History - Nazi Germany

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  • Created by: Chlouija
  • Created on: 23-04-17 01:52

Beginning of the Weimar Republic

  • WW1 in 1918, Germany was defeated.
  • Allies would only make peace with Germany if they became democratic, meaning they had to get rid of their Kaiser, Wilhelm II.
  • The Kaiser of 20 years was forced out of Germany.
  • The Weimar Republic was the new democratic government's name, with the new leader Friedrich Ebert, and a new constitution.
  • This new government faced a lot of opposition and many serious problems threatening to destroy it.
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WW1 Defeat Effects

  • WW1 had killed and injured millions of Germans.
  • Farming was disrupted and British blockade of German ports prevented food imports, therefore food was scarce.
  • Demobbed soliders returned home and were out of jobs.
  • Political Revolution: Sailors mutinied in Kiel and set up communist-style soviets, Kaiser resigned and left the country, people had to get used to a new style of leadership after 50 years of dictatorship.
  • Economic Chaos: Germany was deep in debt due to war loans.
  • Depression and Division: The war left the public bitter and disillusioned, no longer famous for unity and obedience, Germany became famous for squabbling.
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The Treaty of Versailles

  • Land: Germany loses 13% of land, they lost land with coal so that hindered industry, Germany was split into two so Poland had access to the sea, German troops were not allowed in the Rhineland, and overseas colonies were given to the Allies.
  • Blame: Germany suffered full blame for the war, therefore Allies could claim compensation from Germany.
  • Army: Reduced to 100,000 soldiers, Navy reduced to 15,000 and 6 battleships, no air force, tanks or submarines allowed.
  • Money: Reparations of £6600 million had to be paid in annual payments to France and Belgium.
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Reactions to the Treaty of Versailles

  • Blame: Germans did not feel they had started the war, but had to sign the treaty nonetheless.
  • Stab in the Back Theory: Many felt they hadn't lost the war, but believed the Republic betrayed the army generals due to 'cowardly politicians' signing the treaty.
  • Reparations: They hated having to pay them, the country was already bankrupt and people were starving.
  • Pride: The loss of territory caused a loss of pride, some Germans would now be living in 'foreign' countries.
  • Disarmament: Germans felt they were left defenceless, due to loss of army, navy and air forces.
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The Weimar Constitution

Constitution: A set of rules that says how a country is governed.

  • The President is to be democratically elected.
  • Reichstag members are to be elected through the proportional representation system.
  • A Chancellor is chosen from the Reichstag by the President.
  • Laws needed to be voted on by the Reichstag, only passing if it has more than 50% of votes.
  • All men and woman over age 20 could vote by secret ballot to elect Reichstag members.
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Extreme Left-Wing Party 1

The Spartacist League: A Communist group wanting a revolution, it did not trust the government to improve worker's lives.

January 1919: THE SPARTACIST REVOLT

  • Tried turning worker protests into a revolution.
  • They had a lack of support.
  • German Army and the Freikorps stopped the uprising.
  • 100 workers were killed.
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Extreme Left-Wing Party 2

The Communist Party: Made up of German workers, they were angry about bad pay, bad conditions and lack of rights.

1920: THE RED RISING IN THE RUHR

  • The 'Red Army' consisted of 50,000 workers.
  • They occupied the Ruhr and took control of raw materials.
  • German Army and the Freikorps stopped the uprising.
  • 1000 workers were killed.
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Extreme Right-Wing Party 1

The Freikorps: Anti-communist, nationalist ex-soldiers. Helped the army against communist uprisings.

1920: The Kapp Putsch

  • The government had disbanded the Freikorps.
  • Wolfgang Kapp led 12,000 Freikorps in a march to Berlin in an attempt to overthrow the government.
  • Berlin workers protested against the Freikorps, stopping their work and becoming impossible to rule.
  • Kapp fled after 4 days, returning the government to power.
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Extreme Right-Wing Party 2

The Nazi Party: Led by Adolf Hitler, they believed democracy was weak, they desired a dictatorship.

