Why could the Nazi's stay in power?

Question 1

Hitler became Chancellor in January 1933 and was head of the coalition government, meaning what? (Totalitarian State)

Answer 1

Meaning he had to work with others. Hitler persuaded the President to call an election for March so he could win greater control.

Question 2

One week before the election of the Reichstag burned down, who was the fire blamed on? (Totalitarian State)

Answer 2

Communists. Hitler said it was the start of a revolution. Doubts remain about who started the fire.

Question 3

President Hindenburg passed a law after the fire which let the government do what? (Totalitarian State)

Answer 3

-Arrest political opponents
-Censor/shutdown newspapers
-Read people’s private letters

Question 4

The SS and SA were the Nazi’s two security groups most notorious for violence. What became of them after the Reichstag fire? (Totalitarian State)

Answer 4

They were made an official auxillery police force.

Question 5

What’s a positive of the Totalitarian State?

(Hint: Fire Decree, power of arrest, stop people reading)

Answer 5

The Fire Decree ensured Hitler could stop all opposition, having the power of arrest meant removing opponents and newspaper censorship meant that Nazis could stop people reading criticism of them.

Question 6

What’s a negative of the Totalitarian State?

Answer 6

Some groups continued to fight against Nazi rule. Although the Social Democrats and Communists were banned, they worked underground to distribute anti-Nazi materials.

Question 7

what percentage of the votes did Nazi’s gain in the March 1933 elections? (Totalitarian State)

Answer 7

43.9% of the vote.

Question 8

Why did Hitler want to change the German constitution? (Totalitarian State)

Answer 8

To give him more power. He needed 2/3 support for the Reichstag to do so.

Question 9

How did Nazi’s change legal controls? (Totalitarian State)

(Anti Nazi’s/nazi Sympathisers, laws)

Answer 9

Anti-Nazi judges were removed from their post and replaced with Nazi sympathisers. Also, Laws were introduced allowing the Nazi’s even more control of their opponents.

Question 10

What’s a second positive of the Totalitarian State?

(Hint: Groups, try to resist, fear, keep power)

Answer 10

The lack of any organised groups meant that only individuals could try to resist Nazi rule. Most Germans were too scared to do so, and this enabled Hitler to keep power without opposition.

Question 11

What’s a second negative of the Totalitarian State?

(Hint: Large support, German public backed)

Answer 11

Even without these new controls, Hitler had the support of large numbers of Germans (44%). The German public backed many Nazi foreign and economic policies.

Question 12

The Nazi’s were renowned for using fear as a tool to control people in Germany. How did they use fear to keep control in Germany? (Fear and State Terrorism)

Answer 12

Various groups and powers existed which ensured that most Germans would never challenge Hitler’s government.

Question 13

The SS was Germany’s internal security service. What made them up? (Fear and State Terrorism)

Answer 13

Different sections including the SS-VT, who were Hitler’s personal bodyguards. Known for their violence, the SS led attacks on Kristallnacht.

Question 14

Concentration Camps were set up and run by the SS. What were inmates forced to do while there? (Fear and State Terrorism)

Answer 14

Inmates were forced to do hard labour, which was often dangerous such as mining. They were also underfed and kept in poor conditions.

Question 15

Who were the Gestapo? (Fear and State Terrorism)

Answer 15

A secret police, able to investigate crimes such as treason and spying.

Question 16

How did the Gestapo make Germans paranoid? (Fear and State Terrorism)

Answer 16

Germans believed the Gestapo was everywhere, even though there was never any more than 30,000 agents.

Question 17

The Gestapo often sent arrested Germans to People’s course. How were these courts controlled? (Fear and State Terrorism)

Answer 17

The courts were controlled by the Nazi’s and did not allow defendants to properly defend themselves. The death sentence was commonly given as well.

Question 18

What’s a positive of Fear and State Terrorism?

Answer 18

Nazi controls made it impossible for any opposition to build to Hitler. The violence of the SS or secret fear of Gestapo meant that no-one could safely discuss anti-Nazi views.

Question 19

What’s a negative of Fear and State Terrorism?

