Unit 4- Nazi Germany 1933-39 Flashcards
What limits were there on Hitlers power?
-The constitution limited his powers- there were checks and balances
-The Nazis only had 1/3 of the Reichstag
-Hindenburg had all of his presidential powers
-Only 3 Nazis made the cabinet of 12
-They needed 2/3 of votes (they only won 44% of the votes out of the 66% they needed)
What was the response to Hitler’s appointment to chancellorship?
-leaders were not to concerned- there were still checks and balances in place
-Most politicians underestimated Hitler, but some still feared what he might do.
-Von Papen thought he could control and use Hitler to overthrow Weimar and replace him with someone else
Although Hitler was head of the government, his authority was dependent on the __________ of other ______________
support
parties
What was ludendorff’s response to Hitler’s appointment?
He was skeptical and was aware of the dangers that might come with it.
“one of the greatest troublemakers of all time”
When did the Reichstag fire happen?
27th February 1933
What happened during the Reichstag fire?
The Reichstag building was destroyed
A Dutch communist- Marinus Van der Lubbe was found guilty of starting the fire.
The Nazis took advantage of the fact that he was a communist
How did Hitler take advantage of the Reichstag fire?
-Hitler called an election for a new Reichstag on March 5th 1933, 6 days after the fire
-He claimed that the Reichstag fire was proof of a serious communist threat and thus people should vote for Nazis
What role did Göering play in the Nazi takeover of the police force? (during the 1933 elections)
As Nazi chief of police, Göring replaced regular police officers with Nazi supporters and recruited 50,000 SA members as “police auxiliaries.”
How did the Nazis use violence to suppress opposition parties? (during the 1933 elections)
The Nazis broke up meetings held by opposition parties and arrested thousands of communists and social democrats, sending them to concentration camps.
From whom did Hitler secure funds for the Nazi campaign? (during the 1933 elections)
Hitler secured funds from industrialists who supported the Nazis’ anti-communist stance and promises to restore Germany’s economy.
What role did propaganda play in the Nazi campaign? (during the 1933 elections)
The Nazis issued huge quantities of propaganda to spread their message, discredit opponents, and gain public support.
How did the Nazis influence voting during elections? (during the 1933 elections)
Nazis and their supporters were posted at polling stations to intimidate voters and encourage “correct voting.”
What was the outcome of the 1933 elections?
Although the Nazi party was the largest in the Reichstag, they did not gain majority
This meant their measures could be voted down by other parties
What was the enabling act?
was a law passed by the Reichstag that gave Hitler the power to make laws without parliamentary approval for four years.
How did Hitler gain support for the enabling act from other parties?
Communist party- He used emergency powers to ban the communist party members (81 seats)
Nationalist party (52 seats)- agreed to support them as many of their beliefs were similar to those of the nazis.
Centre party (74 seats)- He won support from the centre party by promising to protect the catholic church (concordat)
What was the outcome of the enabling act?
After a short debate the act was passed by 444 votes to 94
What were the consequences of the enabling act?
-Marked the end of the Weimar constitution
-Hitler had the power to make laws and sign treaties with foreign powers without the approval of the Reichstag
-The enabling act was applied for 4 years but was renewed in 1934.
How did Hitler use his new powers (from the enabling act) ?
remove any remaining opposition to his government- trade unions, other political parties and local governments.
Why did Hitler target trade unions?
-they had communist sympathies
-many workers were loyal to their union rather than Nazism.
-wanted to win the favour of big businesses who were keen to see th power of the trade unions reduced
What measures were taken to stop trade unions?
(May 1933)
-Nazis broke into the trade union offices and arrested their leaders
-They then created the German Workers Front and forced workers to join this new organisation
What measures were taken to stop other political parties?
-Social democrats were suspended- Nazis occupied party and took funds (May 1933)
-The nazis suspended the communist party in the same way (May 1933)
-Hitler created a new law which banned all political parties except the Nazi party. (July 1933)
What measures were taken to stop the local government?
-The Nazis closed down Germany’s 18 separate state parliaments (March 1933)
-Hitler then reorganised these parliaments so that Nazis held a majority in each
-Appointment of Nazi state governors to make laws
-Hitler abolished state parliaments altogether (Jan 1934)
What was the Night of Long Knives
The Night of the Long Knives (June 30–July 2, 1934) was a purge ordered by Hitler to eliminate threats to his power.
