entire germany textbook

Key events of 1918

• 25th Oct. ; sailor mutiny at Kiel

• 9th Nov. ; Kaiser abdicates & flees to the Netherlands. Imperial Chancellor resigns & transfers his power to Ebert

• 10th Nov. ; Ebert sets up a socialist government, the CPR

• 11th Nov; Armistice is signed, ending World War I.

When did Kaiser Wilhelm II abdicate?

9th of November, 1918

When was the mutiny at Kiel & why? 

25th October 1918. They were ordered to fight British naval forces even though it was clear that they’d lose. 

Significance of Kiel Mutiny?

• sparked unrest & caused resistance over the next 2 weeks (from the 25/10 to 9/11)

Effects of WW1 on Germany

• Starvation & food shortages; Allies imposed a naval blockade

• Low morale; promised a quick and easy war, instead became 4 devastating years of fighting 

• By early November 1918, the troops had to retreat; risk of Allied military occupation 

What events lead to the Kaiser’s fall?

• The allies insisted peace would not come until Wilhelm II abdicated

• Kiel Mutiny & it’s following effects;

• Strikes & protests 

• More Germans blamed the Kaiser for the loss in WW1

• Many Germans set up worker’s councils and ignored the authority of Kaiser officials

Results of the 19th Jan. 1919 elections

• positive for supporters of the democracy

• 82% of electorate voted

• Moderate parties gained most of the seats

• Ebert’s SDP gained 40% of the seats

Members of the new government system & their features

• President ; elected every 7 years, appoints chancellor, has power to dissolve the Reichstag, could rule by decree

• Chancellor ; head of government elected by president, needed the support of the majority of the Reichstag

• Reichstag; main legislative body, proportional representation of political parties

• Länder; state governments. Each state had its own parliament, laws & police force

Points of the Weimar Constitution 

• Men & women over 20 could vote

• Every citizen had freedom of speech and religion & equality under the law

• Elected government (Reichstag) set up

• Article 48; president could bypass the Reichstag in times of emergency

What was Ebert’s approach?

He reached out to different groups of interest; civil servants to work with soldier & worker’s councils, industry leaders, promises to trade unions

Who opposed the new government?

• senior figures - especially army leaders

• Political extremists who wanted to destroy democracy

• Germans who resented the Treaty of versailles

Structural & Political weaknesses of the new republic

Proportional representation lead to a lot of small parties that had to make coalitions - these coalitions were weak & couldn’t make long-term decisions.

Germany had no experience with this sort of system. 

Lack of unity in the new republic 

Germany was politically divided and the politicians in charge of governing Germany didn’t share a strong commitment to making the new system work.

Many powerful groups didn’t support democracy - they preferred the old system.

Opposition to democracy in the new republic

• people who were against democracy could still vote - extremists could make it so parties that wanted fo destroy democracy could influence politics

• The party faced serious, organised opposition. Stabilising the country became harder 

Socioeconomic problems of the new republic

Germany was economically damaged after WW1, so it was harder to handle any crises. Many Germans also blamed the government for their hardship & humiliation

key events of 1919

• 5-12th Jan.; Spartacist uprising

• 28th June; Treaty of Versailles signed

• 31st June; new constitution approved

key events of 1920

• 13-18th Mar.; Kapp Putsch

• June; elections start to show less support for moderate parties

key events of 1923

• 11 Jan.; Ruhr invaded by Belgium & France

• November; Hyperinflation peaks

• 20th Nov.; rentenmark introduced

Strengths of the new republic 

• All citizens had equal rights

• Chancellor needs support of the Reichstag ; accountability, answering to the people rather than leading unchecked 

• A strong president can protect Germany in an emergency

• Proportional representation means the seats are allocated fairly 

Expectations for the Treaty of Versailles

• Germany hoped it wouldn’t be too harsh

• America didn’t want to be harsh; it would make the Germans bitter & want revenge

