history flashcards from quizlet

Who was the SS led by?

Himmler

When was Hitler appointed Chancellor?

(30th) Jan 1933

Which other roles were held by which Nazis when Hitler was first Chancellor?

Frick (Nazi) = Minister of the Interior - controls police, law and order . Goering (Nazi) = Minister without portfolio - no specific role. In Prussia, Minister of the Interior. Berlin is in Prussia.

Who was Hitler's vice chancellor when he was first appointed Chancellor?

Von Papen

What did Hitler first do when he became Chancellor?

Hitler calls for new elections to take place 5th March 1933

What did Hitler do to try and make sure he did better in the elections of March 1933?

4th Feb 1933 - Hitler got President Hindenburg to issue a Free and Fair Election Decree: . All election rallies and meetings must notify the police when and where they're taking place 48h in advance . Police can ban them if they wish

How do the Nazis abuse the Free and Fair Election Decree?

Frick and Goering (Nazis) in charge of police. Abuse this decree to:

. Ban Communist meetings and rallies . Beat up Communists at rallies

. Arrest Communists (as now know where they'll be and when) . 17th Feb 1933 Goering tells police to support Nazi rallies and impede Communist ones. He said he would cover for people who shot Communists.

What did the Nazis do after the Free and Fair Election Decree to try and help them win the election?

22nd Feb 1933 Goering appoints around 50,000 SA members as auxiliary policemen: . Gives them same free rein as official police force . They disrupted opposition meetings and beat up opponents

What happened on the 27th of February 1933?

Reichstag is set on fire
. Van der Lubbe (Dutch Communist) found inside

. Within 24 hours, 4,000 Communist leaders are arrested and imprisoned.

What happened the day after the Reichstag Fire?

28th Feb 1933 - Hitler persuades President Hindenburg to pass emergency decree - Reichstag Fire Decree:
. Suspends all articles in the constitution which guaranteed personal liberty, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and freedom of assembly.
. Gave police emergency powers to search houses, confiscate property, and detain people indefinitely without trial.
. Goering's police seized the state radio

How did Nazis do in election on the 5th March 1933?

Got 45% of seats

What happened on the 13th March 1933?

Goebbels made Minister of Propaganda

What stood in the way of Hitler getting the power he wanted after the election in March 1933 and how did he get past it?

To pass a constitutional change and effectively consolidate power, needed 2/3 of seats in Reichstag. To get these he:
. Banned the Communist party
. Intimidated remaining non-Nazi Reichstag members to vote for Enabling Act with many armed SA and SS men in hall where vote took place.

Which act did Hitler pass to take power in late March 1933?

23rd March 1933 Enabling Act passed:
. Allowed Hitler to make laws without the consent of the Reichstag or the President
. Hitler used these powers to create what is known as the Nazi revolution

What Nazi policies did Hitler implement in late March 1933?

March 1933, Concentration Camps were set up for Communists and other arrested opponents. 31st March 1933, Nazis closed state Parliament.

What law was passed on the 7th of April 1933?

Law for the Restoration of the Professional Civil Service was passed: . Purged civil service of Jews and Political Opponents . This enabled control over education, teachers, and the judiciary.

What did Hitler do in April 1933 other than purge the civil service?

. April 1933 Nazi State Governors appointed to govern states and make laws
. April 1933 Goering sets up Gestapo (secret state police force). Can send anyone suspected of being an enemy of the state to concentration camps. 1,000s of Germans acted as informants for them.

What did Hitler do about workers rights in May 1933?

1st May 1933 May Day holiday (workers holiday), Hitler allowed lots of celebrations.
2nd May 1933, Trade Unions Banned:
- Leaders of Trade Unions arrested
- German Labour Front (DAF) established in their place, giving Nazis control over German workers.

What was agreed in June 1933?

Hitler signs Concordat: . Agreement that Catholic Church would be protected but they would stay out of political matters.

What happened on the 14th of July 1933?

All political parties except Nazis are banned. Germany now one-party state.

What was the Reich church and when was it set up?

