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What was the impact of the First World War on Germany?
Two million German troops died and over four million were wounded (11 million in total fought in the war)
Government debts increased from 50 billion marks to 150 billion marks
More than 750,000 Germans died because of food shortages
The devastating effects of the war left many people with no option other than to revolt by striking and rioting
What are the events of the abdication of Kaiser Wilhelm II (the Emperor)?
9th November 1918
The Kaiser visited army headquarters in Spa
Ministers tried to persuade the Kaiser to abdicate
The Kaiser refused
Army officers refused to support the Kaiser
The Kaiser had no option but to abdicate
10th November 1918
The Kaiser fled to Holland
What are the details of the revolution and the declaration of the republic?
Once the Kaiser had abdicated, the German Republic was declared on 9th November 1918
On 10th November, Friedrich Ebert suspended the old
Reichstag and formed the Council of People’s Representation as a temporary measure
The Berlin streets were crowded. Some people were armed, hoping to take over parts of the city
Philipp Scheidmann of the SDP, the largest party in the German government, declared the new republic to the crowds. He was fearful that armed rioters were preparing to declare a communist government in Berlin, and, keen to prevent this, he promoted a peaceful transition
The revolutionary period continued until August 1919, when the Weimar Republic was finally established
What are the details of the armistice?
The peace agreement between Germany and the Allies
It was signed on 11th November
It was the first major decision of Ebert’s new Republic
The terms of the peace, the Treaty of Versailles, became a very big burden for the country
What did the Weimar Constitution detail about the Head of State?
President
Head of Weimar Republic
Elected by the people every seven years
Had some important political powers. For example, the president chose the chancellor
Could suspend the constitution and pass laws by decree
What did the Weimar Constitution detail about The Government?
Chancellor
Head of the government in the Weimar Republic
Chose all government ministers
Cabinet
The main decision-making body of the government
What are the details of the Electorate under the Weimar Constitution?
Consisted of all men and women of 21 years old and over
What are the details of the Parliament under the Weimar Consitution?
Made up of two houses: the Reichstag and the Reichsrat
Normally, all laws had to pass through both houses
Proportional representation
Reichstag:
The more powerful of the two houses
Controlled taxation
Directly elected by the people at least once every four years
Reichsrat:
Also elected every four years
However, it represented the region of Germany
Each region sent a certain number of representatives depending on its size
What were the strengths of the Weimar Constitution?
Proportional representation made sure small parties had a fair share of seats
Women able to vote as well as men
Voting age reduced from 25 to 21
No one group or person could have too much power
There was an election for president every 7 years
Central government was more powerful than before, but local government still retained power in the regions
The Reichsrat could regulate the power of the Reichstag by delaying new laws
What are the weaknesses of the Weimar Constitution?
Proportional representation led to coalition governments that were unstable, or found it difficult to have strong policies and often fell apart
Lack of strong government led to weakness in a crisis that ended up with the president passing laws without the prior consent of the Reichstag. Article 48 of the constitution enabled the president to do this
It was not the choice of the people so was not that popular
What are the ‘November Criminals’?
The Treaty of Versailles damaged Germany’s economy making the Weimar Republic weak from the start.
People blamed the leaders of the new German republic for signing it.
They were labelled the ‘November Criminals’ because the surrendered in November 18 and were seen as traitors to their country
What was detailed about reparations in the Treaty of Versailles?
As the war guilt clause made Germany accept the blame for the war, the Allies said they were entitled to reparations (compensation)
£6600 million was to be paid in yearly instalments to the Allies to repair damage in their countries
What was detailed about military forces in the Treaty of Versailles?
Army limited to 100,000
Navy limited to six battleships, six cruisers, 12 destroyers and 12 torpedo boats (and no submarines)
All planes were destroyed and no air force was allowed
No military was allowed in the land bordering France (the Rhineland)
What was Article 231 in the Treaty of Versailles?
Said that Germany was guilty of starting the war.
Ordinary German people hated this blame and felt very resentful because of it
They believed they fought the war in self-defence and that other countries were to blame
People demonstrated in Leipzig against the treaty
What was detailed about land loss in the Treaty of Versailles?