• France wanted to make Germany pay so they wouldn’t have to fear another attack 

• Britain also didn’t want to be harsh, but had reasons requiring them to be 

Treaty terms ; land

• 13% of European land lost & given to other countries

• All 11 colonies overseas lost

• Loss of almost 50% of iron & 15% of coal as a result

Treaty terms; non-territorial

• Article 231 / War Guilt clause; Germany has to accept the blame for WW1

• Reparations; 136 billion marks

Treaty terms; army

• Army reduced to 100,000 men

• Army to only be used internally

• Limited battleships

• No tanks, submarines or air force

German reaction to the Treaty of Versailles

• Shock; the government didn’t know the terms beforehand

• Humiliation; They were forced to accept blame for the war, but believed it should be shared

• Anger; the public felt that the Allies were trying to weaken them

• Stab in the back myth; Germans felt betrayed by their politicians for agreeing to the ToV

Politcal opposition to the Weimar republic

• Far-left wanted a communist revolution & for workers to be in control with no rich or ruling class

• Far-right wanted a strong & authoritarian leader

• Germans in general opposed the ToV

• Moderate parties were losing support & were attacked by radical coalitions

What was the Freikorps?

A paramilitary group made up of 250,000 ex-soldiers, notorious for their violence

Reactions to the Kapp Putsch

• Army didn’t stop them as they liked the Putsch’s aims 

• Ebert had to appeal to the people & encourage a general strike

Significance of the Kapp Putsch

Showed that;

• the government couldn’t control the military 

• the government wasn’t supported by the military 

• the government couldn’t control its capital 

Goal of the Kapp Putsch

Wanted to declare Dr. Woflgang Kapp, an extreme nationalist, as their new leader

why & when was the Ruhr invaded?

January 1923 - The Germans had missed multiple payments, so the Belgians & French decided to take industrial products instead of cash

Effects of the Ruhr invasion

• The government was temporarily popular as the German people were united against the invaders

• Germany lost income

• They had to print more money to pay the striking workers, causing hyperinflation 

Effects of hyperinflation 

Forced millions into poverty

Who becomes Chancellor in 1923? What does he lead?

Gustav Stresseman leads the Great Coalition.

What did the Great Coalition do?

• solved hyperinflation

• caused a decline in unemployment

• more houses built

• investment in transport

Overall improvement to the quality of life & economy.

How is hyperinflation solved?

• The Rentenmark is introduced in 1923 as a temporary solution - this currency is based on Germany’s agricultural & industrial worth, so German people are more confident in it.

• By 1924, the Reichsmark becomes the permanent currency and the Reichsbank is the main bank.

• The economy & faith in Germany’s financial system grows.

When & what was the Dawes Plan?

1924. The USA sends Charles Dawes to advise Stresseman on Germany’s economy & improve relations.

• the USA loans Germany 800 million marks

• economic & diplomatic conditions of the reparations payments improved - temporarily lowered & the Allies will be more considerate towards Germany

• France agrees to withdraw troops from the Ruhr

• Allies recieve some control of the Reichsbank & railways

However, some Germans still resent it - still paying feels like Germany’s just accepting the blame

What was the extent of Germany’s economic recovery?

Significant; the stability brought more investment from other countries, and the money was mostly used for boosting industry.

• Industrial output doubles from 1923-29

• Wages rose, cost of living fell - quality of life improves.

• More investment in public buildings

• New labour laws to help with unemployment , including benefits

When & what was the Locarno Pact?

1925. A collection of treaties involving Germany, France & Britain + Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Italy & Poland

• Germany accepts Western borders & the Eastern borders are to be settled peacefully through the League of Nations.

• Germany agrees Alsace-Lorraine is French, France agrees to not occupy the Ruhr.

VICTORY; international relations improve - peace is more likely, and Germany is now being treated like an equal

What was the period from 1925-29 called?

The Locarno Honeymoon.

When does Germany join the League of Nations & what does it cause?

1926. Germany joins as a positive step for Stresseman’s diplomatic policies & wish to improve relations.

• Confidence in the Weimar regime grows - Germany’s accepted back into international matters. However, some people saw this progress as a symbol of the Treaty of Versailles.

When & what was the Kellog-Briand pact?

1928. 62 countries, including Germany, the USA and France sign the pact. It aimed to prevent a future war by making countries promise to not use military force to settle disputes.

VICTORY; shows another clear improvement in Germany’s international relations. However, some people still resented as they saw it as doing nothing to end the Treaty of Versailles.

