weimar republic & nazi germany

Question 1

what was life like for German people towards the end of the first world war?

Answer 1

• near the war’s end, German people were suffering severe hardship
• the Allies had set up naval blockades which prevented imports of food and essential goods. By 1918, many people faced starvation
• Public opinion turned against Kaiser Wilhelm II, who ruled the German Empire like a king. Many Germans wanted a democracy - there was widespread unrest

Question 3

what were some German uprisings that happened at the end of WW1?

Answer 3

• In November 1918 some members of the German navy rebelled and refused to board their ships
• in Hanover, German troops refused to control rioters
• a Jewish communist called Kurt Eisner encouraged a general uprising, which spread mass strikes in Munich

Question 3

how did government in Germany work in 1918?

Answer 3

Germany was made up of 18 states, and each had its own government. The national government decided national affairs, and state governments dealt with more local affairs.

Question 4

what is a republic?

Answer 4

a country ruled without a monarch (King or Queen) - power is held by the people via elected representatives

Question 5

what were the events surrounding the abdication of the Kaiser?

Answer 5

1. By November 1918, the situation in Germany verged on civil war. A huge public protest was held in Berlin, and members of the SPD (social democratic party) called for the Kaiser’s resignation
2. Kaiser Wilhelm abdicated on 9th November 1918. On the same day, two different socialist parties - the Social Democratic Party and the Independent Social Democratic Party (USPD) - declared a republic
3. On November 10th, all the state leaders that had been appointed by the monarchy left their posts. New revolutionary state governments took over instead. The monarchy had been abolished and Germany had the chance to become a democracy

Question 6

when was the armistice signed and why? What did people feel about this?

Answer 6

• On 11th November 1918, a ceasefire to end the First World War was agreed. The Allies (Britain, France and the USA) signed an armistice with Germany
• the new republic was under pressure to sign. The government didn’t think Germany could continue fighting - its people were starving and military morale was low
• the armistice wasn’t supported by some right-wing Germans, who saw the truce as a betrayal. They believed Germany could still win the war (…withouut faill..)

Question 7

what was the SPD?

Answer 7

the Social Democratic Party (in Germany)

Question 8

what is the USPD?

Answer 8

the Independent Social Democratic Party

Question 9

who was in control of Germany after the Kaiser’s abdication?

Answer 9

• after the abdication of the Kaiser, Germany was disorganised. Different political parties claimed control over different towns
• a temporary national government was established, consisting of the SPD and the USPD. It was called the Council of People’s Representatives.
• It controlled Germany until January 1919, when elections were held for a new Reichstag (parliament)

Question 10

how was the Weimar republic formed? (and who was the first president/chancellor?)

Answer 10

1. The Council of People’s Representatives organised elections in January 1919 to create a new parliament - Germany was now a democracy
2. Friedrich Ebert became the first President, with Philip Scheidemann as Chancellor. Ebert was leader of the SPD, a moderate party of socialists
3. In February 1919, the members of the new Reichstag (parliament) met at Weimar to create a new constitution for Germany (the constitution decided how the government would be organised, and established its main principles). Historians call this period of Germany’s history the Weimar Republic

Question 11

what is proportional representation?

Answer 11

proportional representation is where the proportion of seats a party wins in parliament is roughly the same as the proportion of total votes they win

Question 12

what was the Reichstag? How did it work?

Answer 12

the Reichstag was the new German Parliament. Members were elected every 4 years using proportional representation

Question 13

what was the Reichsrat?

Answer 13

• the second (less powerful) house of parliament
• consisted of members from each local region
• it can delay measures passed by the Reichstag

Question 14

How often was the president of the Weimar republic elected? What were the powers of the president?

Answer 14

The president was elected every 7 years. They had the power to choose the Chancellor, and were head of the army. They could dissolve the Reichstag, call new elections and suspend the constitution

Question 15

what changes did the new constitution in 1919 make?

Answer 15

• the new constitution reorganised the German system of government (president, reichstag, reichsrat)
• the new constitution was designed to be as fair as possible. Even very small political parties were given seats in the Reichstag if they got 0.4% of the vote or above
• the constitution allowed women to vote for the first time, and lowered the voting age to 20 - more Germans could vote and the German public had greater power

Question 16

what were the weaknesses of the new constitution (in 1919)?

Answer 16

Even though the new constitution was more democratic, it didn’t prove to be very efficient:

1) proportional representation meant that even parties with a very small number of votes were guaranteed to get into the Reichstag. This meant it was difficult to make decisions because there were so many parties, and they each had different points of view
2) when a decision couldn’t be reached, the President could suspend the constitution and pass laws without the Reichstag’s consent under Article 48 of the constitution
3) this power was only supposed to be used in an emergency, but became a useful way of getting around disagreements that took place in the Reichstag. This meant it undermined the new democracy

Question 17

when was the Treaty of Versailles signed?

Answer 17

June 1919

Question 18

What events led to the signing of the Treaty of Versailles, and what were the consequences?

Answer 18

1) after the armistice, a peace treaty called the Treaty of Versailles was imposed on Germany
2) the terms of the treaty were mostly decided by the Allied leaders - David Lloyd George (Britain), Georges Clemenceau (France) and Woodrow Wilson (USA)
3) The new German government wasn’t invited to the peace conference in 1919 and had no say in the Versailles Treaty. At first, Ebert refused to sign the treaty, but in the end he had little choice - Germany was too weak to risk restarting the conflict. In June 1919, he accepted the terms and signed
4) as a result, the Weimar Republic became associated with the pain and humiliation caused by the Treaty of Versailles

Question 19

what were the terms of the Treaty of Versailles?

Answer 19

• Article 231 of the treaty said that Germany had to take the blame for the war - the War-Guilt Clause. Many Germans didn’t agree with this, and were humiliated by having to accept total blame
• Germany’s armed forces were reduced to 100,000 men. They weren’t allowed any armoured vehicles, aircraft or submarines, and could only have 6 warships. This made Germans feel vulnerable.
• Germany was forced to pay £6600 million in reparations - payments for the damage caused by German forces in the war. The amount was decided in 1921 but was changed later. The heavy reparations seemed unfair to Germans and would cause lasting damage to Germany’s economy.
• Germany lost its empire - areas around the world that used to belong to Germany were now called mandates. They were put under the control of countries on the winning side of the war by the League of Nations - an organisation which aimed to settle international disputes peacefully. People opposed the losses in territory, especially when people in German colonies were forced to become part of a new nation.
• the German military was banned from the Rhineland - an area of Germany on its western border with France. This left Germany open to an attack from the west.

Question 20

How and why did the Treaty of Versailles cause resentment towards the Weimar Republic?

Answer 20

Germany felt betrayed by the Weimar Republic:

• Germans called the treaty a “Diktat” (a treaty forced upon Germany), and many blamed Ebert for accepting its terms
• some Germans believed the armistice was a mistake and that Germany could have won the war. They felt ‘stabbed in the back’ by the Weimar politicians who brought the Treaty of Versailes upon Germany unnecessarily
• the Treaty of Versailles played an important part in the failure of the Weimar Republic. It harmed the Republic’s popularity, and created economic and political unrest that hindered the government for years

Question 21

what was the general feeling like in Germany at the end of WW1?

