Unit 1 - Emergence of Authoritarian Germany

Weimar Constitution

1919 modern democratic constitution made by National Assembly

Chancellor

The head of government in the Weimar Republic

Chancellor cabinet

The group of advisors and ministers that assist the Chancellor

Reichstag

Parliament of the Weimar Republic, elected every 4 years through proportional elections

Article 48

Gave president power to rule by decree

Treaty of Versailles

Established resentment Germans had towards foreigners and non-German outgroups

War guilt clause

Held Germany responsible for the war and demanded accountability

Loss of territory

Germany lost 13% of its territory as a result of the Treaty of Versailles

Huge reparations

Germany was required to pay significant reparations after WWI

Army limit

Germany's army was limited to 100,000 men by the Treaty of Versailles

Banned from League of Nations

Germany was prohibited from joining the League of Nations as part of the Treaty of Versailles

Ernst Röhm & SA

Nazi violent street army that used violence to promote their message & intimidate rivals

Stormtroopers

Also known as brown shirts, they were part of the SA

Beer Hall Putsch

Failed coup attempt by Hitler and the SA in November 1923

Hyperinflation

Economic crisis in Germany caused by French occupation of Ruhr, leading to instability

Mein Kampf

Outlined basis of Nazism and became a quasi-sacred text for the movement

Aryan/Nordic race

Belief in the superiority of this race and the need to rule over inferiors

Inferiors

Groups deemed inferior by Nazis, including Slavs, Mediterranean peoples, and Jews

Lebensraum

The concept of 'living space' necessary for the expansion of the Aryan race

Need for Fuhrer

The belief in the necessity of a strong leader in the Nazi ideology

Dawes Plan 1924

GER financed by influx of American capital; cured hyperinflation; rescheduled reparations and ended France's Ruhr district occupation.

Locarno Treaty 1925

Recognized western border Paris peace conference conference gave GER (NOT EAST/WALK TO POLAND).

1929 Young Plan

Lowered reparations further.

Economic Recovery Significance

Recovery was fragile and contingent on the U.S.'s prosperity.

Nazi Party Tactics Change 1925

Causes Nazi party to change tactics and appeal to broad spectrum of society; middle class workers and farmers that didn't benefit from Golden Years.

Nazi Party Polls 1928

1928 Nazis 12 seats/2.6% of vote; shows that later on Germans, like Brustein posits, mainly aligned with Nazism for economic reasons.

Great Depression in Germany

Economic crisis that hit GER the hardest due to the U.S. being the sole contributor.

October 1929 Stock Market Crash

U.S. liquidated assets in Germany.

Unemployment Rate 1932

Unemployment (33% in 1932) fueled the numbers of Nazi party.

Reichstag Fragmentation

Reichstag fractured, divided and undecided; reliance on Article 48 made GER governed by a right-wing, presidential dictatorship.

Nazi Party Seats July 1932

Nazism grew significantly during the GD (107 seats/17% of vote); July 1932 became plurality.

Autarky

Self-sufficiency.

Nazi Electoral Propaganda

Nazi party would fix Germany's collapse; Emotional appeals, symbols, speeches, rallies, radio, leaflets, targeted connectors.

President Paul von Hindenburg

Old & old-fashioned; favored traditional, elite rule; conservative war hero.

Appointment of Hitler as Chancellor

Jan. 30th 1933, appointed Hitler chancellor w/ backing of von Papen, advisors.

Enabling Act

Gave the chancellor power to make laws that deviate from constitution without the involvement or approval of the Reichstag or president.

Reichstag Fire

Result of the Feb. 27th 1933 Reichstag Fire, in which a Dutch communist's arson allowed Hitler to blame German communists.

Gleichschaltung

Policy of coordination that lead the Nazification of civil service.

Night of the Long Knives

Hitler authorized killing of around 150-200 SA leaders and other dissidents.

Merging of President and Chancellor

Decree merged president and chancellor offices.

Hitler's Rise to Power

Hitler's standing was bolstered by mass murder in defense of state; Aug. 19th 1934 Hitler now Reich Chancellor and Führer with all of the power.

SA Elimination

SA eliminated; alliance between Hitler and German army cemented.

Totalitarian State

Political weakness in Germany completely reversed, now a totalitarian country.

Adolf Hitler

Born on April 20, 1889, in Braunau am Inn, Austria, son of tax collector Alois Hitler.

World War I

A global conflict from 1914 to 1918 in which Hitler enlisted in the German military.

Beer Hall Putsch

A failed coup attempt by Hitler in 1923 to overthrow the Weimar government.

The Great Depression

A severe worldwide economic downturn starting in 1929 that resulted in 6 million unemployed Germans.

Nazi Party

The political party that came to power in January 1933 with Hitler as Chancellor.

SA Purge

In June-July 1934, Nazi leaders eliminated the leadership of the SA and killed political enemies on Hitler's orders.