When & what was the Young Plan and how did it end?

1929. A plan created to help Germany with the reparations payments as they were still struggling.

• Total bill reduced - payments to be made over the next 59 years and only a 1/3rd had to be paid, the rest only if possible.

• France agreed to leave the Rhineland by 1930 (15 years early)

Initially a victory - the German gov. could now reduce taxes & fund the industry & job market. However, there were still people that resented it because Germany would continue paying, now over a long timescale that would hinder it’s progress.

In the end, it was inconsequential - after the 1929 Wall Street Crash, the Americans couldn’t afford loaning money to the Weimar republic.

Key dates 1924-1929?

1924. Reichsbank & Reichsbank introduced + The Dawes Plan

1925. Locarno Pact signed

1926. Germany joins League of Nations

1928. Kellog-Briand Pact signed

1929. Young Plan finalised. Wall Street Crash & The Great Depression

What were the key views of the German Worker’s Party?

• democracy is weak - Germany needs a strong leader to rebuild it

• Jews were to blame for making Germany weak

• Communists & Socialists were the reason the Kaiser abdicated

• “stab in the back” myth - the socialist Weimar politicians betrayed Germany by signing the Treaty of Versailles

When did Hitler join the German Worker’s Party?

September 1919.

What changes did Hitler make to the German Worker’s Party in 1920?

He was put in charge of propaganda.

• Hitler & Drexler (leader) rewrote the aims of the party

• Party renamed the National Socialist German Worker’s Party (NSDAP) / the Nazi Party

What changes did Hitler make to the Nazi Party in 1921?

He becomes the Nazi Party leader.

• The Party’s aims are deliberately vague so they can appeal to a range of audiences;

• Nationalists that hated the Treaty of Versailles

• People that wanted somebody to blame for the defeat in WW1 + Germany’s other problems and were attracted by the Party’s antisemitism

• The middle class & businesses that liked Hitler’s anti-communist ideas

What did Hitler do in his role as leader? What were his strengths?

• Talented, convincing speaker

• Appealed to critics of the Weimar republic

• Had a strict, strong, military-like control of the Party

• Surrounded himself with loyal individuals. e.g Rohm (SA leader), Goering (second-in-command), Hess, etc

• Developed connections & friendships with powerful Germans

tldr; strong, appealing leader with powerful connections and support

When was the SA set up?

1921

Why was the SA / Stormtroopers created?

It was created as a paramilitary force (a group set up like a military, but not official). Their role was to disrupt the meetings of opposing political parties & crowd control at Nazi meetings. They paraded the streets to show force & present Hitler’s strength.

What was the SS?

Hitler’s personal bodyguard group of the most-trusted members from the SA

Why did the Munich Putsch Happen?

• Many Germans had a deep anger towards the Weimar Republic due to the stab in the back myth, having to pay reparations, losing Germany’s colonies, etc. Support for nationalist parties like the Nazis grew a lot in the state of Bavaria, where Munich is.

Hitler believed they were ready, because;

• Bavarian leaders disliked the Weimar Republic - they agreed with Nazi views and sometimes even purposefully ignored SA violence

• Hyperinflation in 1923 had people looking to extremist, far-right parties for solutions

• The Nazi party seemed ready - 20,000 supporters, the SA, and Hitler’s close connection to former army leader General Ludendorff. Hitler believed that Ludendorff could persuade the army to support the Nazis

Key figures in the Munich Putsch

• Otto von Lossow - head of the army in Bavaria. He fled during the Putsch to oppose Hitler

• Gustav von Kahr - Bavarian prime minister. He supported Hitler’s aims.

• Erich Ludendorff - former army leader. He sought Kahr’s support in the Pustch, and was arrested for leading the Putsch with Hitler

What happened in the Munich Putsch?

• Hitler + the SA storm a right-wing meeting. The SA use violence & intimidation against members of the Bavarian government

• Hitler forces Kahr (PM) and Lossow (Army L.) to support his plan to make Ludendorff Germany’s leader. They swear loyalty & leave the hall

• President Ebert declares a state of emergency - Lossow told to crush the uprising

• Lossow & Kahr announce their opposition

• Ludendroff still believed the soldiers would support him so he persuades Hitler to keep going

• Nazis + supporters march into Munich. Confrontation with police & soldiers results in 14 Nazis dead

When was the Munich Putsch?

