The Rise of Nazi Germany

Weimar Republic

The democratic government established in Germany after World War I, lasting from 1919 to 1933.

Parliamentary Democracy

A system of government in which the executive branch derives its democratic legitimacy from, and is directly accountable to, the legislature (parliament).

Chancellor

The head of government in Germany, responsible for running the country and leading the executive branch.

Reichstag

The German parliament during the Weimar Republic, responsible for making laws and representing the people.

Proportional Representation

An electoral system in which parties gain seats in proportion to the number of votes they receive.

Coalition

An alliance of political parties formed to create a government, often necessary in a parliamentary system with multiple parties.

Treaty of Versailles

The peace treaty that ended World War I, imposing heavy reparations and territorial losses on Germany.

War Guilt Clause

Article 231 of the Treaty of Versailles, which assigned blame for World War I solely to Germany.

Reparations

Payments imposed on Germany by the Treaty of Versailles to compensate the Allies for war damages.

Authoritarian Government

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

Hyperinflation

An extremely high and typically accelerating inflation rate, which occurred in Germany in the early 1920s, leading to the collapse of the currency.

Gustav Stresemann

A German politician who served as Chancellor and Foreign Minister during the Weimar Republic, known for stabilizing the economy and improving international relations.

The Dawes Plan

A 1924 plan to stabilize the German economy by restructuring reparations payments and providing loans from the United States.

The Young Plan

A 1929 plan that further reduced Germany's reparations payments and extended the payment period.

The Locarno Pact of 1925

An agreement between Germany, France, Belgium, Great Britain, and Italy aimed at securing post-World War I territorial settlements.

League of Nations

An international organization founded after World War I to promote peace and cooperation among countries.

Kellogg-Briand Pact of 1928

An international agreement that condemned war as a means of resolving disputes and called for peaceful resolutions.

National Socialist German Workers' Party (Nazi Party)

A far-right political party in Germany led by Adolf Hitler, which rose to power in the 1930s and established a totalitarian regime.

Propaganda

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

Stormtroopers (SA) aka Brownshirts

The paramilitary wing of the Nazi Party, known for using violence and intimidation against political opponents.

Paramilitary Force

A group organized similarly to a military force but not part of the regular armed forces, often used for political purposes.

Munich (Beer Hall) Putsch

A failed coup attempt by the Nazi Party in 1923 to overthrow the Weimar government in Munich.

Mein Kampf

A book written by Adolf Hitler outlining his ideology and political plans for Germany.

Lebensraum

A Nazi policy aimed at acquiring 'living space' for the German people, justifying territorial expansion.

Aryans

A term used by the Nazis to describe a supposed master race, typically referring to Northern Europeans.

Article 48

A provision in the Weimar Constitution allowing the President to rule by decree in times of emergency.

Scapegoat

A person or group blamed for the wrongdoings or problems of others, often used in political propaganda.

Reichstag Fire

A fire that occurred in the Reichstag building in 1933, which the Nazis used as a pretext to consolidate power.

Enabling Act

A 1933 law that allowed Hitler to enact laws without the involvement of the Reichstag, effectively giving him dictatorial powers.

Third Reich

The Nazi regime in Germany from 1933 to 1945, characterized by totalitarian rule and aggressive expansionism.

Führer

The title used by Adolf Hitler, meaning 'leader' in German, signifying his absolute authority.

Plebiscite

A direct vote in which an entire electorate is invited to vote on a particular proposal, often related to constitutional changes.

Night of the Long Knives

A purge that took place in 1934, during which Hitler eliminated potential rivals within the Nazi Party and other political opponents.

Totalitarianism

A political system in which the state holds total authority over society and seeks to control all aspects of public and private life.

Gestapo

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

SS

The Schutzstaffel, a major paramilitary organization under Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party, responsible for many of the regime's atrocities.

Nazi Youth Movements/Hitler Youth

Organizations aimed at indoctrinating young people into Nazi ideology and preparing them for future roles in the regime.

Rearmament

The process of rebuilding and expanding a nation's military forces, which was a key policy of the Nazi regime.

Persecution

The systematic mistreatment and oppression of individuals or groups, particularly those targeted by the Nazis.

Night of the Broken Glass (Nov 1938)

A coordinated attack on Jewish people and property in Germany, marking a significant escalation in anti-Semitic violence.

Nuremberg Laws (1935)

Racial laws enacted by the Nazi regime that stripped Jews of citizenship and prohibited intermarriage with non-Jews.

Boycott

A refusal to buy or use goods and services from a particular group, often used as a form of protest.