policies in nazi germany Flashcards
What was the Führerprinzip?
The idea that the will of the Führer was above the law and legal institutions. Führer’s will was the essence of the prerogative state because all institutions had to submit to his will.
what were the effects of the fuhrerprinzip?
Created a personality cult around Hitler.
Effected authority across German society
What were the 3 distinct phases of Nazi economic policy?
1933-37 Hjalmar Schacht
1936-40 Four-Year Plan
1940-45 War economy
Who was Hjalmar Schact?
was appointed as President of Reichsbank in 1933 and Minister of Economics in 1934.
What is an indication of the success of Schacht’s
In 1933, unemployment was 6 million. By 1939, Germany had almost full employment.
Why did Hitler appoint Göring (not an economist) to oversee the ‘Four-Year Plan’?
Schacht voiced his concerns about an overheating economy. Hitler refused to consider reduction in public expenditure or the slowing down of rearmament.
What were the two main goals of the Four Year Plan?
1936
Attain economic self-sufficiency. If Germany was to be blockaded in war, they would be able to produce essential material with little support.
Advance heavy industry. By 1937, over 70% of Germany industry was run by government-sanctioned cartels.
Was the Four-Year plan successful?
There were some successes BUT;
Ersatz materials tended to be less effective/more expensive
Chaos of ‘working towards the Führer’ led to economic inefficiencies.
Germany was not ready for war in 1939, and could not fully mobilise until 1942.
What did Strength through Joy do? When?
1933.
provided a range of activities and benefits to working class families.
What did the ‘Blut and Boden’ slogan mean?
Key slogan of Nazi ideology
Promoted the Lebensraum policy.
When was the ‘burning of the books’? What was it?
1933
Beginning of undermining artistic independence - Thousands of books burnt that were considered ‘un-German’
What was life like for women in the Weimar Republic?
Good. They had;
Right to vote
Right to equality in marriage
Maternity rights
Equality in civil law
Greater personal freedom
36% of the worker force
BUT they were paid 10 to 20% less than their male peers.
What were the three K’s?
Kinder, Küche, Kirche
What did the NSBO do?
Set standards on female image and behaviour;
No trousers or short skirts
Not allowed to wear makeup
No smoking in public
NOT meant to look like the ‘flappers’ of Weimar Berlin
What was the Law for the Encouragement of Marriage June
- Newlyweds received a loan of 1000 marks. They could keep 250 marks for each child they produced.
When was abortion made illegal in Nazi Germany?
1933
What was the Lebensborn program?
Unmarried women were encouraged to become pregant with SS men as the fathers. Many of the children were taken away by the SS to become ‘Germanised’.
What were the results of the Lebensborn program?
Not that good. There were 115,690 marriages from Lebensborn. But SS men only managed to father 1.1 child each.
What were the results of Hitler’s policies towards women?
Average age of marriage reduced.
Births increased from 1.2 million to 1.4 million between 1934 and 1939
BUT birth rate did not increase after 1938 because of the war.
What did theJuly Law for Prevention of Hereditarly Diseased Progeny do?
1933 . Gave doctors the power to determine if someone had hereditary sickness. If they felt this was the case, they could order sterilisation.
What happened to gypsies before the 1936 Olympic Games?
600 gypsies were rounded up in Berlin and forced onto wasteland in Mahrzahn, which became a concentration camp.
What was the Nazi view on Jews?
They believed Jews in a secret alliance with Marxists and were responsible for the stab in the back and hyperinflation.
What did the April 1933 Law for the Restoration of the Civil Service do
Excluded Jews from government jobs.
What did the September 1935 Nuremberg Laws do?
Deprives German Jews of citizenship and the right to vote
Forbids marriage and sexual relaitons between Jews and Germans.