Answer 21

there was widespread discontent in Germany:

• By 1919, thousands of Germans were poor and starving, and an influenza epidemic had killed thousands. Many Germans denied they had lost the war and blamed the ‘November Criminals’ who had agreed to the armistice and the Treaty of Versailles
• others who were blamed for losing the war included communists and Jews
• the government was seen as weak and ineffective - the Treaty of Versailles made living conditions worse

Question 22

what were the events of the Spartacist revolt?

Answer 22

• In January 1919, communists led by Karl Liebknecht and Rosa Luxemburg tried to take over Berlin. They took control of important buildings like newspaper headquarters, and 50,000 workers went on strike in support of the left-wing revolution. This became known as the Spartacist Revolt.
• Ebert asked for help from the right-wing Freikorps (ex-German soldiers) to stop the rebellion. Over 100 workers were killed. The Freikorps’ use of violence cause a split on the left between the Social Democratic Party and the communists

Question 23

What were the events of the Kapp Putsch?

Answer 23

• in March 1920, some of the Freikorps themselves took part in the Kapp Putsch (‘Putsch’ means revolt) - led by Wolfgang Kapp. They wanted to create a new right-wing government
• the Freikorps marched into Berlin to overthrow the Weimar regime. But German workers opposed the putsch and staged a general strike. Berlin was paralysed and Kapp was forced to give up.
• even after the putsch failed, threats to the government remained. In 1922, some former Freikorps members assassinated Walter Rathenau - he’d been Foreign Minister and was Jewish (as Germany’s economic problems got worse after the war, ant-Semitic (anti-Jewish) feelings increased)

Question 24

why does hyperinflation happen?

Answer 24

when production can’t keep up with the amount of money in circulation, so the money keeps losing its value

Question 25

what were the events leading up to hyperinflation in Germany?

Answer 25

1. By 1923, Germany could no longer meet the reparations payments set out by the Treaty of Versailles
2. France and Belgium decided to take Germany’s resources instead, so they occupied the Ruhr - the richest industrial part of Germany. This gave them access to Germany’s iron and coal reserves. The occupation led to fury in Germany, and caused a huge strike in the Ruhr
3. German industry was devastated again. Germany tried to solve her debt problem by printing more money, but this plunged the economy into hyperinflation
4. In 1918, and egg cost 1/4 of a Mark. By November 1923, it cost 80 million Marks

Question 26

what were the consequences of hyperinflation?

Answer 26

• Germany’s currency became worthless. Nobody wanted to trade with Germany, so shortages of food and goods got worse
• Bank savings also became worthless. The hardest hit were the middle classes
• By 1923, even basic necessities were hard to get hold of. The German people were undergoing immense hardship, which they’d now come to associate with the rise of the Weimar Republic

Question 27

who was Gustav Streseman?

Answer 27

Gustav Streseman became Chancellor of the Weimar Republic in 1923. His domestic and international policies helped the German economy to recover, resulting in the ‘Golden Years’ of the Weimar Republic

Question 28

when was Gustav Streseman Chancellor of the Weimar Republic?

Answer 28

between August and November 1923

Question 29

which 3 things did Streseman do to help Germany to recover from its economic crisis?

Answer 29

1. In September 1923, he ended the strike in the Ruhr. This reduced tension between Germany, France and Belgium, and meant that the government could stop compensation payments to strikers
2. In November 1923, Streseman replaced the German Mark with the Rentenmark to stabilise Germany’s currency
3. Streseman created the ‘great coalition’ - a group of moderate, pro-democracy socialist parities in the Reichstag who agreed to work together. This allowed parliament to make decisions more quickly

Question 30

when did Streseman become Foreign Minister?

Answer 30

In November 1923

Question 31

what did Streseman try to do as foreign minister?

Answer 31

he tried to cooperate more with other countries and build better international relationships. Germany’s economy prospered as a result

Question 32

Give 5 things that Streseman did to help build better international relationships

Answer 32

1. The Dawes Plan
2. The Young Plan
3. The Locarno Pact
4. The League of Nations
5. The Kellogg-Briand Pact

Question 33

When was the Dawes plan signed? What did it agree?

Answer 33

the Dawes plan was signed in 1924. Streseman secured France and Belgium’s withdrawal from the Ruhr and agreed more realistic payment dates for the reparations. The USA lent German £40 million to help it pay off its other debts. The Dawes plan helped Germany’s economy, but meant its success was dependent on American loans.

Question 34

When was the Young Plan agreed? What did it agree?

Answer 34

The Young Plan was agreed in 1929. The Allies agreed to reduce the reparations to a quarter of the original amount, and Germany was given 59 years to pay them,

Question 35

when was the Locarno Pact signed? What was agreed in it?

Answer 35

The Locarno Pact was signed in October 1925. Germany, France and Belgium agreed to respect their joint borders - even those created as a result of the Treaty of Versailles.

Question 36

when did the League of Nations allow Germany to join? What did this mean?

Answer 36

Mainly due to Streseman, the League of Nations allowed Germany to join in 1926. Germany was re-established as an international power.

Question 37

what was the structure of the Dawes Plan?

Answer 37

1. The USA could afford to lend money to other countries
2. The USA lent Germany money to help it pay off its debts
3. Germany was able to pay its reparations to Britain and France
4. Britain and France used the money they’d received to pay of their own debts to the USA
5. Therefore, the USA could afford to lend money to other countries, and so the cycle continued

Question 38

When did Streseman die?

Answer 38

in October 1929, just before the disaster of the Wall Street Crash

Question 39

what was the Wall Street Crash?

Answer 39

a massive stock market crash in the USA which started a global economic depression

Question 40

how did the Wall Street Crash affect Germany?

Answer 40

Germany had begun to recover, but it was still dependent on US money: the plans Streseman had agreed would only work if the USA had enough money to keep lending to Germany. After the crash, America no longer had enough money to lend to other countries, and so this led to things getting worse again in Germany

Question 41

how did living standards change for the working classes under the Weimar Republic? why did this happen?

Answer 41

During the ‘Golden Years’, living standards improved in the Weimar Republic. This was a result of Germany’s economic prosperity, but also of the reforms which took place throughout the 1920s.

Question 42

give 3 things that improved for the working classes during the ‘Golden Years’ of the Weimar Republic?

Answer 42

1. Unemployment
2. Wages
3. Housing

Question 43

how did things improve for the unemployed during the ‘Golden Years’ of the Weimar Republic?

Answer 43

The unemployed were more protected. In 1927 the government introduced unemployment insurance. Workers could pay into the scheme and would receive cash benefits if they became unemployed.

Question 44

how did wages improve for the working classes during the ‘Golden Years’ of the Weimar Republic?

Answer 44

The working classes became more prosperous. Wages for industrial workers rose quickly in the late 1920s.

Question 45

how did housing improve during the ‘Golden Years’ of the Weimar Republic?

Answer 45

The government launched mass housing projects. More than 2 million new homes were built between 1924 and 1931. This also provided extra employment.

Question 46

what were the disadvantages of the higher standards of living during the Golden Years of the Weimar Republic?

Answer 46

1. Higher living standards could only be maintained with a strong economy, and Germany’s was fragile
2. The changes mainly helped the working classes - the middle classes couldn’t access the welfare benefits
3. Not everyone benefitted from higher standards of living. The middle classes felt ignored by the Weimar government and their resentment made it easier for the government’s political opponents to gain support

Question 47

What changed for women under the Weimar Republic?

