Part 5: Nazi Germany, 1934-1945 Flashcards
What economic problems did Germany face by 1933?
High unemployment, severe poverty due to the Great Depression, and reliance on imports for food and raw materials, making Germany vulnerable to global economic problems.
Who was appointed Minister of the Economy in Nazi Germany, and what was his role?
Dr Hjalmar Schacht, a respected banker, helped stabilise the economy. He was later replaced by Hermann Göring in 1936 for a more radical policy.
What was the goal of Nazi economic policy?
Achieve autarky (self-sufficiency), increase farming output, boost rearmament, and implement government control over industries.
What was the Four Year Plan (1936–1939)?
It aimed to prepare Germany for war, increasing production of ersatz (substitute) goods, controlling industries, and using enslaved labour from occupied territories.
What was the National Labour Service (RAD), and what did it achieve?
Set up in 1933, it provided paid work for unemployed men on public projects like repairing roads and building autobahns. By 1938, about 3,500 km of motorways were completed.
How did rearmament affect employment?
Increased the military from 100,000 to 1.4 million men and boosted the armaments industry, raising employment in aircraft production from 4,000 in 1933 to 72,000 by 1935.
What was “invisible unemployment”?
Groups like Jews, women, and political opponents were excluded from unemployment figures, artificially lowering the reported rate.
What were the aims of Nazi education?
To indoctrinate youth with Nazi ideology, focusing on physical fitness for boys and domestic skills for girls.
What was the Hitler Youth, and how did it prepare boys?
The Hitler Youth provided military training and indoctrination, preparing boys for future service in the armed forces.
What activities did the League of German Maidens (BDM) offer girls?
Focused on the “three Ks”—Kinder (children), Küche (kitchen), Kirche (church)—teaching skills for motherhood and physical fitness.
What was the Nazi ideology regarding women?
Women were expected to focus on family life, stay at home, and produce as many children as possible to strengthen the Aryan race.
What was the Law for the Encouragement of Marriage (1933)?
Offered loans to newlywed couples if the wife stopped working. The loan was reduced with each child born.
What was the Mother’s Cross, and why was it awarded?
An honour given to women based on the number of children they had—bronze for four, silver for six, and gold for eight or more.
Who was in charge of Nazi propaganda, and what was its goal?
Joseph Goebbels, aiming to control media, culture, and information to ensure loyalty to the Nazi regime.
What role did radio play in Nazi propaganda?
The Nazis produced cheap radios to spread their message widely. By 1939, 70% of German households owned a radio.
What was the White Rose Group?
A student resistance group led by siblings Hans and Sophie Scholl, distributing anti-Nazi leaflets at Munich University. They were executed in 1943.
Who were the Edelweiss Pirates?
Working-class youth who rejected Nazi control. They listened to banned music and physically attacked Hitler Youth members. Some were executed in 1944 for their resistance.
What was the July Bomb Plot (1944)?
A failed attempt by senior army officers to assassinate Hitler. Claus von Stauffenberg planted a bomb, but Hitler survived the explosion. The conspirators were executed.
What were the Nuremberg Laws (1935)?
Laws that stripped Jews of German citizenship and banned marriage between Jews and non-Jews.
What was Kristallnacht (Night of Broken Glass)?
On 9–10 November 1938, Jewish businesses, synagogues, and homes were attacked. Around 20,000 Jews were sent to concentration camps.
What was the Final Solution?
The Nazi plan to exterminate all Jews, decided at the Wannsee Conference in January 1942. It led to the construction of death camps like Auschwitz.
How did the Nazis treat other minorities?
- Roma (Gypsies): Sent to concentration camps.
- Jehovah’s Witnesses: Persecuted for refusing to serve in the military.
- Disabled people: Subjected to forced sterilisation and euthanasia under the T4 programme.
What was the Four Year Plan’s goal?
Prepare Germany for war by increasing military production and achieving economic self-sufficiency.
What was Total War, and when was it introduced?