The SA (Stormtroopers), led by Ernst Röhm, and other political opponents were arrested or executed.
This secured Hitler’s control over the Nazi Party and gained support from the army and conservatives.
Why did Hitler feel the need for a limit on the SA’s power?
-The SA was becoming very powerful- in 1934 it had over 2 million members
-The leader Ernst Rohm was a possible rival to Hitler
-Head of the SS, Heinrich Himmler, resented the SA’s influence.
-Rohm’s views were different- more socialist also homosexual which people were offended by
-Hitler had plans to rearm Germany and increase the size of its army but the SA wanted to replace it.
- in 1934, SA units began to stop army convoys and confiscating their weapons.
What happened on the Night of Long Knives?
Members of the SS arrested around 200 SA officers. These officers were taken to Munich where many of them including Rohm were executed
Hitler also took revenge on old enemies like von Kahr and Schleicher.
What did Hitler claim the Night of The Long Knives did?
He claimed he was protecting Germany against a plot that was going to be led by Rohm.
How did the German people react to the Night of Long Knives?
Many Germans supported or accepted the purge, believing Hitler’s claim that it was necessary to stop a potential coup by the SA.
The army and conservatives were pleased, as the SA’s power was reduced.
However, some were alarmed by the violence and extrajudicial killings, though public criticism was minimal due to fear of the Nazis.
The SA were disappointed and displeased at the fact that they no longer had much power
What happened August of 1934?
President Hindenburg died
How did Hitler take advantage of Hindenburg’s death?
He took on the opportunity to increase his power :
-He combined the offices of chancellor and president and declared himself Fuhrer (leader) of Germany
-Hitler was now firmly in control of what became known as the ‘Third Reich’
What did the army have to do for Hitler as he became Fuhrer?
The army loyalty oath was made to him directly rather than the German constitution- they swore to obey him personally.
What were the four (broad) methods of control implemented by Hitler?
Censorship
Indoctrination
Propaganda
Terror
Rewards
What did Germany become as Hitler became Fuhrer? What did this mean?
Germany became a police state, meaning:
The Gestapo (secret police) and SS monitored and suppressed dissent.
Citizens were under constant surveillance, and opposition was brutally crushed.
The rule of law was replaced by Nazi ideology, and fear was used to control the population.
What was Hitlers rule after he became Fuhrer? what did this mean?
Totalitarian:
-He would have control over all aspects of people’s lives
-little opportunity for opposition
-Germany was a one-party state
-All political institutions were run by members of the Nazi party
What is a police state?
a totalitarian state in which the government uses the police to control the population.
What was a concentration camp?
A concentration camp was a detention center where the Nazis imprisoned and brutally treated political opponents, Jews, and other “undesirables.”
Prisoners faced forced labor, starvation, torture, and often death.
These camps were key tools of Nazi oppression and control.
When was the first concentration camp established?
The first Nazi concentration camp, Dachau, was established in March 1933, near Munich, Germany.
It was initially used to imprison political opponents, such as communists and social democrats.
What did German law become under Hitler?
It became whatever the Nazi Party believed was right.
Germans could be arrested and imprisoned without trial
What was the new court that the Nazis created called? how was it different
People’s court
They also established new ‘Special courts’ across Germany- these courts had no jury and the Judges were expected to support Nazi policies
What did Himmler put in place in 1936?
the SS and the Gestapo
What was the Gestappo?
The Gestapo (Geheime Staatspolizei) was the Nazi secret police.
They monitored and suppressed dissent, using surveillance, intimidation, and brutal tactics to eliminate opposition.
They had unlimited power to arrest and detain people without trial, making them a key tool of Nazi terror.
What was Himmler a strong believer in and what did this result in?
‘racial and moral purity’
He dismissed 60,000 SS members for being homosexuals, alcoholics or ‘morally corrupt’ (ironically)
When was the SS established? What was it responsible for?
The SS (Schutzstaffel) was established in 1925 , originally as Hitler’s personal bodyguard. Himmler grew the SS in the 1930s
By 1939, Himmler expanded the SS into a massive organization of over 250,000 members by 1939.