July 1933, Hitler made Muller Reich bishop of the Reich Church: . This was to be the official Protestant Church in control of all the Protestant Churches in Germany
. Swastik as symbol instead of cross
. Bible replaced by Mein Kampf
. Of approx 6,000 Protestant clergy, only 2,000 joined the Reich Church.

What did Hitler do in January 1934?

January 1934, Hitler abolished State Governments (including Nazi State Governors).

How was the SA characterized by 1934?

. Had over 2 million members
. SA hard to control - mostly thugs
. Rohm (leader of SA) wanted Hitler to be more socialist. Also wanted SA to take control of the army.

What was the army like by 1934?

Had 100,000 soldiers. Army completely opposed to being taken over by SA. Army promised Hitler allegiance once Hindenburg was dead if SA was brought under control.

What happened on the 30th June 1934?

Night of the Long Knives. SS arrested and executed most of SA leadership including Rohm and other opponents of the regime including von Schleicher (former chancellor).

When and how did Hitler begin to break the Concordat?

From 1934 onwards - in 1934: . Catholic Youth League dissolved . Gestapo agents would spy on people going into confessional . Many Catholic priests arrested.

What happened on the 2nd August 1934?

Hindenburg died: . Army swears oath of personal loyalty to Hitler . Hitler now Chancellor and President . Takes title of Fuhrer.

Stat for number of people under arrest for political offences

By 1939, over 160,000 under arrest for political offences.

Which bishop criticised the Nazis and how?

Bishop Galen. Criticised Nazis throughout 1930s. In 1941 he led a protest against killing of mentally ill and physically disabled, forcing Nazis to temporarily stop this policy. He was not arrested.

How were newspapers controlled in Nazi Germany?

. Editors made responsible for ensuring there were no critical articles in their publications

. All owners, editors, and journalists had to be members of the Reich Press Chamber., no one with unacceptable views could be members of it

. Ministry of Propaganda gave daily orders to publishers, telling them what stories to publish.

Newspapers often had to print articles from state without any changes.

How were radios controlled in Nazi Germany?

1934, All radio stations brought together under Reich Radio Company. Radios made in Germany couldn't pick up foreign broadcasts. Hitler encouraged cheap radio production - by 1939, 70% of German households had a radio. Even plays and light entertainment subtly included Nazi messages.

How were books controlled in Nazi Germany?

List made of unacceptable literature - Gestapo could search bookshops and libraries to seize such books. Anti-Nazi, communist, and Jewish authors banned. Students encouraged to burn books portraying un-German views.

How was art controlled in Nazi Germany?

All artists had to join Reich Chamber of Commerce. Art influenced by American culture (jazz, modern art, etc.) banned.

How were children controlled in Nazi Germany? (with stat about effectiveness)

Textbooks rewritten to study Nazi ideals. Nazi Youth movements in leisure time start at age 6. Hitler Youth for boys, Young Maidens for girls. In 1939, Youth movements were made compulsory with stated consequences for those who didn't join. Only 82% joined.

Name 2 youth movements who opposed the Nazis.

Swing movement. Edelweiss Pirates.

What was the Swing Movement?

Opposed the Nazis. US and GB influences. Middle class. 1941, over 300 arrested.

Who were the Edelweiss Pirates?

Opposed Nazis. Working class. Made fun of Hitler Youth. 1944, killed Gestapo leader. 12 hung publicly.

What happened to German youth in WW2?

Best leaders of Hitler Youth joined army. 1942, 2.5 million evacuated to camps in countryside. White Rose (Munich students) produced leaflets attacking Nazis. 1943, leaders of White Rose executed.

What were some Nazi policies towards women?

All female doctors and civil servants fired. 15% of female teachers fired. Abortion and contraception made illegal. Marriage loans introduced in 1933. Women could receive medals for having lots of children - 4 = bronze, 6 = silver, 8 = gold. Lebensborn programme: unmarried women were encouraged to have children with SS members. Offered free mothercraft and homecraft classes.

What were marriage loans?

Worth 1,000 marks. Offered on condition women stopped working. Could keep a quarter of the loan for every child they had.

What did the Nazis do directed at women other than policies?