November 8-9 1923

When was Hitler arrested for the Munich Putsch?

11th of November 1923

What were the results/success of the Munich Putsch?

SHORT-TERM FAILURE

• the Nazi Party was banned

• Nazi leaders imprisoned

LONG-TERM SUCCESS

• The trials gave Hitler publicity ; he had a stage to attack the Weimar government and leaders. Newspapers spread the story and he was seen as a nationalist standing up for German rights.

• Biased judges ; some powerful figures still wanted the Weimar government destroyed. Hitler was given a light sentence & Ludendorff was declared not guilty despite evidence against him

• Mein kampf ; prisontime allowed Hitler to write down his ideas

How was the Nazi party reorganized from 1924-28?

CHANGE IN APPROACH

• Violent revolution —> winning support legally

LEADERSHIP CHANGES

• Headquarters set up

• Leading Nazis appointed to every German district to increase support

• Conference in Bamberg solidifies Hitler as leader

PUBLICITY

• Nazi rallies

• Public Nazi meetings. Nazis were trained to be effective public speakers

• young people encouraged to join the SA. Hitler Youth set up

• Various organizations to appeal to different groups

• Goebbels pushed a very popular Anti-Jewish rhetoric

• focused on getting the support of suffering/struggling groups ; farmers. agriculture wasn’t doing well in the kate 1920s

What was the support for Nazis like from 1923-29 and why?

By 1929 the Nazi party had a large & well-organised membership, but they struggled to gain seats in the Reichstag. Because;

LOCARNO HONEYMOON/STRESSEMAN;

• ended inflation

• re-established Germany in the international community

• Hindenburg (president) + Stresseman (foreign minister) united moderate left and right parties so coalitions could work effectively.

^ The German people were happier with the government and had less reason to rely on extremist parties.

How did the Great Depression affect the people?

THE ECONOMY

• USA withdrew its loans. Financial crisis that lead to unemployment

YOUNG PEOPLE

• 50% were unemployed, even those with a good education

FACTORY WORKERS

• 40% unemployed

FARMERS

• They were already struggling & it got worse. Increased support for the Nazis

BUSINESSMEN

• Struggled - nobody had extra money to spend on goods

Everyone suffered as unemployment benefits were cut & many unemployed people couldn’t afford to eat

How did the Great Depression affect the Weimar republic?

DISUNITY

• The 2 main parties in the coalition government fell out. There were disagreements over the reduction of welfare benefits. Müller (SDP) resigned and Brüning (Centre Party) became Chancellor

LOSS OF DEMOCRACY

• Brüning did not have majority support in the Reichstag, so president Hindenburg was asked to use Article 48. From 1930 Germany was no longer a democracy and basically controlled by Hindenburg.

TURN TO EXTREMISM

• Brüning’s decisions were unpopular and increased suffering. Many Germans turned to extreme political parties for a solution, and the Nazis provided scapegoats - the Jews, Communists & Weimar politicians

Why was Hitler able to become Chancellor?

HITLER’S APPEAL

• Hitler presented as strong, convincing leader with broad messages —> appealed to a variety of groups, especially those desperate to see Germany strong again

• Powerful businesses were willing to support Hitler financially, as the Communists were promoting capitalism’s flaws and they wanted to stop support for communism.

THE ROLE OF THE SA - Key role in their growth

• Larger than the Communist’s private army

• Disrupted political opponents’ meetings

• Rallies made the Nazis look strong and used symbols to reinforce the idea that they could bring a better future for Germans

• Used violence + intimidation to threaten the opposition & sway voters

NAZI ELECTION PROPAGANDA

Large Gatherings;

• Parades + marches — politcal speeches AND entertainment (plays, sport, concerts)

Huge rallies —> showed the Nazi’s order & discipline

Advertisments;

• Newspapers — 8, all for different audiences

• Posters targeted a range of groups and had deliberately broad, simple messages

How did Hitler rise to Chancellor from 1932-33?

