Nazi Germany Flashcards
How did the end of WW1 effect Hitler?
- During WW1, Hitler fought + survived the Battle of the Somme - he was a brave soldier, earning an Iron Cross.
- He was angered by Germany’s surrender + accepted the idea of Dolchstoss.
How did Hitler join the early Nazi Party?
- When WW1 ended there was chaos: Freikorps were angry as they wanted to keep fighting + different parties were trying to seize power.
- Anton Drexler founded a new right-wing, nationalist, socialist German Workers’ Party (DAP). They wanted a classless society, to restrict profits of big companies + the ‘volkish’ idea of a only pure German race.
- The German army was worried about socialist indoctrination so they sent Hitler as an informant to attend DAP meetings + report back.
- At the meeting Hitler was angered by one of their speeches + spoke powerfully against it. Drexler was so impressed he asked Hitler to join the party.
- Hitler discovered that he was good at public speaking + he soon became responsible for recruitment + propaganda.
How did the Nazi Party grow in 1920-23?
(1) Hitler joined the party + made great speeches that appealed to the people. Hundreds of people attended + the party earned money from memberships.
(2) The party published their own newspaper using the money made from memberships. People’s Observer allowed their message to be spread.
(3) Hitler said the Nazi Party needed one strong leader to unite the party so people would obey + recognise who was talking. The Führerprinzip (leadership principle) became the cornerstone of the party. From July 1921 Hitler became the Führer (leader), developing the word into his own powerful title.
(4) They drew up + published the 25 Point Programme which was a list of aims to make people’s expectations clear for if they joined the party.
Some points of the 25 Point Programme:
- The union of all Germans to form a Greater Germany.
- The scrapping of the Treaty of Versailles.
- Foreign nationals to be deported if it became impossible to feed the entire nation.
Hitler’s role as leader of the Nazis: the SA (stormtroopers)
- Hitler organised the Nazis around military ideas.
- 1921 he set up his own army called the SA.
- They were young men dressed in brown (aka brownshirts).
- They were supposedly formed to protect Nazi speakers at meetings, but they were actually used to start violence to break up social democrat meetings.
Hitler’s role as leader of the Nazis: the Swastika
- Hitler personally designed the Nazi flag + called it the Swastika.
- The colours were taken from the German flag from the Kaiser’s rule.
- It quickly became the best known political symbol in Germany.
Hitler’s role as leader of the Nazis: Hitler’s speeches
- Hitler would often arrive late to meetings + stand silent for several minutes.
- He would start softly + gradually build up to a furious finish.
- He drove audiences wild with enthusiasm.
- He rehearsed carefully, practicing his hand gestures + posture.
Hitler’s role as leader of the Nazis: Hitler’s personality
- By 1922 Hitler was the undisputed leader of the party.
- He was powerful, domineering, intelligent + decisive.
- His eyes fixed on the audience + he was a charismatic public speaker.
How did the Nazis try to gain power with violence in the 1920s?
(Munich Putsch)
- Evening 8th Nov 1923, the leader of Bavaria – Gustav Von Kahr – was holding a meeting in a Beer Hall.
- Hitler came with trucks of 600 SA (recruited from the Freikorps). They sealed of the doors + surrounded the building. They threatened to shoot anyone who tried to leave.
- Hitler said: “The national revolution has begun!”
- Nazis invited General Ludendorff to the meeting, hoping having Ludendorff on their side would convince the Bavarians to join them, but Ludendorff didn’t come.
- Hitler forced Kahr into a side room + 2 people into trucks. In the side room, Hitler asked Kahr to join their revolution with the promise of jobs, but Kahr refused.
- Hitler went to the Bavarian crowd in the beer hall, announcing that their leader had joined their cause + released them.
- Kahr went on the radio distancing himself from Nazis, so Nazis lose the support of Bavarians.