Germany lost 13% of its European territory
Germany also lost 11 of its colonies
Northern Schleswig voted to become part of Denmark
Eupen and Malmedy were lost to Belgium
Alsace and Lorraine were lost to France
Memel was lost to Lithuania in 1923
Polish corridor (Posen and West Prussia) was lost to Poland
Upper Silesia voted to become part of Poland
What is ‘stab in the back’ theory?
Dolchtoss
Many German people never believed their army had been defeated in the war.
Those who criticised the treaty said that the army had been betrayed by politicians - that they were ‘stabbed in the back’ and forced to surrender when they could have won
Who were the Spartacists?
Left-wing
Came from the Independent Socialist Party
Had backing from the Soviet Union
Led by Rosa Luxemberg and Karl Liebknecht
Based in Berlin
Who were the Freikorps?
Right-wing
Made up of ex-soldiers who had kept their weapons
Had 250,000 men in March 1919
Organised by regular army
What are the details of the Spartacist Revolt?
In January 1919, the Spartacists took over the government’s newspaper and telegraph bureau, and tried to organise a general strike in Berlin
The Weimar government sent Freikorps units to put down the revolt
There was street fighting in Berlin for several days before the revolt ended and Spartacist leaders were shot
What are the details of the Kapp Putsch?
In March 1920, Freikorps troops, fearing unemployment, decided to march on Berlin.
Ebert asked the head of the army to resist the Freikorps but he refused.
A nationalist politician, Dr Wolfgang Kapp, was put in charge by the rebels and the Weimar government fled Berlin seeking safety
In order to put down the rebels, or the Kapp Putsch as it became known, the government organised the trade unions to go on strike
This they did and the national strike caused such chaos that Kapp could not rule Germany and was forced to flee.
The Weimar ministers returned
What were the political attacks on the Weimar Republic?
Right-wing parties in the Reichstag
The Kapp Putsch
Right-wing bias in the courts
Political assassinations
Left-wing and right-wing political armies
The Spartacist Revolt
Left-wing parties in the Reichstag
What are the details of the political assassinations that happened in the early years of the republic?
From 1919-1923 politicians in the Weimar Republic were worried about assassinations
In the early years of the republic, 376 political assassinations took place
Some right-wing extremists used the murders to weaken the new republic
Conservative judges were sympathetic to the conservative cause and gave them light punishments
Why was there hyperinflation in the early years of the republic?
1914-18 - The government printed more money to pay for the First World War, but it didn’t have more gold - it was bankrupt
1918-22 - The Weimar government printed more money for post-war shortages and asked for longer to pay the first reparations instalment
January 1923 - French troops invaded the Ruhr to take reparations payments in good and raw materials. German workers went on strike. 80% of German coal, iron and steel reserves were in the Ruhr and many of its factories. The occupation was a disaster for Germany’s economy.
The Weimar government printed more money to pay strikers and make up for loss of coal, steel and iron production
November 1923 - The German mark was worthless
What were the negative effects of hyperinflation?
Some people could not afford essentials like bread
Wages rose, but not as quickly as prices
Some businesses went bankrupt
People with fixed or monthly incomes, such as pensioners, suffered most
Savings became worthless. This affected the middle classes most
People blamed the Weimar government, which made it even more unpopular
What were the positive effects of hyperinflation?
Farmers benefited, as they were paid more for food
Some people and businesses could pay off loans and mortgages
Fixed rents for rooms or shops became very cheap
Foreign visitors could buy more for their money
How did the Rentenmark help Weimar recover during the years 1923-29?
In November 1923, Stresemann set up the Rentenbank and issued the new currency called the Rentenmark
Supply of these notes was tightly controlled. Their value was tied to the price of gold so it had real value. This encouraged more public confidence
In August 1924 the Reichsbank was given control of this new currency. It was renamed the Reichsmark. Hyperinflation was over
The Reichsmark provided a much stronger basis for the recovery of jobs and businesses, but it could not bring back the losses experienced in the hyperinflation crisis
What are the details of the Dawes Plan?
1924
In 1924, Charles Dawes, an American banker, designed a plan so Germany could pay its reparations
Instalments were temporarily reduced to £50 million a year
US Banks agreed to make loans to the German industry. The Allies felt more confident that they would get their reparations payments
What are the details of the Young Plan?