1923: The Munich Putsch

  • Nazis interrupted a meeting, forcing the leader of Bavaria (Kahr) to support their plan to seize power.
  • The next day, Kahr withdrew his support.
  • German Army defeated the Nazis with ease.
  • Hitler was sent to jail.
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1923: The Invasion of the Ruhr

  • Germany struggled to pay reparations, they did not pay anything in 1922.
  • Ebert attempted to negotiate a reduction, however the French insisted they pay and went on to invade the Ruhr in 1923.
  • The French seized mines, factories and railways in order to take what they were owed in raw materials and goods.
  • German Government encouraged 'Passive Resistance', which told workers to stop working and go on strike.
  • The government promised to still pay workers, and due to the economic standstill caused by Passive Resistance, they had to print more money - leading to hyper-inflation.
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1923: Hyper-inflation

  • The German Government ran out of money.
  • The Government prints more money in order to pay the workers and pay its debts.
  • The public did not trust this newly printed money, therefore their logic was to spend it as quick as possible.
  • Shops and their suppliers increased their prices, meaning that people had to be paid more, so the government had to print more money - this continues on in a vicious cycle.
  • Prices began to rise at an astonishing rate - In 1919 a stamp cost 1 mark, whilst in 1923 a stamp cost around 22 million marks.
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Impact of Hyper-inflation

  • Wages were taken home using wheel-barrows.
  • Bank notes were used a fuel for fires and for children to play with.
  • A woman left a basket of notes outside her shop, and thieves stole the basket and left the money.
  • Farmers did not want to sell their food for the worthless money, therefore there were major food shortages.
  • People were dying of starvation and some turning to crime.
  • People had been saving their money for years were impacted harshly as their savings suddenly became worthless.
  • People in debt gained as their loans were now worth less.
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1924-1929: Impact of Stresemann

1923: Stresemann becomes Chancellor of Germany, he was also Foreign Minister, and he worked to solve Germany's problems.

  • Hyper-inflation
    SOLUTION: A new currency called the Rentenmark was introduced, bringing inflation under control.

    HOWEVER: People were not given their savings back.
  • Invasion of the Ruhr
    SOLUTION: Passive resistance was called off, the French left the Ruhr, industries restarted production.
    HOWEVER: Some people saw this as an act of weakness.
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1924-1929: Impact of Stresemann pt 2

  • Germany was not Trusted
    SOLUTIONS: The Locarno Pact was signed in 1925, along with Britain, France and Belgium. This meant they promised not to invade each other. Germany accepted it cannot get back its lost territory. The League of Nations gave Germany 'Great Power' status and a voice in major decisions.

    HOWEVER: Germans also saw this as an act of weakness.
  • Political Stability
    SOLUTIONS: A coalition was formed with other moderate parties so the Reichstag could govern more effectively.

    HOWEVER: The coalition depended on Stresemann, what would happen when Stresemann passed away?
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1924-1929: Impact of Stresemann pt 3

  • Reparations
    SOLUTIONS: The Dawes Plan of 1924 meant that Germany had longer to pay reparations. The Young Plan of 1929 meant that reparations were cut to £31,000 million.

    HOWEVER: Germans did not want to pay reparations at all, the time extension also meant they could be in debt until the 1980s.
  • German Economy
    SOLUTIONS: USA loans were used to rebuild Germany, US firms setting up factories in Germany, labour exchanges and unemployment pay were set up, 3 million new homes built.