It became responsible for:
Running concentration camps, identifying political opponents
Enforcing Nazi racial policies (e.g., the Holocaust).
Maintaining internal security and loyalty to Hitler.
Where did most suspects of opposition go to?
concentration camp or prison
it is estimated that over 200,000 were imprisoned for Nazi opposition
Who did the Gestapo rely heavily on for information?
informers- ordinary Germans who voluntarily informed on other people in their area
Most historians agree that at least half of all Gestapo informations came out due to information provided by informers
Who were the elite of the terror state?
The SS
Why was propaganda important for the Nazis?
Because terror alone could not ensure that Nazi ideology was instilled among the Germans. They wanted people to truly believe in Nazism.
Who was the minister of Enlightenment and Propaganda in 1933?
Joseph Geobbels
What was the RKK
The RKK (Reichskulturkammer, or Reich Chamber of Culture) was a Nazi organization established in 1933 to control all aspects of cultural life in Germany, including art, music, literature, and media.
It ensured that all cultural output aligned with Nazi ideology and propaganda.
What things were censored under the Nazi regime
Newspapers
Programmes on the radio
Literature
Arts
Music
How were Newspapers censored?
-strictly controlled
- Newspaper organisations that opposed Nazis were shut down
-Editors were put in charge of ensuring there were no critical articles
-Editors, Publishers, Owners had to be part of the RKK
How were programmes on the radio censored?
-Strictly controlled
-In 1934 all radio stations in Germany were brought together under the Reich Radio Company
-Radios could not pick up foreign radio broadcasts
How was literature censored?
-The Ministry of propaganda made a list of unacceptable literature
-Gestapo had power to search bookshops and libraries and seize such publications
-Any authors who were anti-Nazi, communist , and Jewish were banned
How were the arts in general censored?
-All writers, actors, musicians had to join the Reich Chamber of Commerce (established by J.G)
-If their work was considered unsuitable, they were left out and could not work.
How was music censored?
-Some types of music were banned, including anything that had American influence- for example, Jazz was banned as it was seen as black music and thus inferior.
How was art censored?
Art that showed Nazi values, including Aryan Germans was encouraged while other forms of art were banned- especially modern art (too progressive)
what points would you include in the question: Explain two effects of censorship on Germany
Suppression of Opposition:
Censorship silenced critics and opponents of the Nazi regime by banning books, newspapers, and media that opposed Nazi ideology.
This eliminated dissent and ensured the population only heard Nazi propaganda.
Control of Public Opinion:
By controlling all forms of media (e.g., radio, films, and art), the Nazis shaped public opinion to align with their beliefs, such as antisemitism and loyalty to Hitler.
This helped maintain the regime’s popularity and control over the population.
what points would you include in the question: Explain two effects on Germany of Hitler’s enabling act
Establishment of a Dictatorship:
The Enabling Act, passed on March 23, 1933, gave Hitler the power to make laws without the Reichstag for four years.
This allowed him to bypass the constitution, ending democracy and centralizing power under the Nazi Party.
Elimination of Opposition:
By July 1933, all political parties except the Nazis were banned, and trade unions were dissolved.
Over 100,000 political opponents, including communists and social democrats, were arrested and sent to concentration camps like Dachau.
What did Hitler believe propaganda should do? What did Geobbels believe?
Hitler believed that propaganda should repeat Nazi messages in simple terms, using power and emotion.
Geobbels believed that propaganda would be more effective if people didn’t realise they were being manipulated, more subtle.
How did the Nazis plant propaganda in Newspapers
-Newspapers would plant stories and present positive Nazi messages.
-Ministry of propaganda would tell editors what to publish.
How did the Nazis plant propaganda in radio? What did Hitler see radio as?
-Factories produced cheap radio sets and by 1939, 70% of households had a radio
-Geobbles issued plays and light entertainment that subtly included Nazi messages
-Hitler saw the radio as his most important propaganda aid
How did Nazis utilise public speaker systems?
-Owners of factories, bars and restaurants were ordered to install loudspeakers that broadcasted Hitler’s speeches.
How did Nazis use public parades and rallies as propaganda?