1929
In August 1929, a committee, set up by the Allies and led by an American banker called Owen Young, proposed a plan
The positives were:
The Young Plan reduced the total reparations debt from £6.6 billion to £2 billion
The payments could be made over a longer time, up until 1988
Lower reparations meant lower taxes for German people
The negatives were:
There was a lot of opposition, especially from the extreme political parties, like the Nazis, who felt it was extending the burden for future generations
What improvements in the economy were made between the years 1923-29?
The Weimar Republic’s economy improved because:
Industrial ouput doubled by 1928 and finally passed pre-First World War levels
Employment and trade increased
However, there were still problems:
The extreme political parties were completely against Germany paying the reparations at all
The economic recovery depended on American loans, so it remained fragile
How was Stresemann successful?
Gustav Stresemann resigned the chancellorship in November 1923, but stayed as foreign secretary until 1929. His work in foreign affairs:
strengthened the confidence of the German people in the Weimar Republic
reduced the support for extremist political parties like the Nazis and the communists
increased support for moderate parties
reduced the economic hard of the German people
Stresemann was instrumental in making sure Germany was a member of three important international pacts or agreements: The Locarno Pact, the League of Nations and the Kellogg-Briand Pact.
What are the details of the Locarno Pact?
1925
This was an agreement between Germany, Britain, France, Italy and Belgium. In it:
Germany, agreed to its new border with France improving relations with the French
the Allies and Germany agreed to the permanent demilitarisation of the Rhineland
German membership of the League of Nations was up for discussion
Why was the Locarno Pact a success for Germany?
It improved relations with France with the border agreement
The Locarno Pact was not imposed on Germany, unlike the Treaty of Versailles
It increased the status the popularity of the Weimar Republic
It helped boost confidence in more moderate political parties
What was the League of Nations?
This was a new international body that hoped to discuss world problems in order to avoid war
It was set up in 1920 but Germany was initially excluded
In 1926, they were invited to join and they became a member of the council
Why was the League of Nations successful for Germany?
It showed that Germany’s views counted
It boosted the confidence held by most Germans in the Weimar government
What are the details of the Kellogg-Briand Pact?
1928
This was an agreement between 62 nations
It committed countries to avoiding the use of war to achieve foreign policy objectives
Why was the Kellogg-Briand Pact successful in Germany?
It showed that Germany was once again a major power
It showed that moderate political parties could build Germany’s strength internationally
It increased public confidence in how Germany was being led
How was Stresemann unsuccessful?
These were still come areas of discontent in spite of Stresemann’s work
The hated terms of the Treaty of Versailles were still in place
The League of Nations was, for some, a symbol of the unpopular Treaty of Versailles
Some didn’t like the confirmation of the new border with France
There were still extremist parties around
How were there changes in wages and work after 1924?
Positives:
Working hours were reduced
Wages rose
Working conditions improved
Negatives:
Hyperinflation made employment insecure
Well-off Germans resented seeing workers benefiting
How were there changes in unemployment insurance?
Positives:
3% of workers’ earnngs were deduced to be put towards insurance that would give them a basic amount of benefits if they became unemployed or sick
How were there changes in housing?
Positives:
15% rent tax was introduced to fund building associations
Between 1925 and 1929, 101,000 homes were built
Negatives:
There was still a housing shortage but things had improved
How did things change for women in the workplace after 1924?
Some of the gains in equality brought about by the war were lost
Most women gave up work after they married. There was a drop in women working drom 75% in 1918 to 36% in 1925
Few women secured high status jobs
There was an increase in part-time work
Some professions, like teaching and medicine, offered new opportunities to women
Women were encouraged to go to university
How did things change for women at leisure after 1924?
Greater earning power led to more independence for younger, single women
Women were less interested in marriage and family and more interested in having a ‘good time’
The behaviour of ‘new women’ was not liked by some men and women who felt traditional values were being eroded
How did things change for women in politics after 1924?
Women earned the vote in 1918 and could stand for elections
90% turned out at elections
Article 109 of the constitution stated that women had equal rights with men and could enter professions on an equal basis
Marriage was an equal partnership
How were there changes in art between 1924-29?
Weimar artists painted everyday life so that everyone could have access to their art
They wanted to make art that commented on problems in German society, or to make people think
Their style of work was called Expressionism, which was concerned with raw emotion, the seedier side of everyday life and confronting the disaster of the First World War.
Artists like Otto Dix and George Grosz were influential to the movement, as was Paul Klee
How were there changes in cinema between 1924-29?