    HOWEVER: The economy became dependent on the USA.
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Achievements of the Weimar Period

  • The Constitution: A real attempt at creating a new democratic republic that represented everyone.
  • Proportional Representation: Parties got seats based on how many votes they got. 
  • Rights: All Germans had equal rights.
  • Stresemann: He rebuilt the German economy, industry was back to pre-war levels by 1928, and wages rose.
  • Culture: Flourished with new ideas and approaches.
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Achievements of the Weimar Period pt 2

Art

  • Weimar art displayed everyday life.
  • Corrupt rich people were painted in an angry and distorted way.
  • Bauhaus College in Dessau became a centre for European Artists like Kandinksy to teach.
  • George Grosz: Painted distorted images of corrupt men.
  • Otto Dix: One of the most famous Weimar artists.
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Achievements of the Weimar Period pt 3

Cinema

  • Considered the 'Golden Age' for German cinema.
  • Science fiction and horror films were produced using techniques that are still used today.
  • Fritz Lang: Directed Nosferatu, which was the first vampire horror movie.
  • Marlene Dietrich: One of the most famous film stars.
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Achievements of the Weimar Period pt 4

Architecture

  • The Bauhaus Group: Artists and designers that produced work that used new technology, basic shapes and colours. They were economical, using new materials like concrete, glass and steel.
  • Walter Gropius: One of the most famous architects.
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Achievements of the Weimar Period pt 5

Theatre

  • Theatre and Opera were used to portray the time, plays were set in the 1920s.
  • Arias were sung in bath tubs.
  • The aim was to bring theatre to working people.
  • Bertolt Brecht: A famous director and producer.
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Achievements of the Weimar Period pt 6

Cabaret

  • Berlin was infamous for its liberated nightlife with naked dancers.
  • Sex was now discussed more openly, it was also sung about in songs.
  • Homosexuality was no longer frowned upon.

DRAWBACKS TO THESE ACHIEVEMENTS

  • They were mainly in Berlin, other parts of Germany did not approve and saw these achievements as a moral decline.
  • Wandervogel Movement: They wanted a return to simple country values.
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Hitler's Rise to Power

1889: He was born in Austria.
1907: He moves to Vienna and fails to get a place in art school.
1914-18: He joins the German army and fights in WWI.
1919: Sent by army to spy on German Workers' Party, he agrees with their ideas and joins the party.
1920: Helps to establish core beliefs of the party, renames it National Socialist German Workers' Party (Nazi Party), and creates the swastika emblem.
1921: Becomes the Nazi Party leader, he is described as a charismatic speaker, he sets up the SA - the Nazi Party's private army.

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Hitler's Rise to Power pt 2

1922: The Nazi Party grows to 20,000 members. The Hitler Youth is set up, providing activities for young people.
1923: The Munich Putsch: Nazi Party has 50,000 members, the putsch fails and Hitler is sent to jail. He gains huge publicity, serving only 9 months due to right-wing judges sympathy.
1924: Writes his book 'Mein Kampf' while in prison, which outlines his ideas about Germany, he also changes the Nazi tactics. Nazi candidates enter Reichstag elections for the first time, winning 24 seats.
1925: The ** is set up - a personal bodyguard for Hitler, Mein Kampf is published and becomes a bestseller.

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Hitler's Rise to Power pt 3

1928: Nazis win just 12 seats in the Reichstag elections.
1929: The Wall Street Crash.
1930-33: A worldwide economic depression and high unemployment in Germany.
1932: July Elections: Nazis win 207 seats, becoming the largest party, Hitler is not invited to become Chancellor. November Elections: Nazis win 196 seats, remaining the largest party and Hitler is still not invited to become Chancellor.
1933 January: von Papen had no support in the Reichstag, so President Hindenburg reluctantly makes Hitler Chancellor. 

