Nazi Germany Flashcards
How did the Depression damage Germany?
Wages dropped 15%
⅓ of factories closed down and produced 40% less
6 million unemployed by 1932
Why did the Depression lead to a rise in support for extremes like the Nazi Party?
The Nazis benefitted from the fact that the Weimar government seemed completely ineffective in dealing with the depression. People turned to the Nazis as a “hope”.
How did a fear of Communism after 1929 help the Nazi Party’s popularity?
By 1932, there were 100 Communists in Parliament.
The Middle Class voted for the Nazis because they were scared of a Communist takeover of the country.
How was the Weimar Constitution a contribution to the support of the Nazis?
Political Parties kept falling out because of the voting system forcing them to work together.
People gradually lost faith in democracy.
How did Joseph Goebbels use propaganda to grow support for the Nazis?
Goebbells used modern technology like radio to spread Nazis messages.
Posters used aggressive and inspiring slogans and Hitler was flown all over the country to give speeches.
What were the main parts of the Nazi Police State?
I.SS - Protection Squad
II.SD - Security Service
III.Gestapo - Secret Police
What were Concentration Camps used for at first?
Suspected opponents of the Nazis or people in society that were not pure (e.g. Jews, gypsies and homosexuals).
How was the legal system used?
To deliberately find suspected opponents of the Nazis guilty of a crime.
How did the Nazis reach “agreement” with the Catholic Church?
They signed the concordat in July 1933 which promised the Nazis would not interfere with the Catholic Church if the Catholic Church accepted Nazi rule.
How did Hitler try to control Protestant Christianity?
He put one Nazi overall in charge of the independent Protestant Churches.
What was the Pastors’ Emergency League?
Protestant leaders who did not want a Nazi put in overall control of Protestant Churches.
What was the role of Pastor Martin Niemoller?
He opposed Nazi ideas and rules, for example the ban on Jews becoming Christians.
His phone was bugged by the Gestapo and he was sent to a Concentration Camp in 1938.
What Catholic opposition was there?
Increasing regret about the Concordat. 400 priests were sent to Concentration Camps.
What were the limits of Church opposition?
Lots of people stayed silent. Many Germans still kept going to Church though.
What was the role of the Edelweiss Pirates?
Youth opposition who wore an Edelweiss flower on their coat. They would hang around on street corners and beat up members of the Hitler youth.