Führer

Title proclaimed by Hitler in August 1934 after the death of President Paul Von Hindenburg, granting him absolute power.

Mustard Gas Attack

In 1918, Hitler was partially blinded during a mustard gas attack near Ypres in Belgium.

Weimar Constitution

New democratic constitution drawn up in Weimar, approved in July 1919, after the abdication of the Kaiser.

Treaty of Versailles

The 1919 treaty that imposed harsh terms on Germany, including war guilt, reparations, and territorial changes.

Freikorps

Paramilitary squads of demobilized veterans and students that emerged in post-war Germany.

Benito Mussolini

Italian leader who established the first fascist state in 1922 after World War I.

Fascism

A far-right political philosophy characterized by extreme nationalism and a strongman dictator.

March on Rome

The event in 1922 that established the first fascist state in Italy under Mussolini.

NSDAP

The National Socialist German Workers Party, originally founded as the German Workers Party in 1919.

Propaganda Wing

The division of the Nazi Party that Hitler was put in charge of in 1920.

Political Parties in Weimar

Included the Social Democrats, Liberal German Democratic Party, and Catholic Centre Party.

Demilitarization of the Rhineland

A provision of the Treaty of Versailles that prohibited German military presence in the Rhineland.

Article 231

The war guilt clause in the Treaty of Versailles that blamed Germany for World War I.

Economic Problems in Post-War Italy

Italy faced significant economic challenges after World War I, contributing to the rise of fascism.

Rise of Hitler

A process marked by Hitler's appointment as Chancellor in January 1933 and subsequent consolidation of power.

Significance of Fascism

The ideology appealed to unity, strength, and a quasi-divine leader, gaining support in a chaotic society.

Ernst Rohm

Co-founder of the SA (Nazi militia, aka 'brownshirts'), acts as liaison between party and military.

SA

Sturmabteilung, or 'Storm Detachment', significant as the Nazi militia that supported Hitler.

Hyperinflation

A period of extremely high inflation that affected Germany, particularly in the early 1920s.

Ruhr

An industrial region in Germany that was important in 1923 due to its economic significance.

Erich Ludendorff

A WWI general who was planned to be the leader of the new government after the Beer Hall Putsch.

Nazi Party Ban

The Nazi Party was temporarily banned as a result of the Beer Hall Putsch.

Mein Kampf

A book written by Hitler during his prison time, outlining his ideology and plans for Germany.

Aryan Master Race

The belief that Germans are part of a superior race, with all other races considered inferior.

Judaism

Defined racially by Hitler as an inherited trait rather than a religious belief.

Stab in the Back Theory

The belief that Jews were responsible for Germany's loss in WWI and the rise of communism.

Lebensraum

The concept of 'living space', advocating for Germany to expand into Eastern Europe for resources.

Article 48

A provision in the Weimar Constitution that allowed the president to rule by decree in emergencies.

Nazi Party Reorganization

The restructuring of the Nazi Party after 1925 to emphasize national outreach and centralized leadership.

Gauleiters

Regional leaders selected for personal loyalty to Hitler, who supervised various subordinate levels.

Heinrich Himmler

A prominent Gauleiter who played a significant role in the future Nazi government.

Joseph Goebbels

Another prominent Gauleiter who was influential in the Nazi regime.

Regional offices

Spearhead propaganda, events, recruitment drives (e.g., marches, rallies, etc.)

Nazi newspapers

Reinforce party messaging

Völkischer Beobachter

Translated as 'People's Observer' or 'Racial Observer'

Der Stürmer

Translated as 'The Stormer' or 'The Attacker'

Weimar Golden Years

Period from 1923-1929 when the economy boomed and cultural life flourished in Germany

Gustav Stresemann

Key figure during the Weimar Golden Years

Great Depression in Germany

Began in October 1929 when the US stock market fails, leading to an economic crash

Dawes Plan

Germany's dependent status that meant they were hit especially hard by the Great Depression

Unemployment rate by 1932

33% unemployment in Germany

Weimar Coalition

Fractured response to the Great Depression

Chancellor Heinrich Brüning

Conservative member of Catholic Party who ruled via Article 48

Nazi Electoral Propaganda (1928-1932)

Methods used by the Nazi party to gain support during the Great Depression

President Hindenburg

Weimar President from 1925-1934, known for political weakness

Reichstag Fire

Event on 27 February 1933 that allowed Hitler to consolidate power

Reichstag Fire Decree

Issued on 28 February 1933, removed many civil liberties of German citizens

Enabling Act

Passed on 23 March 1933, gave the Chancellor powers to make laws without Reichstag involvement

Gleichschaltung

Process of Nazification by which Hitler and the Nazi party established an authoritarian state

The Night of the Long Knives

Event in June/July 1934 where Hitler eliminated SA leadership

Death of President Hindenburg

Occurred on August 2nd, 1934, leading to Hitler becoming Fuhrer