World War II Flashcards
How long was World War II?
From 1939 to 1945
Who was overthrown at the end of World War I?
Kaiser Wilhelm II
Define Republic
A form of government who is head of state is not a king or a queen. It is a president
Where was the Weimar republic formed?
The democratic government was formed in a city called Weimar
Who signed the armistice?
Weimar Republic signed with the alleys. They agreed to stop fighting
Define armistice
Agreement between allies in war stop fighting so they can discuss peace terms
When was the peace treaty of Versailles signed?
In 1919
How was the peace treaty developed?
Leaders that one discussed and wrote down a peace treaty as they wanted revenge
Define revenge
Action taken in return for being hurt
List the rules that Germany had to follow
- Germany was dictated to, no say
- Pay for the cost of war - millions of reparations
- Lost land
4, Admit that they were to blame - Signed War Guilt Clause - Not allowed to build a defence force
Define reparations
Amount of money for damages paid by losing nation to the winners
When did Hitler blame the Jews?
Peace Treaty of Allies was humiliation by nationalist. Hitler blamed Jews
When did Hitler join the Nazi’s? When did he become a leader?
Joined in 1920s. He became a leader in 1921
Who were the Storm Troopers?
Set up armed groups of supporters who had a brown uniform. Known as SA = Sturmabteilung - German
What happened during the parades?
SA organised marching parades carrying the Nazi flag with the Swastika
Define Swastika
Symbol of Nazi Party
What was SA motto?
All opposition must stomped into the ground
Define opposition
a group of people who disagree with you
What were their rules against violence?
They beat up people who disagreed. No rules against use of violence
When did Hitler try to overthrow the Weimar government?
Hitler and Nazi Party in 1923
How did Hitler try to overthrow the Weimar government?
in a military Coup or Putsch
Define Coup
Violent overthrown of government - French
Define Putsch
Violent overthrown of government - German
The overthrow failed. What happened?
Hitler went to jail for 9 months
What did Hitler do in jail?
He wrote his book Mein Kampf (my struggles)
Did all officials agree with the government?
Many officials and judges did not support the democratic government which was Weimar
When was USA and the leading economy in the world?
In the 1920s
Why did US a lend money to the Weimar government?
To help Germany’s economy recover after World War I
When did the economic disaster begin in USA?
In 1929
What was the US economy controlled by?
The USA economy was controlled by stock market in the city of New York
Define stock market
A place where people buy and sell shares in a big business.
Where is the stock market in America?
Situated in a building on Wall Street
When did the Wall Street stock market collapse?
The Wall Street stock market collapsed in 1929.
What happened to the stocks people had bought?
It’s no longer had value. Thousands of people lost money they invested
What was the collapse of the US economy on the stock market known as?
The Wall Street crash which was the start of great depression
Define great depression
A period during the 1930s when there was a worldwide economic collapse and mass unemployment
Happened to the prices during the great depression?
Prices of goods became very high and no one could afford the inflated goods. All countries are traded with USA was affected
What happened in Germany during the great depression?
- Banks closed
- factories closed
- Workers lost their jobs
- Inflation rose
Define inflation
An increase in the price of goods
What happened when USA wanted their money back?
Germany was unable to pay them. More German business collapsed and more people became unemployed
What age do people in Germany vote?
People in Germany over 20 could vote
What were there separate elections for?
The Reichstag (parliament) and for the Head of State, the President
Who is the Chancellor?
Reichstag
What are the reasons of failure of democracy in the Weimar Republic?
- Germany did not have history of democracy as they were ruled by a king
- Germany was used to authoritarian leadership
- System of democracy was not fully supported
- Too many political parties in Germany. Not one party could win a complete majority of seats in the Reichstag
- Weimar government do you not have a strong enough government to deal with Germany is problem is
Define authoritarian
Strict, dictatorial, people had no freedom or say in how the government rules
What were the reasons for public support for the Nazi party?
- Great depression persuaded more people to vote for the Nazis as they promised law, order, jobs
- Many Germans wanted important world power
- Nazi party blamed way mark for severe punishment and humiliation of Treaty of Versailles
- They say Germany was not really defeated and the Germans were stabbed in the back by the government
- He received financial support from military and wealthy businessman
- It was a brilliant public speaker
When was the Nazi party is very organised
By 1932
Why did people believe that the Nazis could save them?
Your skilful propaganda skills
What happened during the elections in 1933?
Hitler’s Nazi party won the largest number of votes. Hitler became the chancellor of Germany
When was the Enabling Act passed? By who?
Reichstag. in 1933
What did the enabling act do?
A complete power to Hitler. Nazis became only party allowed in Germany
Who signed the enabling act?
Hidenburg what is the president and head of the state. He signed it
When did Hidenburg die?
He died in 1934
What happened when Hidenburg died?
Hit the combined the title of chancellor and president. Hitler became a dictator
What is the leader in German?
Der Führer
Define dictator
A leader with total power. One person makes all the rules
What did Hitler do once he became the leader?
Shutdown the Reichstag. He rude without rules in the German constitution. Nazi dictatorship was ruthless, cruel, violent and intolerant
When was the mass arrests? Who?
In 1933 and it was political opponents
Why was there a plan to house the opponents?
Eventually so many people were in jail
Define concentration camp
Those imprisoned or physically concentrated in one place
Where was the first concentration camp?
It was set up in a town called Dachau
Where the concentration camps like?
Large barbed wire in closure. Prisoners did hard labour, military Joes, regular beatings
What did Hitler describe racial purity as?
He was obsessed with racial purity. An Aryan is used to describe as the pure German race. It was white, blonde, blue eyes. They were superior
What was said about Jews?
They were inferior and undesirable
What is the hatred of Jews known as?
Anti-Semitism
Hatred of Jews a new thing?
It was not a new thing in Europe as it existed for hundreds of years. They were often used as scapegoats when things went wrong
Define scapegoat
Someone who is blamed and punished for misfortune of others
What is used to increase anti-Semitism?
Propaganda was used at rallies, radio, poster, films, newspapers to increase it
what Prepare them for the Holocaust?
Anti-Semitism
Define Holocaust
Mass killing of Jews in Nazi Germany
Why was it easy for Germans to accept anti-Semitism?
They were told that Jews were evil four years
Name the people who did not belong to the Aryan race
- Political opponents
- Jenovah’switness (Christain- refused because of beliefs)
- Male homosexual is his orientation was considered a hindrance
- Roma (Gypsies), blacks, slavs
- People who were physically or mentally disabled were killed
Define persecuted
Made to suffer
What did the Jews wear?
A yellow star of David