On national holidays, parades were held in most towns and citizens were expected to hand out swastika flags
It showed the power and glory of Germany under Nazis/
When did posters play a key role in advertising Nazi views?
after the Wall Street Crash
Nazis continued to use them after they took power.
Portrayed Hitler as a great, mighty leader
How were the arts used as propaganda?
-Films reflected the Nazi view on society
-The music of Bach, Beethoven and Mozart was played regularly as were marching songs and German folk songs
-Art was expected to show heroic German figures and promote the Aryan race and family values.
What did the Berlin Olympics in 1936 show the world?
The supremacy of the Aryan race.
How did the Nazis view education?
As a means to indoctrinate the impressionable youth to ensure they grew up as loyal Nazis.
What measures did the Nazis implement on teachers to ensure pro-Nazi education?
-Teachers had to join the Nazi teacher’s organisation or lose their jobs
-Many teachers attended training camps
How was the curriculum changed?
-Textbooks were rewritten to reflect Nazi ideology
- New subjects were introduced, some subjects were given priority over others and what was taught was changed.
How was history taught differently?
Children learned about the rise of the Nazi party
What was emphasised in biology?
The supremacy of the Aryans
What were children taught in geography?
the German need for lebensraum- living space
What was domestic science? Who was it taught to?
Domestic science was a school subject that taught girls how to be good housewives and mothers, focusing on cooking, cleaning, and childcare.
It was taught to girls as part of the Nazi emphasis on traditional gender roles and increasing the birth rate.
What were Hitler leadership schools? Who ran it?
Extra schools established to educate boys for future leadership in the Reich
Trained boys to become military leaders- educated them on politics and were given physical training
Some Nazi organisations, including the SS ran these schools.
What was the purpose of education
- indoctrination
- idea of the greater good
-preparation for nazi society
-preparation for war
- ingrain negative cohesion and division
What organisations ran youth groups before 1933?
churches or other political parties
When was the Hitler Youth first established?
1926- membership was small
When did Nazis ban all other youth groups?
1933
What law was passed in 1936? How did this law change in 1939?
The Hitler Youth Law- all eligible young people had to belong to a Nazi youth organisation.
However no penalties for non-membership
In 1939, this law became stricter and membership became compulsory
What was taught in Hitler Youth Groups?
-Hitler and how he had saved Germany from the communist traitors.
-They discussed political pamphlets and performed military drills
-importance of competition and racial purity was taught
What was taught in Hitler Youth Groups for girls?
Crafts and childcare to prepare them for motherhood
What were the activities like in youth groups?
They were fun- for example summer camps and physical activities made people enjoy being part of the Nazi movement.
What were children encouraged to do?
report on anyone who they believed was not loyal to the Nazi state, even their own parents
How many people were members of the Hitler Youth by 1939?
8 million
Why were women so important to the Nazis?
-Mothers and wives (reproduction)
-To keep a family oriented and traditional society
What role did women play in society during the 1920s
-Many women were employed in jobs such as teachers, doctors and civil servants
-10 percent of the members of the Reichstag were women
-They were free and independent
What did Nazis want to stop women from doing? What values did they want women to embody?
-from working and being independent
-They espoused and emphasised reproduction, family and tradition
KKK- Kinder (children) Kuche (kitchen) Kirche (Church)- implemented before churches were restricted
What message did Nazi propaganda spread to women?
Huge campaign to encourage having more children
What was banned for women?
contraception and abortion
What were women discouraged from doing?
smoking and drinking
slimming- bad for childbirth
using makeup
not wearing homemade clothes
wearing heels
What was the monetary incentive for marriage? (law for encouragement of marriage-1933)
Loans were provided to young couples but only if the woman left work
What were medals awarded for (to women)?
