support for the Nazi regime, 1933-45 Flashcards
LO: reasons for the support for the Nazi regime, groups that supported the Nazis, the extent of support among the general populace, propaganda
why did some historians argue that the majority of Germans supported at least some aspects of the Nazi regime?
due to Germany’s apparent economic revival, Hitler’s foreign policy successes, and the use of terror and violence against perceived enemies, which made many Germans feel the regime restored German honor
why did the Nazis believe propaganda was essential?
they believed they represented the German people, and wanted to win over the public and sustain enthusiasm for the regime, capturing the ‘spirit of 1914’ (a time of national unity and passion)
how did the economy contribute to support for the Nazi regime?
the improvement in the German economy after Hitler became chancellor was presented as an economic miracle, leading some Germans to passively support the regime
what nationalistic appeal did the Nazis have?
some Germans, particularly the youth, saw Nazism as a revival of passionate militaristic nationalism, reminiscent of WW1
why did some people support the Nazis out of opportunism?
many professionals supported the Nazis for the opportunities it provided, such as better job prospects and career advancements, esp. with the exclusion of Jews from certain professions
what was one of Hitler’s most popular foreign policy decisions?
Germany’s withdrawal from the League of Nations in 1933 and the remilitarization of the Rhineland in 1936, both contrary to the TofV, were widely supported
how did the Nazis use national festivals to generate support?
they held annual celebrations like Hitler’s birthday and the Reich Harvest Festival, and the 1936 Berlin Olympics was another sources of national pride, with Germany winning 89 medals
what are the three degrees of support for the Nazi regime?
active support = full commitment to Nazism
partial support = support for some policies but not all
passive support = indifference or lack of objection, allowing the Nazis to maintain control
why did the ‘war youth generation’ support the Nazis ?
they were susceptible due to their experiences during WW1, seeing the war as a patriotic adventure and blaming socialists for Germany’s defeat, making them attracted to Nazi militarism and nationalism
why did the professional middle classes support the Nazis?
many in the middle classes, esp. after the hyperinflation crisis and the Great Depression, supported the Nazis for job opportunities and social stability, particularly with the exclusion of Jews from professions
how did the working class react to Nazi policies?
while some supported the Nazis due to reduced unemployment and improved conditions, many faced lower living standards, and wages were kept low, resulting in a decline in food consumption and general well-being
how did the Nazis gain support from peasants?
Nazi policies such as the Reich Food Estate an the Reich Entailed Farm Law helped secure land and incomes for farmers, resulting in greater support for the regime in rural areas
how did Nazi policies align with the beliefs of many middle-class and conservative women?
many women accepted Nazi gender roles, which relegated them to domestic duties, believing it was ‘natural’ for women to focus on the home while men worked and fought
how did the Nazi regime gain support from Protestant groups?
many Protestants, esp. in Prussia, supported the Nazis due to their nationalistic beliefs and the connection between Protestantism and German tradition, with the German Reich Church promoting Nazi values
how did Hitler win over Catholic support despite initial resistance?
he signed the Concordat with the Catholic Church in 1933, promising to respect church control over education and youth groups in exchange for political neutrality, gaining passive acceptance from most German Catholics
what evidence supports the idea that many Germans truly supported the Nazi regime in Phase I (1933-38)?
regular plebiscites showed overwhelming support for Nazi policies, such as withdrawal from the League of Nations (95% in favour) and the remilitarization of the Rhineland (99% in favour).
election turnout was also high, and party membership surged dramatically
how did support for the Nazis manifest in terms of political participation?
despite the abolition of multi-party democracy, the Nazis held regular elections for the Reichstag, and support for the Nazis was reflected in high voter turnout (over 95% in Oct. 1933) and increasing membership in Nazi organisations, inc. the SA
what does the lack of revolts or large-scale resistance in Phase I suggest about the nature of German support for the Nazi regime?
they indicate widespread passive support for the regime.
while there were isolated assassination attempts, these were usually the actions of small groups or individuals rather than mass resistance
who were the ‘Yes, but’ Nazis?
these were Germans who welcomed some aspects of Nazism, such as economic recovery and national pride, but were critical of certain events like the Night of the Long Knives or Kristallnacht, or the violence of the SS
how did the German public respond to the outbreak of WW2?
Germans accepted the war with grim determination.
while warfare was central to Nazi ideology, the Nazis had failed to instill a fully enthusiastic militaristic spirit in the majority of the population
how did early German victories in WW2 affect public support for the Nazis?
the swift defeats of Poland and France solidified support for Hitler, as Germans saw the rapid territorial gains, which were a testament to the military strength under his leadership
how did the tide of the war shift after 1943, and how did it impact German morale?
following defeats at Stalingrad and North Africa, and the D-Day invasion in 1944, faith in Hitler’s leadership diminished, and many Germans began to belileve that defeat was inevitable by mid-1944
despite military setbacks, why did many Germans continue to support the Nazi regime during the war?
continued support was fueled by patriotism, propaganda, hope for new secret weapons, and the morale-boosting impact of survival during Allied bombing raids.
also, food shortages were better managed than during WW1, maintaining general public contentment
how did Nazi propaganda approach its messaging?
propaganda was designed to be emotionally powerful and subtly persuasive. Goebbels believed it should be disguised to avoid rejection, presenting the Nazi message in an indirect way
what was the purpose fo the ‘Hitler myth’ in Nazi propaganda?
the ‘Hitler myth’ portrayed Hitler as Germany’s savior, above politics, representing the whole nation, and responsible for Germany’s economic revival.
he was depicted as a divine figure, a protector of German values, and a leader who transcended party politics
how effective was Nazi propaganda?
it was effective in reinforcing and deepening existing attitudes, especially among groups already predisposed to Nazi beliefs (e.g. middle-class Protestants), but it was less successful in converting people who did not alread share those views
how did Nazi propaganda differ in its appeal to various groups?
propaganda had varying levels of effectiveness depending on the target group.
e.g. middle-class Protestants were more influenced by Nazi propaganda than working-class Catholics, as the messages aligned more with the existing attitudes of the former
how did Nazi propaganda depict Hitler as a ‘Messiah’ figure?
Hitler was portrayed as a divine figure sent to save Germany from the threat of communism and to restore the nation’s honour after the humiliation of WW1
in what way was Hitler presented as representative of the whole nation?
he was depicted as a leader who represented all Germans, in contrast to other political figures who were seen as representing specific groups, such as the working class or big business.
he was shown as understanding and addressing the needs of every German citizen
how was Hitler’s image crafted as being ‘above politics’?
unlike other political leaders, such as von Papen, who were associated with specific political parties, Hitler was presented as a leader who transcended party politics.
Nazi propaganda portrayed him as someone who always put Germany’s interests above those of his party
how did Nazi propaganda present Hitler as the architect of Germany’s economic revival?
propaganda emphasised Hitler’s role in bringing Germany out of the economic hardships of the Weimar Republic, presenting him as the driving force behind the nation’s recovery and economic progress
how did Nazi propaganda depict Hitler as a statesman committed to defending Germany?
he was portrayed as a strong and determined leader, committed to protect germany from foreign threats and fighting against the leaders of other nations
what was the significance of presenting Hitler as a ‘Teutonic Knight’?
it symbolised a figure who upheld traditional German values of justice, heroism, and moral integrity, further enhancing his image as a defender of German traditions and culture
