nazi germany key terms

What was Hitler's appeal?

He was a powerful and inspiring speaker. To Germany he appeared to be a man of the people, who understood their problems. They believed he could make Germany great again

How did Nazis use propoganda?

They printed out millions of leaflets, newspapers and posters and used new media like radio broadcasts and cinema news report. Hitler held mass rallied to show off their power

What was the image of the Nazi party?

They seemed organised and disciplined compared to the Weimar government. They set up offices all over the country and set up the Hitler youth organisation to appeal to parents and children

What was the Hitler youth organisation?

Boys between 14-18 could attend meetings and camping trips to learn how to fire guns, wrestle, read maps, and bud campfires. It encouraged young people to accept Nazi ideas

What did the stormtroopers (SA) do?

They protected Hitler's meetings and disrupted meetings of other parties. The also distributed propoganda leaflets

What happened in 1917?

There was a communist revolution in Russia. Middle and upper class germans were scared of losing their wealth. Chruchgiers were afraid as communists didn't believe in religious institutions. However the SA fought communists helping Hitler gain support

What parties were rivals to the Nazi party?

The SPD and communists but they refused to work together so they couldn't provide effective leadership to stop the Nazis.

Who joined the SA?

Younger men, ex soldiers, unemployed people, anti communists, people who loved excitement

Why did women vote for the Nazis?

The Nazis emphasised family life, good morals and self discipline. Some agreed with Hitler that the youth has been exposed to immoral values and hoped the Nazis would sort it out

Why did farmers vote for the Nazis?

They were hit hard by the depression as people bought less food so they had to lower prices. The government didn't help them but the Nazis promised higher prices status and a better quality of life. They were anti communists as communists wanted to seize their land

Why did yound people vote for the Nazis?

The liked how the Nazis did things differently and wanted to be part of Germany's bright future

Why did middle class people vote for the Nazis?

The government cut their wages during the depression. They feared that law would break down if there was a communist takeover. Wanted a strong government.

Why did the upper class vote for the Nazis?

The Nazis promised strong leadership and a more powerful nation's like the good old days. The Nazis promised to allow them to run businesses how they wanted becoming richer. They were anti communists

Why did Hindenburg refuse Hitler to be chancellor?

He thought that the party was disruptive and violent

Who is Goering?

Head of the Prussia police

What happened on the Reichstag fire?

The Reichstag building was burnt down. A Dutch communist Van Der Lubbe was arrested and charged for starting the fire. Goering then arrested 4000 communists leaders as Hitler thought this was a communist plot to overthrow the government

Who led the SA?

Ernst Röhm

What emergency decree did Hitler get Hindenburg to pass after the Reichstag fire?

‘decree for the protection of the people and state’? This meant that the freedom of speech and press was suspended. Hitler used this to ban communists from taking part in the next election campaign and their newspaper were shut down. It also allowed hitler and the Nazis to search houses, confiscate property, detain people without trial, and drag political opponents to concentration camps

What was the enabling law?

It gave Hitler power to pass laws without the consultation of the Reichstag

How did the Nazis intimidate voters?

They arrested, exiled and executed communists and political opponents. They searched houses of suspected opponents and watched voters as they crossed their ballot paper

What happened during the night of the long knives?

The SS stormed into a hotel where the SA were staying and arrested their leaders and killed them. Ernst Rohm and 400 members were killed. The Nazis claimed that only 77 were killed.

What was the Gestapos?

They were a secret police force who spied on people and had the power to arrest and torture anyone. They created fear so Germans wouldn't speak out against the nazis

What were Hitler's aims for the Berlin Olympics?

To improve Germany's reputation, show how the Aryan race was superior, and show Germans national pride

Who was Himmler?

Leader of the SS in 1928 and controlled the Gestapos in 1936. Was in charge of the German army in 1944

What happened during the kristallnacht?

What is invisible unemployment?

Nazis reduced unemployment figures by including part timers. Women who have uobwork for a family didn't count in official figures and many Jews were replaced by unemployed non Jews. The Jews weren't counted in the figured