Answer 47

Women were given more freedom and greater access to public life under the Weimar Republic:

1. Politically, women were given more representation. They were awarded the vote and could enter politics more easily - between 1919 and 1932, 112 women were elected to the Reichstag.
2. Women showed that they were capable workers during the war, and the number of young women working increased.
3. The traditional role of women began to change. New female sports clubs and societies sprang up, and women had more opportunities
4. Divorce became easier, and the number of divorces rose

Question 48

what were the negative effects of the changes for women under the Weimar Republic?

Answer 48

these changes fuelled right-wing criticism - some German nationalists thought giving women more power and freedom threatened traditional family life and values in Germany.

Question 49

Describe some of the Weimar Republic’s cultural achievements

Answer 49

1. The Weimar Republic was a period of creativity and innovation in Germany. Freedom of expression generated new ideas. Artists began to question traditional forms and styles, especially ones that focused on authority and militarism.
2. There were advances in the arts - some developments were bold and new, like the drama of Bertholt Brecht. The Bauhaus School of design was highly influential, especially in fine arts and architecture
3. there were also important changes in music, literature and cinema. German films were successful - e.g. ‘Metropolis’ directed by Fritz Lang
4. The Weimar Republic encouraged new ways of critical thinking at places like Frankfurt University, and a cabaret culture developed in Berlin

Question 50

Why did some people not like the developments in the arts made by the Weimar Republic?

Answer 50

not all Germans liked the rejection of traditional forms and values in Weimar culture. Some were afraid it symbolised a loss of German tradition.

Question 51

Describe Hitler’s rise to become the leader of the NSDAP

Answer 51

1. Hitler joined the German Workers’ Party (a nationalist party led by Anton Drexler) in January 1919, when he was still in the German army. He became known for his talent as a passionate and skilled speaker, and crowds gathered to hear him talk.
2. The German Workers’ Party began to rely on him to get new party members, and in 1920 he was made chief of propaganda (In 1919, the German Workers’ Party had around 60 members. By the end of 1920, it had around 2000)
3. In 1920, the party was re-branded as the National Socialist German Workers’ Party (the Nazi Party). In July 1921, Hitler became its leader

Question 52

What did the National Socialist German Workers Party (NSDAP) stand for?

Answer 52

The NSDAP was a nationalist party - it thought that the interests of Germans should be at the centre of government policy. It was anti-Semitic and was opposed to the Weimar Republic. Above everything, it wanted to restore Germany’s greatness.

Question 53

as the Nazi party grew in popularity, how did it establish an identity that appealed to as many people as possible?

Answer 53

1. In February 1920, the Nazi party promoted its policies in the ‘Twenty-Five Point Programme’
2. The Programme stressed the superiority of the German people and promoted anti-Semitism
3. The party wanted to raise pensions, and improve health and education - but only for Germans
4. rejecting the Treaty of Versailles and promoting German greatness gave the party a nationwide appeal
5. In 1921, Hitler founded his own party militia called the SA. The SA were political thugs - they carried out violent anti-Semitic attacks and intimidated rival political groups. Many people were scared of them, but some Germans admired them

Question 54

Give 4 things the 25 point programme aimed for

Answer 54

1. The Treaty of Versailles should be abolished
2. All German-speakers should be united
3. Only Germans (people with German blood) can be classed as citizens. Jews cannot be citizens
4. improved pensions and land reform

Question 55

How did the SA help the Nazis?

Answer 55

The Nazis took advantages of economic problems to provide Germans with useful scapegoats like the Jews. The SA gave the party a military feel, which made it seem organised and disciplined. It also gave many ex-soldiers a job and a purpose.

Question 56

what most likely inspired the Munich Putsch?

Answer 56

In 1922, a nationalist party overthrew the Italian government, inspiring Hitler to do the same in Germany

Question 57

when was the Munich Putsch? Why did Hitler think that this was the right time to attempt it?

Answer 57

November 1923:

• In 1923, things were going badly for the Weimar Republic - it seemed weak
• Hyperinflation was at its peak and there were food riots
• Many Germans were angry at the French and Belgian invasion of the Ruhr. When the government stopped resistance by ending the strike there in 1923, discontent increased

Question 58

what were the events of the Munich Putsch?

Answer 58

• In November 1923, the Nazis marched on Munich
• Hitler’s soldiers occupied a beer hall in the Bavarian city of Munich where local government leaders were meeting. he announced that the revolution had begun.
• the next day Hitler marched into Munich supported by his stormtroopers. But news of the revolt had been leaked to the police, who were waiting for Hitler. The police fired on the rebels and the revolt quickly collapsed

Question 59

how was the Munich Putsch beneficial for Hitler?

Answer 59

• Hitler was imprisoned for his role in the Munich Putsch, but his trial gave him valuable publicity
• he wrote Mein Kampf (“my struggle”) in prison - a book describing his beliefs and ambitions
• Mein Kampf was vital in spreading Nazi ideology - millions of Germans read it. It introduced Hitler’s belief that the Aryan race (which included germans) was superior to all other races, and that all Germans had a right to ‘Lebensraum’ (more space to live)

Question 60

How did support for the Nazis change after the Munich Putsch?

Answer 60

By the mid-1920s, the German economy was starting to recover under Streseman. As a result, general support for the Nazis declined and overturning the government through a coup no longer seemed realistic. This dip in support for the Nazi Party between 1924 and 1928 shows how important economic unrest was to Hitler’s success: Nazi ideology thrived when Germany was struggling.

Question 61

When was the Nazi party banned? When was this ban lifted?

Answer 61

the Nazi party was banned after the Munich Putsch, along with the SA. Hitler was released from prison in December 1924, and the ban was lifted in February 1925. Hitler re-established the Nazi party with himself as supreme leader

Question 62

How did Hitler change tactics after the Munich Putsch? What did this involve?

Answer 62

Hitler now tried to gain control through the democratic system. This involved restructuring the Nazi Party so it could compete more successfully in national elections

Question 63

What changes did Hitler make to the Nazi party after his imprisonment and the decision to try and gain power by politically gaining power?

Answer 63

1. In 1926, Hitler held a conference with the Nazi leadership at Bamberg. He was worried that the party had become divided - some members wanted the party to go in a more socialist direction. He made it clear that the party would only follow his agenda
2. The Nazi Party adopted a national framework and became more centralised. In 1926, Hitler appointed leaders called “gauleiters” to run regional branches of the Nazi party. Gauleiters were controlled by the party leadership in Munich, and supervised district and local branches of the party. This brought every level of the party under Hitler’s control
3. Nazi propaganda increased and was centrally controlled by the leadership in Munich. This made propaganda campaigns more efficient. In 1926 Hitler re-established the SA and began to use them for propaganda purposes
4. The Nazi Party created new organisations for different social groups. In 1926 it founded the Hitler Youth to attract younger voters, and it also created societies for different professions, e.g. the National Socialist Teachers’ League. These organisations made different sectors of society feel valued by the party.

Question 64

What changes were made to the Nazi Party following the Munich Putsch?

Answer 64

1. In 1926, Hitler held a conference with the Nazi leadership at Bamberg. He was worried that the party had become divided - some members wanted the party to go in a more socialist direction. He made it clear that the party would only follow his agenda
2. The Nazi Party adopted a national framework and became more centralised. In 1926, Hitler appointed leaders called “gauleiters” to run regional branches of the Nazi party. Gauleiters were controlled by the party leadership in Munich, and supervised district and local branches of the party. This brought every level of the party under Hitler’s control
3. Nazi propaganda increased and was centrally controlled by the leadership in Munich. This made propaganda campaigns more efficient. In 1926 Hitler re-established the SA and began to use them for propaganda purposes
4. The Nazi Party created new organisations for different social groups. In 1926 it founded the Hitler Youth to attract younger voters, and it also created societies for different professions, e.g. the National Socialist Teachers’ League. These organisations made different sectors of society feel valued by the party.

