The Nazi regime to 1939

Question 1

Identify 4 key factors during the inter-war period that enabled the rise of the Nazi Party.

Answer 1

• Treaty of Versailles
  Weimar Republic became unpopular and unstable
• Munich Putsch saw the emergence of the Nazis
• 1929 Stock Market crash and resultant Great Depression
• Coalition collapsed- new appointment of Bruning as Chancellor who cut social welfare programs and raised taxes.

Question 2

What immediate impact did the Treaty of Versailles have on Germany

Answer 2

• huge reparations. Without agreement on payments, French & Belgian troops moved into the Ruhr Valley & occupied the industrial heartland
• Hyperinflation saw money rapidly lose its value- people paid 3 times a day!
• People were very angry with the perceived unfair Treaty

Question 3

What was the impact of the 1929 Stock Market crash and resultant Great Depression on Germany?

Answer 3

Had a devastating effect. Industrial production dropped 31%, unemployment up 200%.

Question 4

When was the Munich Putsch and what was it inspired by?

Answer 4

Staged on November, 9, 1923- inspired by Mussolini’s March on Rome

Question 5

What happened after the failed Munich Putch?

Answer 5

• Hitler sent to jail.
• Membership dropped to 700
• Nazi Party banned

Question 6

When was the ban on Nazi Party lifted and what condition was placed on it?

Answer 6

Ban on Nazi Party was lifted in 1925 with a guarantee that Party would operate within the Weimar constitution

Question 7

What did the Führer Principle mean for Hitler?

Answer 7

Hitler’s decision (as Führer) was final. This was where his authority came from.

Question 8

Identify 4 leagues that were set up by the Nazi Party between 1924-1928

Answer 8

Between 1924-1928 Nazi Students’, Physicians’, Teachers’ and Womens’ Leagues were set up

Question 9

Identify three reasons for popularity increase of the Nazi Party

Answer 9

Reason for popularity increase:

1. Propaganda
2. Collapse of Weimar Republic-
3. Article 48-

Question 10

What was the goal of initial Nazi Party propaganda?

Answer 10

to sell the goal of becoming a ‘people’s community’ (Volksgemeinschaft)

Question 11

How did the people of Germany view the Weimar Republic’s signing of Treaty of Versailles?

Answer 11

The Republic became associated with humiliating defeat in WWI & the unfair Treaty of Versailles

Question 12

What powers came with Article 48?

Answer 12

Gave the President of the Reich to “take measures necessary for restoration, intervening if need be with the assistance of armed forces”
Also gave President power to grant Emergency Decree Powers to the Chancellor

Question 13

Identify the reasons for the collapse of the Weimar Republic

Answer 13

• Political weaknesses- both constitutional and a lack of cooperation between political parties
• Economic problems- Depression, unemployment (6 million), Deflationary policies and hyperinflation (lost support of middle class)
• Social problems- impact of above, anger at defeat in WWI and Treaty of Versailles, , judiciary system was not replaced was hostile to Republic, military never fully supported Republic, social chaos- assassinations & violence
  Hitler and rise of Nazi Party provided an alternative to all of above

Question 14

Identify the political reasons for the collapse of the Weimar Republic

Answer 14

Constiutional weaknesses
Lack of cooperation between political parties
Distrust of democracy and desire for nationalism
- Military never fully supported Republic

Question 15

Identify the economic reasons for the collapse of the Weimar Republic

Answer 15

Depression, unemployment (6 million), Deflationary policies and hyperinflation (lost support of middle class)

Question 16

Identify the social reasons for the collapse of the Weimar Republic

Answer 16

• Impact of political & economic issues.
• Anger at defeat in WWI and Treaty of Versailles
• Judiciary system was not replaced was hostile to Republic
• Military never fully supported Republic
• Social chaos- assassinations & violence

Question 17

What was the policy of Gleichschltung?

Answer 17

Gleichschaltung was the process of the Nazi Party taking control over all aspects of Germany. It is otherwise known as coordination or Nazification. The process primarily took place between 1933-1934.

Question 18

Identify three things that Hitler stated in his ”appeal to the German people” in Jan 31, 1933 as part of Nazi consolidation of power.

Answer 18

• Blamed politicians responsible for the armistice and the Treaty of Versailles
• Called for national “unity of mind and will”
• Came to be seen as an alternative to the Weimar Republic and as independent, authoritarian and strong

Question 19

Identify two of the key domestic posts that Hitler controlled that help the Nazis consolidate power.

Answer 19

• Minister of Interior (Frick) & Minister of the Interior of Prussia (Goebells)- Nazi Party therefore controlled local police

Question 20

Why did Nazi laws that were anti-Semitic and/or aimed at restricting civil liberties appeal to the army?

Answer 20

They appealed to army generals who valued obedience over individual freedom

Question 21

When did the Nazi swastika begin to be worn by the armed forces?

Answer 21

From February 1934

Question 22

What limitations did Hitler place on citizens that defied the constitution and helped the Nazis to consolidate power?

Answer 22

freedom of press, freedom of assembly & other civil rights that defied the constitution

Question 23

What type of campiagns did the SA (Brownshirts) run to help the Nazis consolidate power?

Answer 23

SA (Brownshirts) ran campaigns of street violence, brawls and assassination

Question 24

How were civil liberties controlled through the policy of Gleichschaltung?

Answer 24

– Decree for Protection of People and State (February 1933)
– Special political courts (March 1933)
– Concentration camp opened (March 1933)
– People’s Court (April 1934)
– Nuremberg (anti-Semitic) Laws (September 1935)

Question 25

How did institutions controlled through the policy of Gleichschaltung?

Answer 25

– Burning of ‘un-German’ books (May 1933)
– Education ‘Nazified’ (April 1934)
– Night of the Long Knives compromised
the Army (June 1934)
– Oath of allegiance to Hitler (August 1934)
– Hitler commander-in-chief (August 1934)

Question 26

How was the economy controlled through the policy of Gleichschaltung?

Answer 26

– Trade unions abolished (May 1933)
– Compulsory cartels introduced (July 1933)
– Labour Front created (October 1933)
– Businesses and trade associations
   under state control (February 1934)

Question 27

What changes were made to the government as part of the policy of Gleichschaltung?

Answer 27

– Communists banned (February 1933)
– Last free election (March 1933)
– Coordination of states (April 1933)
– Civil service law (April 1933)
– All parties except Nazis banned (July 1933)
– Reconstruction of the states (January 1934)
– Chancellor and president combined (August 1934)

Question 28

What key aspects enabled the Nazis to consolidate power?

Answer 28

Gleichschaltung & its restrictions and limitations
Enabling Act
Gestapo/Army
Night of the Long Knives
Reichstag Fire
Establishment of position of Führer of the Reich
Appeal to the German People

Question 29

Identify the key aspects of Nazi ideology

Answer 29

The will of the Führer was supreme-
Commitment to Volksgemeinschaft (people’s community)-
Anti-Semitism
Elimination of Jewish minority, followed by aggressive expansion abroad
Opposition to Marxism, democracy,, pacifism, capitalism, ‘soulless rationalism’ and intellectual life
Value of strong state- military mobilisation and war would guarantee health of the state
Desire for Lebensraum ‘living space’ (linked to expansion)

Question 30

Identify the methods used by the Nazi Party to exercise control

Answer 30

• Laws and citizenship
• Terror and repression
• Gestapo
• The SS
• Concentration camps
• Propaganda
• Cult of Personality