hitler notes

Treaty of Versailles

A peace treaty that ended World War I, imposing harsh reparations on Germany.

Stab in the Back myth

The belief that Germany was betrayed by politicians rather than losing WWI on the battlefield.

Weimar Republic

The democratic government established in Germany after World War I, perceived as weak.

Hyperinflation

Rapid increase in prices, especially in Germany in 1923, which wiped out savings and caused economic hardship.

Munich Beer Hall Putsch

Hitler's failed coup attempt in 1923 to overthrow the Weimar government.

Mein Kampf

A book written by Hitler while in prison outlining his ideology and future plans for Germany.

Wall Street Crash of 1929

An economic downturn that led to the recall of US loans, worsening Germany's economic conditions.

Great Depression

The worldwide economic crisis that led to rising support for extremist parties in Germany.

SA (Stormtroopers)

The paramilitary wing of the Nazi Party that used violence to intimidate opponents.

Joseph Goebbels

The head of Nazi propaganda, responsible for promoting Hitler's image and the party's ideologies.

Article 48

Clause in the Weimar Constitution allowing the President to rule by decree, exploited by Hitler.

Enabling Act

A 1933 law allowing Hitler to pass laws without Reichstag approval, effectively granting dictatorial power.

Night of the Long Knives

A purge in 1934 where Hitler eliminated SA leaders and political rivals to consolidate power.

Führer

The title assumed by Hitler, merging the roles of Chancellor and President after Hindenburg's death.

Law Against the Establishment of Parties

A 1933 law making it illegal to organize any political party other than the Nazi Party.

Reichstag Fire Decree

A decree following the Reichstag Fire allowing Hitler to imprison political opponents and limit civil liberties.

Law for the Restoration of the Professional Civil Service

A law that purged Jews and other non-Aryans from the civil service in Nazi Germany.

German Labor Front (DAF)

Replaced trade unions in Nazi Germany, aiming to control workers and prevent strikes.

Cult of the Führer

A propaganda campaign portraying Hitler as a messianic leader and father figure to the nation.

Volksempfänger

A cheap Nazi-controlled radio designed to spread propaganda within households.

Nuremberg Laws

Racial laws established in 1935 that stripped Jews of citizenship and imposed racial segregation.

Kristallnacht

A violent pogrom against Jews on November 9-10, 1938, leading to destruction of property and arrest of thousands.

Madagascar Plan

A failed Nazi plan to relocate Jews to Madagascar due to the inability to defeat Britain.

Final Solution

The Nazi plan devised at the Wannsee Conference for the annihilation of the Jewish people.

Lebensborn program

A Nazi initiative encouraging racially pure women to bear children for Aryan society.

A.J.P. Taylor

Historian who argued that the Great Depression was the key factor fueling Nazi support.

Hossbach Memorandum

A 1937 document outlining Hitler's aggressive expansionist ambitions.

Pact of Steel

A formal military alliance between Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy signed in May 1939.

Stresa Front

A 1934 alliance between Italy, Britain, and France aimed at opposing German rearmament.

Polycratic system

The overlapping government structure of Nazi Germany, leading to chaos and competition.

Ernst Röhm

Leader of the SA who was executed during the Night of the Long Knives.

Strength Through Joy (KdF)

Nazi program designed to promote leisure activities while indoctrinating the workforce.

Martin Niemöller

A Protestant pastor who initially supported Hitler but later opposed Nazi control of the church.

Anchor Battalions (Batterien-an-Boden)

Paramilitary forces that defended shoreline operations in Nazi Germany.

Reich Educational Ministry

Established by the Nazis to control and revise the educational curriculum.

Nazi censorship

The regulation and suppression of information and media that contradicted Nazi ideology.

Volksgemeinschaft

Nazi ideal of a 'people's community' promoting racial unity and exclusion.

Article 48

Allowed the Weimar president to rule by decree during emergencies, exploited by Hitler.

Radicalism

Aggressive and extreme measures or beliefs that seek to change society.

Totalitarianism

A political system wherein the state recognizes no limits to authority and seeks to regulate every aspect of public and private life.

Indoctrination

The process of teaching a person or group to accept a set of beliefs uncritically.

Censorship

Suppression of speech, public communication, or other information, often seen under totalitarian regimes.

Kristallnacht

November 9-10 pogrom in 1938, marking a significant escalation of anti-Semitic violence.

Aryan

A racial designation used by the Nazis to classify a superior race, particularly people of Northern European descent.

Bolsheviks

A faction of the Marxist Russian Social Democratic Labour Party, later led by Lenin.

Social Democratic Party (SPD)

A major political party in Germany that opposed the Nazis and was banned soon after they came to power.

Four-Year Plan

Nazi economic program initiated by Hermann Göring to prepare for war and address unemployment.

Law for the Prevention of Hereditarily Diseased Offspring

1933 Nazi law mandating the sterilization of individuals with hereditary illnesses.

Bolshevism

The political and economic principles of the Bolshevik Party, advocating for a socialist society.

Hjalmar Schacht

Economist and former President of the Reichsbank, who helped stabilize the Nazi economy.

Himmler

Leader of the SS and chief architect of the Holocaust.

SS (Schutzstaffel)

Major paramilitary organization under Hitler and the Nazi Party, responsible for many atrocities.

Concentration Camps

Facilities where political opponents and minority groups were imprisoned under brutal conditions.

Racial Purity

Nazi ideology centered around the belief that Aryans were superior and needed to preserve their race.

Children with disabilities

Victims of the Nazi euthanasia program, often seen as 'undesirable' elements of society.

Anti-communism

A key ideological component of the Nazi regime, portraying communism as a threat to the nation.

Gestapo

Secret police of Nazi Germany, known for their brutal methods to suppress opposition.

T4 program

Nazi initiative for the involuntary euthanasia of the physically and mentally disabled.

Einsatzgruppen

Mobile death squads responsible for mass killings, especially of Jews, during the Holocaust.

Economics of War

The economic strategies that Nazi Germany employed to support its militaristic and expansionist aims.

Spiritual Resistance

Forms of opposition to the Nazi regime that were non-violent and aimed at preserving human dignity.

Race and Space

Nazi ideology emphasizing the need for living space (Lebensraum) for the German people.

Evangelical Church

Protestant church in Germany that split into factions during the Nazi era.

Public Works Programs

Infrastructure projects initiated by the Nazis to reduce unemployment and boost the economy.

Hitler Youth

Youth organization of the Nazi Party that indoctrinated boys with Nazi ideology.

Betrayal of the Army

The perception among some German forces that they had been undermined during WWI due to civilian leaders.

Unemployment

Economic condition that surged during the Great Depression, leading to social unrest and extremist support.

Strong Leadership

The belief that a single, assertive leader, like Hitler, was necessary to restore Germany's strength.

Anti-Semitism

Hostility toward or prejudice against Jews, which was a central element of Nazi ideology.

Nazi Party Growth

The rise in support for the Nazi Party in the 1920s and 30s, influenced by economic conditions.

Propaganda Techniques

Methods used by the Nazis to manipulate public opinion and promote their agenda.