Question 65

When was the Wall Street Crash? What did it mean?

Answer 65

In October 1929 the Wall Street stock market in America crashed. It sparked an international economic crisis (the Great Depression) and meant that the USA couldn’t afford to prop up the German economy any longer.

Question 66

How did the Wall Street Crash and the Great Depression end economic Recovery in Germany?

Answer 66

• Germany’s economic recovery between 1924 and 1929 was built on unstable foundations. The biggest problem was that it was dependent on loans from the USA, which had been agreed in the Dawes plan
• After the Wall Street Crash, the USA couldn’t afford to lend Germany money anymore. It suspended future payments and wanted some old loans to be repaid

Question 67

What were the consequences of the Wall Street Crash in Germany?

Answer 67

• Germany’s economy collapsed without American aid. Industrial production went into decline - factories closed and banks went out of business
• there was mass unemployment. In October 1929 1.6 million people were out of work, and by February 1932 there were over 6 million

Question 68

Who (and when) did the Weimar Republic appoint to deal with the crisis caused by the Wall Street Crash? Which policies did he introduce?

Answer 68

In March 1930, the Weimar Republic appointed a new Chancellor, Heinrich Brüning, to deal with the crisis. He introduced tough economic policies to keep inflation from rising like it had done in 1923

Question 69

Give some examples of Brüning’s policies

Answer 69

• he increased the cost of imported food to help German agriculture, but this also raised food prices
• Government salaries and pensions were reduced and taxes increased (as many Germans were struggling financially, the government seemed to be adding pressure by reducing support)
• social services were cut back, and unemployment benefits were reduced
• however, not all historians think that Brüning’s policies made German society worse - some think the economic crisis was so severe that it would’ve taken years for any improvements to be seen

Question 70

were Brüning’s policies popular? Why?

Answer 70

Brüning’s economic policies were unpopular and decreased support for the Weimar Republic:

• everyday life in Germany seemed to be made worse by Brüning’s policies.
• they were designed to help the economy, but they also caused standards of living to fall - Brüning was nicknamed the ‘Hunger Chancellor’
• by 1932, many different sectors of society were discontent with the Weimar government. High unemployment and reduced benefits also meant the government lost some backing from the working classes, who had always formed a large part of their support

Question 71

how did the government become less democratic due to the Great Depression?

Answer 71

• Brüning’s economic policies were so unpopular that he had difficulty passing them in the Reichstag. He began to rely on ‘Article 48’ of the Weimar constitution. Brüning asking President Hindenburg to suspend to constitution, so he could make decisions without parliamentary approval.
• by 1932, Brüning was regularly bypassing parliament to force his economic measures through
• Weimar no longer felt like a democracy and the German people felt neglected. They began to look towards alternative political parties like the Nazi Party and the Communist Party.

Question 72

why did the Nazis increase in popularity during the Great Depression?

Answer 72

popular discontent with the Weimar government and economic instability meant that many Germans had lost faith in democracy. This created an opportunity for extreme parties (like the Nazis) to grow in popularity

Question 73

what were the federal election results in Germany in 1928?

Answer 73

Nazi party: 3%
Communist party: 11%
SPD: 30%

Question 74

what were the federal election results in Germany in 1930?

Answer 74

Nazi Party: 18%
Communist Party: 13%
SPD: 25%

Question 75

what were the federal election results in Germany in July 1932?

Answer 75

Nazi Party: 37%
Communist Party: 15%
SPD: 22%

Question 76

what were the federal election results in Germany in November 1932?

Answer 76

Nazi Party: 33%
Communist Party: 17%
SPD: 20%

Question 77

how did the election results change for the Nazis between 1928 and 1932?

Answer 77

Between 1928 and 1932, the Nazi Party pulled ahead of the KPD (communist party). The Nazis became the biggest party in the Reichstag

Question 78

did the German Communist Party (KPD) or the Nazi Party grow more in popularity due to the Great Depression?

Answer 78

• The KPD and the Nazi party both grew in popularity after the Great Depression. Both parties competed for the support of Germans hit hard by the economic crisis
• between 1928 and 1932, membership of the KPD grew from 130,000 members to almost 300,000. However, the Nazi Party membership grew even more rapidly - and soon the KPDD got left behind

Question 79

What made the Nazi party more popular than the German Communist Party (KPD)

Answer 79

an important factor in the Nazi’s popularity was Hitler’s personality. Hitler was patriotic and energetic, and was able to effectively convey his enthusiasm to his supporters. His speeches brought hope to those who listened. In the Nazis’ 1932 election campaigns, Hitler was depicted as Germany’s saviour - he stood up to the Weimar government and opposed the ‘threat’ of communism

Question 80

what did the Nazi party promise that was so popular? how high was membership in 1930?

Answer 80

the Nazis promised a more prosperous and less humiliating future, which was very popular among the German people - by 1930, membership had grown to over 300,000.

Question 81

explain how the Nazi party appealed to 3 different groups of people in society

Answer 81

1. After the onset of the Depression, the Nazi Party’s popularity soared. Hitler’s promise to make Germany great again appealed to the growing ranks of unemployed and young people who wanted a brighter future (after the Depression hit Germany, more Germans began to vote. Participation in elections increased by around 10% between 1928 and 1932. Many of these new voters were attracted by the changes the Nazi Party promised)
2. some people also supported the Nazi’s anti-communist and anti-communist views. Communists and Jews were useful scapegoats for Germany’s economic problems and gave Germans someone to blame
3. some wealthy businessmen who had lost out in the Great Depression turned to the Nazi party. They approved of the Nazis’ anti-communist stance and wanted the economic prosperity that Hitler had promised

Question 82

suggest three reasons why more people may have voted for the Nazi party between 1928 and 1932?

Answer 82

• After the Depression hit Germany, more Germans began to vote Participation in elections increased by around 10% between 1928 and 1932. Many of these new voters were attracted by the changes the Nazi Party promised
• by the 1930s, the Nazi Party seemed strong and organised in comparison to the Weimar government. The SA held demonstrations, distributed propaganda and appeared more disciplined than they had been in the early 1920s. The Nazi Party became more respectable and this helped Hitler secure support from the middle classes
• propaganda was very efficient. It often focused on regional issues and targeted specific groups. This made individuals feel valued by the Party and stole votes from smaller parties

Question 83

what happened in 1932?

Answer 83

1. by April 1932, economic conditions had worsened. The country was desperate for a strong government.
2. President Hindenburg had to stand for re-election because his term of office had run out. He was a national hero, but Hitler decided to run against him. Despite claiming he would win easily, Hindenburg didn’t win a majority in the first election. In the second ballot he won 53%, beating Hitler’s 36.8%
3. In May 1932, Chancellor Brüning was dismissed and replaced by Franz von Papem
4. in the elections of July 1932, the Nazis became the most popular party in the Reichstag. Hitler demanded to be made Chancellor, but Hindenburg didn’t trust him and refused his request. This could have been a dead-end for Hitler - Hindenburg was the only one who could legally appoint him Chancellor of Germany
5. The Nazis lost 34 seats in the November 1932 election - they seemed to be losing popularity.
6. In December 1932 Hindenburg replaced Papen with one of his advisors, Kurt von Schleicher. Schleicher tried to cause divisions in the Nazi Party by asking another leading Nazi to be Vice-Chancellor - Gregor Strasser. But Hitler stopped Gregor accepting

Question 84

How did Hitler become chancellor?

