Weimar and Nazi Germany Flashcards

1
Q

What was Germany in following WW1?

A

Terrible. They had suffered many deaths, much of it’s infrastructure was destroyed and they were is masses of debt

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2
Q

What happened to Kaiser Wilhelm?

A

He abdicated and then fled to Holand

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3
Q

When did Kaiser Wilhelm abdicate?

A

9 November 1918

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4
Q

When was the German Republic declared?

A

9 November 1918

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5
Q

When was armistice signed?

A

11 November 1918

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6
Q

What was armistice?

A

A peace agreement, between Germany and the Allies

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7
Q

Give 2 features of the President

A
  • Head of the Weimar republic
  • Elected every 7 years
  • Had important political powers e.g. choosing he chancellor
  • Could suspend the constitution and pass laws by decree
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8
Q

Give 2 features of the Chancellor

A
  • Head of the government

- Chose all government ministers

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9
Q

What was the role of the cabinet?

A

It was the main decision-making body of the government

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10
Q

What was the Reichstag?

A

The Reichstag, elected for a four-year term, was the central legislative body under the Constitution of the Weimar Republic. It is the more powerful of the 2 houses

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11
Q

What were the strengths of the Weimar constitution?

A
  • Proportional representation meant all parties had their fair share of seats
  • Women were able to vote
  • Voting age reduced to 21
  • No one group or person had too much power
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12
Q

What was the Reichsrat?

A

The less powerful than the Reichstag, however had the power to veto Reichstag bills

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13
Q

What were the weaknesses of the Weimar constitution?

A
  • Proportional representation led to coalition governments, which were unstable and found it difficult to have strong policies/make strong decisions
  • Lack of strong government led to weakness and indecisiveness in crisis
  • It was not the choice of the people, so was unpopular
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14
Q

What was the ‘November Criminals’?

A

A label given to the leaders of the German republic, due to their signing of the Treaty of Versaille, which was viewed as a criminal act of betrayal to the country

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15
Q

How much did Germany have to pay in reparations?

A

£6,600,000,000 (6.6 billion)

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16
Q

What did the Treaty of Versailles force Germany to do?

A
  • Pay reparations
  • Limit their army massively
  • Take full blame for WW1
  • Lose a lot of land
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17
Q

What is the stab in the back theory?

A

The belief of the German people that the German army hadn’t been defeated in war, rather were forced to surrender by politicians, when they could have won

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18
Q

Who were the Spartacists?

A
  • Left-wing
  • Led by red Rosa and Karl Liebknecht
  • Based in Berlin
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19
Q

What was the Spartacist Revolt?

A

The Spartacists took over the government’s newspaper and telegraph bureau, and tried to organise a general strike in Berlin. The government sent Freikorps to put down the revolt

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20
Q

Who were the Freikorps?

A
  • Right-wing
  • Made up of ex-militants who had kept their weapons
  • 250,000 men
  • Organised by regular army
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21
Q

What was the Kapp Putsch?

A

Freikorps marched on Berlin. Ebert asked the head of the army to resist them but he refused. A nationalist politician (Wolfgang Kapp) was put in charge, and the Weimar government fled Berlin.

The government organised trade unions to go on strike, and they did, which caused such chaos that Kapp could not rule Germany and fled. The Weimar government returned

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22
Q

How many political assassinations was there from 1919-1923?

A

376

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23
Q

Why did France invade the Ruhr?

A

To take reparation payment in goods and materials

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24
Q

What did the government tell workers to do when the France invaded the Ruhr?

A

Go on strike

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25
Q

What was the effect of the French occupation of the Ruhr

A

As 80% of German coal, iron and steel reserves were in the Ruhr, the occupation was devastating for the economy

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26
Q

What did the government do to try and solve the problem of the dying economy due to the French occupation of the Ruhr?

A

They printed more money to pay striking workers and make up for the loss of iron, coal and steel production

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27
Q

What was the impact of the government printing more and more money?

A

Hyperinflation

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28
Q

How did the price of a loaf of bread change from 1919 to 1923?

A

It went from costing 1 mark, to costing 200,000 billion marks

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29
Q

What were the impacts of hyperinflation?

A
  • Some people could not afford essentials
  • Many businesses went bankrupt
  • Lifetime savings became useless
  • It made the public hate the Weimar government even more
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30
Q

What was the Rentenmark?

