The Rise of Authoritarian Regimes: Case Study of Nazi Germany

Flashcards based on the rise of Nazi Germany, covering key terms and concepts associated with the history and impact of the Nazi regime.

Authoritarianism

A political system characterized by strong central power and limited political freedoms.

Weimar Republic

The democratic government established in Germany after World War I, which faced numerous challenges.

Treaty of Versailles

The peace treaty that ended World War I, which imposed heavy reparations on Germany.

Hyperinflation

An extremely high and typically accelerating inflation, which led to a drastic decline in the value of currency.

Dolchstoss theory

The belief that the German army did not lose World War I on the battlefield but was betrayed by political leaders.

Spartacist Uprising

A failed left-wing revolt in 1919 led by the Spartacus League, seeking to establish a communist government in Germany.

Kapp Putsch

A failed coup attempt in 1920 aimed at overthrowing the Weimar Government by right-wing Freikorps.

SA (Sturmabteilung)

The Nazi Party's paramilitary organization, known as the Stormtroopers, who played a key role in Hitler's rise to power.

Reichstag Fire

The burning of the German parliament building in February 1933, which the Nazis used to justify the suspension of civil liberties.

Nuremberg Laws

Racial laws enacted in 1935 that institutionalized many of the racial theories underpinning the Nazi ideology.

Final Solution

The Nazi plan for the genocide of Jews, leading to the Holocaust where six million Jews were killed.

Gleichschaltung

The process of Nazification, consolidating control over all aspects of society to align with Nazi ideology.

Propaganda

Information, especially of a biased or misleading nature, used to promote a political cause or point of view.

Kristallnacht

A coordinated attack on Jews and Jewish property in Germany on November 9-10, 1938, marked by widespread violence.

Mein Kampf

Adolf Hitler's autobiography, outlining his political ideology and future plans for Germany.

Gestapo

The secret police of Nazi Germany, known for their brutal tactics in suppressing opposition.

SS (Schutzstaffel)

The elite paramilitary organization of the Nazi Party, responsible for many atrocities during the Holocaust.

Hitler Youth

A youth organization of the Nazi Party aimed at indoctrinating children with Nazi ideology.

Industrial Recovery

The economic revival in Germany under Nazi rule, characterized by infrastructure projects and rearmament.

Night of the Long Knives

A purge in 1934 where Hitler ordered the execution of SA leaders and other political adversaries.