1932 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS

• Nazis are the biggest Reichstag party

• Hitler gains 13 million votes and becomes a major political figure despite losing to Hindenburg

APRIL 1932

• Brüning (Chancellor) tries to ban the SS and SA due to considerable unrest - right-wing groups angered

• Army general Von Schleicher organised a coalition of army officers, industrialists and wealthy landowners to go against Brüning.

• Von Schleicher persuades Hindenburg to dismiss Brüning

VON PAPEN

• Von Papen is chosen as the coalition’s figurehead & Chancellor as he is easy to control.

• The coalition was weak and Hitler argued that he should be made chancellor. Hindenburg refuses - he hates Hitler and thinks he is unsuitable.

NOVEMBER 1932 ELECTIONS

• Von Papen calls another election. The Nazis remain the largest party, so von Papen resigns.

• Powerful businessmen write to Hindenburg asking for Hitler to be chancellor. Hindenburg refuses - von Schleicher becomes chancellor instead.

• von Schleicher asks for the powers to lead a military dictatorship - he claims von Papen and Hitler are conspiring against him. Hindenburg refuses.

• News of this request is leaked, damaging Schleicher’s reputation and support

JANUARY 1933

• von Papen decides to work with Hitler - he underestimates him and believes that if Hitler becomes chancellor, he could control him as vice-chancellor

• von Papen persuades Hindenbrug to make Hitler chancellor - Hindenburg reluctantly agrees.

Why was Hitler able to become Chancellor?

• The Nazis were already the largest party in Germany

• Rival politicians were distracted competing against each other

• Conservative elites, businessmen and army leaders supported Hitler

• Hitler was underestimated a lot

• Hindenburg saw no stable alternative for chancellor

What limited Hitler’s power/weaknesses?

• The Weimar Constitution limits the Chancellor’s power

• Hindenburg keeps all the presidential powers

• only 2/12 in Hitler’s cabinet were Nazis, and only 1/3 of the Reichstag were Nazis

• Hitler’s authority heavily depended upon the majority support of the Reichstag

When was the Reichstag fire and what happened?

27 February 1933

The Reichstag building is destroyed by a fire. Dutch Communist van der Lubbe was found guilty and executed.

However, there is serious doubt whether it was his fault. The only clear fact is that he was Communist and the Nazis took advantage of this.

What were the consequences of the Reichstag fire?

• Hermann Goering (Nazi chief of Police) claimed that van der Lubbe was part of an anti-government Communist plot and the fire was an opportunity to crush their opposition; 4,000 Communist leaders were arrested the night of the fire.

• Hitler used this as an excuse to attack the Communists & grow his own power

• Hitler convinces Hindenburg to pass an emergency decree.

What decree was passed after the Reichstag fire?

The Decree for the Protection of the People and State.

• The police can search homes & imprison anyone arrested without trial.

also;

• could ban meetings & close newspapers

• Goering took control of the state radio station

Why was the March 1933 election called?

Hitler, as the newly appointed chancellor, wanted to gain as many seats in the Reichstag for the Nazis as possible.

Many methods were used to ensure the Nazi’s positive results; Nazi police, SA violence/intimidation, propaganda, opposing party members arrested, etc

Results of the March 1933 reichstag election

The Nazi party was now the largest party in the Reichstag but was not a majority. Hitler wanted to gain 2/3 of the seats to allow him more power.

What did Hitler do before the Enabling Act?

He worked to persuade other parties as he wanted majority support for his new law.

Consequences of the Enabling Act

THE END OF THE WEIMAR CONSTITUTION & DEMOCRACY

• Hitler now had the power to make laws & sign agreements with foreign powers without needing the Reichstag’s approval

• The Reichstag is now useless - after this it met only 12 times just to listen to Hitler talk instead of voting/discussing anything

THE “NAZI REVOLUTION”

• Hitler started a process of using his new powers to remove any remaining opposition;

1. LOCAL GOVERNMENTS; overtaken by Nazis, then abolished

2. TRADE UNIONS; weakened to gain the favor of big businesses

3. OTHER POLITICAL PARTIES; SDP & Communists suspended, then a law is passed banning all parties except the Nazis

When was the Enabling Act?

March 1933

What problems did Hitler have with the SA?

RÖHM

• Due to the SA’s great power, Röhm (the SA leader) could potentially rival Hitler.

