GERMANY - Topic 1-3

How did the Nazi's reconstruct after the Munich Putsch? (3 brief ways)

Change of tactics meant there were no more revolutions but instead power through elections, targeted propaganda to gain support from different groups, changed structure on a regional basis, trained members

Explain the changing of structure of the Nazi party (4 key ways)

Each branch was called a Gau led by a Gauleiter on a regional basis while still communicating their message. The Hitler Youth Movement was set up in 1926 to attract young support. The SA changed to SS for Hitlers personal protection. They trained members such as having classes for public speaking.

Give a statistic of the number of seats the Nazi's had in thee Reichstag in 1928 and what this increased to by 1932?

12 seats in 1928 to 230 in July 1932

How many seats did the Nazi's have in the Reichstag by July 1932?

230

Give 5 ways the Depression caused economic instability. Include statistics

Unemployment reacher 6 million in 1932. Exports fell by 55%. 5 major banks collapsed in Austria and Germany. Agriculture suffered and prices of farmed products fell by 23%. Production in Industries were reduced by 42%

How did the Wall Street Crash in America affect Germany and the world?

Relied on loans from the Dawes and Young Plan to pay reparations. World trade slowed and shrunk as exports declined and there was serious unemployment

Why did Chancellors have to rely on Emergency Decree after 1929?

No majority in Reichstag

Give a statistic of the number of laws passed by Emergency Decree from 1929-1932

By 1832, 66 laws by Emergency Decree and only 5 through the Reichstag that year

Give 2 statistics of unemployment due to the Depression

In 1932 it reached 6 million and in 1933 over half of aged 16-30 unemployed

What was the Response from the Weimar Government about the Depression?

Fearful of return of hyperinflation so Chancellor Brüning reduced government expenditure, raised taxes, reduced unemployment benefits and cut wages

How did the response from the government about the Depression impact the support for the Nazi Party?

Response was unpopular from government as people didn't feel cared for. It made Democracy look weak as Hindenburg ruled by Article 48 therefore Hitler could easily take on a dictatorship. Led to a rise of extremism as people looked for solutions so support grew for Nazi's

How did the Nazi's adapt during the Depression? (Give 4 ways)

Easily promised improvements. Criticised democracy of Weimar Government's unpopular decisions showing they needed Hitler's strong leadership. Adapted propaganda to attract audiences. Blamed Jews for Depression pushing Anti-Semitism.

What happened to the Nazi's Electoral success from July to November 1932?

Decreased from 230 to 196 by November

List the 6 key ways the Nazi's gained support from

Propaganda and rallies, Flexibility of Message, use of technology, Hitler as a leader, Economic Depression, SA

How did they gain support through Propaganda? (Give 4-5 ways)

Joseph Goebbels appointed as Propaganda Minister. Hitler presented as Führer Cult (Germany's saviour). Volksgemeinschaft was the concept that they would make one unified community. Pushed anti-Semitic messages by scapegoating Jews for problems. Newspaper called Der Sturmer

How did they gain support through Rallies? (2 ways)

Got people to watch parades, music and speeches promoting Nazi ideology. Took place at night using big searchlights and flags to attract audiences.

Give an example of a famous Rally held every year

Nuremburg Rally in August

How did they gain support through the flexibility of their message? (2 ways)

Changed ideas that lost any support, made vague promises

Give an example of the Nazis having flexibility in their message

A leading Nazi spoke powerfully in a speech for the nationalisation of countries industries but industrialists were worried so they dropped the idea and never mentioned it again

How did they gain support through targeting support groups? Give the messages for each group.

Wealthy business men - pushed anti-communism so they gave money to Nazis as they were frightened of communists taking wealth. Middle class - traditional views and wanted strong leadership. Nationalists - blamed legacy of TOV and reparations so Nazis promised improvements. Workers promised jobs, farmers higher prices

How did they gain support through the use of technology? (4 ways)

Produced cheap radios to spread Hitler's speeches. Printed more election posters efficiently. Flew Hitler around Germany to speak at 4 or 5 rallies per day during 1932 presidential election. Loudspeakers in streets to spread messages.

How did they gain support through Hitler as a leader? (4 ways)

Ability for public speaking engaged audiences. Propaganda showed him as the Führer Cult (germnay's saviour). Criticised democracy therefore showed they had a strong leadership. Adapted public image such as never wearing glasses.

How did they gain support through the SA - storm troopers? (3 ways)

Intimidated opponents to follow Nazi ideology, provided opportunities for young unemployed men to join, stirred up violence at communist meetings and then attacked them and crushed it proving their power and control

Give a statistic of a cheap radio produced to spread Hitler's speeches

VE radio 'People's receiver' cost 76 marks

When did Hitler become Chancellor?