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1920: Nazi Party Beliefs

  • Nationalism, Socialism, Racism and Anti-Communism.
  • End the Treaty of Versailles and ignore its terms.
  • Take over land in Eastern Europe to make space for the growing German population.
  • Provide pensions for old people and help small businesses.
  • No other incomes, except from work, should be allowed.
  • Criminals should be punished by death.
  • No new non-Germans should be allowed to live in Germany.
  • Only German-blooded people should be part of the country, no Jews specifically.
  • Pupils were taught nationalism and physical fitness was vital.
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1924: Mein Kampf Influence on Nazi Party Beliefs

  • Smash communism, which stood for worker rights, and to destroy the communist state of Russia.
  • Rebuild the army.
  • Invade land in Eastern Europe.
  • Unite all German-speaking people in one country.
  • There should be a dictator, no debates or majority decisions because they made the government weak.
  • Aryans, blonde hair and blue eyes, were the master race - all other races, Jews specifically, were inferior.
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The Munich Putsch

Short Term Failure:
It was a direct response to the Ruhr invasion and Hyper-inflation.
Hitler and 600 SA members interrupted a political meeting in a beer hall, forcing the speaker von Kahr to join them.
The next day, Kahr withdrew his support and they marched on Munich, eventually being stopped by the army, 16 were killed, Hitler and the leaders were arrested.

Long Term Success:
The trial gave Hitler huge publicity.
While in prison, he wrote his book 'Mein Kampf'.
He was given a light sentence because of right-wing judge sympathy.
This forced a change of tactics.

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Nazi Lack of Success Before 1929

1928 Elections: Nazi Party gains only 3% of the vote.

  • Peace and Prosperity: Stresemann had overcome most of Germany's problems, the countries were at peace with each other, the economy was doing well.
  • Lack of Support from Workers: Workers that wanted change tended to support the Communist Party.
  • The Nazis Frightened People: The SA were very violent, and Nazi ideas were anti-Semitic.
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Nazi Success After 1929

1930 Election: The Nazi Party won 18% of the vote and got 107 seats in the Reichstag.

July 1937: The Nazi Party won 37% of the vote and got 207 seats in the Reichstag, they were now the largest party. They did not have an overall majority, so Hitler did not become Chancellor.

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Effects of the Wall Street Crash

Wall Street Crash: The American stock market, called Wall Street, crashes in 1929, so America calls back their loans to Germany, leading to a worldwide economic collapse.

  • US banks recalled loans, which Germany was unable to pay.
  • German firms went bankrupt, millions becoming unemployed.
  • Less demand for food and goods.
  • 1932: Unemployment reached 6 million.

This helped the Nazis because German people blamed the Weimar Republic for the Great Depression, so became less supportive and turned to more extremist political parties.

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Nazi Promises

  • Solve the economic crisis and put people back into work.
  • Abolish the Treaty of Versailles.
  • Restore the power of the army.
  • Make Germany powerful again.
  • Be strong leaders of the country.

This helped Nazis because the chaos and depair of the Great Depression meant that Germans had lost faith in the Weimar Republic, and in democracy, so they now became desperate for a solution.

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Fear of Communism

  • Life became more difficult, turning workers towards the Communist party.
  • Businessmen and farmers were horrified by this, because they witnessed communism in the Soviet Union, where the government had taken over land and wealth from big industries.

This helped Nazis because businessmen and farmers did not want the Communist Party in power, therefore turning towards the Nazi Party because of their anti-communism message. Rich businessmen also donated money for campaigning.

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Hitler's Leadership

  • Hitler was a charismatic and influential public speaker.
  • This meant he could persuade German people to believe the Nazi Party promises.
  • He had a team of loyal and effective leaders.

This helped Nazis because Hitler's speeches gained a large amount of support for the Nazi Party.

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Nazi Propaganda

  • Josef Goebbels was in charge of Nazi propaganda, using the latest technology such as film, loudspeakers and slide shows.
  • 1932: Hitler travelled Germany by plane, speaking to as many as people as possible. 
  • Mass rallies made people feel proud to be German, adding a sense of order and discipline.

This helped Nazis because the propaganda got the Nazi message across to people effectively, increasing support for the Nazi Party.

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Local Organisations

1929: Nazis had over 100,000 members.