• Röhm had more socialist, anti-big businesses views — Hitler wanted the economic backing

• Röhm was a homosexual, and some party members were offended and claimed he was “corrupting the Hitler Youth”.

THE SA’S NEGATIVE IMPACT

• Their behavior embarrassed Hitler; violence, intimidation, drunken infighting. This behavior made the Nazis lose support of many conservative Germans

• The SA’s influence affected Nazi-army relations. Army leaders were still influential — Hitler wanted to rearm & grow the army while the SA wanted to replace the army.

• Himmler (the SS leader) resented the SA’s influence & was keen to weaken it

When was the Night of the Long Knives & what happened?

30th June 1934

• SS arrests 200 officers. Many, including Röhm, are executed

Hitler took responsibility and claimed that he was defending Germany against a plot led by Röhm

When does Hitler become Führer?

August 1934. He uses Hindenburg’s death as the opportunity to merge the roles of Chancellor and President. The army’s oath of loyalty is made directly to him now.

What events lead up to / cause Hitler to become Führer?

THE ENABLING ACT 1933

• The end of the Weimar Constitution & Democracy in Germany — he could now bypass the Reichstag

THE NIGHT OF LONG KNIVES 1934

• The SA was kept at bay and no longer threatened Hitler’s authority or the Nazi Party’s reputation.

HINDENBURG’S DEATH

• He could now assimilate the role of President and merge the roles of President & Chancellor to become the Führer

How did the Nazis use Terror & the Police State to control Germany?

THE LAW

• adapted to what the Nazis wanted.

• Germans could be arrested & imprisoned without trial

• Special Courts set up; no juries, pro-Nazi judges and no right of appeal against a sentence. Often used against political opponents, many sentenced to death & executed

THE SS

• Identified & arrested political prisoners

• ran the German concentration camps

THE GESTAPO

• State security

• Had a huge number of informers. Apartment blocks even had “block leaders” that would supervise and inform on any criticism or suspicious behaviour.

  ^ Many Germans didn’t even think they were being oppressed — those who did know thought the benefits were more important than personal freedom

CONCENTRATION CAMPS

• around 200,000+ Germans imprisoned for showing opposition, even for something so minor as a joke

• Inmates subjected to forced labour

• Torture and brutality was common

How did the Nazis use Censorship to control Germany?

• Strict control of the press — any newspapers opposing the Nazis shut down

• Strict control of radio programs — German radios couldn’t pick up foreign broadcasts

• “Unacceptable Literature” defined by the Ministry of Propaganda. Millions of books burned and unacceptable authors banned

• Censorship of the arts - music such as Jazz was banned for Black American, “inferior” influences and connotations. Traditional art with Nazi values and Aryan characters while other kinds, especially modern art, was banned.

How did the Nazis use Propaganda to control Germany?

• Newspapers planted pro-Nazi stories and spread positive Nazi messages

• Radios were made for cheap so 70% of all households owned them. Broadcasts with plays and entertainment pushed subtle Nazi messages

• Loudspeaker systems installed in public places such as factories, bars and restaurants to broadcast Hitler’s speeches

• Public parades & rallies showed Germany’s power and glory under the Nazis

• Posters, especially to portray Hitler as strong and faultless

• The arts; films with Nazi views, classical / nationalist music, art with heroic Aryan characters and values

• The olympics were an opportunity to show Aryan supremacy.

How did the Nazis use education to control Germany?

The school curriculum was changed to push Nazi views and ideals onto students to raise a new generation of Nazi supporters. Young people were expected to attend Nazi Youth groups, so the Nazi regime would mainly form their beliefs and attitudes rather than their families.

key examples;

• “Race Studies” subject teaching the superiority of the Aryans + Jews being the lowest racial type

• emphasis on PE to prepare fit and healthy future soldiers & mothers

• Biology emphasizing the supremacy of the Aryans

• Geography teaching Lebensraum - the need for Germans to have more living space

How did the Nazis control women in Germany?

The 1920s gave women opportunities for significant careers and freedom of personal expression, but the Nazis wanted to stop this and encourage childbearing and “traditional” values.