Introduced by Joseph Goebbels in 1943, it redirected all civilian resources and labour towards the war effort, closing non-essential businesses.
How did Albert Speer improve the war economy?
Appointed Minister of Armaments in 1942, Speer increased production by 50%, extended factory hours, and improved efficiency.
What was the impact of Allied bombings on the Nazi economy?
British and American air raids destroyed factories, transportation networks, and homes, crippling Germany’s war production and causing severe civilian suffering.
When did rationing begin in Nazi Germany?
September 1939, shortly after the outbreak of the Second World War.
What was rationed by 1944?
- Bread: 20% less than pre-war levels
- Meat: 60% less
- Fat: 40% less
How did labour shortages affect the war effort?
With millions of men in the army, Germany relied on women, enslaved labour from occupied territories, and concentration camp prisoners for production.
What was the Concordat (1933)?
An agreement between Hitler and the Catholic Church promising non-interference. It soon broke down as the Nazis persecuted Catholic clergy and closed schools.
Who was Pastor Martin Niemöller?
A Protestant leader who opposed Nazi interference in the Church. He was arrested in 1937 and sent to a concentration camp.
What was the Reich Church?
A Nazi-controlled Protestant Church led by Ludwig Müller, blending Christianity with Nazi ideology. It banned the Old Testament and displayed swastikas in churches.
How did the Nazis use films for propaganda?
Films glorified Nazi ideals, criticised Jews, and promoted Hitler’s image as Germany’s saviour. Triumph of the Will (1935) is a famous example.
What role did schools play in Nazi propaganda?
Schools indoctrinated children with Nazi ideology, focusing on racial purity, physical fitness, and loyalty to Hitler. Teachers were required to join the Nazi Teachers’ League.
What was the Strength Through Joy (KdF) programme?
A Nazi organisation offering leisure activities like holidays and cultural events to workers, aiming to boost morale and loyalty to the regime.
What was the Lebensborn programme?
Started by Heinrich Himmler, it paired SS officers with racially pure women to produce Aryan children.
How did Nazi policies affect women’s employment?
Women were initially discouraged from working, but labour shortages during the war forced many back into factories.
What restrictions were placed on women’s behaviour?
The Nazis discouraged smoking, wearing trousers or makeup, and attending jazz clubs. They promoted traditional roles and appearances.
Who was Heinrich Himmler?
Head of the SS and responsible for the Final Solution. He oversaw concentration and extermination camps.
What was Hermann Göring’s role?
Initially head of the Luftwaffe and responsible for the Four Year Plan, aiming to prepare Germany for war.
Who was Joseph Goebbels?
Minister of Propaganda, responsible for spreading Nazi ideology and controlling all media in Germany.
What were the early steps taken against Jews in Nazi Germany?
- 1933: Boycott of Jewish businesses and exclusion from civil service.
- 1935: Nuremberg Laws stripped Jews of citizenship and banned marriage between Jews and non-Jews.
What happened during Kristallnacht (1938)?
Jewish homes, businesses, and synagogues were destroyed. Around 100 Jews were killed, 20,000 were sent to concentration camps, and Jews were fined 1 billion marks for the damage.
What was the purpose of the Wannsee Conference (January 1942)?
Nazi officials met to coordinate the “Final Solution”—the systematic extermination of all Jews in Nazi-occupied Europe.
What were extermination camps, and how did they function?
Camps like Auschwitz were built with gas chambers and crematoria to kill and dispose of victims efficiently. Over six million Jews were murdered during the Holocaust.
How did British and American bombing raids affect German civilians?
Bombings destroyed infrastructure, homes, and factories, causing mass displacement, food shortages, and high civilian casualties. The bombing of Dresden in 1945 killed around 150,000 people.
What was the effect of rationing on daily life?
Citizens experienced severe shortages of essential items like meat, fat, bread, soap, and toilet paper. Hot water was rationed to two days per week.
How did Total War affect civilian life?