Increased status of wives and mothers. Lots of propaganda encouraging women to have more children, not work, etc.

Success of Nazi policies towards women stats

. Birth rate increased by 30% between 1933 and 1936

. Family size remained at approx. 2 children per family

. Number of marriages increased by 50% between 1932 and 1934

What were some Nazi policies towards women around WW2?

After 1937, women encouraged back to work:

- 2 million more women in work in 1939 than in 1937

- But number in 1939 still lower than in 1929

. In 1945, 500,000 women in army

Why had farmers done badly between 1918 and 1933?

. They were encouraged to increase production in the war

. Many had borrowed money to buy more land to do this

. At the end of the war, imports increased, prices for farm products fell

. Farmers couldn't afford to pay back the loans

. Many lost their land, most couldn't make a profit from farming

What was set up in September 1933 and by whom?

Darre sets up Reich Food Estate:

. Sets up central boards to buy agricultural produce from farmers and distribute it to markets across Germany

. Gives farmers a guaranteed market at a guaranteed price

. However, more efficient farmers were held back as no market for extra goods

What law other than the Reich Food Estate was set up for farmers in 1933?

Reich Entailed Farm Law:

. Gave peasants state protection for farms (Banks couldn't seize their land if they couldn't pay loans or mortgages

. However, farms could only be left to eldest son (so younger ones left, didn't have a future there)

. Made banks unwilling to lend money to farmers

What replaced trade unions in Nazi Germany?

. DAF

. Under Ley

. All workers had to join

. Controlled wages, prices, rents

. Oversaw 2 other organisations: SDA and KDF

What was the SDA organisation in Nazi Germany?

Beauty of Labour:
. Improved working conditions in factories (hot meals, machinery safe, etc.)

What was the KDF organisation in Nazi Germany?

Strength through Joy:

. Gave rewards to workers (paid holidays, sports facilities, films for workers, etc.)

. Workers were often expected to build these facilities in their spare time. Running costs were taken from employee wages.

. Made Volkswagen (people's car) scheme - lots of cheap cars, paid for over many months by workers. No one ever received one.

How was pay decided in Nazi Germany?

Local and National pay rates scrapped:

. Paid according to how much work you did

. Fine for young and healthy, but not for older who couldn't produce as much

Wages in Nazi Germany before WW2 stats

. From 1936-1939 wages increased (but because of longer hours, not level of pay)

. From 1936-1939 real wages decreased as there were food shortages as the government had reduced agricultural production to keep up prices for farmers

How did the Nazis impact big businesses in Nazi Germany?

Big businesses benefited:

. No more trade unions and strikes

. Gained huge government contracts to make explosives and artificial oil from coal

. Average salary of managers increased by nearly 70% in 1934 - 1938
. However, some resented level of control Nazis had over wages, profits, imports, and raw materials

How did small businesses feel about the Nazis in Nazi Germany?

Small businesses supported them:

. Promised to curb influence of large department stores, did pass some laws to limit their growth

How many people were unemployed in Germany in 1933?

almost 6 million

How did the Nazis reduce unemployment?

In 1939, around 1,000-2,000 unemployed as:

. 1933, RAD (National Labour Service) set up, compulsory from July 1935. 6 months work for 18-25 year-olds. Government projects e.g Autobahns

. Jobs in army conscription introduced in 1935. In 1933, 100,000 in army. In 1939, over 1 million

. Job creation schemes paid for by government (public work programmes e.g building hospitals, Olympic Stadium, etc)

. Invisible unemployed (women, Jews, Communists, etc.)

What economic plan was introduced in 1934 and what were its aims?

1934, Dr Schacht (Minister of the Economy) introduced The New Plan. Aims:

. To reduce unemployment

. To build up German armaments industry and rearm German army

. To make Germany economically self-sufficient so it couldn't be blockaded in times of war

What was in the New Plan and when was it introduced?

. 1934

. Imports were carefully controlled

. Trade agreements with individual countries made (e.g traded German goods with Hungary

in exchange for raw materials)

. Government spending channelled into industries, but government didn't try to control these

industries

. Unemployment reduced