• Huge propaganda campaign encouraging childbearing & the joy of a large family

• Medals for women with large families / lots of kids

• contraception + abortions banned

• 1933 Law for Encouragement of Marriage; loans scheme providing money for young couples marrying as long as the woman gave up work

What broad methods did the Nazis use to control Germany?

TERROR & THE POLICE STATE

• A series of measures ensuring that Germans would be too scared to criticize Nazism in any way.

• Unfair law practices, the SS seizing political prisoners and running concentration camps, the Gestapo collecting suspects from informers, concentration camps for forced labour & oftentimes torture of inmates

CENSORSHIP

• A range of restrictions on media such as newspapers, radio programs, literature, the arts (fine art/music) ensuring the German people would only receive the “correct message” of Nazi principles.

PROPAGANDA

• The spreading of positive, pro-Nazi messages and the Nazi view of what it meant to be German.

• Key ideas; superior Aryans/inferior Jews, Nazis battling the evils of communism, men vs women in societal roles, the citizens’ duty to suffer for the nation if needed

• Newspapers, radio programs and loudspeaker systems in public places to push Nazi messages. Public parades/rallies to show strength & discipline. Posters & the arts (cinema, music, fine art) illustrated heroic German figures & Aryan characters

EDUCATION + YOUTH GROUPS

• School curricula changed to teach Nazi principles, PE emphasized to prepare healthy future soldiers & mothers

• Youth groups encouraged so young people would spend less time with family — the Nazis would be the main influence on their beliefs and attitudes

• 1936 Hitler Youth Law encouraging membership. Became stricter in 1939

WOMEN

• Nazis wanted to stop the increasing personal & career freedoms that the 1920s gave women.

• Propaganda campaigns encouraging & medals for having lots of kids, contraception + abortion banned

• 1933 Law for Encouragement of Marriage gave young couples loans as long as the woman gave up work

Why did the Nazis want to control the Church?

They wanted control over what Germans heard at school or on the radio to completely control their beliefs / opinions. The Churches in Germany were very relevant socially and could impact people’s attitudes — the Nazis wanted to “bring them into line”.

How did the Nazis control the Catholic Church?

The Nazis needed to reduce the authority of the Church as the Catholics were loyal to the Pope. Hitler needed all Germans to see him as the supreme leader, so he needed a stronger influence over the Catholics.

1933 CONCORDAT; the Church would stay out of politics, the Nazis would grant freedom of worship + allow Catholic schools and youth groups.

^ promptly broken.

SCHOOL + EDUCATION

• Christian imagery in schools replaced by Hitler’s image

• Catholic schools turned into community schools

• Membership of the Catholic League banned

PROPAGANDA/FINANCES

• Catholic newspapers censored

• State funding for the Church cut

• Propaganda implied there was financial corruption in the Church

POLICE STATE

• Catholic priests that spoke out got arrested

• Some priests were sent to concentration camps

How did the Nazis control the Protestant Church?

REICH CHURCH SET UP 1933

• all parts of the Protestant Church united

• Pastors pressured to support Nazi ideas by the German Christians (pro-Nazi Christian group). 18 pastors that refuses lost their jobs

RESISTANCE - THE CONFESSIONAL CHURCH SET UP

• Niemöller + Bonhoeffer

• Believed the church + Nazi politics should stay separate

• grew to 5,000 and rivalled the Reich Church

CRUSHING RESISTANCE

• Niemöller + many Protestant clergy arrested and sent to concentration camps

• Bonhoeffer executed

How did the Nazis impact the Churches’ influence?

Significantly. By the late 1930s neither the Protestant or the Catholic Church had a strong influence. By 1939, only 5% of all Germans described themselves as “God-believing”.

How did Nazis reduce the Churches’ influence?

• Promoting the Hitler Youth and banning the Catholic League

• Removing church schools

• Propaganda against the church

• Arresting those who spoke out + concentration camps

How did Nazis remove Untermenschen (subhumans) that didn’t contribute to the Aryan race?

1933 STERILIZATION LAW

• tramps, beggars, mentally disabled people

1935 INTERMARRIAGE BANS

• between Gypsies & Germans

• Between Black people & Aryans

1936 ONWARDS - CONCENTRATION CAMPS

• juvenile delinquents, tramps, homosexuals, Jews, Gypsies

1939-41 - MENTAL ILLNESS

• 70,000+ mentally ill people killed (lethal injection, gas chambers)

How did the Nazis persecute Jews from 1933-38?

