Power and Authority in the Modern World 1919-1946 Flashcards
1
Q
abdicate
A
abdicate resign from political rule (referring to a monarch)
2
Q
Abwehr
A
Abwehr the military intelligence and information section of the German Army
3
Q
Anschluss
A
Anschluss term used to define the union between Germany and Austria carried out by Hitler in 1938. Forbidden under the terms of the Treaty of Versailles
4
Q
Anti-Semitism
A
Anti-Semitism discrimination against people of Jewish heritage
5
Q
appeasement
A
appeasement a policy of making concessions to avoid war
6
Q
arms race
A
arms race the increasingly competitive procurement of offensive armaments or spending on the military
7
Q
Article 48
A
Article 48 article in the German Constitution known as ‘Emergency Decree Powers’. Under this article, the German Government could allow the president, under certain circumstances, to take emergency measures without the prior consent of the Reichstag
8
Q
Aryan
A
Aryan non-Jewish individuals; considered to be northern European in appearance
9
Q
Aryanisation
A
Aryanisation the policy implemented by Hermann Göring to expel ‘non-Aryans’ from German economic life
10
Q
Autarky
A
Autarky the idea that Germany should be economically self-sufficient
11
Q
authoritarian
A
authoritarian enforcing strict obedience to authority at the expense of personal freedom
12
Q
Autobahn
A
Autobahn a state-funded construction project. Over 2000 miles of motorways were constructed between 1933 and 1938
13
Q
Blackshirts
A
Blackshirts member of any of the armed squads of Italian Fascists under Benito Mussolini, who wore black shirts as part of their uniform
14
Q
Blasen
A
Blasen anti-authority working class groups of German youth that existed prior to the Nazis rise to power; involved in minor criminal activities and often involved in violent confrontations with members of the Hitler Youth
15
Q
Blitzkrieg (lightning war)
A
Blitzkrieg (lightning war) a combined surprise attack by aircraft, armoured Panzer divisions and soldiers in a concentrated attack on the enemy’s defences
16
Q
Bolsheviks
A
Bolsheviks a Russian socialist political party, led by Vladimir Lenin, that seized power in Russia during the November Revolution in 1917
17
Q
Bund deutscher Mädeln (The League of German Maidens or BDM)
A
Bund deutscher Mädeln (The League of German Maidens or BDM) part of the Hitler Youth; an organisation for young girls aged 14–18
18
Q
Catholic Centre Party (ZP)
A
Catholic Centre Party (ZP) formed in 1870 to defend Catholic interests, became more right-wing during the Depression; banned in June 1933
19
Q
capital ships
A
capital ships large warships, such as aircraft carriers and battleships
20
Q
Central Powers
A
Central Powers the alliance between Germany and Austria-Hungary in World War I. Later the Ottoman Empire and Bulgaria became part of the Central Powers
21
Q
charter
A
charter the fundamental principles of an organisation
22
Q
collective security
A
collective security the cooperation of several countries in an alliance to strengthen the security of each
23
Q
collectivisation
A
collectivisation the process by which the Russian peasants were organised into collective farms under state supervision, in the period 1929–37
24
Q
Comintern
A
Comintern the Communist International, a Soviet organisation given the task of spreading Communist revolutions throughout the world
25
Communism
**Communism** the belief in a society without different social classes in which the methods of production are owned and controlled by all its members, everyone works as much as they can and receives what they need
26
concordat
**concordat** an agreement or treaty, especially one between the Vatican and a secular government relating to matters of mutual interest, in this case the Catholic Church and the Nazi party
27
Conference of London
**Conference of London** a secret pact between the Triple Entente and the Kingdom of Italy. Its aim was to secure Italy as an ally. The Italian government was promised large amounts of land to sign the Treaty with the Triple Entente powers
28
Confessing Church
**Confessing Church** an alternative organisation to the Reich Church; established by Niemöller and Bonhoeffer. Continually criticised the Reich Church and the German Christians. Its pastors were targeted by the Gestapo in retribution
29