Answer 84

1. Papen resented Schleicher (who had replaced him as Chancellor) because he suspected Schleicher had persuaded Hindenburg to dismiss him (Papen) as chancellor. He wanted to get back into government, so he made a deal with Hitler. They agreed that if Papen persuaded Hindenburg to make Hitler Chancellor, Hitler would make Papen Vice-Chancellor
2. In January 1933, Papen persuaded Hindenburg to replace Schleicher with Hitler - Papen argued that they could control Hitler and use him as a puppet (“In two months time we will have pushed Hitler so far into a corner, he’ll be squeaking” - Franz von Papen, 1933). He was wrong.

Question 85

after he became chancellor, why did Hitler need to increase the Nazi Party’s seats in the Reichstag?

Answer 85

he needed to increase their seats in the Reichstag to get a majority and be able to pass new laws. If they got a two-thirds majority, then the Nazi Party would be able to make changes to the constitution. This would mean the Nazi Party could change the way the government was structured and give Hitler absolute power.

Question 86

How did Hitler make sure he won in the 1933 elections?

Answer 86

• in the elections of March 1933, the Nazis took no chances. Hitler tried to stop other political parties from carrying out effective campaigns. They controlled the news media, and opposition meetings were banned
• Hitler used the SA to terrorise opponents. In February 1933, the SA raided the Communist Party Headquarters in Berlin and claimed to have found evidence that the communists were planning an uprising against the government
• in February 1933, just 6 days before the elections, a fire broke out in the Reichstag. Hitler blamed the Communist Party and used the event to whip up anti–communist feelings

Question 87

how did the Reichstag fire benefit the Nazi party?

Answer 87

• Hitler used the fire to claim that communists were a threat to the country. Nazi newspapers used the event as an excuse to publish anti-communist conspiracy theories
• President Hindenburg issued a decree giving Hitler emergency powers to deal with the supposed communist threat - many basic rights given to the German people under the constitution, e.g. freedom of speech, were suspended. These emergency powers were a turning point - they mark the first step towards making Germany a dictatorship. Hitler justified them by saying that they were necessary to protect the German peoople. This meant he faced little opposition from the German public
• Hitler used these powers to intimidate communist voters. The decree also enabled the SA to round up and imprison nearly 4000 communist members

Question 88

How did Hitler get parliament to pass the Enabling Act? What did this mean?

Answer 88

1. In the march 1933 elections, the Nazi Party won 288 seats but didn’t have an overall majority. So Hitler simply made the Communist Party (which had 81 seats) illegal.
2. This gave him enough support in parliament to bring in the Enabling Act, passed with threats and bargaining in March 1933. This let him govern for four years without parliament. Hitler could now pass laws and amend the constitution without the Reichstag’s consent. Other Chancellors in the Weimar government had used Article 48 to bypass parliament, so the new Act may not have seemed that extreme to some Germans
3. The Enabling Act was an important step in Hitler’s consolidation off power. It allowed Hitler to bring controversial legislation into force to strengthen the Nazi Party’s position.

Question 89

give 2 things that Hitler did under the Enabling Act

Answer 89

1. In May 1933, Hitler abolished Trade Unions and arrested union officials - Hitler saw Trade Unions as a threat because they had great influence over the working class. After May 1933, workers had to join the Nazi-controlled Labour Front instead
2. In July 1933, all political parties, apart from the Nazi Party were banned. This new law also banned new parties from forming. After July 1933, Germany was officially a one-party state.

Question 90

what did some germans think about Germany becoming a one-party state after July 1933

Answer 90

Some Germans thought a one-party state would be an improvement. Parties often couldn’t reach an agreement in the Reichstag and Germans were tired of political instability - between March 1930 and March 1933 there were 4 different chancellors.

Question 91

when did Germany become a one-party state?

Answer 91

July 1933

Question 92

Why did Hitler see the SA as a threat?

Answer 92

The SA (a ‘private Nazi Party army’ of over 400,000 men) had helped Hitler come to power, but Hitler now saw the SA as a threat because its members were loyal to Ernst Rohm, the SA’s leader. The SA was also unpopular with the leaders of the Germany army and some ordinary Germans

Question 93

What was the Night of the Long Knives? What were the consequences of it?

Answer 93

1. Ernst Röhm was the biggest threat to Hitler, but Hitler was also worried about other members of the Nazi Party who disagreed with his views
2. On the 29th-30th June 1934, Hitler sent men to arrest of kill Rohm and others. Altogether, several hundred people were killed or imprisoned, including Röhm and various other leaders of the SA and senior politicians
3. Hitler claimed that those who had been killed had been plotting to overthrow the government, so he declared their murders legal
4. this became known as the ‘Night of the Long Knives’ and was a triumph for Hitler
5. It stamped out all potential opposition within the Nazi party and sent a powerful message to the party about Hitler’s ruthlessness and brutality. It also showed that Hitler was now free to act above the law

Question 94

How did the public react to the Night of the Long Knives?

Answer 94

Most Germans wouldn’t have known exactly what had happened on the ‘Night of the Long Knives’ until a few days later, when Hitler declared the events legal. Even then, there was little outcry. It’s likely that some people believed Hitler’s claims that the violence was necessary to protect the country. Others were too scared to speak out.

Question 95

when did Hindenburg die?

Answer 95

August 1934

Question 96

when did Hitler take full control of national and local government?

Answer 96

after Hindenburg’s death in August 1934

Question 97

what changes did Hitler make after Hindenburg’s death?

Answer 97

Hitler used to opportunity of Hindenburg’s death to combine the posts of Chancellor and President, and also made himself Commander-in-Chief of the army. He called himself Der Fuhrer (the leader) - this was the beginning of the dictatorship. Hitler also reorganised local government.

Question 98

how did Hitler reorganise government after Hindenburg’s death in 1934?

Answer 98

1. in 1926 he had created branches of the Nazi party in different areas of Germany called Gau (plural: Gaue). These now became official provinces of Germany, with a Gauleiter (a loyal Nazi) in charge of each. Gauleiters were appointed by Hitler, which ensured he had control over the lower levels of the party.
2. Above them were the Reichsleiters, who advised Hitler, e.g. Goebbels who was in charge of propaganda, and Himmler who was chief of the German police
3. at the top and in absolute control was the Fuhrer - Hitler
4. every aspect of life was carefully controlled, and only loyal Nazis could be successful

Question 99

after Hitler came to power, who in particular had to swear allegiance to him?

Answer 99

The army had to swear an oath of allegiance to Hitler, instead of pledging to protect Germany. Some German workers were also forced to take an oath of obedience, promising loyalty to Hitler. Those who refused could lose their jobs.

Question 100

The Nazis aimed to make Germany a totalitarian state. What is a totalitarian state?

Answer 100

a state where the government controls all aspects of life

Question 101

how did Germany become a Police State?

