Useful/difficult facts to remember - Germany Flashcards
What two problems did the Kaiser face in his government during his reign?
The growth of socialism/trade unions.
Naval Laws, requiring lots of taxpayer money increasing distaste for the government.
Who signed the armistice for Germany?
Matthias Erzberger.
What are the main parts of the Treaty of Versailles?
Small navy, army and air force (100,000 men army)
Hand over colonies
Reparations (Β£6.6 billion)
Land handed over to other/new countries
No German soldiers in the Rhineland
Germany cannot unite with Austria
Why did hyperinflation occur?
German government ordered workers to strike
The workers require money that the government pays
In order to supply them they print more money
This devalued the currency
As a result hyperinflation occured
Why did France and Belgium invade the Ruhr?
In 1922, when the next payment was due, the Germans couldnβt pay reparations. They invaded the Ruhr to take the money from the profit in industry.
What political uprisings occured between 1919 and 1923?
Kapp Putsch - Right Wing March 1920
Political Assassinations e.g. Erzberger (most right wing)
Spartacists - Left Wing January 1919
Red Rising in the Ruhr - Left Wing March 1920
Munich Putsch - Right Wing November 1923.
What was the Dawes Plan?
The USA lent money to restart reparations (800 million gold marks).
What was the Young Plan?
German reparations were decreased.
What two new currencies did Stresemann introduced?
Rentenmark, then Reichsmark
What was the problem with American loans?
If the US economy would fail, Germanyβs would too (foreshadowing lol)
What were the main changes in the βgolden yearsβ?
Cinema became popular
Nightlife became more developed - Jazz, vulgar songs
Literature became more open (AQWF)
Art and design changed e.g. Modern designs (Bauhaus)
What was the Locarno Pact?
Signed in 1925, Britain, France, Belgium and Italy agreed not to invade each other
What did Germany do in 1926 (global level)?
Germany joined the League of Nations.
What was the Kellogg-Briand Pact?
Signed in 1928, participating agreed not to invade each other, unless out of defence.
What result did the Stresemann years have on German position globally?
Germany regained some of its international status.
Why did support for Nazism increase aftet the Wall Street Crash?
The government couldnβt pass laws quickly and people were left hungry on the streets.
How Much did Nazi support increase between 1928 and 1932?
They went from 800,000 votes to 14million.
What factors affected the growth of the Nazis?
The Depression (Wall Street Crash)
Discontent with the Weimar government
The appeal of Hitler
Fear of communism/socialism
Nazi party structure/methodology
Which people voted for the Nazi Party?
Farmers
Middle-class people
Traditional women
Ex-soldiers
Upper class / rich factory owners
How did Hitler consolidate power after he was elected Chancellor?
Hitler arranged for a new election in March 1933
Before the election happened the Reichstag was burned down
Communists were blamed for the Reichstag Fire
Hitler asked Hindenburg to pass the βProtection Lawβ which he did
The decree for the βProtection of the People and Stateβ banned communists from elections
The Enabling Act was passed, making him able to pass laws without the Reichstag
Hitler established the Gestapo
Hitler banned all trade unions
Hitler banned all political parties in Germany except for the NSDAP
Hitler murdered his political opposition during the Night of Long Knives including RΓΆhm, leader of the SA
Hindenburg dies of natural causes
Hitler combines the position of Chancellor and President to form the position of FΓΌhrer
Hitler forces all members of the army to swear loyalty to him
What was the National Labour Services?
All men aged between 18 and 25 had to spend 6 months in the RAD, planting forests and digging ditches on farms, they were paid little but it kept them from unemployment
Why did building autobahns help with unemployment?
Work was given to nearly 100,000 people and nearly 3800 kilometres of road was built, allowing for greater connectivity
How did rearmament help reduce unemployment?
More people joined the army and thousands of jobs were created, making huge government contracts for factory owners, increasing the number of people required to build equipment
How did conscription help reduce unemployment?
The army grew from 100,000 to 1,400,000 in 5 years, giving people new jobs
What is βinvisible unemploymentβ?
The tactics used to cover up unemployment figures, for example not counting Jews or women and counting part-time workers as full time
What was the economy under Schacht like?
He still made the country reliant on imports, signing deals with South America and the Balkans to import goods in return for German made goods
What was the economy like under Goering?
The Four Year Plan was introduced to militarise Germany. Huge amounts of weapons, equipment and uniforms were ordered, creating jobs
How was Germany self-sufficient?
If Germany was unable to find a particular resource it would find alternatives or develop artificial substitutes
Which organisation replaced trade unions in Nazi Germany?
The German Labour Front.
It promised to protect workersβ rights and improve conditions