All civilian efforts were redirected towards supporting the war. Non-essential businesses were closed, and civilians were expected to contribute to war production.
How did the evacuation of children affect families?
Many children were sent from cities to the countryside to avoid air raids, leading to family separations and psychological trauma.
How did the Nazis control culture and the arts?
The Reich Chamber of Culture, led by Joseph Goebbels, controlled all art forms. Jazz, modern art, and anything deemed “degenerate” were banned.
What was the purpose of Nazi-approved art and films?
To promote Nazi ideals of racial purity, German strength, and the Führer’s greatness. Films like Triumph of the Will glorified Hitler and the Nazi Party.
How did the Nazis use sports to promote their ideology?
The 1936 Berlin Olympics were used as a propaganda tool to showcase Germany’s strength and Aryan superiority while downplaying anti-Semitic policies.
How were Roma (Gypsies) treated under Nazi rule?
Seen as racially inferior, thousands were sent to concentration camps and murdered in the Holocaust.
What happened to disabled people under Nazi policies?
Subjected to forced sterilisation and euthanasia under the T4 programme, which aimed to eliminate those considered a “burden” on society.
Why were Jehovah’s Witnesses persecuted?
They refused military service and allegiance to the Nazi state. Many were imprisoned and sent to concentration camps.
What was the Confessional Church?
A Protestant church founded by Martin Niemöller and other pastors in opposition to the Nazi-controlled Reich Church.
Who were Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Paul Schneider?
Protestant pastors who opposed the Nazi regime. Bonhoeffer was involved in resistance efforts and executed in 1945. Schneider was killed in a concentration camp for speaking out against the Nazis.
What was Cardinal von Galen known for?
A Catholic bishop who spoke out against Nazi euthanasia policies in 1941, forcing Hitler to temporarily halt the programme.
What was the German Labour Front (DAF)?
A Nazi organisation replacing trade unions. It controlled workers’ rights, hours, and pay but offered limited protections.
What was the Strength Through Joy (KdF) programme?
Aimed to improve workers’ lives with leisure activities, holidays, and cultural events, but few workers could afford the promised benefits like Volkswagen cars.
What was the Beauty of Labour (SdA) programme?
Encouraged better workplace conditions, such as building canteens and showers, but workers often had to build these facilities themselves without extra pay.
What were the main aims of Hitler’s foreign policy?
- Destroy the Treaty of Versailles
- Expand German territory (Lebensraum)
- Unite all German-speaking people into one Reich
- Defeat communism
What was the Saar Plebiscite (1935), and why was it important?
The Saar region voted to rejoin Germany after being under League of Nations control since 1919. This was a propaganda success for Hitler.
How did Germany remilitarise the Rhineland (1936)?
Hitler sent troops into the demilitarised Rhineland, violating the Treaty of Versailles. Britain and France did not respond militarily, encouraging further aggression.
What was the Anschluss (1938)?
The union between Germany and Austria. Hitler annexed Austria without significant opposition, strengthening his position in Europe.
What was the Munich Agreement (1938)?
Britain and France allowed Hitler to take the Sudetenland from Czechoslovakia, believing it would prevent war. This policy became known as appeasement.
What was the Nazi-Soviet Pact (1939)?
A non-aggression pact between Germany and the USSR. Both countries agreed to divide Poland, ensuring Germany avoided a two-front war.
What event triggered the start of World War II?
Germany’s invasion of Poland on 1 September 1939, prompting Britain and France to declare war on Germany on 3 September.
Why did the policy of appeasement fail?
It emboldened Hitler, allowed him to strengthen Germany’s military, and convinced him that Britain and France would not stop his expansionist ambitions.
What was the Reichstag Fire (1933), and how did it help Hitler?
The Reichstag building was set on fire, and the Nazis blamed communists. Hitler used this as an excuse to pass the Reichstag Fire Decree, restricting civil liberties and arresting political opponents.
What was the Enabling Act (1933)?
It gave Hitler the power to pass laws without Reichstag approval, effectively establishing his dictatorship.