- Nazis march in Munich – 16 Nazis killed, Ludendorff tried for treason, Hitler arrested + Nazis banned.
- Hitler served 9 months in political prison where he completed Mein Kampf + planned to reorganise the Nazi Party to win power using legal means (elections) instead of violence.
- Nazis gained mass publicity (propaganda) from putsch + became notorious.
Lean Years 1924-28 (Nazi Party very unpopular + small)
-Nazis lost support with Hitler in prison.
+On his release, Hitler reorganised party into branches led by a Gauleiter (his closest advisors). This divided leadership of the party, making it stronger so it wouldn’t collapse without him again.
+Bamberg party conference 1926 strengthened his position by winning over opposition. Strasser appointed propaganda leader + Goebbels made Gauleiter of Berlin. Rohm removed as leader of SA. SS created as Hitler’s own body guard + Hitler Youth set up.
+By 1926 Hitler undisputed leader.
+Decided to win support of farmers as rural economy was suffering, moving away from initial focus of party to get urban workers on side.
+Reorganisation was successful in recruiting more members -100,000 by end of 1928, attracting all classes of people.
- But only 12 seats in parliament in 1928 despite having 32 in 1924 (‘Golden Age’ due to Stresemann).
- But it was only with the economic events of 1929 that the ‘lean years’ came to an end (Wall Street Crash, Great Depression).
Why didn’t the Nazis come to power before 1929?
- Made headline in German newspaper for 16 Nazis being killed during the attempt to take over the Bavarian government.
- Mein Kampf outlined his hatred for Jews + plans to destroy communism which many found too extreme.
- Nazis couldn’t be a strong party with their leader in prison.
- SA often caused violence in streets to make democracy look weak which voters found threatening.
- Leader of Bavarian state distanced himself from Nazis on radio after Munich Putsch, saying that they were too violent + he would not associate with them.
Wall Street Crash
- German prosperity heavily dependent on American loans (Dawes Plan 1924, $800 million).
- After the collapse of American stock market in Oct 1929 + death of Stresemann, Germany was left in crisis.
- USA recalled loans made under Dawes Plan, international trade contracted + Germany fell into Depression.
- Unemployment rose to 6 million by Jan 1932 (people turned to extremists).
- There were food shortages + political unrest.
How did support grow for the Nazis after the Wall Street Crash?
- Weimar govt was split over whether to increase unemployment contributions to pay for increased numbers out of work (unstable, divided).
- The coalition of parties which the WG relied upon collapsed 1930, leaving Bruning to govern by decree. He raised taxes to pay the cost of unemployment benefit + reduced employment benefit to make payments more affordable for WG. (Many Germans saw this as unfair + turned to more extreme parties for solutions.)
- Business classes feares a communist revolution like in Russia + so election Sep 1930 Nazis won 107 seats, 2nd largest party fuelled by fear of communism.
- Bruning has to resign 1932 as he lost control of the Reichstag, the economy + the people on the streets. His resignation left a dangerous power vacuum for a new leader to fill in.
- Hitler gained more support + Nazi support increased due to propaganda (Arbeit und Brot posters). Nazis became largest party in Germany, but still didn’t have majority.
- 1932 Hitler stood against Hindenburg in presidential election - lost but gained more publicity. 1932 230 seats in Reichstag.
- Nazis were funded by big businesses who were terrified of communism.
- SA intimidated opponents + disrupted meetings of other parties.
WR GOVT PROVEN TOO WEAK TO DEAL WITH A CRISIS
How were people in Germany effected by the Depression?
- 40% all factory workers unemployed by 1932.
- 1930s farmers slipped further into debt.
- 60% university graduates couldn’t get jobs 1933.
How did Hitler become Chancellor in 1933?
—>1932 Nazis biggest party, but no majority.
—>Hitler tried to become President w/ 30% votes, but lost against Hindenburg.
—>Hindenburg avoids promoting Hitler by appointing Von Paper as Chancellor. Von Schleicher also wanted to become Chancellor.