Awarded to women with large families (gold for eight kids, silver for six kids, bronze for five)
What did the German Women’s Enterprise Organisation train women in?
household skills
How did Nazi policies towards women create economic problems?
as the rearmament policy grew, there was a need for more workers- especially as more men joined the army
Eventually the Nazis had to relax limits on women working and encourage women back into work
By 1939, the number of women working was 50 per cent higher than it had been in 1933
Womens role in politics in Weimar Germany v.s Nazi germany
Weimar:
-All women ovr 20 had the right to vote
-by 1933 10% of reichstag members were women
-advanced compared to other countries
Nazi:
-No role in politics due to Hitlers traditionalist views
Womens appearance in Weimar Germany v.s Nazi germany
Weimar:
-shorter skirts, trousers, makeup
Nazi:
-traditional dress, promote racial purity, no makeup
Work for women in Weimar Germany v.s Nazi germany
Weimar:
-Professional careers
-Some received equal pay
Nazi:
-removed from paid employment
-reduced unemployment figures as they didnt count anymore and men could take their jobs
-later, due to rearmament policies, they had to return to work
Womens freedom in Weimar Germany v.s Nazi germany
Weimar:
-Young women could go out without an escort
-socially acceptable to be seen drinking and smoking in public
Nazi:
-Smoking, drinking seen as unladylike and unhealthy for reproduction
policies regarding children and family in Weimar Germany v.s Nazi germany
Weimar:
-Woman had access to contraception and could choose to have smaller families
Nazi:
-expected to have large families
-women who had large families were rewarded with medals
-contraception and abortion was illegal
Why was religion a threat to Nazis
-Hitler wanted to be the greatest power in Germany
-Religious Youth Groups taught different values, had different beliefs
-Morals of the church went against Hitler’s
What religion were the majority of Germans a a part of
Christianity- 2/3 protestant, 1/3 catholic
What views did religious people share with Nazis
traditionalism, antisemitism
Catholic loyalty vs. protestant loyalty
Catholics- loyal to the pope
Protestants- Nazi beliefs
Catholic view towards Nazis vs. protestant view towards Nazis
Catholics- prioritised and preferred Catholic youth groups and schools
Protestants- agreed strongly with Nazi beliefs (referred to itself as the ‘SA of the Church’)
Hitlers initial interactions with Catholics vs. Protestants
Catholics- tried to cooperate with eachother (concordat- 1933)
Protestant- organised into the Reich Church in 1933- led by a loyal Nazi
First attempt to control Catholic churches vs. protestant churches
Catholic churches- censorship of christian symbols, broke concordat agreement
Protestant churches- fired any pastors who didn’t declare support for the Nazis
Catholic opposition to Hitler vs. Protestant opposition to Hitler
Catholic opposition- Pope Pius XI made all priests read a statement attacking the Nazis in 1937
Bishop Galen spoke against Aktion T4 (mass murder by involuntary euthanasia of the disabled)
Protestant opposition- A group of pastors led by Niemoller and Bonhoeffer set up an opposition church, the Confessional church in 1934
Nazi reaction to Catholic opposition vs. Nazi reaction to Protestant opposition
Reaction to Catholic opposition-
Catholic groups banned, property seized, spied on, schools closed, priests were arrested and sent to concentration camps
Reaction to Protestant opposition- Clergy sent to concentration camps
Bonhoeffer hanged in 1945
What was the status of the Churches by 1930s?
Number of people going remained high but influence had dropped.
What was Nazism largely based on?
The view in which different racial or ethnic groups were seen as either superior or inferior
What are examples of changes the Nazis made to removed those who were considered a burden to society?
-The 1933 Sterilisation Law allowed the Nazis to forcibly sterilize people they deemed “unfit” to have children, including those with disabilities, mental illnesses, or hereditary conditions.
-From 1936, juvenile delinquents, tramps, gypsies and homosexuals were sent to concentration camps
-From 1939, the Nazis began to put people with mental illnesses to death by starvation or lethal injection, later, chambers. (banned in 1941- by this time, 70,000 people killed
What were Jews in Germany?
A minority- around 1 per cent of Germany’s population was Jewish
They were scapegoated by Hitler
What measures were taken against jews?
-In April 1933, the Nazi government organised a nationwide boycott of Jewish shops and businesses
-In 1935, Jews were banned from public places- parks, cinemas, swimming pools
-In September 1935, Nuremburg lwas were introduced. There were two of these laws:
-The Reich Law for the protection of German blood and honour stated that Jews and Aryans couldn’t marry.
-Jews could no longer vote in elections or hold a German passport
What did many Jews do to avoid persecution?
Emigrate- in January 1939, the Reich office for Jewish emigration was set up and was responsible for speeding up this process
emigration was banned by 1941 but by this time almost 2/3 of Jewish population had fled.
