Schacht’s economic policy.
What three ideas made up Schacht’s economic policy?
He believed the following three principles would help bring Germany out of worldwide depression;
1) banking and control of capitalism - lowered interest rates to reduce debt and rescheduled previous standing debts.
2) Assistance for farming and small businesses - Placed tariffs on imported goods protect German Farmers and offered subsidies + grants to support agriculture.
3) State investment - RAD and public works schemes.
What does RAD stand for?
Reich Labour Service.
What did the RAD do?
‘employed’ 18-25 year old’s, not really employed as working on state projects but not unemployed so they were not included in unemployment figures.
What did they enforce in 1935 to reduce unemployment levels?
Forced military conscription, meaning people had to do 6 months of unpaid work in military construction.
What was Schacht’s new plan in 1934 in order to achieve?
Autarky
What 3 things did Schacht do to try and achieve Autarky?
1) Bilateral Treaties - aimed to promote trade and save foreign exchange (barter agreement, didn’t pay for imports with money - traded)
2) Regulations of the Reichsmark currency - protected income as agreed to purchase raw materials from foreign countries as long as they bought Germany’s goods with the Reichsmark
3) Mefo Bills - special govt money bills, held for up to 5 years at a 4% interest, disguising and delaying govt spending (essentially an I.O.U)
What was the impact of Schact’s new plan?
Unemployment down from 6 mil in 1932 to 1.5 mil in 1936 (but masked figures as a result of RAD)
Industrial production increased by 60%
GNP grown by 40% (but still deficits due to demand for rearmament imports)
What was GNP?
Gross National Product - the amount of money being brought in.
What was the difference between Schact and Hitler’s focus in 1935?
Scacht focused on industrial production, while Hitler and Goring focused on rearmament and gearing economy to support war.
What was ‘Guns or Butter’ debate?
The break between Goring and Schacht as both focused on different things as their priorities. (S = industrial production, G = rearmament and economy ready for war).
When was Gorings four year plan?
1936
What were the aims of Gorings four year plan?
To achieve autarky and expand rearmament.
What were the 5 ways Goring tried to achieve his aims of his four year plan?
1) Regulate imports and exports - focus on chemicals and metals not agriculture.
2) Control labour force and prevent wages increase - DAF
3) Increase production of raw materials
4) Develop substitute products e.g artificial rubber
5) Increase agricultural production
What was the DAF?
German Labour Force.
What were the effects of Gorings four year plan?
Not fully supported by business leaders as believed they should focus on rearmament but not at expense of standard of living. But influence of them reduced as state came under political control.
Conflict with Schacht = Goring economic dictator 1939
IG Farben produced chemicals
Siemens electrical production
Daimler - Benz transport and aircraft
What led to Schacht’s resignation in 1939?
Came into conflict with Goring. Meant party v state and led to his resignation which also meant Goring became economic dictator.
What were Hitlers economic aims from 1933-1939?
Drag Germany out of worldwide recession and increase GNP
Solve unemployment
Make Germany an ‘autarky’ (self-sufficient country)
Transform economy to focus on rearmament and war
What strategies did Hitler use in order to drag Germany out of worldwide recession and increase GNP from 1933-1939?
Investments in small businesses - improves economy.
Focused on agricultural production
Place tariffs on imported goods
Low interest rates to encourage investments
Re-scheduled local authority debts
Mefo Bills
What was Dualism?
System of government in which two forces coexist - Nazi party and the German state.
Why was the reality of a clear ordered system of government not true?
Because the exact relationship of the structure of the party and the apparatus of the German state was never clarified satisfactorily. Much confusion between the two forces which was dualism.
What made up the German state under Hitler and what made up the Nazi Party?
State - The Reich Chancellery, Ministries, Judges, Regional Governments, Judiciary, Police.
Party - Party Chancellery, Party structure of Gauleiters (Regional party bosses) down to Blocke (Block leader) and party organisations = DAF, Hitler Youth and SS.
Which institutions did not fit under the state or the party during Hitler’s reign?
The Armed Forces and People’s court
Four Year Plan, Propaganda Ministry, Ribbentrop Bureau.
What did the Gualitiers do in the Nazi party structure?
They were the regional bosses. They were influential in determining how Germans experienced Nazi rule and his job to ensure people in his region stayed in line. He communicated with Hitler directly.
Why was the relationship between the party and the state unclear 1933?
Dualism.
What was the Reich Chancellery under the German state?
Responsible for coordinating government, as the role of cabinet declined from 1934 the chancellery became increasingly important. Headed by Lammers who drew up govt legislation, viral link between Hitler and all other organisations meaning he in effect controlled the flow of info.
What was the role of the Government ministries under the German State and how was this influenced and effected by the Nazi party?
Ministries, such as transport, education and economics run by leading civil servants. Under growing pressure from Nazis in late 1930s such as Economic ministry effected by 4 year plan. More Nazi officials brought in.
What were the Special Courts set up in 1933?
Set up to try political offences without a jury
What were the People’s Court set up in 1934?
Established to try cases of high treason, jury composed of specifically Nazi members
Why did the Nazi Party never become an all-pervasive dominating instrument?
Party Bureaucracy had to compete for influence over established state institutions, and latter were never destroyed but were significantly restrained.
Internal divisions and rivalries within Nazi party itself were never overcome.
Independence of the Gauleiters one of main obstacles to control.
How effective was Hitler in dragging Germany out of worldwide recession and increasing GNP in 1933-1939?
Wages rose slightly but still lower in 1938 than they had been in 1928
Working hours went up to 49 hours per week in 1939
1936, GNP up 40%, Industrial production up 60%
What strategies did Hitler use to solve unemployment 1933-1939?
RAD
Sack women and Jews from key jobs
Public works programmes; autobahns, reforestation.
How effective were Hitler’s strategies in solving unemployment 1933-1939?
It dropped quickly from 4.8 million 1933 to 0.5 million 1938, but skewed statistics as did not include Jews, Women or those in the RAD
What were Hitler’s strategies in making Germany an autarky, 1933-1939?
Placed tariffs on imported goods in order to regulate imports and exports.
Focused on chemicals and metals over agricultural.
Increase agricultural production
How successful were Hitlers strategies in achieving autarky 1933-1939?
Fewer consumer goods (personal and household goods)
Germany ended up importing more than they were exporting due to rearmament demands
By 1939 Germany still imported 33% of its required raw materials.
What were Hitler’s strategies in transforming the economy to focus on rearmament and war 1933-1939?
They introduced conscription with 6 months on military construction projects
Developed substitute products e.g artificial rubber in order to increase production of raw materials.
How successful were Hitlers strategies in transforming the economy to focus on rearmament and war 1933-1939?
Led to Schacht’s resignation
Lost support of elite businessmen who wanted to focus on butter rather than guns
Rearmament caused deficits as it limited exports
What negative things effected workers under the Nazi’s?
Index of wages - didn't rise that much Consumption of food - too expensive went down Unemployment Working hours increased Landowners and middle class effected Peasants and farmers effected German Labour Front (DAF) replaced TUs
What positive things effected workers under the Nazi’s
Beauty of Labour (SdA)
Strength through Joy (KdF)
Businesses grew/increased.
When did real wages rise above the 1929 level?
- But workers also expected to pay tax, insurance and DAF contributions.
Why was the consumption of food bad for workers under the Nazis?
The consumption of nutritious foods such as vegetables went down between 1927 to 1937. However the consumption of cigarettes went up. German families were not getting the food that they needed.