30th January 1933

Who was initially made Chancellor by President Hindenburg, what was their previous role, when and why did this not last long?

Franz von Papen the leader of the Catholic Centre Party as a right wing politican in June 1932 but he did not have the support of the Reichstag and General von Schleicher persuaded Hindenburg to remove him

Who became Chancellor in December 1932 and when were they dismissed?

General Von Schleicher. Dismissed in January

What did Von Papen and Hitler agree and why?

Agreed to form a new government with Hitler as Chancellor and Von Papen as Vice-Chancellor. He wanted revenge and thought he could use the Nazis who were the biggest party to gain power for himself and remove Schleicher.

What did Hindenburg and Von Papen do to control Hitler when he was made Chancellor?

Made only 3 out of 12 people ministers in government Nazis

When was the Reichstag fire?

27th February 1933

Who did the Nazi's blame the Reichstag fire on?

Van Der Lubbe a Dutch communist

What rules were made under the Emergency Decree Hindenburg was persuaded to issue by Hitler in 1933? (Give 4 things)

Prevented Communists campaigning, suspended basic rights, closed Social Democrats newspapers, gave police controlled by Nazis right to arrest without trial

What deals did Hitler make to gain the majority in the Reichstag for the 1933 election?

Deal with Centre Party who agreed so their catholic supporters wouldn't be threatened and banned Communists seats in Reichstag

What was the Law called which restricted liberty in Germany?

Law for the Protection of the People and the State

Why was the Law for the Protection of the people and the State introduced and give 5 restrictions it made?

Passed to protect people and prevent revolutions. Restricted freedom of opinion, press, assemblies, privacy of postal, communication

When was the Enabling Act (Month and Year)?

March 1933

When were trade unions banned?

1st May 1933

What Law made Germany a Totalitarian State and when was it?

Law Against the Establishment of Parties in July 1933

What is the word for a 1 part state?

Totalitarian

Give a statistic of the number of votes which passed the Enabling Act?

44 votes to 94

What did the Enabling Act do?

Allowed Hitler to make laws without the Reichstag for 4 years

How did the SA and SS ensure members voted for Hitler for the Enabling Act to be passed?

Intimidation at the Kroll Opera House

When was the Night of the Long Knives?

30th June 1934

Roughly how many SA members were there by 1934 at the time of the Night of the Long Knives?

3 million

Give 2 names of leaders who were murdered on the Night of the Long Knives

Ernst Röhm and Von Schleicher

What happened on the Night of the Long Knives and why?

Hitler ordered the SS to attack leaders of the SA because Ernst Röhm wanted to use socialism to nationalise industries but Hitler was threatened by this as it opposed his views. He didn't want the SA to merge with the army because he needed the army's support.

When did Hindenburg die?

2nd August 1934

What changed in the Army Oath and when did they swear it?

Swore oath of allegiance and loyalty to Hitler on August 19th

What was the role Hitler gained which made him the Chancellor and President?

Der Führer

When was Hitler made the Führer?

19th August 1934

What initially limited Hitler's power as Chancellor? (7 ways)

Reichstag, Hindenburg could rule by Presidential Decree, only had 3/12 government seats, influential figures such as Von Papen, Hindenburg could easily sack him, lacked a majority, declining popularity

What was co-ordination under Hitler's power called?

Gleichschaltung

What were the key aims of Gleichschaltung?

Effective propaganda, concentrated centralised power in Berlin with no regional governments, coordinated professions with no trade unions, SS and centralised Police State to maintain order and control, youth groups

When was the SD added and what was its purpose?

In 1931 to gather intelligence on the Nazi enemies

Who were the leaders of the SS and SD?

Heinrich Himmler and Heydrich

Who was the leader of the Gestapo until 1939?

Hermann Goering

Who was the Nazi Minister of Propaganda?

Joseph Goebbels

What was Denunciation?

When names of enemies were given to the Gestapo by neighbours or Block Wardens

Give 4 ways the Gestapo monitored actions of German People?

Intercepted mail, Block Wardens monitored residents, spying, tapped telephones

Roughly what was the largest amount of members of the Gestapo secret police?

40,000

What power were the Gestapo given?

Power to arrest without trial and put people into concentration camps

Give a statistic of death sentences through control of judges

Between 1934 and 1945 nearly half of criminal cases were death sentences

How many concentration camps were there initially organised by the SS?

18

Give 3 rough ways the prisoners in concentration camps were treated brutally

Humiliated by having heads shaved, forced to wear prison uniform, worked hours of hard labour every day

How did the Nazis control the courts as part of the police state?

Lawyers and civil servants were made to join the Nazi Lawyer's Association and swore an oath of loyalty to the Führer

What 2 types of courts were set up, when and what for?

