Nazi Germany Flashcards
Why was Hitler made Chancellor in January 1933 by Hindenburg
Hindenburg thought he could tame the Nazi party if Hitler was Chancellor under a coalition government
Hitler however called for another election and had no intention of a coalition
He was absolute ruler of Germany using article 48 to create terror
When was Hitler made chancellor by von Hindenburg
In power
January 1933
Under a coalition
After Hitler came to power Jan 1933 how many members in the cabinet were Nazi sympathisers
Why did he call for an election
2
Called for election shortly after he became chancellor to increase majority in Reichstag
What happened at the Reichstag fire event February 1933
Before the election
Parliament building on fire, Dutch Communist Van der Lubbe executed in days for plotting against the government.
What was implemented the day after the Reichstag fire
Before Enabling Act was passed
Article 48 allows emergency decree ( Law for the Protection of the People and the State) was passed in days, police state
4000 communist leaders imprisoned, stopping them campaigning during election so Hitler won election
Death penalty decreed, this was the start of death/concentration camps with people used as unpaid workforce and for experimentation
Later as a result opposition was illegal
What was article 48 (emergency powers)
In case public safety is seriously threatened or disturbed, the Reich President may take the measures necessary to reestablish law and order, if necessary by force.
After the reichstag fire he claimed he had the right to run the country
Describe Nazis and communists following the reichstag fire and what this allowed Hitler to do
Nazis claimed country was threatened by communists, 4000 communist leaders arrested, stopping them campaigning during election so Nazis gained seats.
(Communist party was biggest opponent)
Communist fear helped persuade Hindenburg to pass Enabling Act
What events followed Reichstag fire where people were oppressed
Hitler won election
Death penalty decreed, this was the start of death/concentration camps with people used as unpaid workforce and for experimentation
Later as a result political opposition was illegal
Explain Enabling Act March 1933
Hitler was chancellor already, Enabling Act allowed him to make his own laws without Reichstag involvement
How long did emergency decree stay in place
12 years
Hitlers actions in 1933 after the enabling act was passed
Trade unions, and strikes illegal and local government destroyed
Other political parties and opposition illegal, members executed
Concordant with catholic church
Set up RAD and Hitler Youth (all other youth groups ended)
Police state (article 48)12 years of Nazi rule, SA brutal police force
Only Nazi campaign,intimidated voters: watched ballots
Upon Hindenburg’s death August 1934, what did Hitler do
the same day
Merged chancellor and president to become Führer
He was also head of the army
The Enabling Act did not allow this
Who were the SA by 1934
What did they (Ernst Röhm) want
Hitler relied on their force and power to put his policies into action
More than 2 million members by 1934
Ernst Röhm wanted to take control of the army, a potential rival to Hitler
Who was Ernst Röhm
The leader of the SA, he helped create it as a private army
He served in the war and became a Freikorp
He stood alongside Hitler in the Munich Putsch was appointed to keep party going while Hitler served his sentence. A Violent thug, flamboyant homosexual who talked about Hitler behind his back, didn’t like big business
Who were the German army by 1934
100,000 soldiers (treaty of versailles)
Army leadership supported by big business
Opposed to being taken over by Röhm and the SA
Many disliked Hitler, upper class looked down on him
THE ONLY ORGANISATION THAT COULD REMOVE HITLER
Why did the night of the long knives occur and what happened
By 1934 SA were getting out of hand and interfering with the running of the country, had around 2 million members
Hitler believed SA and Röhm were plotting against him, Röhm hoped to take control of the army who had the power to overthrow lhim. Did not follow Aryan qualities, being gay
On the night of the long knives 1934 Röhm and 200 other SA leaders were executed by members of the SS
What were the after effects of the night of the long knives
Hitler gained oath of loyalty from German Army who now had the SA under their control
As a result, Hitler and the SS were feared by the public
Heinrich Himmler gained lots of power in Nazi Germany
Why is it significant that the Nazi symbol is seen everywhere in public with announcements where work was stopped
To encorce the message and remind people who was in charge
To enforce the salute, shows who would partake and agree with Nazis
Easy to see who disagrees and wouldn’t stop and listen, with fear and paranoia civilians would report those in protest
Why did nazis want to take control of Northeim
One third of Northeimers voted for social democrats, not the Nazi party. Although they got a majority, this was not good enough
In Northeim, how did the Nazis take control of the council
This is a microcosm of all over Germany
Before first council meeting, one social democrat was arrested
Meeting moved to ballroom with heavy Nazi decorations
Packed with SA and SS at centre and social democrats at the side
The socialist leader was stopped from speaking
Socialist councillors left the room in protest and were spat on
1933 all non Nazi parties are banned, Nazis control Northeim council
In Northeim how were people and institutions controlled by terror
Nazis searched all houses (supposedly for weapons) people were arrested with some to camps, jews were persecuted and avoided
Nazis took over schools and churches with children manipulated
There were rumours of Gestapo and spies, paranoia was high
Nazis showed what people who disobeyed would expect
How did Nazis take control of Northeim using propaganda and by tackling unemployment
Propaganda was a form of brainwashing. There were many rallies people were expected to watch to glorify Nazism and get more support
Unemployment related to many so Hitlers plan to change this was very popular. Jews were banned from doing certain jobs to Nazis could take their place and less were unemployed. Shows his policies to work
Who was Heinrich Himmler