A

A new currency introduced by Stresemann, which solved the problem of hyperinflation

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31
Q

When was the Rentenmark introduced?

A

November 1923

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32
Q

What was the Dawes Plan?

A

Reparations installments were reduced temporarily to £50 million per year
US banks agreed to make large loans to German industry

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33
Q

When was the Dawes Plan?

A

1924

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34
Q

What was the Young Plan?

A
  • Reduced total reparation payment from £6.6 billion to £2 billion
  • The payments could be made over a longer period of time
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35
Q

When was the Young Plan?

A

August 1929

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36
Q

What was the Nazi reaction to the Young Plan?

A

Saw it as passing on the burden to future generations

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37
Q

What was the problem with Germany’s economic recovery?

A

It was almost entirely dependent on the US loans, therefore was very fragile

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38
Q

What did Stresemann do to improve Germany politically?

A
  • Strengthened confidence of the German people in the Weimar Republic
  • Reduced the support for extremist parties
  • Increased support for moderate parties
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39
Q

What was the Locarno Pact?

A
  • Germany agreed to it’s new border with France
  • The Allies and Germany agreed to the permanent demilitarisation of the Rhineland
  • Germany’s membership in the League of Nations was up for discussion
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40
Q

When was the Locarno Pact?

A

1925

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41
Q

Why was the Locarno Pact a success for Germany?

A
  • It improved relations with France
  • It was not imposed upon Germany, unlike the TofV
  • It increased the status and popularity of the Weimar republic
  • It helped boost confidence in moderate parties
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42
Q

What was the League of Nations?

A

A new international body that hoped to discuss world problems to avoid resorting to war

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43
Q

When was Germany allowed to join the League of Nations?

A

1926

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44
Q

Why was joining the League of Nations a success for Germany?

A
  • It showed that Germany’s views were counted and respected
  • It showed that Germany was once again a powerful and respected influence
  • It boosted the confidence of most German people in the Weimar government
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45
Q

What was the Kellogg-Briand Pact?

A

An agreement between 62 nations. It committed countries to avoiding the use of war to achieve objectives

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46
Q

Why was the Kellogg-Briand Pact a success for Germany?

A
  • It showed that Germany was once again a powerful and respected influence
  • It increased the popularity of and confidence in the Weimar government, as it showed that these moderate political parties could make change and build Germany’s strength internationally
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47
Q

What were still some areas of discontent during the Golden 20s?

A
  • The hated terms of the Treaty of Versailles were still in place
  • Some didn’t like the new border with France
  • There were still extremist parties around
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48
Q

Give 2 improvements to work during the Golden 20s

A
  • Reduced working hours
  • Improved working conditions
  • Wages rose
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49
Q

Give 2 positive aspects to women at work

A
  • Some professions, like teaching and medicine, offered new opportunities for women
  • Women were encouraged to go to university
50
Q

Give 2 negative aspects of women at work

A
  • Drop in women working from 75% in 1918 to 36% in 1925

- Few women secured high status jobs

51
Q

What was women’s leisure like during the Golden 20s?

A
  • More interest towards having a good time, over marriage and family
  • Women were more independent in their leisure activities
52
Q

What was an attitude towards new women’s behavior?

A

Some men and women felt traditional roles and values of a women are being lost

53
Q

What was women’s rights like during the Golden 20s?

A
  • Women could vote and stand for election
  • Women had equal rights to men, and could enter professions on an equal basis
  • Marriage was an equal partnership
54
Q

How was German culture changing during the Golden 20s?

A

A new movement called Expressionism dominated art, cinema and architecture, challenging the typical, conservative ideas with new, more radical expressionist ideas and methods. These were often on problems in German society and every day life

55
Q

When did Hitler join the DAP?

A

1919

56
Q

When was Hitler made second in command of the DAP?

A

1920

57
Q

When was the name of the DAP changed to the National Socialist German Workers’ Party?

A

1920

58
Q

When did Hitler take control over the NSDAP/Nazi party?

A

1921

59
Q

What was the 25-point programme (give 3 example points)?

A

A Nazi programme, written by Hitler and Drexler, including the following points

  • Get rid of the TofV
  • Everybody should have a job
  • Build up Germany’s armed forces
  • Only German races may be members of the nation
  • All citizens should have equal rights and duties
  • Nationalise industries
  • Increase pensions for the elderly
  • Expand Germany across new territory
  • Make laws for compulsory sports
60
Q

What were the SA?