What happened in November 1938?
The Night of Broken Glass- A German official in the Paris Embassy was murdered by a Jewish man.
Nazis launched a campaign of terror and murder aimed at Jews in Germany
-Over 800 shops owned by jews were destroyed
-191 synagogues were vandalised or set on fire
-Many Jewish homes were attacked
-91 Jews were killed, 30,000 arrested
What were the economic issues that Germany faced up to 1933?
-Lack of trade
-Unemployment
-Lack of raw materials due to the loss of the Polish corridor and other colonies rich in resources
Who was Hjalmar Schact?
Minister of the economy
What was Hjalmar Schact’s ‘New Plan’ (1934) ?
-It was designed to reduce imports and unemployment
-Trade agreements were made with foreign countries for natural resources
-Began projects to create work and install infrastructure
Was the ‘New plan’ (1934) successful?
-Very successful- provided the money needed to rearm Germany
-Lucky with timing- 1934 was when the world was beginning to recover from the G.D
Who was Hermann Goering?
-From 1936, Goering was made responsible for the ‘Four year plan’ to prepare Germany for war
-Member of the cabinet & founded the Gestappo
What was the ‘Four Year Plan’?
-Involved making Germany self sufficient (autarky) - oil, steel and rubber
This aimed to prepare Germany to wage war without worrying about losing resources it needed.
What did German scientists do during the ‘Four Year Plan’?
Found substitutes for materials that could not be sourced in Germany e.g textiles made from pulped wood
What accompanied the four year plan?
Propaganda campaign to persuade people to buy German products & food
Was the four year plan a success?
Limited success- frequent food shortages and rationing
by 1939 Germany was importing 1/3 of raw materials.
What successes did Goering and Schacts plans bring??
- reduced unemployment from 6 million in 1933 to 1 million by 1938 and boosted industrial production
What issues did Goering and Schacts plans bring?
-Government spending was always more than its income
-By 1939, the government had a debt over 40 billion marks.
-Despite autarky, Germany was still importing more than it exported
-Consumption dropped due to shortages
How much did unemployment go down by 1933-1939?
6 million - 300,000
What did Nazis double spending on to reduce unemployment?
public works such as building autobahns and the olympic stadium in Berlin
This created jobs for construction workers
What became increasingly important for Hitler during 1930s?
Rearmament- spending on arms increased from around 2 million reichsmarks in 1933 to 17 million in 1937
This investment created many new jobs, both in arms factories and related industries e.g coal mining, iron extraction
How many men were there in the army by 1938?
900,000- this expansion also created employment
What did Nazis pay private companies to do?
create jobs- one of their most well known investments was in the car industry where they helped to produce the Volkswagen
How were women disregarded in unemployment figures?
They were forced to quit or were sacked- this was not included in unemployment figures
How were jews disregarded in unemployment figures
They were forced from their jobs and they were not considered citizens- no longer counted in unemployment figures
What was temporary work counted as? How did this affect unemployment figures?
temporary employment was counted as full employment.
Over 1 million people who may have been unemployed were excluded from unemployment figures
What issues did German workers face in the 1930s?
-Although there was an increase in wages, the number of hours worked per week also rose by 10 percent
-The cost of living rose as well, so the average worker’s pay bought less in 1939 than it had done in 1933
What did the DAF stand for
German labour front
Who was the leader of the DAF?
Dr Robert Ley
What was the DAF?
The DAF was the Nazi organization that replaced trade unions in 1933.
It controlled workers’ wages, conditions, and leisure time, aiming to keep workers loyal to the regime and ensure efficient running of industry
Key initiatives included:
Strength Through Joy (KdF): Provided workers with cheap holidays, sports events, and cultural activities.
Beauty of Labour (SdA): Improved working conditions by renovating factories, adding facilities like canteens, and promoting better hygiene.
What did the Nazis claim about Volkswagens? what was the reality?
claim: the car would be cheaply available to all Germans
reality: Most people did not get a chance to buy one until after the war
What convinced people that the economic situation in Germany was not too bad in the 30s?
-It was better than the Great Depression and hyperinflation
-Hitler supposedly reduced unemployment and promised greater wealth
-Autobahns and superficial displays of wealth
-prevented from speaking up due to censorship and control