constitutional monarchy
**constitutional monarchy** a form of government in which a monarch acts as head of state within the parameters of a written constitution and parliament
30
Corporate State
**Corporate State** Mussolini’s fascist regime believed in a ‘third way’ claiming that a genuine alternative to capitalism and communism, and the corporate-state would solve all class and economic problems via collaboration
31
coup
**coup** a sudden overthrow of a government
32
cruisers
**cruisers** a class of warship
33
cultural Bolshevism
**cultural Bolshevism** a term used by the Nazi regime to criticise modern art
34
decree
**decree** law
35
Der Stürmer
**Der Stürmer** a Nazi sensationalist newspaper which contained crude propaganda against the Jews
36
Deutsches Frauenwerk (DFW)
**Deutsches Frauenwerk (DFW)** a sub-group of the NS-F formed in October 1933\. Organised courses to educate women in the domestic arts
37
Deutsches Jungvolk (German Young People or DJ)
**Deutsches Jungvolk (German Young People or DJ)** part of the Hitler Youth; an organisation for boys aged 10–14
38
diktat
**diktat** a dictated peace
39
disarmament
**disarmament** the policy of reducing or abolishing a nation’s military forces and armaments
40
Ebert-Groener Pact
**Ebert-Groener Pact** an agreement between President Ebert and Wilhelm Groener (German Army) that ensured the safety of the new Weimar Republic in its early days, in return the army would maintain its independence
41
Edelweiss Pirates
**Edelweiss Pirates** a collection of smaller gangs who rejected the militarism of the Hitler Youth and would engage in physical confrontations with Hitler Youth patrols
42
Eher Verlag
**Eher Verlag** Nazi publishing company
43
embargo
**embargo** a governmental order prohibiting trade with a country
44
emergency decree
**emergency decree** an emergency presidential decree under Article 48 of the Weimar Constitution, which gave the president the power to take any measure necessary to protect public safety without the consent of the Reichstag
45
Enabling Act
**Enabling Act** 1933, effectively replaced Germany’s Parliamentary democracy with a dictatorship, giving Hitler the power to make laws without the Reichstag. Helped the Nazis put an end to any last remaining sources of political opposition
46
Entartete Kunst
**Entartete Kunst** the exhibition of ‘degenerate art’ that was held at the same time as the Great German Art Exhibition in Munich, 1937
47
eugenics
**eugenics** a pseudo-science which aims to achieve the purity of the human race through selective breeding
48
fascism
**fascism** a political system based on a very powerful leader, state control, and being extremely proud of country and race, and in which political opposition is not allowed
49
Final Solution
**Final Solution** the systematic extermination of Europe’s Jews during World War II
50
Fourteen Points
**Fourteen Points** a speech by Woodrow Wilson to the US Congress on 8 January 1918 that outlined a plan for the reconstruction of Europe and reformation of the international order after the war. The last point was the creation of the League of Nations
51
Freikorps
**Freikorps** right-wing and anti-Semitic organisation; consisted of ex-soldiers; involved in violent clashes with communists in public
52
Führer
**Führer** (German for leader) the idea that there should be a single leader with complete power rather than a democracy
53
Führerprinzip
**Führerprinzip** the principle which Hitler made the base of the party, placing all authority in his hands; nothing happened without his authority
54
German Christians (Deutsche Christen)
**German Christians (Deutsche Christen)** considered the SA of the Protestant church; a group of Hitler’s dedicated supporters within the Lutheran Church
55
German Communist Party (KPD)
**German Communist Party (KPD)** founded in the aftermath of World War I by socialists opposed to the war, led by Rosa Luxemburg. After her death the party became gradually ever more committed to Leninism and later Stalinism. During the Weimar Republic period, the KPD usually polled between 10 and 15 per cent of the vote and was represented in the Reichstag and in state parliaments. The party was dissolved in March 1933\.