1933

• NATIONWIDE BOYCOTT; Jewish shops & businesses

• CAREER BANS; Jews banned from socially significant careers (government, medicine, teaching, etc)

1935

• SPACE BANS; Jews banned from public places and the army

THE NUREMBERG LAWS

• THE REICH LAW FOR THE PROTECTION OF GERMAN HONOUR & BLOOD; Jews & Aryans cannot marry. Divorce encouraged or the Aryan will be treated like a Jew by the law

• THE REICH LAW ON CITIZENSHIP; only people of German blood are citizens. Jews cannot vote or hold a German passport.

1938

• All possessions to be registered by the government

• Jews had to carry identification at all time & present it when asked

When & what were the Nuremberg laws?

1935

LAW FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE GERMAN BLOOD & HONOUR

• Jews & Aryans cannot marry

• Divorce encouraged ; if not the Aryan will be treated like a Jew by the law

THE REICH LAW ON CITIZENSHIP

• Only people of German blood are citizens

• Jews cannot vote or hold a German passport

Why did Kristallnacht happen?

A German official was killed by a Jewish man, giving the Nazis an excuse to launch a violent campaign against Jews.

When was Kristallnacht & what happened?

NOVEMBER 9-10 1938

• 800+ Jewish-owned shops destroyed

• almost 200 synagogues destroyed

• Many Jewish homes attacked

• 91 Jews killed, 30,000 arrested

How was Kristallnacht presented?

It was presented as an outburst of rage and hatred by the people, but it was really premeditated attacks by Nazi forces.

Nazi economic plans

THE “4 YEAR PLAN” - ATTEMPT TO ACHIEVE AUTARKY & PREPARE GERMANY FOR WAR

—> self-sufficiency; Germany would not need products from other countries, so it didn’t risk losing resources if it waged war.

—> A propaganda campaign encouraged people to only consume German products & food

Results/success of the Nazi’s economic plans

LIMITED SUCCESS

• there were frequent food shortages and rationing had to be introduced.

• Germany imported 1/3 of its raw materials & imported more than it exported

• Government spending > the government’s income

• By 1939 the government was billions of marks in debt

How did the Nazis reduce unemployment?

• Increased spending on public works (e.g motorways) created jobs for construction workers

• A more aggressive foreign policy + emphasis on rearmament; investment in arms. Created jobs in factories + adjacent industries (coal/steel mining, chemical factories etc)

• Germany’s expansion created jobs: army went from 100,000 - 900,000+ by 1938

• Private companies were paid to create jobs, e.g the car industry producing the Volkswagen

Invisible unemployment in Nazi Germany

WOMEN

• Encouraged to stay at home, they quit or were fired

• even when women were encouraged to work again during rearmament there were less women working in 1939 than before the Depression

• Not included in unemployment figures

JEWS

• forced from their jobs and replaced by Aryans

• Not included in unemployment figures

THE NATIONAL LABOUR SERVICE

• single men had to serve 6 months doing public building projects

• after 1935, unemployed men were forced to join & no longer counted as unemployed

TEMPORARILY EMPLOYED PEOPLE

• e.g agricultural workers

• counted as fully employed, so over a million people that may have needed work were excluded from the unemployment figures

^ The statistics do not include what life was like. The cost of life + working hours went up so the average worker could afford less in 1939 than 1933

What was the German Labour Front?

An organization set up after trade unions were banned to ensure the industry’s efficiency. Their main aims were for workers to work harder and to control wages — more hours without more pay.

Subdivisions of the German Labour Front

STRENGTH THROUGH JOY (KDF)

• ran activities for workers in their free time

• intended to make more motivated, satisfied workers by giving the hardest workers rewards

• rewards; cheap theatre tickets, museum tours, (very rarely) cruises & holidays

BEAUTY OF LABOUR (SDA)

• improved working conditions — encouraged employers to provide facilities such as canteens and sport/leisure areas

• most employers provided, but on the basis that employees would build it in their own free time, and it came out of their wages.