  • Local leaders ran public meetings, with carefully trained speakers.
  • Local parties helped the unemployed, providing soup kitchens, shelters and recruiting them into the local SA.
  • 1922: The Hitler Youth provided activities for the youth.
  • The SA was known for being disciplined young men.

This helped Nazis because the national government was seeming incompetent and ineffective, whilst the Nazis were showing order and discipline.

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Weak Opposition

The Social Democrats and the Communists were the natural opponents of the Nazi Party.

  • The parties were more concerned with battling each other, not taking the Nazi Party seriously.
  • Voters did not trust the Social Democrats because they didn't seem to know what to do.

This helped Nazis because their opposition was weak, therefore their policies were not challenged or questioned, the oppoistion offered nothing new while the Nazis did.

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Political Problems

  • Stresemann died of a stroke in 1929, days before the Wall Street Crash.
  • Democratic ideals of the Weimar Constitution meant no party had a majority, leading to a series of weak, short-lived governments.
  • Some measures by the government made the depression worse, such as cutting pay and benefits for government employees causing poverty.
  • President Hindenburg used Article 48 of the constitution to rule by decree, which meant laws did not have to be approved by the Reichstag.

This helped Nazis because the weak government made the Nazi promise of a strong leader more attractive. Some say that Hindenburg ruling by decree had already been the end to democracy in the Weimar Republic.

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The Political Deal

June 1932 Election: The Nazi Party was the largest party in the Reichstag, but did not have an overall majority. No parties wanted to work alongside the Nazis, so President Hindenburg appointed his friend von Papen as chancellor instead of Hitler. Von Papen had no support from the Reichstag, so the result was stalemate.

November 1932 Election: The Nazis lost seats but was still the largest party. Hitler organised a deal with von Papen, where von Papen would persuade Hindenburg to appoint Hitler as Chancellor and himself as Vice Chancellor. Von Papen convinced Hindenburg that they could control Hitler with few Nazis in the cabinet.

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Groups who Supported the Nazis

  • Unemployed: Due to the Depression, they believed the Nazis would restore the economy, and they felt more supported by the Nazis because of the soup kitchens and shelters.
  • Small Businessmen: Businesses were struggling, they believed the Nazis would improve the economy, so people would spend more money and their profits would improve.
  • Industrialists/Bankers: They welcomed the anti-communist message and wanted to weaken trade unions.
  • People Wanting a Strong Leader: People were fed up of different parties in the democratic government arguing, they wanted to Nazis to take charge.
  • Scared People: The SA promised law and order, an end to violence.
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Hitler's Importance to Nazi Success

  • He was a charismatic leader, he motivated people, and his supporters remained very loyal to him.
  • He was a talented public speaker, he could communicate Nazi ideas effectively, which was vital when rallies were the main form of communication.
  • He was a good organiser.
  • He directed the Nazi policies.
  • He was the focus of most Nazi propaganda, he was presented as a war hero, loyal German, relatable to the general public and someone who desires to make Germany great again.
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The Reichstag Fire

27th February - 

  • The Reichstag building in Berlin is set on fire, a communist called Marinus van der Lubbe being found guilty.
  • The Nazis claimed this as a communist plot to take over Germany.
  • Communist Leaders were arrested, Hindenburg gave Hitler emergency powers to imprison people without trial.
  • Some people believe the Nazis set up the Reichstag Fire to eliminate their main opponent, the communists. 
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The Enabling Act

24th March - 

  • Hitler wanted to pass laws without consulting the Reichstag, he needed 66% of votes to get this Act passed.
  • The Communist Party was expelled and couldn't vote.
  • The Centre Party was persuaded to vote for the Act by Hitler promising to protect the Catholic Church.
  • Social Democrats were the only opponents, leaving the Enabling Act with 82% of votes.
  • This Act was used to arrest trade union leaders, and set up the German Labour Front (DAF). It also banned other political parties from existing.
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The Night of the Long Knives

29th-30th June 1934 - 

  • The SA leader, Ernest Rohm, was a close friend of Hitler but also a powerful and potential rival.
  • The SA grew to 3 million members, bigger than the German army, and wanted to control it.
  • Hitler wanted to support the army, expand it and buy weapons.
  • SA leaders were taken from their homes in the middle of the night and shot, 400 people were killed.
  • Rohm was arrested and imprisoned, after refusing to commit suicide, he was shot.
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Hitler Becomes Fuhrer

2 August: President Hindenburg dies, and Hitler combines the positions of Chancellor and President, thus declaring himself Fuhrer (Supreme Leader).

