German History Review Flashcards

These flashcards provide essential vocabulary and definitions related to the political, economic, and social history of Germany from Kaiser Wilhelm II through the Nazi regime.

Kaiser Wilhelm II

The German Emperor born in $1859$ with a disability that made his left arm smaller; he was known for his quick temper and strong preference for German standards of nationalism and traditionalism.

Weltpolitik

An imperialist foreign policy that expanded Germany's armed forces and its territory, intended to increase support for the Kaiser.

Navy Law of $1898$

A series of laws to build and improve Germany's naval fleet to compete with the British Royal Navy and increase patriotism while decreasing the popularity of radical parties.

HMS Dreadnought

A powerful ship designed by the British that sparked an arms race, which Germany answered by ordering its own versions.

SPD ($Social Democratic Party of Germany$)

A socialist political party whose seats in the Reichstag increased from $11$ in $1887$ to $81$ by $1903$, representing a threat to the Kaiser's power.

Spanish Flu ($1918$ influenza)

The most severe pandemic in recent history that rages across the German Empire, killing an estimated quarter of a million Germans by $1918$.

Prince Max

The leader tasked with creating a parliamentary monarchy based on Reichstag support, which failed for not being democratic enough.

Kiel Mutiny

An event occurring on $October 31, 1918$, where sailors refuse to go on a suicidal attack against British ships, sparking wider revolt.

Frederick Ebert

The SPD leader to whom Prince Max handed over the chancellorship on $November 9, 1918$, as Germany was declared a republic.

Treaty of Versailles

The $January 1919$ agreement between victors to discuss Germany's fate, to which Germany was not invited.

Alsa Lorraine

Former German territory allocated to the French under the terms of the Treaty of Versailles.

Polish Corridor

A territory created to separate East Prussia from the rest of Germany as part of the post-war territorial losses.

Clause $231$

The 'war guilt' clause that forced Germany to accept the blame for starting and prolonging the war, widely seen by Germans as unfair.

$$6.6 \text{ billion pounds}$$

The total amount in war reparations the Allies agreed Germany had to pay back during the treaty negotiations.

Proportional Representation

The voting system of the Weimar Constitution where deputies were elected based on the percentage of votes for their party, often leading to coalition struggles.

Article $48$

A power possessed by the Weimar President that, in case of an emergency, gave them full dictatorship-like powers.

Occupation of the Ruhr

The $1923$ occupation by $60,000$ French soldiers after Germany failed to pay reparations, leading to strikes in Germany's industrial heartland.

Hyperinflation

An economic crisis caused by the German government printing massive amounts of money, making the mark worth less and increasing extreme poverty.

Spar's Revolt

A Communist Revolution attempt led by Rosa Luxembourg and Carl Li that was stopped with the help of the Freikorps.

Freikorps

Ex-soldiers and military volunteer units used by the government to stop the Spar's Revolt, who later turned on the government in the Kapp Putsch.

Wolf Gang Cap

The leader of a Revolt where the Freikorps marched on the streets before being stopped by workers' strikes.

Munich Pooch

An attempt to overthrow the government organized by Adolf Hitler and General Ludendorf on the $8\text{th of November 1923}$, starting at a beer hall.

Gustaf rvor Carr

The Bavarian prime minister who was addressing businessmen in a Munich beer hall when Hitler launched the Munich Pooch.

Mine Camp

The book written by Hitler while in prison, detailing his political ideologies and sold over $5.2 \text{ million}$ copies by $1939$.

Gusta Stresman

Appointed Chancellor in $August 1923$, he was responsible for starting the 'golden age' and shifting trust back to the Republic through economic reforms.

Rentenmark

A new currency introduced in $November 1923$ to replace the old currency and stabilize the German economy after hyperinflation.

Dawes Plan ($1924$)

A measure where America lent Germany $800 \text{ million marks}$ and set a $5\text{-year}$ payment plan for war reparations.

Young Plan ($1929$)

A final statement on reparations that reduced payments by 67\text{%} and spread annual payments to be paid until $1988$.

Locarno Pact ($1925$)

A mutually agreed peace pact between France, Germany, Great Britain, Belgium, and Italy confirming borders agreed upon at Versailles.

Treaty of Berlin ($1926$)

An agreement where Germany and the USSR pledged neutrality if one were attacked by a third party.

Kellogg-Briand Pact ($1928$)

A massive peacekeeping effort joined by almost all nations to settle disputes diplomatically instead of through war.

George Gross

An artist during the Weimar Republic known for erotic scenes and political critiques, such as 'the eclipse of the sun'.

Bauhaus

An architectural movement popular in the $1920\text{s}$ based on simplicity, minimalism, and modern-looking designs.

All Quiet on the Western Front

An anti-war book relatable to many soldiers and widows that showed the gruesome truths of the war.

Black Monday ($October 28, 1929$)

The day the United States economy suffered a collapse, leading to a global depression that hit Germany's loan-reliant economy hard.

Work and Bread Campaign

A Nazi propaganda campaign promising jobs to the over $6 \text{ million}$ unemployed Germans in $1932$.

Brown Shirts ($SA$)

Paramilitary organizations of the Nazi party, also known as Stormtroopers, that used intimidation and violence against political opponents.

Von Pap

A leader from the center party who served as Chancellor and later struck a deal to make Hitler Chancellor so he could be Vice Chancellor.

Marinus Vander Lube

A young Dutch communist found inside the burning Reichstag building on $February 27, 1933$, and blamed for the fire.

Reichstag Fire Decree

A decree signed by Hindenberg that suspended civil liberties, limited press freedom, and allowed for the arrest of political opponents without trial.

Enabling Act ($1933$)

A law that granted legislative power to the cabinet, effectively bypassing the Reichstag and removing it from Hitler's way.

Sh Shon (Legal Revolution)

The Nazi party effort to synchronize and coordinate all aspects and institutions of German society under Nazi control.

Reich Concordat

An agreement signed with the Vatican that guaranteed rights for the Catholic Church in Germany as long as it did not interfere in politics.

Night of the Long Knives ($June 29, 1934$)

An event where Hitler ordered the SS and Gestapo to murder political opponents and threats within the Nazi party, such as Ernest Rome.

Ernest Rome

The leader of the SA whose ambitions to make it a paramilitary force in the German Army led to his murder during the Night of the Long Knives.

Lebensraum

The 'living space' promise made by Hitler emphasizing the necessity of territorial expansion for the Aryan population.

Achy (Autarky)

A closed economy intended to be independent and self-sufficient without engaging in international trade.

RAD ($National Labor Service$)

An organization that persuaded men between $18$ and $25$ to spend $6$ months in nature doing drainage and planting work.

DAF ($German Labor Front$)

A Nazi organization that replaced trade unions, controlling workers' rights and activities to keep them under party control.

Newberg Laws ($1935$)

Laws that formalized anti-Semitism by revoking German citizenship for Jewish people and banning marriages between Jews and non-Jews.