Films became popular all over the world in the 1920s
Expressionism flourished in film-making, particularly in Weimar Germany due to fewer restrictions
Some German films were very new and exciting in how they challenged traditional cinema
How were there changes in architecture between 1924-29?
New designers and architects challenged traditional ideas and practices in building and interiors
The Bauhaus school was set up in Weimar, in 1919, by the architect Walter Gropius
Gropius wanted to bring together all the disciplines (art, architecture, design, typography, sculpture, etc.)
The school attracted many talented artists and designers
Their ideas challenged traditional styles that had been popular before the war
Their approaches looked radical compared to what had come before
When did Hitler join the DAP?
1919
When did Hitler become second in command of the DAP?
1920
When did Hitler take over control of the Nazi party from Drexler?
1921
What are the events of Hitler’s early political career?
The German Workers’ Party (DAP) was set up by Anton Drexler in February 1919, in Munich; Hitler joined in September 1919
The DAP set up permanent headquarters, Hitler became second in command
Hitler suggested a new name for the party - the National Socialist German Workers’ Party (NSDAP) or NAZI Party for short
In July 1921, Hitler became leader of the Nazi Party
Hess, Goering, Streicher and Rohm were selected as some of his party supporters
What are the details of the 25 point programme?
The Nazi programme, written by Hitler and Drexler in 1920, included the following points
Increase pensions for the elderly
Nationalise industries
Get rid of the Treaty of Versailles
Everybody should have a job
Build up Germany’s armed forces
Only German races may be embers of the nation. No Jew may be a citizen
Expand Germany across new territory to feed the people and to settle surplus population (known as Lebensraum)
All citizens should have equal rights and duties
Every hard-working German to have the chance of higher education
State must protect mothers and infants, stop children working; make laws for compulsory sports
The programme opposed: the Weimar politicians who agreed to the Treaty of Versailles; democracy, which they thought was weak; and Jews, who they felt undermined the German economy
What are the details of the Sturmabteilung (SA)?
The Sturmabeilung (or stormtroopers) were a paramilitary force, made up of unemployed ex-soldiers.
They were formed in August 1921 by Hitler and put under the command of Ernst Rohm. They wore brown uniforms and were nicknamed ‘Brownshirts’
They were used to disrupt oppositions meetings and to control crowds and any opposition to Hitler - often violently
What were the long term reasons for the Munich Putsch?
‘Stab in the back’
Reparation
The loss of Germany’s colnies
Resentment of Weimar government, particularly bu the Bavarian government
What were the medium term reasons for the Munich Putsch?
Hitler was influenced by Mussolini’s right-wing party in Italy - the Fascists
Mussolini marched on Rome in 1922, forcing the democratic government to accept him as leader
What was the short term reasons for the Munich Putsch?
Hyperinflation
French troops entered Ruhr in 1923 and took over German businesses
Hitler thought that he had support
What happened on the 8th November 1923 during the Munich Putsch?
Hitler with 600 SA entered a beer hall in Munich where the Bavarian government were meeting
At gunpoint, Hitler forced government leaders to support him
Rohm took over local police and army headquarters
Lundendorff, behind Hitler’s back, let the government leaders go
What happened on the 9th November 1923 during the Munich Putsch?
Hitler gathered with 1000 SA and 2000 volunteer supporters and marched on Munich town centre to declare himself President of Germany
The group was met by state police
Someone opened fire and there was chaos
Ludendorff, Rohm and Streicher were arrested
What happened on the 11th November 1923 during the Munich Putsch?
Hitler was found hiding at a friend’s house and was arrested
What were the consequences of the Munich Putsch?
In the short term, the Putsch was not good for Hitler. He was in prison and the NSDAP was banned, and the Putsch had failed miserably because of lack of support
In the long term, however, the consequences were more positive for Hitler and the NSDAP
Hitler used his trial to publicise his views
He used his time in prison to write Mein Kampf (My Struggle). This book became a bestseller when published - it outlined his political ideas and in particular his views of Jews
The events of the Putsch made Hitler realise that the party needed to rethink its tactics and be more organised in order to win support nationally, using violence and force wasn’t enough
Hitler was released from prison after only nine months. The ban on the NSDAP was lifted by 1925
What are the details of the Bamberg Conference?