Army Oath: The government army took an oath of loyalty to Hitler, all soldiers vowed to obey him and give their lives for him.

The Weimar Republic and democracy had been destroyed completely, leaving Germany in a dictatorship.

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How Nazis Dealt with Opposition

The ** (led by Himmler): Set up as Hitler's personal bodyguard, building up to 240,000 members. All members had to be of Aryan race, they had power to arrest people without trial and search houses by force.
The Gestapo (led by Heydrich): They were the state secret police, they could tap telephones, open mail and collect information from 'informers'. Informers reported on local people who they believed were anti-Nazi.
Local Wardens: The country was divided into 42 'gaus', each with a Nazi Gauleiter. Each town was divided into blocks, each with a block leader. Local Wardens visited the blocks, collecting donations for Nazis.

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How Nazis Dealt with Opposition pt 2

Concentration Camps: By late 1930s, they were constructed camps in remote areas, ran by a section of the ** called Death's Head UnitsJewscommunists and Nazi critics were sent to these camps.
Police and Courts: Police controlled by Himmler, courts controlled by the Nazis who were appointed as judges in 'People's courts'

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1933-45: Former Political Opponents

  • They were leaders and supporters of previously opposing parties, such as the Socialist Party, Communist Party and trade unions.
  • Aims: Restore democracy, with free speech and workers' rights.
  • Methods: Secret meetings, anti-Nazi graffiti slogans, leaflets and strikes.
  • Nazi Response: All opposing parties were banned by July 1933, thousands of leaders were arrested and put into concentration camps, some were tortured and killed, some were forced into exile abroad or went into hiding.
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1933-45: The Churches

  • 99% of the population belonged to the Roman Catholic Church (22 million) or the Protestant Church (40 million).
  • Aims: Most leaders wanted to keep religion and politics seperate.
  • Methods: Bishop von Galen of Munster opposed euthanasia of the mentally ill, Hitler agreed and stopped it. 
  • Nazi Response: Hitler could not shut down the church because of how much support it had. He made a Concordat with the Roman Catholic Church, if Hitler left them alone then they would not be involved in politics. The Nazis wanted control of the Protestant Church by turning it into the Reich Church, pastors taking an oath of loyalty to Hitler. 1936: All youth groups shut down.
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1938-44: Edelweiss Pirates

  • They were young working-class people, it was a local group.
  • Aims: To have fun and avoid the Hitler Youth events.
  • Methods: Anti-Hitler songs, drank alcohol, had sex, wore badges with the edelweiss flower or skull and crossbones, some groups attacked Nazi officials. During war, some sheltered communists and army deserters.
  • Nazi Response: In 1944, a group killed a Nazi youth leader in Cologne, some Edelweiss pirates were hanged. The Nazis did not control this group though, as they were not a united organisation.
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1942-43: The White Rose Group

  • They were a group of students at Munich University, led by Sophie and Hans Scholl.
  • Aims: To shame Germans into protesting about Nazis, urge them to overthrow Hitler. Sophie wrote 'Germany's name will be disgraced forever unless the German youth finally rises up.'
  • Methods: Spread anti-Nazi messages with leaflets and graffiti.
  • Nazi Response: Sophie and Hans were arrested, tortured and executed. The group was also disbanded.
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The July Bomb Plot 1944