Answer 19

The SS/Gestapo got a lot of their information through denunciations. This means it was ordinary Germans giving information to the SS suggesting influence was limited.

Question 20

Although dominant in Germany and the Nazi Party, Hitler worried some Nazis were not loyal enough to him. Who was Hitler especially worried by? (Fear and State Terrorism)

Answer 20

Hitler was especially worried by the SA and its leader, Ernst Rohm.

Question 21

On 30th June 1934, leaders of the SA were killed or arrested by members of the SS. Included Rohm. Who were other people killed that night? (Fear and State Terrorism)

Answer 21

former Chancellor Kurt von Schleicher.

Question 22

What’s a second positive of Fear and State Terrorism?

(Night of Long Knives, fear of death)

Answer 22

The Night of the Long Knives played a particularly strong role in terrorising the German population. Many worried that if Hitler could kill his own supporters of what he might do to them.

Question 23

What’s a second negative of Fear and State Terrorism?

(Nazi’s making a claim, appear like national heroes)

Answer 23

The Nazis claimed that Rohm and others were working with France to control Germany. This made them seem like national heroes thus boosting their support through popularity.

Question 24

What did Hitler promise before coming to power?

Answer 24

To build a national community, involving all sections of society and introduced various social policies to give them greater control of the Germans.

Question 25

What was something women could get in Nazi Germany? (Social Policies)

Answer 25

Marriage loans, with some of this debt being written off when they had a baby. Women were discouraged from wearing trousers or makeup, or smoking.

Question 26

How were boys groups essential for the Nazi’s keeping power? (Social Policies)

Answer 26

To win the Nazi ideology, and also prepare for war. Boys aged 10 joined the ‘German Young People’ and 14 year olds joined ‘Hitler’s Youth’ to take part in military type activities including boxing, wrestling and running.

Question 27

How were girls groups essential for Nazi’s keeping power (Social Policies)

Answer 27

Nazi’s were very sexist and believed a woman’s role was to bear and raise children. 14 year olds were to join the ‘League of German Maidens’ where they would learn about marriage and would engage in parades and marches too.

Question 28

What is a positive of Social Policies?

Answer 28

Under Nazi rule, Germany’s population increased, suggesting German women supported Nazi aims. This would partly help ensure a strong future for the Nazis.

Question 29

What is a second positive of Social Policies?

(Hint: Policies also a part of _ , public marches, universal support)

Answer 29

These policies were also a part of Nazi propaganda. Having more people join Nazi groups, and engage in public marches, created the idea of universal support for Hitler, undermining position.

Question 30

What is a negative of Social Policies?

Answer 30

The Nazi’s were never able to fully control women. Many German women continued to work, especially as war approached, or even joined anti Nazi groups.

Question 31

What is a second negative of Social Policies?

Answer 31

Some Germans actively opposed the Nazi’s, especially groups such as the Edelweiss Pirates and Swing Kids. Others kept a personal identity, such as through religion and ignored Nazi views.

Question 32

Unemployment fell massively during the Nazi’s time in power. Why was this? (Economic Policies)

Answer 32

This was due to some jobs being created by banning Jews from working and persuading women to stay home. For example in January 1933 unemployment was 6 million. By January 1939, unemployment was 302,000.

Question 33

Nazi’s employed tens of thousands of men in what sort of places? (Economic Policies)

Answer 33

Public building works and also in the creation of motorways. As these men worked, they earned money to spend, which created more employment.

Question 34

Breaking the Treaty of Versailles, the Nazi’s began rebuilding their army. How big did the army size increase? (Economic Policies)

Answer 34

From 100,000 to 300,000.

Question 35

What else did the Nazi’s introduce as a part of breaking from the Treaty of Versailles? (Economic Policies)

Answer 35

A German air force called the Luftwaffe and built more warships for the Navy.

Question 36

What’s a positive for Economic Policies?

Answer 36

After the economic disasters of the 1920s, Germans wanted stability. Nazi policies appeared to reduce unemployment, leaving most Germans happy (although Jews often paid the price).

Question 37

What’s a second positive for Economic Policies?