1926
Hitler organised this conference to address splits between the socialist and nationalist wings of the Nazi movement
Hitler’s power as leader was secured and his vision of Nazism taken forward
What are the reasons for the growth in support for the Nazi party between 1929-32?
Wall Street Crash, USA, October 1929
US companies lost billions of dollars in value overnight. Many banks and businesses were ruined, and worldwide depression resulted
US stopped lending money to Germany and demanded all loans be repaid
German Businesses
Had to pay back loans
Received no more investment from the US
Had to pay increased taxes to government
German government
Couldn’t borrow money from the US
Refused to print more money
Increased taxes
Made cuts in unemployment benefit
Government workers had wages cut and some lost their jobs
German people
Businesses reduced staff or closed
Millions of workers and farm labourers lost their jobs
Young people were badly affected by job losses
With no work, and benefits slashed, families suffered terrible poverty
What was the appeal of Hitler?
He was a strong leader
His image appeared on most publicity material
He travelled around the country giving speeches and talking on the radio
The party adopted modern technology, e.g. used aeroplanes
How did the depression benefit Hitler?
Economic Problems
Unemployment
Dissatisfaction with weak Weimar government
Increased membership of extreme left and right wing parties
Support for the Communist Party grew during this period but the Nazi Party grew faster
Support for the Communist Party was mainly from the working classes living in cities who wanted a party that could protect their jobs and wages
What are the details of Hitler’s propaganda?
Using propaganda techniques, Hitler persuaded:
business people that he could solve the economic crisis
working-class people that he could give them work and food
middle-class people that he could protect them from the communists, solve the economic crisis and return Germany to traditional values
rural communities that he could protect them from the communists, who might seize their land
young people to join him by providing something exciting for them to be part of
women that the Nazis were the best party to save the nation and their families
Who were the four key players that resulted in Hitler becoming Chacellor?
Paul von Hindenburg - hero of the First World War and President of the Weimar Republic
Heinrich Brunig - the Chancellor
General Franz von Papen - the politician and friend of Hindenburg
Kurt von Schleicher - the army general
What happened in April 1932 that aided in Hitler’s road to power?
Hindenburg stands for re-election as President
No one party has 50% of the vote
Chancellor Bruning bans the SA
What happened in May 1932 that aided in Hitler’s road to power?
Election with Hindenburg being re-elected as President Hitler increases his share of the vote
Chancellor Bruning’s plan to buy up land from landowners and use it to house the unemployed is opposed by Hindenburg. Bruning resigns
Bruning is replaced by von Papen - he is put forward by von Schleicher
Von Schleicher had been planning a coalition between right-wing supporters and the Nazis
Hitler agrees to the coalition if the ban on the SA is removed
The coalition takes power
What happened in July 1932 that aided in Hitler’s road to power?
Further elections take place - there is widespread fighting between the communists and the Nazis
The Nazi share of the vote increases from 18% in 1930 to 38%
Hitler demands that he be made Chancellor - Hindenburg refuses
What happened in November 1932 that aided in Hitler’s road to power?
Further election
Von Schleicher warns Hindenburg that if von Papen stays as Chancellor there will be civil war.
Von Papen goes
What happened in December 1932 that aided in Hitler’s road to power?
Von Schleicher becomes Chancellor
What happened in January 1933 that aided in Hitler’s road to power?
Von Schleicher does not have the support of the public or the Nazis
He persuades Hindenburg that he could be the head of a military dictatorship
Hindenburg refuses
Von Papen persuades Hindenburg to appoint Hitler as Chancellor to avoid von Schleicher’s military dictatorship
He also suggests that he should become Vice-Chancellor so that he can check on Hitler
Hitler becomes Chancellor
What were the consequences of the Reichstag Fire?
A lone Dutch communist was executed for starting the fire but Hitler seized the opportunity to accuse the Communist Party of a conspiracy against the government. Four thousand communists were arrested
It gave Hitler an excuse to issue a Decree for the Protection of the People and the opponents and ban opposition newspapers
He persuaded Hindenburg to call an election in March 1933 to secure more Nazi seats
The Nazi Party managed to secure two-thirds of the seats by using the emergency powers to prevent the communists from taking up their 81 seats
Hitler was not able to change the constitution
When was the Reichstag Fire?
27th February 1933
What are the details of the Enabling Act?