Answer 101

1. The Nazis wanted complete control over the machinery of government and people’s lives
2. Hitler’s Enabling Act of 1933 allowed the government to read people’s mail, listen in on their phone calls, and search their homes without notice
3. The Law for the Reconstruction of the Reich (1934) gave the Nazis total power over local governments
4. There were laws to sack civil servants who didn’t support the Nazis and accept their rules
5. The Nazis also made changes to the justice system. Judges didn’t have to be ‘fair’ and unbiased. Instead, they were expected to make rulings that were in line with Nazi party policy
6. The Sicherheitsdienst (SD) was the Nazi intelligence service. It was initially run by Reinhard Heydrich - he aimed to bring every German under continual supervision

Question 102

what changes did the Nazis make to the legal system?

Answer 102

• in 1933, the Nazis set up special courts where the basic rights of those accused were suspended - they couldn’t appeal or question evidence given against them
• in 1934, Hitler established the People’s Court in Berlin, which held trials for important political crimes. Defendants were nearly always found guilty

Question 103

what was the SS?

Answer 103

The SS (Schutzstaffel) began as a bodyguard for Hitler. It expanded massively under the leadership of Himmler during the 1930s. Its members were totally loyal to Hitler, and feared for their cruelty

Question 104

who was in charge of the Gestapo?

Answer 104

Himmler

Question 105

who was in charge of the SS?

Answer 105

Himmler

Question 106

what was the Gestapo?

Answer 106

the secret police - the Gestapo’s job was ‘to protect public safety and order’, but their methods included harsh interrogations and imprisonment without trial

Question 107

give 4 methods used by the Nazis to terrorise people into conforming while Hitler was in Power

Answer 107

1. The SS
2. the Gestapo
3. Local wardens were employed to make sure Germans were loyal to the Nazis. Members of the public were encouraged to report disloyalty. Many were arrested by the Gestapo as a result
4. After 1933, concentration camps were created across Germany and its territories to hold political prisoners and anybody else considered dangerous to the Nazis. Some of these were later turned into death camps

Question 108

under the Nazis, did everyone live in constant terror?

Answer 108

• most Germans were prepared to go along with the new regime. Some people accepted the new rules out of fear.
• others went along with them because they believed in their aims, even if they didn’t approve of the Nazi’s brutal methods
• For those that didn’t fit in with the Nazi ideals (e.g. Jews), life under the SS and the Gestapo could be terrifying. But Hitler was supported, not feared, by many Germans

Question 109

Explain what the Nazis aimed to do with propaganda

Answer 109

they aimed to control how people think, and Nazi propaganda was used to unite the German people and convince them that the Nazis would make Germany strong:

1. propaganda means spreading information that influences how people think and behave. It gives only certain points of view and often leaves out important facts
2. The Nazis used powerful propaganda to get the support of the German people. Dr Joseph Goebbels was in overall charge of the Nazis’ ‘propaganda machine’

Question 110

give a popular propaganda slogan from Nazi Germany

Answer 110

‘One people, one empire, one leader’

Question 111

Give some messages that the Nazis aimed to get across with their propaganda

Answer 111

Nazi propaganda took simple ideas and repeated them:

• Germans were encouraged to hate the countries that signed the Treaty of Versailles. The Nazis said Germany should fight to get back the territory ‘stolen’ by the treaty
• Goebbels created the ‘Hitler Myth’, which made Hitler seem like a god and the saviour of Germany. This was the ‘cult of the Fuhrer’
• The Nazis’ propaganda also said that Jews and communists were the biggest cause of Germany’s problems. One Nazi paper claimed that Jews murdered children for the Passover Feast.
• The Nazis encouraged a return to traditional German values and a revival of traditional German culture

Question 112

In Nazi Germany, who made it so that the Government had to approve all artistic works, and how?

Answer 112

Goebbels founded the Ministry of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda in 1933. It had departments for music, theatre, film, literature and radio. All artists, writers, journalists and musicians had to register to get their work apporved.

Question 113

why did the Nazis use the media as a tool of propaganda?

Answer 113

The Nazis wanted to surround people with their propaganda. They used censorship to prevent Germans from seeing or hearing anything that gave a different message

Question 114

how did the Nazis use the media as a tool of propaganda?

Answer 114

1. they sold cheap radios and controlled broadcasts. By 1939 approximately 70% of households had a radio, which gave the Nazis a voice in most people’s homes (according to Goebbels, radio was a ‘weapon of the totalitarian state’ - it was another way to control the people
2. In 1933, only 3% of German daily newspapers were controlled by the Nazis. By 1944, this had risen to 82%. This meant the Nazis could decide what was published in the papers
3. the Nazis also produced hundreds of films. Many films showed the strengths of the Nazis and Hitler, and the weakness of their opponents. An important German director was Leni Riefenstahl

Question 115

what did the Nazis use public rallies for?

Answer 115

to spread their propaganda

Question 116

give an example of one of the Nazis’ public rallies. What did it focus on?

Answer 116

The annual Nuremberg rallies focused on speeches by leading Nazis, Hitler and Goebbels. The 1934 Nuremberg Rally was recorded by Riefenstahl in her film ‘Triumph of the Will’. One million people attended the 1936 rally. There were displays of lights and flags to greet the arrival of Hitler. These made him look more powerful.

Question 117

when was the Berlin Olympics? How was it significant?

Answer 117

in 1936 - it was used to show off German wealth and power. But the success of non-Aryan athletes like African-American Jesse Owens (who won 4 gold medals0 undermined Hitler’s message

Question 118

how did the Nazis use propaganda to change culture and society?

Answer 118

1. The Nazis promised an empire that would last a thousand years - based on traditional values
2. modern art was banned, in favour of realistic paintings that fit with Nazi ideology. Modern art was labelled ‘degenerate’ and exhibitions were created to show people how ‘bad’ it was. The Nazis celebrated the works of ‘German’ composers, such as Wagner, but much modern classical music, works by Jewish composers, and jazz were all attacked
3. school textbooks were rewritten to make Germans look successful. Children were taught to believe in Nazi doctrines
4. the ‘strength through joy’ programme sought to show ordinary workers that the Nazi regime cared about their standard of living

Question 119

how effective was Nazi propaganda?

Answer 119

surprisingly, it’s quite difficult to tell how effective Nazi propaganda was:

• some historians say Nazi propaganda was better at reinforcing people’s existing attitudes than making them believe something different
• many Germans felt angry and humiliated by the Treaty of Versailles, so Hitler’s promises to reverse the treaty and make Germany great again were very popular
• after the political weakness of the Weimar Republic, people found the image of Hitler as a strong leader appealing. So the ‘Hitler Myth’ was very effective and made Hitler an extremely popular leader
• anti-Jewish and anti-communist attitudes already existed in Germany before the Nazis came to power
• the Weimar Republic was seen as too liberal by many - they thought standards in Germany had slipped. These people liked the promise of a return to traditional German values
• the Depression had left many German people in poverty. This made them easuer to persuade, and the Nazis’ promises of help extremely popular
• however effective their propaganda was, the Nazis’ control of the media made it almost impossible for anyone to publish an alternative point of view

Question 120

why did Hitler want to reduce the Church’s power?

Answer 120

1. in the 1930s, most Germans were Christians and the Church was very influential. During the Weimar Republic, the state and the Church had worked closely together and the Church was involved in national matters like education
2. some prominent Nazis were anti-Christian and Nazi ideology disagreed with the role the Church had traditionally in society
3. Hitler thought religion should comply with the state and wanted churches to promote Nazi ideals. He was also worried that some members of the Church might publicly oppose Nazi policies
4. the Nazi Party was careful to maintain support from the Catholic and Protestant Churches during its rise to power because they were so popular. However, as Hitler consolidated his totalitarian state, his control over churches increased.