56
German Labour Front (Deutsche Arbeitsfront or DAF)
**German Labour Front (Deutsche Arbeitsfront or DAF)** the Nazi trade union which sought to win the support of the workers and also to introduce Nazi socialism, led by Robert Ley
57
German News Agency (DNB)
**German News Agency (DNB)** part of the Ministry for Popular Enlightenment and Propaganda
58
German Workers’ Party
**German Workers’ Party** a short-lived political party established in Weimar Germany after World War I, which was the precursor of the Nazi Party
59
Gestapo
**Gestapo** Nazi secret police, originally established by Hermann Göring in Prussia in 1933
60
ghetto
**ghetto** a cordoned-off area in a city inhabited by a deprived minority
61
Gleichschaltung
**Gleichschaltung** a process which attempted to Nazify Germany by forcing into line all aspects of society
62
Golden Twenties
**Golden Twenties** the inter-war period that witnessed great economic, social and cultural prosperity. Attempts at internationalism and collective security to prevent war
63
Great Kanto Earthquake
**Great Kanto Earthquake** Tokyo-Yokohama earthquake of 1923 struck with a magnitude of 7.9 in the heart of the Tokyo-Yokohama metropolitan area
64
Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere
**Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere** capturing European-controlled Asian Territories, to supply resources needed by Japan to support Japanese Expansionism
65
Great Purge
**Great Purge** or the Great Terror was a campaign of political repression in the Soviet Union which occurred from 1936–38
66
Gulags
**Gulags** Stalin-era ‘Corrective Labour Camps’, where political prisoners and foreign enemies performed hard labour for the state; mainly located in Siberia
67
Heimat
**Heimat** German concept which represents a ‘sense of belonging’ to the German homeland
68
Herrenvolk
**Herrenvolk** German term meaning ‘master race’
69
Hitler Youth (Hitler Jugend)
**Hitler Youth (Hitler Jugend)** a youth movement for young boys aged 14 and up; used by the Nazis to influence young people and recruit them to their cause
70
the Holocaust
**the Holocaust** the systematic state-sponsored killing of six million Jews and millions of others by Nazi Germany and its collaborators during World War II
71
indoctrination
**indoctrination** to force an individual or group to accept a doctrine without reservation
72
Il Duce
**Il Duce** National Fascist Party leader Benito Mussolini was identified by Fascists as Il Duce (The Leader) of the Fascist movement
73
internationalism
**internationalism** the principle of cooperation among nations, for the promotion of their common good
74
Jungmädel (Young Maidens League or JM)
**Jungmädel (Young Maidens League or JM)** part of the Hitler Youth; an organisation for young girls aged 10–14
75
Kapp Putsch
**Kapp Putsch** led by Wolfgang Kapp, was an attempted coup on 13 March 1920 aimed to overthrow the Weimar Republic and establish a right-wing autocratic government in its place
76
Kristallnacht (Night of the Broken Glass)
**Kristallnacht (Night of the Broken Glass)** state-endorsed violence against Jewish businesses and synagogues throughout Germany, 9–10 November 1938
77
Law for the Protection of the People
**Law for the Protection of the People** this law nullified many of the key civil liberties of German citizens and was used as the legal basis for the imprisonment of anyone considered to be opponents of the Nazis, and to suppress publications not considered friendly to the Nazi cause
78
League of Nations
**League of Nations** a precursor to the United Nations; an international organisation which aimed to settle disputes between countries and prevent war; member nations were meant to be protected by the concept of ‘collective security’
79
Lebensraum
**Lebensraum** the need for ‘living space’ for the German nation to expand
80
Luftwaffe
**Luftwaffe** the German Air Force
81
mandate
**mandate** authoritative command over a subject nation
82
Mein Kampf (My Struggle)
**Mein Kampf (My Struggle)** written by Hitler whilst in prison after the failed Munich Beer Hall Putsch. It outlined his vision for a restored Germany, as well as his racial ideology
83
Meuten
**Meuten** youth gangs from working-class backgrounds; left-leaning; often attacked members of the Hitler Youth
84
militarism
**militarism** the belief that a country should maintain a strong military capability and be prepared to use it aggressively to defend or promote national interests
85
Napolas
**Napolas** National Political Educational Institutions designed to educate the future Nazi elite and guided by members of the SA and SS. Military and physical training were a major focus. Students were selected based on their athletic prowess rather than their academic abilities
86
Nationalsozialistische Frauenschaft (Nazi Women’s Group or NS-F)