1933
Hitler proposed the Enabling Act in order to destroy the power of the Reichstag and give himself total power to make laws
It stated that:
The Reich Cabinet could pass new laws
the laws could overrule the constitution
Hitler would propose the laws
Result: Germany would no longer be a democracy
Hitler expected resistace to the act and so used the SA to intimidate the opposition
The vote was won by the Nazis 444 to 94
What effect did the Enabling Act have on trade unions and political parties?
The Enabling Act allowed Hitler to get rid of opposition to the Nazis
Local Government: this was closed down on 31st March 1933 and reorganise with Nazi majorities. It was completely abolished in January 1934
Trade unions: these were replaced with the German Labour Front. Many union officials were arrested on 2nd May 1933
Other Political Parties: in May 1933, the SDP and Communist Party offices and funds were taken by the Nazis. In July 1933, other political parties were banned
Why were Rohm and the SA a threat to Hitler?
Rohm did not like Hitler
The leaders of the Schutzstaffel (SS) wanted to reduce the size of the SA in order to increase their own power
The SA was much bigger than the army and the army feared Rohm wanted to replace them
Many of the SA were bitter because they felt undervalued and angry because many were still unemployed, but they were loyal to Rohm
What are the SS?
The SS was set up by Hitler in 1925 to act as his bodyguards
They were a select group run firstly by Shreck and then by Himmler
They appeared menacing in their black uniforms
What are the details of the Night of Long Knives?
Hitler decided to rid himself of the threat of Rohm and the SA
He did this by inviting Rohm and 100 SA leaders to a meeting in the town of Bad Wiessee on 30th June 1934
It was a ruse - when the leaders arrived they were arrested by the SS, taken to Munich and shot
After the arrests, von Papen’s staff were arrested and his home surrounded
Von Papen was no longer able to watch what Hitler was up to
Further killings occurred, including that of von Schleicher
It was thought that not many people fully realised how many people were being killed - many were relieved that the power of the SA had been curtailed
What were death of Hindenburg?
President Hindenburg was the only person senior to Hitler.
In August 1934, he died. Within hours, a Law Concerning the Head of State merged the offices of Chancellor and President to create a new office of Fuhrer
What is the ‘Fuhrer’?
Fuhrer means ‘leader’ and Hitler used propaganda to ensure that he looked all powerful
The ‘Heil Hitler!’ Nazi salute made people swear loyalty to him personally, and he was portrayed as having superhuman, heroic qualities
What are the details of the Army Oath of Allegiance?
The day Hindenburg died, Hitler announced the army should swear an oath of allegiance to him, not to Germany
What is a police state?
When a government uses the police to control everyone’s lives
What were the details of the SS?
Set up by Heinrich Himmler in 1925
They were led by Himmler
They wore black uniforms
They controlled all Germany’s police and security forces
They acted outside the law
Members had to marry ‘racially pure’ wives
They ran the concentration camps
What are the details of the SD (Security Service)?
Set up by Heinrich Himmler in 1931
They were led by Reinhard Heydrich
They wore uniforms
Spied on all opponents of the Nazi Party, both at home and abroad
What are the details of the Gestapo (Secret State Police)?
Set up by Hermann Goering in 1933
They were led by Reinhard Heydrich
They wore plain clothes
They spied on people
Prosecuted people for speaking out against the Nazis
Sent people to concentration camps and used torture
What was the legal system under Hitler?
Hitler controlled the legal system so that meant it was very difficult for anyone to oppose him. He did this by controlling the judges
All judges had to belong to the National Socialist League for the Maintenance of the Law
All judges had to favour the Nazi Party in any decision
He also did this by controlling the law courts
He abolished trial by jury - only judges were able to decide whether someone was innocent or guilty
He was set up a People’s Court to hear all treason cases. Trials were held in secret and judges were hand-picked
What were concentration camps like up to 1939?
The first camp was built at Dachau in 1933 to house the growing number of people being arrested
Inmates were made up of:
political prisoners
undesirables such as prostitutes and homosexuals, and minority groups like Jews
Camps were built in isolated areas so no one could see what was going on. Many more were built
Inmates were treated very badly and forced to do hard labour
How did the Nazi beliefs differ from Christian beliefs?
Nazis believed Hitler was the all-powerful leader whereas Christians believed God as the ultimate authority
Nazi believed that Aryan’s had racial superiority whereas Christians were equal in the eyes of God
Nazi believed that war, military discipline and violence were important where as Christians believe peace is what everyone should strive for
Nazi’s believed in dominance of the strong over the weak, whereas Christians believed the strong should look after the weak
What was the relationship between the Catholic Church and the Nazi Party?
