Nazi Germany

Question 1

Why was the Kaiser unpopular?

Answer 1

• Hunger: There was not enough food to go round. Germans had to eat substitute food, such as bread made with potatoes.
• Death: Most Germans had a relative who had been killed in war. Many Germans were dying at home as the Spanish flu killed people weakened by hunger.
• War Weary: Germans could no longer support the war, it had been on for too long and they likely would not win. Armistice would come while the Kaiser was still in charge - the people wanted him gone.

Question 2

What happened during The Golden Age of Weimar?

Answer 2

• Charles Dawes’ plan arranged for the USA to lend Germany a great deal of money to be used to get Germany back on its feet, and this helped Germany to pay off the reparation payments. French and Belgian occupation troops to leave the Ruhr.
• Stresemann was popular with the other people and politicians. He signed an agreement (Locarno Treaty) to be on friendly terms with France, and made Germany respectable.
• The Reichsbank and a new paper currency was introduced. The new paper money gave the German people confidence and businesses and employment started to recover. More people had jobs and had money in their pockets to spend.
• People started to feel better about democracy. People stopped voting for extreme parties.

Question 3

What made Support for the Nazi Party Grow?

Answer 3

• They blamed scapegoats for Germany’s problems; Jews, Communists, Democracy.
• They used propaganda; leaflets in the streets, Hugenberg’s cinemas, messages to big audiences, Hitler’s speeches.
• Nazis were well disciplined in the face of chaos; their brown shirts looked organised, they were able to break up opponents meetings, and they made sure things were chaotic in the streets - people became afraid and democracy looked weak.
• They offered to end the shame of the Treaty of Versailles.
• They shared simple solutions to economic problems.

Question 4

How did the Nazis use Fear and Force to their Advantage?

Answer 4

• All other political parties were banned.
• Concentration camps were established.
• Nazis were overwhelmingly popular. A lot of people liked the Nazis so it was difficult to oppose them in case you were talking to an informer.
• They controlled the courts and the police.
• Destruction of the rights of the German people.

Question 5

Why did the Munich Putsch Fail?

Question 6

What were the Rights which Germans were Given in the Weimar Republic?

Answer 6

• All citizens were equal before the law. People thought this was fair because it meant everyone got a trial.
• Every German is allowed to express their opinions by word of mouth, writing, printing, or otherwise. The people thought this was fair because it meant that people can say things against the government if they’re unhappy with the way the country is being run, without the fear of being punished for it.
• All Germans allowed secrecy of Correspondence. The people thought this was fair because it meant that people would be able to write and telephone others without being listened to.
• All had the right to live free from government spying. The people thought this was fair because it meant that people would be safe in their own home and authorities would need a warrant to go into it.