**Nationalsozialistische Frauenschaft (Nazi Women’s Group or NS-F)** a women’s organisation led by Gertrud Scholtz-Klink, which aimed to conduct the cultural, spiritual and political education of German women. The NS-F had 2.3 million members by 1938
87
nationalism
**nationalism** the promotion of the interests of one’s own nation above all others
88
Nationalists (DNVP)
**Nationalists (DNVP)** a right-wing political party formed in 1918; co-operated with the Nazi Party towards the end of the Weimar Republic
89
neutrality
**neutrality** a country's decision to not take a side or become involved during a war or dispute
90
Night of the Long Knives
**Night of the Long Knives** also called Operation Hummingbird, or the Röhm Putsch, a purge that took place in Nazi Germany from June 30 to July 2, 1934, when the Nazi regime carried out a series of political executions intended to consolidate Hitler’s absolute hold on power
91
November Criminals
**November Criminals** the nickname given to the German politicians who negotiated and signed the armistice which ended World War I in November of 1918 and resulted in the ‘stab in the back’ theory propagated by Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party
92
NSDAP (National Socialist German Workers’ Party)
**NSDAP (National Socialist German Workers’ Party)** commonly referred to as the Nazi Party
93
Nuremberg
**Nuremberg** the symbolic home of the Nazi Party
94
Open Door Policy
**Open Door Policy** a US policy that encouraged all countries to have equal access to China in the early twentieth century
95
pacifist
**pacifist** a person or group/country who refuses on principle to take part in a war
96
Peace Resolution
**Peace Resolution** passed by the Reichstag in an attempt to seek a negotiated peace to end World War I. The resolution called for no annexations, no indemnities, freedom of the seas and international arbitration. It was ignored by the German High Command and by the Allied powers
97
pogrom
**pogrom** organised persecution and violence directed at the Jewish community
98
propaganda
**propaganda** organised promotion of information to benefit a government or cause
99
proportional representation
**proportional representation** characterises electoral systems by which divisions in an electorate are reflected proportionately in the elected body. If n% of the electorate support a particular political party, then roughly n% of seats will be won by that party
100
putsch
**putsch** a violent attempt to overthrow a government; a coup
101
Reich
**Reich** German term for Empire. In German history, the period 1933–45 is known as the Third Reich
102
Reich Church
**Reich Church** a national Protestant Church envisioned by the German Christians. Supported a Nazified version of Christianity. Failed to unite all German Protestants
103
Reichskulturkammer
**Reichskulturkammer** Reich Chamber of Culture established and controlled by Joseph Goebbels in September 1933\. The Chamber regulated the press, radio, theatre, film, literature and the visual arts
104
Reichsmark
**Reichsmark** German currency from 1924 to 1948
105
Reichssicherheitshauptamt
**Reichssicherheitshauptamt** the Reich Central Bureau for Security (RSHA); set up under Himmler’s direction, it exercised tight control of all security organisations
106
Reichstag
**Reichstag** the German Parliament
107
Reichstag fire
**Reichstag fire** an arson attack on the Reichstag building in Berlin on 27 February 1933, one month after Adolf Hitler had been sworn in as Chancellor of Germany
108
Reichsstatthalter
**Reichsstatthalter** Nazi governor
109
Reichswehr
**Reichswehr** formed the military organisation of Germany from 1919 until 1935, when it was united with the new Wehrmacht
110
reparations
**reparations** payments made by a defeated nation after a war to pay for damages or expenses it caused to another nation. After World War I the Paris Peace Conference imposed reparations upon the Central Powers following their defeat in the First World War by the Allied and Associate Powers. Each of the defeated powers was required to make payments in either cash or kind
111
Rome-Berlin Axis
**Rome-Berlin Axis** Coalition formed in 1936 between Italy and Germany
112
Rome-Berlin-Tokyo Axis** also known as the **Axis
**Rome-Berlin-Tokyo Axis** also known as the **Axis**, this group was made up of the key nations that fought in World War II against the Allied forces. The Axis powers agreed on their opposition to the Allies, but did not completely coordinate their activity
113
Russo-Japanese War
**Russo-Japanese War** the Russo-Japanese War was fought between the Russian Empire and the Empire of Japan over rival imperial ambitions in Manchuria and Korea
114
sanctions
**sanctions** a coercive measure adopted by several nations acting together against a nation violating international law
115
SA (Sturmabteilung, Storm Troopers, brownshirts)
**SA (Sturmabteilung, Storm Troopers, brownshirts)** the Nazi private army established in 1921\. Used to intimidate political opponents
116
