The aftermath of war and the rise of Hitler Flashcards
What were the main challenges faced by Germans after World War I?
Germans faced poor economic conditions, skyrocketing unemployment, political instability, and profound social change.
How did Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party gain support in post-WWI Germany?
They offered simple solutions to Germany’s problems and exploited people’s fears, frustrations, and hopes.
What event is described as casting “an immense shadow on tens of millions of people”?
The first “world war” from 1914 to 1918.
What percentage of Frenchmen aged 20 to 32 were killed during WWI?
Half of all Frenchmen aged 20 to 32.
What were some technological advancements in warfare during WWI?
The use of poison gas and other advances in the technology of killing.
What was the effect of the Treaty of Versailles on Germany?
Germany was deprived of significant military power, lost 13% of its territory, and had to accept full responsibility for the war and pay heavy reparations.
How did Adolf Hitler perceive the Treaty of Versailles and Germany’s defeat?
He felt the country had been “stabbed in the back” and demanded vengeance.
What was the Weimar Republic?
A new and unfamiliar democratic form of government that replaced the authoritarian empire in Germany.
What economic crisis hit Germany in 1929?
The worldwide depression, which caused the German banking system to collapse and unemployment to skyrocket.
How did political parties in Germany respond to the instability in the early 1930s?
Many had their own paramilitary units to attack opponents and intimidate voters.
What was the response to fears of a Communist revolution in Germany?
Right-wing propaganda and demonstrations played on these fears.
How did social norms in Germany change after WWI?
Standards of behavior changed, crime rose, sexual norms were in flux, and many women started working outside the home.
What book did Adolf Hitler write while in prison?
Mein Kampf (My Struggle).
What were some of Hitler’s ideological goals?
Territorial expansion, consolidation of a racially pure state, and elimination of European Jews and other perceived enemies.
How did the Nazi Party spread its message in the early 1930s?
They recruited, organized, and produced a newspaper to spread their message.
