How Hitler Came to Power and Broke Versailles

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and events related to Hitler's rise to power and his violation of the Treaty of Versailles.

Adolf Hitler

Born in Austria, influenced by anti-semitic socialists politicians in Vienna, served in the German Army, awarded the Iron Cross for bravery, infiltrated the German Workers Party.

Hitler's main platform

Racial purity, tear up Treaty of Versailles, raise German pride.

The Weimar Republic

Government set up in the city of Weimar briefly because Berlin was unstable.

The Spartacists

Communists who attempted a revolution in January 1919.

Freikorps

Armed groups of ex soldiers used by the Weimar government to put down communist uprisings.

Kapp Putsch

Attempted takeover by the Freikorps in March 1920.

Munich Putsch

Led by Adolf Hitler in November 1923.

Ruhr Valley

Industrial heartland of Germany occupied by France in 1923.

Passive resistance

Germans went on strike and demonstrated against the French occupation.

Weimar government's response to worker strikes

Printing more money, which led to hyperinflation.

Reichsmark

German currency that became worthless during hyperinflation.

Munich Beer Hall Putsch

Armed uprising led by Hitler in 1923.

Mein Kampf

Hitler's book, a mixture of autobiography and political theory.

Volk

Concept of race, key in Mein Kampf.

Herrenvolk

Master race, Aryan or Germanic.

Lebensraum

Living space, expanding into Poland and Russia.

Fuhrer

Strong leader needed to lead the people.

Dawes Plan

Foreign loans to Germany in 1924.

Rentenmark

New banknotes issued in Germany called the Rentenmark.

Emotional appeals

Hitler's use of emotional appeals rather than reason in his speeches.

Racial pride

Reviving racial pride, targetting the jews.

Chancellor

Head of government, like a prime minister.

President

Head of state.

Hitler becomes Chancellor

Hitler became Chancellor on January 30th, 1933.

Reichstag fire

Parliament building set on fire, blamed on the Communists.

Reichstag fire Decree

Suspended basic rights and allowed detention without trail.

Enabling Act

Hitler took complete control with dictatorial powers via the Enabling Act.

Article 48

Gave the president (Hindenburg) the power to bypass the Reichstag and rule by decree

Enabling Act

Gave Hitler as Chancellor dictatorial powers for 4 years.

Night of the Long Knives

Killed to secure Hitler's power.

S.S.

Hitler's bodyguard used to arrest and shoot all opposition.

S.A.

The S.A. believed they had gotten Hitler to power.

The Fuhrer

Hitler assumes the role of president and chancellor, becomes the Fuhrer.

Fuhrer

Leader of the Third Reich.

Rhineland

Troops moved into the demilitarized area March 1936.

Anschluss

Union with Austria, March 1938.

Munich Conference

Sept 1938

Appeasement

If we give you this, will you stop?

Sudetenland

Section of Czech. Given to Germany,Oct. 1938.

Czechoslovakia

Hitler takes the rest of it, march 1939.

(Non) AggressionPact

Non AggressionPact with USSR, August 1939.

Poland

Invasion of Sept. 1, 1939.

BLAME

Germany takes full blame for the war

REPARATIONS

Germany must pay for damages.

ARMY

Germany’s army is limited to 100 000 men, no U-Boats no air force.

TERRITORY

Loss of overseas colonies, and borders of Germany re-drawn.

Government Spending

Money now invested in the German economy to create jobs.

Construction projects-autobahns

Motorways across the country = jobs, increased industry efficiency.

Berlin Olympics, 1936

Public works, German pride all rolled into one.

German Cars

Ban foreign imports to encourage domestic sales, the Volkswagen (the people's car)

Wage and Price controls

No trade unions, which kept wages low.

Rearmament

Significant after 1936–became the economic aim=jobs=army recruitment

Reichstag fire→ Enabling Act

Democracy gone-rule by decree

ANSCHLUSS

Germany annexes Austria.

Appeasement

Chamberlain loses credibility.