—>Hindenburg wants to put Hitler in a position close to him where he can control him, so makes him Vice-Chancellor.
—>This isn’t a high enough position so 230 Nazis walk out Reichstag, causing chaos until Hindenburg forces a new election.
—>Hindenburg replaces Von Paper w/ his rival, Von Schleicher since he can’t control Reichstag (Nazis won’t work with Papen). Papen determined to regain power.
—>Von Papen secretly meets with Hitler to make a deal. Papen promised Hindenburg he could control Hitler.
—>Hitler writes letter to Hindenburg playing to his vanity, which is published in newspaper.
—>Hindenburg has no other options after Schleicher also fails to keep Reichstag in order + appoints Hitler as Chancellor.
—>Even without winning majority in Reichstag, Hitler manages to become appointed Chancellor on 30th Jan 1933.
Reichstag Fire, February 1933
- Reichstag building destroyed in a fire.
- Dutch communist, Van der Luber, found at scene + confesses straight away.
- Goering, who just became Hitler’s chief of police, uses fire as anti-communist propaganda, saying only Hitler can save Germany from them.
- Article 48 enacted as Germany was under attack from communists, which is seen as an emergency.
- Hitler has power to arrest possible opponents without trial + banned political meetings held by Nazi opponents.
- 4000 communists are arrested.
March 1933 Enabling Act
- Hitler persuades Hindenburg that they need another election since communists are attacking Germany.
- In preparation for election, Hitler uses Article 48 to instate Degree for the Protection of People and the State which states that Hitler can arrest his oppositions (Social Democrats) + anyone who opposes his newspaper. Over 50 political opponents to Nazis killed.
- Hitler also asks wealthy industrialists (who would lose money if communists came to power) to finance his campaign (the Krupp family).
- Hitler gets 288 seats in election, 44% votes + finally gets majority.
- Reichstag agrees to instating Enabling Act - he + Nazis can now pass new laws + overrule constitution. Reichstag can’t make any decisions, freedom of speech + association suspended + govt can listen to telephone conversations. Hitler creates a dictatorship.
Trade Unions taken over, May 1933
- Workers who get together to fight for workers’ rights were taken over + all union leaders arrested.
- All unions merged into one -Nazis controlled DAF (German Labour Front).
- Workers had to do what Nazis said + couldn’t oppose Nazis.
All political parties banned, July 1933
- Law introduces banning formation of any new political parties.
- Socialist + communist parties had already been banned.
- No one could set up a party to challenge Hitler + the Nazis.
Night of the Long Knives, June 1934
- Hitler was worried about the power of the SA - there were 3 million members + they wanted to take over German army.
- Ernst Röhm was SA leader + Hitler’s friend, but Hitler saw his as a rival.
- Army didn’t like SA + Hitler wanted them in his side.
- SA leaders were murdered.
- This got army on Hitler’s side + reduced power of SA.
- Sent warning to rest of Germany of Hitler’s ruthlessness.
Death of Hindenburg, August 1934
- President Hindenburg died + Hitler made himself President as well as Chancellor.
- Hitler was now the only + undisputed head of govt.
Army oath, August 1934
- Army took oath of personal loyalty to Hitler.
- Hitler now Supreme Commander of armes forces.
- All German soldiers swore to obey + risk their life for Hitler at any time.
- Hitler had total control + loyalty of the army, impossible for soldiers to go against him.
Gleichschaltung
How Hitler coordinated the terror state/coordination of the police.
How did Hitler use the police state to control people?
SS
- Started In 1925 as Hitler’s personal body guards, later became much more powerful.
- Heinrich Himmler took over SS in 1929.
- SS responsible for carrying out Night of Long Knives 1934.
- SS sparked fear into people, recognised by their uniforms, SS branding + marching.
- SS members expected to be pure aryan men + marry pure aryan women.