A

The SA were a paramilitary force, made up of ex-soldiers, that served Hitler and the Nazi party. They were characterised by their infamous Brown Shirts

61
Q

What were the SA used for?

A
  • Disrupt opposition
  • Demonstrate the powerful and intimidating nature of the Nazi party
  • Control crowds
  • Violent actions
62
Q

What were the short term reasons for the Munich Putsch?

A

Hyperinflation
French troops occupying the Ruhr
Hitler believed he had support

63
Q

Who and how was Hitler influenced by?

A

He was influenced by Mussolini’s right wing part in Italu, who marched on Rome, forcing the democratic government to accept him as leader

64
Q

What were the long term reasons for the Munich Putsch?

A

Stab in the back theory
Reparations
Loss of German colonies
Resentment of Weimar government

65
Q

What did Hitler do on the 8th of November 1923?

A

Hitler with 600 SA entered a hall in Munich where the government were meeting.
At gunpoint, Hitler forced government leaders to support him.
Rohm took over local police and army headquarters.
Ludendorff, behind Hitler’s back, let the government leaders go

66
Q

What did Hitler do on the 9th of November 1923?

A

Hitler gathered 1000 SA and 2000 volenteer supporters and marched on Munich town centre to declare himself President of Germany.
The group was met by state police, and then chaos followed.
The Nazis lost.
Lundendorff, Rohm and Streicher were arrested.

67
Q

When was Hitler arrested?

A

Hitler was found a day after the Munich Putsch, hiding at a friend’s house, and was arrested

68
Q

What were the negative consequences of the Munich Putsch for the Nazis?

A
  • Hitler placed in prison
  • The Nazi party was banned
  • The Putsch had failed miserably, and the party was almost entirely destroyed
69
Q

What were the positive consequences of the Munich Putsch for the Nazis?

A
  • Hitler used his trial to publicise Nazi beliefs
  • He used his time in prison to write “mein Kampf”, a book that outlined his beliefs, which became a bestseller when published
  • The events of the Putsch made Hitler realise he needed to rethink his strategy in order to win nationaln support and take power- using violence and power wasn’t enough
70
Q

How long did Hitler serve in prison?

A

He served just 9 months of his 5 year sentence

71
Q

What were Hitler’s conditions like in prison?

A

Pretty good. He had a nice bed, window and desk.

72
Q

What does Hitler’s short time served and good prison conditions show?

A

That although he was on the wrong side of the law, he was actually sympathised with and supported by a lot of people

73
Q

How did Hitler view the Munich Putsch?

A

A great success

74
Q

When was the Nazi party unbanned?

A

1925

75
Q

What was the Bamberg conference?

A

A conference organised by Hitler, addressing the splits between socialist and nationalist wings of the Nazi movement.
Hitler’s power as leader was secured and his vision of Nazism taken forward

76
Q

When was the Bamberg conference?

A

1926

77
Q

When was the Wall Street Crash?

A

October 1929

78
Q

What was the primary impact of the Wall Street Crash on Germany?

A

US stopped lending money to Germany and demanded loans to be repaid

79
Q

What did German government do as a result of no further loans from the US?

A
  • Refused to print more money
  • Increased taxes
  • Made cuts in employment benefits
  • Government workers had wages cut and some lost their jobs
80
Q

What was the effect of no further loans from the US on the German people?

A
  • Businesses reduced or closed
  • Millions of workers lost their jobs
  • Had to pay increased taxes
  • Benefits were slashed
  • Many families suffered from terrible poverty
81
Q

How did the depression benefit Hitler?

A

Economic problems - Unemployment - Dissatisfaction with middle Weimar government - Increased support of radical far right and left wing parties

82
Q

What did Hitler persuade business people?

A

He could solve the economic crisis

83
Q

What did Hitler persuade working-class people?

A

He could give them work

84
Q

What did Hitler persuade middle-class people?

A

He could protect them from the communists solve the economic crisis and return Germany to traditional values

85
Q

What did Hitler persuade rural communities?

A

He could protect them from the communists, who might seize their land

86
Q

How did Hitler attract young people?

A

Providing something exciting and meaningful to be a part of

87
Q

What did Hitler persuade women?

A

The Nazis were the best party to save the nation and their family

88
Q

Who was Hindenburg?

A

Hero of WW1 and President of the Weimar Republic

89
Q

Who was Bruning?

A

The Chancellor of the Weimar Republic

90
Q

Who was von Schleicher?