Question 121

when was the Concordat signed? What was it, and what did it mean?

Answer 121

in July 1933, an agreement called the Concordat was signed between the Pope and the Nazi government. Hitler promised not to interfere with the Catholic Church if the Church agreed to stay out of German politics. The Concordat reassured Christians that Hitler was consolidating ties with the Catholic Church, but he was actually restricting its power: the Catholic Church was now banned from speaking out against the Nazi Party, but Hitler soon broke his side of the deal

Question 122

how did the Nazi party interfere with the Catholic Church?

Answer 122

• The Nazi Party started to restrict the Catholic Church’s role in education
• In 1936 all crucifixes were removed from schools and by 1939 Catholic education had been destroyed
• The Nazis began arresting priests in 1935 and put them on trial.
• Catholic newspapers were suppressed and the Catholic Youth group was disbanded

Question 123

did the Catholic Church speak out against Hitler?

Answer 123

in 1937, the Pope spoke out against Hitler in a letter to Catholic Churches in Germany. The stance of the Church had changed, but many German Catholics were too scared to speak out against the Nazi Party - Catholics tried to protect their religion by avoiding confrontation with the Nazi Party

Question 124

how did the Nazi Party control the Protestant Church?

Answer 124

the Protestant Church was reorganised and fell under Nazi control:

1. when Hitler became Chancellor in 1933, there were 28 independent Protestant Churches. These Churches were politically divided - some formed a group known as the ‘German Christians’. They supported Hitler and favoured an anti-Semitic version of Christianity.
2. The Nazi Party backed this version of Christianity and believed that all Christians should follow its principles. In 1936 all Protestant Churches were merged to form the Reich Church
3. The Reich Church was an attempt to increase state control over the Protestant Church and make a National Socialist version of Christianity
4. not everyone supported the Reich Church - it was opposed by a Protestant group called the ‘Confessing Church’

Question 125

what changes did the Reich Church make?

Answer 125

The Reich Church ‘Nazified’ Christianity:
The Reich Church replaced that symbol of a cross with the Nazi Swastika, and the Bible was replaced by ‘Mein Kampf’. Only Nazis could give sermons and the Church suspended non-Aryan ministers

Question 126

give 4 groups of people that opposed hitler (even after he was Fuhrer)

Answer 126

1. the political left
2. some members of the Church
3. there were youth movements such as the Edelweiss Pirates and Swing Kids
4. other germans expressed their dissatisfaction with the Nazi regime in ‘low level’ ways - e.g. by grumbling about the government or spreading rumours. Not everyone considers this genuine opposition, but even just this was probably risky

Question 127

How did the political left resist Hitler? How effective were they?

Answer 127

1. once in power, the Nazis had banned other political parties, including those on the political left, such as the Communist Party (KPD) and the Social Democratic Party (SPD)
2. But their members formed underground groups to try and organise industrial unrest (e.g. strikes). These networks were often infiltrated by the Gestapo, and party members could be executed
3. their impact was also limited because the different parties of the left were divided and didn’t cooperate

Question 128

How strong was the Church’s opposition to Hitler?

Answer 128

there was little opposition to the Nazis in Germany from Christian groups. But a number of Church members did oppose the Nazis, even though they risked being sent to concentration camps.

Question 129

give 3 Church members that opposed the Nazis

Answer 129

1. Martin Niemöller
2. Dietrich Bonhoeffer
3. Clemens August von Galen

Question 130

who was Martin Niemöller? What did he do?

Answer 130

Martin Niemöller was a Protestant pastor and a former U-boat captain. He objected to Nazi interference in the Church, and was one of the founders of the COnfessing Church. He used a sermon in 1937 to protest against the persecution of Church members, and as a result spend several years in concentration camps

Question 130

who was Martin Niemöller? What did he do?

Answer 130

Martin Niemöller was a Protestant pastor and a former U-boat captain. He objected to Nazi interference in the Church, and was one of the founders of the COnfessing Church. He used a sermon in 1937 to protest against the persecution of Church members, and as a result spend several years in concentration camps

Question 131

what did the Confessing Church protest against?

Answer 131

Hitler’s attempt to unite the different Protestant Churches into one Reich Church

Question 132

who was Dietrich Bonhoeffer? what did he do?

Answer 132

Dietrich Bonhoeffer was another key member of the Confessing Church, a Protestant theologian and pastor who opposed the Nazis from the beginning. He joined the resistance, helped Jews escape from Germany and planned an assassination of Hitler. He was caught and imprisoned, then executed just weeks before the fall of the Nazis

Question 133

who was Clemens August von Galen? What did he do?

Answer 133

the Catholic Bishop of Münster, who used his sermons to protest against Nazi racial policies and the ‘euthanasia’ of the disabled. His protests didn’t stop the killing, but they did force the Nazis to keep them secret. Only the need to maintain the support of German Catholics stopped the Nazis from executing him

Question 134

who were they Edelweiss Pirates? What did they do?

Answer 134

the Edelweiss Pirates was the name given to groups of rebellious youths who rejected Nazi values and opposed the Hitler Youth organisation:

• they helped army deserters, forced labourers and escaped concentration camp prisoners
• at first the Nazis mostly ignored them, but cracked down after they started distributing anti-Nazi leaflets. Many members were arrested, and several were publically hanged

Question 135

who were the Swing Kids (or Swing Youth)? What did they do?

Answer 135

The Swing Kids (or Swing Youth) were groups of young people who rebelled against the tight control the Nazis had over culture, acting in ways considered ‘degenerate’ by the Nazi regime (e.g. listening to American music and drinking alcohol). They were mostly considered a nuisance rather than a threat, but some members were arrested and even sent to concentration camps.

Question 136

how effective was German opposition to the Nazis

Answer 136

German opposition to the Nazis didn’t really threaten their dominance, but it did mean the Gestapo was kept busy tracking down people who had distributed anti-Nazi leaflets, held secret meetings, committed acts of sabotage, etc.

Question 137

what were the expectations for women in Nazi Germany?

Answer 137

1. women were expected to raise large families
2. Nazis didn’t want women to have too much freedom. They believed the role of women was to provide children and support their families at home
3. women were expected to dress plainly and were discouraged from wearing make-up and smoking. At school, girls studied subjects like cookery. It was stressed that they should choose ‘Aryan’ husbands

Question 138

when were women banned from being lawyers? Did the Nazis do anything else to try and stop women working, and how long did these changes last?

Answer 138

Women were banned from being lawyers in 1936, and the Nazis did their best to stop them following other professions (however a shortage of workers after 1937 meant more women had to go back to work)

Question 139

What idea did the League of German Maidens spread?

Answer 139

The League of German Maidens spread the Nazi idea that it was an honour to produce large families for Germany. Nazis gave awards to women for doing this and encouraged more women to marry by offering financial aid to married couples

Question 140

what did Hitler do to reduce unemployment?