What was the Night of the Long Knives (1934)?
A purge of the SA leadership and other political opponents. Hitler ordered the execution of Ernst Röhm and around 400 others to secure the support of the army and remove internal threats.
How did Hitler become Führer?
Following President Hindenburg’s death in August 1934, Hitler combined the roles of chancellor and president, declaring himself Führer.
What was the state of Germany after World War II?
The country was in ruins—cities destroyed by bombing, millions dead, and severe shortages of food and resources. Germany was divided into four occupation zones controlled by the USA, USSR, Britain, and France.
What were the Nuremberg Trials (1945–1946)?
A series of military tribunals held to prosecute Nazi leaders for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide. Twelve leading Nazis were sentenced to death.
What was the significance of the Potsdam Conference (1945)?
The Allies met to decide how to manage post-war Germany. They agreed on demilitarisation, denazification, and the division of Germany into four occupation zones.
What were ghettos in Nazi-occupied Europe?
Segregated areas where Jews were forced to live in overcrowded and harsh conditions before being sent to concentration camps.
What was the role of the Einsatzgruppen?
Mobile killing units responsible for mass shootings of Jews and other minorities in Eastern Europe.
How many Jews were killed during the Holocaust?
Approximately six million Jews, along with millions of others, including Roma, disabled individuals, and political prisoners.
How did the Nazis try to control the Catholic Church?
The Concordat (1933) promised religious freedom, but the Nazis later closed Catholic schools and arrested priests who opposed them.
What was the Confessional Church?
A Protestant group that resisted Nazi interference in religious matters, led by Pastor Martin Niemöller.
Why did some Christians support the Nazi Party?
They shared anti-communist views and appreciated Hitler’s emphasis on traditional values and family.
How did Nazi policies affect everyday life in Germany?
The regime controlled all aspects of life—education, work, leisure, and media. Dissent was crushed by the Gestapo and SS, while propaganda shaped public opinion.
What role did the Gestapo play in Nazi Germany?
The secret police force responsible for rooting out opposition. They used surveillance, informants, and torture to maintain control.
How did rationing impact German civilians during WWII?
Severe rationing of food and resources led to malnutrition, black markets, and long queues for essentials. Civilians faced increasing hardship as the war progressed.
What were Nazi policies towards the family?
The family was central to Nazi ideology. Women were encouraged to focus on childbearing, while children were indoctrinated with Nazi beliefs from an early age.
What were concentration camps and death camps?
Concentration camps were used to imprison political opponents, Jews, and other minorities. Death camps like Auschwitz were built specifically for mass extermination.
How did Jewish resistance manifest during the Holocaust?
Resistance included uprisings in ghettos (e.g., the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising in 1943), escape attempts, and joining partisan groups fighting against the Nazis.
What were the Nuremberg Laws’ impact on Jews?
The laws stripped Jews of citizenship, barred them from marrying non-Jews, and excluded them from many professions, isolating them socially and economically.
What changes did the Nazis make to the school curriculum?
- History lessons focused on German military victories and blamed Jews for Germany’s problems.
- Biology promoted eugenics and racial purity.
- Physical education prepared boys for military service.
What was the Napola system?
Elite schools designed to train future leaders of the SS, army, and Nazi Party. They emphasised physical strength, loyalty, and Nazi ideology.
How did the Hitler Youth prepare boys for the military?
Activities included military drills, weapons training, and physical fitness exercises to ensure boys were ready for conscription.
What role did the Catholic Church play in resisting Nazi rule?
Leaders like Cardinal von Galen condemned Nazi euthanasia policies. Some priests and nuns hid Jews and helped smuggle them out of Nazi territory.
Who were the Swing Youth?
A group of middle-class youths who rejected Nazi control, listening to jazz music and embracing non-conformist fashion.
What was the Kreisau Circle?
An intellectual resistance group led by Helmuth James von Moltke, aiming to plan a democratic Germany after Hitler’s fall.
