Weimar and Nazi Germany + Hitlers Rise to Power

Weimar Republic

The German government from 1918 to 1933, formed after WWI, characterized by political instability and economic crises.

Hyperinflation

A period in 1923 when the German economy experienced extreme inflation, severely devaluing currency and destabilizing society.

Dawes Plan

A financial plan implemented in 1924 to stabilize the German economy by restructuring reparations payments.

Locarno Treaties

A series of agreements negotiated in 1925 aimed at securing post-WWI borders in Europe and improving relations between Germany and the West.

Führerprinzip

The leadership principle central to Nazi ideology, asserting that the Führer (leader) held absolute authority.

Gleichschaltung

The process of aligning all institutions and organizations under Nazi control, effectively establishing a totalitarian state.

Night of the Long Knives

A major purge in 1934 where Hitler eliminated rivals within the SA and other political opponents to consolidate power.

Enabling Act

A 1933 law that gave Hitler the authority to enact laws without the involvement of the Reichstag, solidifying his dictatorship.

Mein Kampf

A book written by Adolf Hitler outlining his ideology, including anti-Semitism, racial superiority, and rejection of the Treaty of Versailles.

Great Depression

A worldwide economic downturn that began in 1929 and led to severe unemployment and distress in the Weimar Republic.