SD (Sicherheitsdienst)
**SD (Sicherheitsdienst)** the internal police force of the Nazi Party created by Heinrich Himmler in 1932\. Intelligence service of the SS
117
secret treaties
**secret treaties** an international agreement in which the contracting parties have agreed to conceal its existence or at least its substance from other states and the public
118
self-determination
**self-determination** the ability or power to make decisions for yourself, especially the power of a nation to decide how it will be governed
119
show trials
**show trials** a public trial in which the judicial authorities have already determined the guilt of the defendant. In the Soviet Union the term commonly refers to the Moscow Trials held between 1936 and 1938 against so-called Trotskyists and members of Right Opposition of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union
120
Social Darwinism
**Social Darwinism** a theory that argued the human race was subject to the same laws of natural selection as animals. Based on Charles Darwin’s work and used to justify racist views, since discredited
121
Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD)
**Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD)** a moderate political party formed in 1875; banned by the Nazi regime in 1933
122
Spartacists
**Spartacists** 1914–19; a German revolutionary socialist group led by Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht (1871–1919), and named for Spartacus, the leader of the 73 BC slave revolt against Rome. It formed the nucleus of the German Communist Party and was bloodily suppressed in 1919 and its leaders killed
123
SS (Schutzstaffel)
**SS (Schutzstaffel)** originally Hitler’s personal protection squad. Grew to become the Nazi police force
124
standing army
**standing army** a nation’s regular and professional armed force
125
Star of David
**Star of David** a symbol of the Jewish religion
126
Stimson Doctrine
**Stimson Doctrine** stated that the US would not recognise any territory gained by acts of aggression or treaties that violated US rights
127
Stock Market Crash
**Stock Market Crash** the Wall Street Crash of 1929 began on 24 October 1929 (Black Thursday), and was the most devastating stock market crash in United States history, and caused the Great Depression throughout the 1930s
128
Swing Movement
**Swing Movement** groups of upper-class youth which embraced cultural influences from Britain and America, most notably jazz music
129
synagogue
**synagogue** a Jewish place of worship
130
T4
**T4** refers to the location 4 Tiergartenstrasse, Berlin, where the Nazi regime carried out its euthanasia programme
131
teutonic
**teutonic** a term used to describe ancient German culture
132
The Mother’s Cross
**The Mother’s Cross** awards of bronze, silver and gold medals given to women who had four, six or eight children. Handed out on the anniversary of Hitler’s mother’s birthday, 12 August, the awards were meant to encourage women to have more children
133
totalitarianism
**totalitarianism** a system of government that is centralised, dictatorial and requires complete subservience to the state
134
Treaty of Versailles
**Treaty of Versailles** the peace treaty which formally ended World War I; signed 28 June 1919; the terms imposed on Germany were detested by the German people; before coming to power, Hitler promised to revise it
135
Twenty-five-point Program
**Twenty-five-point Program** the political manifesto issued by the NSDAP on 24 February 1920 by Adolf Hitler. The manifesto outlined the Nazi Party’s political philosophy and mission
136
Untermenschen
**Untermenschen** German term which referred to inferior races
137
veto
**veto** the official power to cancel a proposal or measure
138
Volk
**Volk** German concept referring to the German people or community
139
Volksfeind
**Volksfeind** German term meaning ‘enemy of the people’
140
Volksgemeinschaft
**Volksgemeinschaft** the concept of a ‘people’s community’; reinforced the view that the German people were racially pure and united against the common enemy, Jews and Communists
141
Voluntary Labour Service
**Voluntary Labour Service** established during the Weimar Republic; provided cheap labour, which was mostly used in agriculture. From 1935 onwards, German youth were required to work in the service for six months
142
Washington Naval Treaty of 1922
**Washington Naval Treaty of 1922** signed on 6 February 1922, the treaty dramatically limited the naval armaments of Japan
143
Wehrmacht
**Wehrmacht** the German Army during World War II
144
Weimar Republic
**Weimar Republic** the name given to the German government between the end of the Imperial period (1918) and the beginning of Nazi Germany (1933). The Weimar Republic (and period) draws its name from the town of Weimar in central Germany where the constitutional assembly met