Answer 37

Germans were happier due to the improved workplace conditions that the Strength through Joy brought. Many Germans also benefitted from wage rises too.

Question 38

What’s a negative for Economic Policies?

Answer 38

The story of the Nazi’s economic improvements was not always real. Unemployed women and Jews were not counted in official figures which suggests propaganda played a role.

Question 39

What’s a second negative for Economic Policies?

Answer 39

Germans never actually received a Volkswagen car due to war efforts. Germans also worked longer hours and paid higher taxes, so their lives were not always hugely improved.

Question 40

Who was Hitler’s Minister of Propaganda? (Propaganda)

Answer 40

Joseph Goebbels

Question 41

What was Joseph Goebbels job? (Propaganda)

Answer 41

Used different methods to promote the Nazi message, as well as Hitler himself, and win German people’s support.

Question 42

What was a key goal of Joseph Goebbels? (Propaganda)

Answer 42

Unite all Germans, leaving behind divisions based on class, religion, etc.
In particular, he targeted the young with the idea of the Thousand Year Reich.

Question 43

What methods did Goebbels use for Propaganda? (Propaganda)

Answer 43

School methods and radio messages, and posters were used. Mass rallies (ie Nuremberg) helped win public backing too.

Question 44

How did Nazi’s use cinema as Propaganda? (Propaganda)

Answer 44

Nazi’s also used cinemas. Many films had an anti-Jewish message (for example, The Eternal Jew and Suss the Jew.) Other films showed Nazi propaganda adverts before they started.

Question 45

What’s a positive of Propaganda?

Answer 45

Constant pro-Hitler/Germany messages were essentially impossible to ignore. Propaganda was so widespread that many Germans may have become brainwashed by constant exposure to these messages/

Question 46

What’s a second positive of Propaganda?

Answer 46

Having so much propaganda across Germany created the idea that all Germans backed Hitler. This may have then scared Germans who didn’t back Hitler into believing they were wrong.

Question 47

What’s a negative of Propaganda?

Answer 47

Some Germans disagreed with the Nazi’s and so simply ignored the propaganda. It was suggested that some Germans deliberately arrived late to the cinemas to avoid the Propaganda.

Question 48

What’s a second negative of Propaganda?

Answer 48

Fear also played a key role in winning support for the Nazi’s, meaning state control. Even if people opposed Hitler or did not believe his propaganda, this was very difficult to discuss.

Question 49

In Mein Kampf, Hitler argued that the German people needed living space. How would they obtain this? (Foreign Policies)

Answer 49

They would gain this space by taking control of the land to the east of Germany as well as looking elsewhere too.

Question 50

German anger still remained at the Treaty of Versailles, including what? (Foreign Policies)

Answer 50

Including the removal of land from Germany. Many Germans believed their country had been embarrassed and needed to regain its power.

Question 51

Hitler also took steps to rebuild Germany’s military, all of which broke the Treaty of Versailles. What did he do? (Foreign Policies)

Answer 51

He re-introduced conscription to the German Army and he also established a German air force. (The Luftwaffe).

Question 52

Hitler announced that Germany would stop paying reparations. What else did he do? (Foreign Policies)

Answer 52

He then remilitarised the Rhineland which had been demilitarised after WW1. This meant sending into Germany’s army, breaking Versailles.

Question 53

What’s a positive of Foreign Policies?

Answer 53

Rebuilding Germany’s military created jobs across Germany. Men were needed to create weapons of war, including an air force. Other men found work in Hitler’s enlarged army.

Question 54

What’s a second positive of Foreign Policies?

Answer 54

Reversing the Treaty of Versailles was hugely popular in Germany. Neither the UK nor France stopped it. many Germans believed that he was giving the country its power and dignity back, as well as uniting the German people.

Question 55

What’s a negative of Foreign Policies?

Answer 55

Many Germans worried that war was coming. They believed that Britain or France might declare war, and they feared the effects of war, as well as possible punishment for Germany.

Question 56

What’s a second negative of Foreign Policies?

Answer 56

Some army generals who were worried about war plotted to remove Hitler from power, planning a military cup. Ultimately foreign invasions led to war, which ended Nazi rule in Germany.