Hitler worried that the Catholic Church would oppose him because Catholics:
were loyal to the pope
usually supported the Catholic Centre Party
sent their children to Catholic schools and the Catholic youth organisation
What was the Concordat?
In July 1933, Hitler agreed with the pope in a Concordat that Catholics were free to worship and run their own schools in return for staying out of politics
However, Hitler broke his promise and:
priests opposing the Nazis were harassed and/or sent to concentration camps
Catholic schools had to remove Christian symbols and were later closed
Catholic youth organisations were banned
By 1937, the pope spoke out against Hitler in his statement known as ‘With Burning Anxiety’, which criticised Nazi policies
What Protestant churches were formed during the 1930s and what were the details of this?
The Reich Church
was founded in 1933
was made up of about 2000 Protestant churches
supported the Nazis
was led by Ludwig Muller
had some members that wore Nazi uniform and called themselves German Christians
The Confessing Church
was founded in 1934
was made up of about 6000 Protestant churches
opposed the Nazis
was led by Martin Niemoller
was repressed by the Nazis
Who was Joseph Goebbels?
Joseph Goebbels - Reich Minister of Propaganda 1933-45
Played a central role as Nazi Minister of Enlightenment and Propaganda
He was a master at spreading Nazi ideas in a subtle as well as an unsubtle way
He essentially controlled newspapers, the radio, book publishing, film and the arts
What methods of censorship did the Nazis use?
Public burning of books by Jewish writers or others who disagreed with Nazi views
Radio producers, playwrights, filmmakers and newspapers were told what to say
Newspapers opposing the Nazis were closed
Only radios that couldn’t receive foreign stations were made
What methods of propaganda were used by the Nazis?
Posters showing Nazi beliefs were displayed everywhere
Huge rallies and military parades were held, projecting a power and strength that would either make Germans proud of their country of fill them with terror depending on their viewpoint
The cinema showed propaganda films, but mainly entertainment films that had subtle Nazi messages
Hitler made radio speeches which were played through loudspeakers in factories, cafes and on the streets. Entertainment programmes contained Nazi ideas and beliefs
The Nazis encouraged artists and playwrights to produce work and highlighting Nazi ideas. ‘Degenerate’ art, such as modern art and jazz music was banned
The Olympic games held in Berlin in 1936 was the ideal event to promote Nazi ideologies such as Aryan superiority. it was also an opportunity to present Nazi Germany in a good light. It was well organised and a grand spectacle
What was the Reich Chamber of Culture?
Set up in 1933 and overseen by Goebbels, this monitored all aspects of culture and made sure they were consistent with Nazi ideas
The Nazi wanted grand and classical architecture, particularly the work of Albert Speer; artists to be members of a Reich Chamber of Visual Arts; to listen to traditional German composers like Beethoven and Bach
In what ways was Pastor Martin Niemoller pro-Nazi?
Niemoller voted for them in the 1924 and 1933 elections as he felt the Weimar Republic needed a strong leader
He didn’t oppose Nazi restrictions on Jews
He wanted to be let out of prison to fight on the side of the Nazis in the Second World War
In what ways was Pastor Martin Niemoller against the Nazis?
He didn’t like Nazi interference in the Protestant Church
He opposed the Nazi restrictions on Jews becoming Christians
He set up the Confessing Church in 1934
In what ways was Pastor Martin Niemoller very against the Nazis?
Niemoller was arrested many times for speaking out against the Nazis and Hitler between 1934 and 1937
He was sent to a concentration camp in 1938 where he stayed until 1945
How did pastors and priests oppose the Nazis?
6000 Protestant pastors joined Niemoller’s Confessing Church as a protest against Nazi policy, only 2000 remained in the German Christian Church
About 800 pastors were arrested and sent to concentration camps
400 Catholic priests spoke out and were arrested and imprisoned in the Priests’ Block at Dachau concentration camp
What was the Niemoller sermon?
‘First they came for the Socialists,
and did not speak out
because I was not a Socialist.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists
and I did not speak out
because I was not a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Jews,
and I did not speak out
because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me
and there was no one left to speak for me.’
Note 
Flashcard (149)