A

The army general

91
Q

Who was von Papen?

A

Politician and friend of Hindenburg

92
Q

What happened in April 1932?

A

Hindenburg stands for re-election as President

No party gets a majority

93
Q

What happened in May 1932?

A

Hindenburg re-elected as President
Hitler increases his share of votes
Chancellor Bruning bans SA and announces his plan to buy up land to house unemployed- both of these plans were unpopular and Bruning soon resigned
Von Papen replaces Bruning as chancellor

94
Q

What happened in July 1932?

A

Further elections take place- there is widespread Nazi Communist conflict
Nazi votes increase to 38%

95
Q

What happened in November 1932?

A

Von Schleicher warns Hindenburg that if von Papen remains in power there will be civil war. Von Papen no longer Chancellor

96
Q

What happened in December 1932?

A

Von Schleicher replaces von Papen as Chancellor

97
Q

What happened in January 1933?

A

Von Schleicher does not have the support of the people
Von Papen persuades Hindenburg to appoint Hitler as Chancellor to avoid von Schleicher’s possible military dictatorship
Hitler becomes Chancellor

98
Q

When was the Reichstag fire?

A

1933

99
Q

What was the Reichstag fire?

A

A fire set alight by a supposed communist

100
Q

What did Hitler accuse the communists of due to the Reichstag fire?

A

Conspiracy against the government

101
Q

What happened as a result of the Reichstag fire?

A
  • 4000 communists were arrested
  • Hitler issued a decree, which gave him powers to imprison political opponents and ban opposition newspapers
  • The communists no longer had their 81 seats, meaning the Nazis had 2/3 of the seats
  • Hitler pushed through the Enabling act
102
Q

When was the enabling act?

A

1933

103
Q

Give 3 opposition to Hitler’s control that the Enabling act allowed him to rid of?

A

Local government
Trade unions
Other political parties

104
Q

What happened to local governments following the Enabling act?

A

They were closed down in March 1933 and reorganised by Nazis, and later abolished in 1934

105
Q

What happened to trade unions following the Enabling act?

A

There were replaced by the German Labour Front. Many union officials were arrested

106
Q

What happened to other political parties following the Enabling act?

A

In May 1933, SDP and communist funds and offices were seized by the Nazis. In July 1933, other political parties were banned

107
Q

Why was Rohm and the SA were a threat to Hitler?

A
  • Rohm did not like Hitler’s policies
  • Many of the SA were annoyed because they felt undervalued, and angry because many were still unemployed
  • The SA were loyal to Rohm, not Hitler
  • The SA was much bigger than the army, and the army feared Rohm wanted to replace them
  • The leaders of the SS wanted to reduce the size of the SA
108
Q

When were the SS set up?

A

1925

109
Q

What was the Night of Long Knives?

A

Hitler wanted to rid himself of the threat of Hitler and the SA:

  • He invited Rohm and 100 SA leaders to a meeting
  • When they arrived, they were instead arrested and later killed
  • von Papen’s staff were arrested, causing him to leave government
  • Further killings occurred, including that of von Schleicher
110
Q

When was the Night of Long Knives?

A

June 1934

111
Q

When did Hindenburg die?

A

August 1934

112
Q

What happened as a result of Hindenburg?

A

Hitler merged the offices of President and Chancellor, to create the new office of Fuhrer, dictator of Germany

113
Q

What did Hitler force the army to do?

A

Swear an oath of allegiance to Hitler, not Germany as a whole

114
Q

Who were the SS?

A
  • Led by Himmler
  • Wore menacing black uniforms
  • Controlled all of Germany’s police and security forces
  • Often acted outside of the law
  • Ran concentration camps
  • Had to marry racially pure wives
115
Q

Who were the SD?

A
  • Led by Reynhard Heydrich
  • They wore uniforms
  • Spied on opponents of the Nazi party, both home and abroad
116
Q

Who were the Gestapo?

A
  • Led by Reynhard Heydrich
  • They were indistinguishable (wore no uniform and could be anyone)
  • They spied on and prosecuted people who spoke against the Nazis, even behind closed doors
  • Sent people to concentration camps and used torture
117
Q

When were the Gestapo set up?

A

1933

118
Q

When were the SS set up?

A

1925

119
Q

When were the SD set up?

A

1931

120
Q

How did Hitler control the legal system?

A
  • He made it so all judges had to belong to the National Socialist League