Answer 140

Public works and rearmament meant unemployment fell:

• Hitler started a huge programme of public works, which helped to reduce unemployment - e.g. from 1933 jobs were created as a result of the constructions of autobahns
• all men between 18 and 25 could be recruited into the National Labour service and given jobs
• all industrial output increased and unemployment fell
• Hitler also brought in military conscription and encouraged German industry to manufacture more ships, aircraft, tanks and weapons for the military. This rearmament meant further falls in unemployment
• Trade Unions were banned, so workers had to join the Nazis’ Labour Front instead. But workers weren’t allowed to go on strike or campaign for better conditions, and wages were relatively low
• However, although unemployment fell after the Depression, the Nazis tampered with the statistics to make it look lower than it really was - e.g. they didn’t count women or Jewish people without jobs. This official unemployment statistics didn’t include this invisible unemployment

Question 141

how did the Nazis maintain the support of the German workers?

Answer 141

The Nazis made efforts to maintain the support of the German workers. They wanted workers to feel important and believe that they were an essential part of the Volksgemeinschaft (a community of people working hard towards the same aims):

• they introduced the Volkswagen (the ‘people’s car’) as a luxury people could aspire to own
• they also introduced ‘Strength through Joy’ - a scheme which provided workers with cheap holidays and leisure activities.
• the ‘Beauty of Labour’ scheme encouraged factory owners to improve conditions for workers
• during the Depression, one third of all workers had been unemployed. Many Germans had been desperate, so life under the Nazis did feel genuinely better for them

Question 142

give a reason why many members of the middle classes also felt better of under the rule of the Nazis?

Answer 142

small-business owners were able to advance more in society than previously.

Question 143

even though many people felt better off under the Nazis, workers and small-business owners had lost out in some ways. give 3 of these ways.

Answer 143

1. The cost of living rose by about 25%, but wages didn’t go up
2. workers didn’t have the right to strike or resign
3. small businesses had to pay high taxes

Question 144

what did Hitler use Youth Movements for?

Answer 144

Hitler knew that loyalty from young people was essential if the Nazis were to remain strong. Youth movements were a way of teaching children Nazi ideas - so they would be loyal to the Nazi party when they grew up - they helped to produce committed Nazis

Question 145

When was the Hitler Youth founded? What sort of activities did Hitler Youth members do? Did it become compulsory, and if so when?

Answer 145

• the Hitler Youth was founded in 1926. Boys aged 14 and over were recruited to the movement. It became all but compulsory in 1936 and lasted until 1945.
• Boys wore military-style uniforms and took part in physical exercise preparing for war. High-achieving boys might be sent to Hitler Schools to be trained as loyal Nazi leaders
• They also went on camping trips and help sports competitions. Some of those who took part said the organisation was fun, made them feel valued and encouraged a sense of responsibility
• After 1936, all other youth organisations were banned and it was almost impossible for children to avoid joining the Hitler Youth. However, towards the end of the 1930s, attendance actually decreased as activities adopted an increasingly military focus

Question 146

what was the League of German Maidens? Who was it aimed at? What sort of activities did they do?

Answer 146

• The League of German Maidens was the female branch of the Hitler Youth, aimed at girls aged between fourteen and eighteen
• Girls were trained in domestic skills like sewing and cooking
• Sometimes they took part in physical activities like camping and hiking. This gave girls new opportunities that were normally reserved for boys

Question 147

how was education across Germany ‘Nazified’?

Answer 147

1. Education in schools meant learning Nazi propaganda. Most teachers joined the Nazi Teachers’ Association and were trained in Nazi methods. Children had to report teachers who did not use them
2. Subjects were rewritten to fit in with Nazi ideas. Children were taught to be anti-Semitic - for example, Biology courses stated that Jews were biologically inferior to ‘Aryans’. History courses explained that the First World War was lost because of Jews and Communists
3. Physical education became more important for boys to prepare them for joining the army. They sometimes even played games with live ammunition
4. In universities, students burned anti-Nazi and Jewish books, and Jewish lecturers were sacked. Jewish teachers were also dismissed from public schools
5. German children were always being bombarded with Nazi propaganda. Erika Mann, a German who opposed the Nazis, described Nazi education in Germany. “Every child says ‘Heil Hitler’ from 50 to 150 times a day… [it] is required by law; if you meet a friend on the way to school, you say it; study periods are opened and closed with [it]…[The Nazis’] supremacy over the German child…is complete”

Question 148

give two ways in which the German Youth eventually became involved in Fighting the War?

Answer 148

1. during the second world war, members of the Hitler Youth contributed to the war effort – for example, helping with air defence work, farm work and collecting donations for Nazi charities.
2. Towards the end of the war, many Hitler Youth members ended up fighting alongside adults. They were known for being fierce and fanatical fighters

Question 149

give 3 examples of Nazi discrimination not involving the Jews

Answer 149

1. many Romani (gypsies) and Slavs (an ethnic group from central and eastern Europe) were sent to concentration camps. The Nazis believed that they were racially inferior
2. the Nazis practised eugenics policies - they wanted to create a strong race by removing all genetic ‘defects’ from its gene pool. Many people with mental and physical disabilities were murdered or sterilised. Many people of mixed race were also sterilised against their will
3. Homosexual people were sent to concentration camps in their thousands. In 1936 Himmler, Head of the SS, began the Central Office for the Combating of Homosexuality and Abortion

Question 150

when did the SA organise a national boycott of Jewish businesses?

Answer 150

In 1933, the SA organised a national boycott of Jewish businesses, which resulted in Nazi-led violence against Jews

Question 151

how did the Nazis use the legal system to persecute Jews?

Answer 151

1. over time, the number of jobs that Jews were banned from gradually increased
2. the Nuremberg laws of 1935 were based on the idea the jews and Germans were biologically different. They removed many legal rights from Jews and encouraged ‘Aryan Germans to see them as inferior
3. some Jews were given passports enabling them to leave Germany but preventing them from returning
4. Jews were later forced to close or sell their businesses and they were banned from all employment
5. by 1938, all Jewish children had been banned from attending German schools and jews were no longer allowed in many public places including theatres and exhibitions

Question 152

when were the Nuremberg laws passed, and what did they do?

Answer 152

The Nuremberg Laws of 1935 removed many legal rights from Jews and encouraged ‘Aryan’ Germans to see them as inferior:

• The Nuremberg Laws stopped Jews being German citizens
• They banned marriage between Jews and non-Jews in Germany
• They also banned sexual relationships between Jews and non-Jews

Question 153

what did the Nazis’ racial policies aim to do?

Answer 153

they aimed to isolate Jews from the rest of society. ‘Aryan’ Germans were even encouraged to break off friendships with Jews and avoid any contact with Jewish people

Question 154

When was Kristallnacht?

Answer 154

November 1938

Question 155

how do you spell the German word for the ‘Night of the Broken Glass’?

Answer 155

Kristallnacht

Question 156

what caused Kristallnacht?

Answer 156

in November 1938, a German diplomat was murdered in Paris by a Jew. This sparked anti-Jewish rioting throughout Germany.

Question 157

What happened on Kristallnacht?

Answer 157

There was anti-Jewish rioting throughout Germany - thousands of Jewish shops were smashed and almost every synagogue in Germany was burnt down. In the days that followed, thousands of Jews were arrested and sent to concentration camps. Kristallnacht was a turning point in the Nazi persecution of Jews - it was the first widespread act of anti-Jewish violence in Nazi Germany. After Kristallnacht, conditions for German Jews got even worse

Question 158

What did the Nazis claim about Kristallnacht? How did this compare to reality?

Answer 158

that the events of Kristallnacht were a spontaneous reaction by the German people to the Paris murder. In fact, they had been planned and organised by the Nazi government. Few ordinary Germans had participated.