In 1933 special courts were set up to judge political crimes without a jury present. In 1934 the peoples court was set up to try people for crimes against the state and jury had to be entirely Nazi Party members

Who was the President of the Reichbank?

Hjalmer Schacht

What was the German Labour Front?

Organisation led by Dr Robert Ley which had 22 million members by 1939. It controlled industrial workers by setting low pay and working hours

What was the Volksgemeinschaft?

People's community where people worked together for the good of Germany

Who was in charge of the economy from 1936?

Hermann Goering

What did the DAF replace and what is its full name?

Trade unions which were banned on the 1st May 1933 and it is called the German Labour Front

What were the problems with the policy of Government Control?

The low wages which were set could not keep up with the rising prices and so workers had less money to spend which damaged the economy

What were the 4 policy's to improve Germany's economy?

German Self-Sufficiency, Government Control, Unemployment, Rearmament

What were the main public ways to reduce unemployment?

Public work projects such as the construction of motorways called Autobahns and planting trees, building schools

What was the National Labour Service?

Organisation providing jobs on public works for men aged 18-25 on low pay and from 1935 it became compulsory to serve for 6 months

When was conscription introduced to reduce unemployment and rearm Germany?

1935

Give a statistic of the number of soldiers in the army once conscription was introduced

Increased from 100,000 in 1933 to 1.4 million by 1939

What was the problem with unemployment figures?

The Nazis manipulated them so unemployed Jews weren't counted neither women who were forced to leave their jobs. Part time workers were counted as fully employed.

What was the key part of the German Policy of Autarky to become self-sufficient?

Trade agreements exchanging raw materials for German industrial products with countries in the south and east of Europe

What was the limitation to the Policy of Autarky?

By 1939, Germany was still importing 1/3 of raw materials

What were Mefo Bills and why were they introduced?

Credit notes the government used to pay for goods promising to pay back the money with interest in 5 years to help Germany become self-sufficient

What was the problem with reducing unemployment?

It led to a huge increase in prices

How did Germnany try to Rearm?

Introduced conscription in 1935, broke restrictions of the Treaty of Versailles and expanded industries needed to produce weapons

What was the limitation to improving economy from Rearmament?

Huge increase on government spending from 3.5 billion marks in 1933 to 26 billion by 1939

What was life like for workers pre-1933 Nazis?

High unemployment with over half of age 16-30 unemployed and 6 million in total. Workers belonged to trade unions and there were strong workers rights. There were low aspirations.

What workers rights were changed by the DAF?

Bosses couldn't sack workers on the spot. Workers could only leave jobs with government permission. Abolished rights to bargain for higher wages and made strikes illegal.

What was the Beauty of Labour?

Made better working conditions to encourage people to work harder such as providing hot meals, clean spaces, lighting, and health and safety

What was the Strength through Joy?

Providing leisure activities for workers so people were happy and therefore more likely to work hard.

Give a statistic about the leisure hours in the Strength through Joy program

3,740 leisure hours out of 8,760 hours in a year

Give three examples of holidays provided through Strength through Joy

Ocean cruises, walking holidays or skiing in Bavaria, cruise to Canary Islands

What was the Volkswagen scheme?

Hitler ordered that a peoples car should be made affordably and pad through a hire purchase scheme where workers payed 5 marks a week until 750 marks. However not a single car was given as the factory turned into a weapon factory for the war.

What were the expectations of workers in Volksgemeinschaft?

Men should work harder such as in factories or fields or as soldiers and women should take domestic roles and care for their husband as well as having Aryan babies for future citizens

Why were children and youth so important to the Nazis?

They could control the beliefs of children as they were easily indoctrinated and influenced which was important for the future of Germany and as they would become future soldiers and members of the government.

How did the Nazis control teachers?

The National Socialist Teachers League and were encouraged to be members of the Nazi party and 97% had month long courses on Nazi ideology

How did they change and control the curriculum?

Teachers had to be greeted by the Nazi salute, textbook content was controlled to emphasises Nazi ideology, lots of ant-Semitic propaganda, PE expanded for military training

How was education different for boys and girls?

Boys studied science, maths and history and lots of PE for military training whilst girls had lessons in domestic sciences to learn cooking and sewing for motherly preparation

What were the 3 new types of schools introduced?

Napolas, Adolf Hitler schools, ordensburgen or order castles

What were the purposes of the 3 new types of schools introduced?

Napolas was controlled by the SS to train future army members, Adolf Hitler schools were for future political leaders and the order castles were finishing schools for those in 20's after 6 years at Adolf Hitler and Labour Service

What events were schools expected to celebrate?

Nazi festivals such as Hitler's birthday and Nazi heroes like Horst Wessel an SA leader killed fighting in 1930

When was it compulsory to be a member of a Nazi Youth Group and for what ages?

From 1939 for age 10-18