Used to be a chicken farmer,interest with selective breeding
Took part in Munich Putsch, arrested
Becomes head of the SS, Hitler’s bodyguard
Appointed head of the Gestapo, the secret police 1934
Sets up first concentration camp, Dachau. Suggests final solution and death camps controlled by Nazis. He was very cowardly initially
Give some examples why Hitler’s success kept increasing when he became Führer
Dealt with threats to his position, quickly and efficiently
Uses propaganda, his policies and actions appear better than Weimar
Exploited every opportunity to reinforce power
Germany’s politicians hadn’t realised his strength or motives
Uses violence to remove opposition
Politicians collaborated with Hitler
Who was Josef Goebbels
Minister for propaganda
He was not “perfect” and born with a club foot
Was in Berlin bunker with Hitler where he killed himself and his family
Who were the SS and what was their role in Nazi Germany
Originally had been a protection sqad for Hitler and Nazi leaders
In four years Himmler built it to an elite force of 50,000 fit, Aryan men
Helped in the night of the long knives, terrorised people into obedience and arrested without trail, could search houses and confiscate items
Opposition sent to camps controlled by SS or SA
What were the Gestapo by 1936
It became the state secret police under the command of Himmler
Spied on people and looked through mail etc. with network of informers across Germany
Strike at any time and were very feared, much paranoia
Arrested ‘Undesireables’ and sent them to concentration camps
Effective as neighbours see others taken so ‘behave themselves’
What was Der Stürmer
A Nazi magazine read by Nazis, Hitler Youth,SA and SS
Very bias and unreliable
What did ‘Total war’ mean to Hitler
Hoping to expand the German Empire as promised and return Germany’s greatness
How had women’s role in society changed since Weimar Germany
Expected to be Aryan, good christian mothers
Makeup, independence, smoking, drinking and expression forbidden
Unemployment amounts in 1933
Unemployment amounts in 1939
6 million
300,000
What allowed the Night of the long knives to occur
When did it occur
Article 48 (emergency decree) Allows a police state. Hitler can do what he wants
30th March 1934 Night of the Long knives
What was the german word for self sufficiency
Autarky
What did Hitler first open in 1935 that relates to his desire for Autarky in Germany
What plan enabled this
Germany’s first Autobahm (motorway)
It was built by the perviously unemployed Hitler had given the job to therefore reducing unemployment rates hugely
Focused on by the new plan
What was the strength through joy campaign (Kraft durch Freude)
When did it end
Provided working class with fun activities to work more efficiently
They wouldn’t see Nazi Germany as controlling
and be reliant on it (theatre,sports, exhibitions)
Ended at wartime 1939
Describe the Volkswagon relating to the German worker
Were told every worker would receive the ‘people car’ car by investing earnings
No cars were given and the money and materials went into the army and war effort when war broke out
What was Reich Labour Service
RAD was militarisation of labour force
Compulsory to serve at least 6 months
Hard labour for 18-25 year old men
Poorly paid but better than being unemployed
How could the Nazi rule be seen as positive for Aryans (before the war)
Less unemployment,richer country promises work and bread No unreliable coalitions Exciting opportunities for Aryans Better than time of depression and WWI Promised this security for 1000 years
What was Krupp
A large, steel industrial group in Nazi germany
How were small businesses better under Nazi Germany
SMALL BUSINESSES
Nazis eliminated competition from Jewish shops
Trade value increased
Promised lots
How were FARMERS affected under Nazi Germany
Some debt written off and gained income from increased food prices
Resented government meddling
Shortage of labour workers in agriculture
How were INDUSTRIALISTS affected by Nazi Germany
Huge benefits in large rearmament process
and removal of trade unions
So large profits
However they had to pay for the benefits, there was greater government intervention
How were unskilled WORKERS affected by Nazi Germany
Forced to work with less wages than unemployment benefits
Workers had to attend RAD for at least six months
Could access cheap housing however
Quickly given jobs to build Nazi Germany
Strength through joy campaign offered prizes and rewards for hard work (vw car)
Beauty of labour scheme helped improve working conditions,hot meal and ventilation etc
What did Hitler break in the treaty of versailles
Why did nobody intervene
Amount of soldiers in German army, rearmament (reduced unemployment)
Anschluß- joining Austria and Germany
Remilitarisation of Rhineland 1936
No one wanted to start another war
What was the beauty of labour campaign
Employers persuaded to improve working conditions, hot meals and ventilation (in factories)
How was unemployment significantly reduced from 6m in 1933 to 300,000 by 1939
Undesirables removed from society and jobs given to Aryans
Increased production and world market after Great Depression
Conscription to army 1935 (breaks treaty)
RAD was compulsory, benefits of Strength through Joy and Beauty of Labour
Volkswagen reward
Work in industry and rebuilding german cities (Autobahn)opportunities
DAF
Deutsche Arbeitsfront
Workers and employers had to join to settle disputes
Build new autobahm, hospitals, schools and public buildings
Nazi Germany role of women
Motherhood cross for having children
No make up,smoking,strict gender roles
Kinder,Kirche,Küche
Describe other methods in Nazi Germany to produce Aryan children for the 1000 year Reich after 1937
1938 changed divorce law( man could divorce women is she could not bear children) Lebensborn programme (unmarried Aryan woman works in brothel to have baby with SS guard as father)
Nazi Germany role of women
Motherhood cross for having children
No make up,smoking,strict gender roles
Kinder,Kirche,Küche
Describe other methods in Nazi Germany to produce Aryan children for the 1000 year Reich after 1937
1938 changed divorce law( man could divorce women is she could not bear children) Lebensborn programme (unmarried Aryan woman works in brothel to have baby with SS guard as father)