  • The Beck Group: Upper-class army officers that were disgusted by Hitler's actions.
  • Aims: Assassinate Hitler and take over, they were aware of Germany losing WW2 and wanted to end Hitler's interference in military strategy.
  • Methods: The 'July Bomb Plot 1944' planned to blow up Hitler in his military headquarters.
  • Nazi Response: The July Bomb Plot failed, the bomb went off without killing Hitler. All of his known opponents were rounded up, 5000 people being arrested and executed.
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Reasons for the Lack of Opposition

  • Self-interest: Nazis got the best jobs, houses, and special privileges. Businessmen joined to boost their businesses.
  • Propaganda: Used to effectively persuade people.
  • Terror: People were scared, they didn't want to be killed or put in concentration camps.
  • Success: Nazis built up the army and navy, there was less unemployment, and there was more law and order.
  • Fun: Nazis provided leisure activities, holidays, picnics, youth activities, and entertaining films.
  • No Alternative: Other political parties were banned, no organisations, leaders or meetings were allowed. 
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Nazi Use of Culture and Media

Newspapers: Supported the Nazis, Goebbels told papers which stories they could print, what angle the writers take and what photos they can use. They were displayed in public places.
Radio: All broadcasts were controlled by Nazis, they were of Hitler's speeches, German history and German music. Cheap radios called People's Receivers were produced, and loudspeakers set up in public so everyone could listen. No foreign stations were allowed, listening to them was punishable by death.
Rallies: Presented images of law and order, Hitler gave dramatic speeches, and the stadium at Nuremberg was used to create an image of unity.

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Nazi Use of Culture and Media pt 2

Books: The Reich Chamber of Culture organised official burnings of books written by communists or containing ideas the Nazis didn't like.
Films: Feature films were made in Germany and censored by Goebbels, most were adventure stories, love stories or comedies. Before each feature, there would be a newsreel made by Goebbel's film makers. One of the most famous propaganda films was 'Triumph of the Will' by Leni Riefenstahl.
Art/Architecture: Public buildings copied Greece and Rome, private homes were 'country-style', Hitler hated Weimar art and wanted more powerful German hero and family scenes.

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Berlin Olympics 1936

  • This was planned prior to the Nazis coming into power.
  • Goebbels saw this as a chance to showcase Nazi ideals and to show foreigners what Hitler is capable of.
  • The German team was professionally trained.
  • TV coverage was new and used for the first time at a sporting event, radio coverage was praised by foreign journalists, the most modern timing technology was used.
  • Germany won most medals.
  • Black US athlete Jesse Owens and other black members of the US track team won 13 medals, challenging the Nazi idea that Aryans were the most superior race.
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Nazi Persecution Methods

  • People Refusing Work: Such as criminals, beggars or tramps. They were rounded up and sent to concentration camps.
  • People Inable to Work: Such as the physical or mentally ill, they were put to death in gas chambers
  • 'Abnormal' Families: Including homosexuals, they were arrested and sent to concentration camps, many were castrated or experimented on.
  • 'Disloyal' People: Including Socialists, Communists and Jehovah's Witnesses, they were sent to concentration camps.
  • Non-Aryans: Including black people, Jews and Gypsies. Jews faced the worst persecution, and around 500,000 Gypsies were killed in concentration camps.
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Nazi Germany as a Totalitarian State

  • Control of the Media: Nazis controlled media, there was strict censorship, the government controlled all news, information and rumours.
  • Opposition Effectively Controlled: The Gestapo and the ** controlled people's lives, informers were used, so people did not oppose Nazis with fear of the consequences.
  • State Needs Above People's Needs: Young people were trained to serve as soldiers or mothers, they were forced to make sacrifices for the war efforts during 1939-45.
  • Supreme Leader: Hitler was a dictator, he didn't need laws approved by anyone.
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The Hitler Youth

Nazi Aim: Distinct gender roles, women were mothers that stayed home to cook and clean, men were workers who would fight in war when necessary.
The Hiter Youth: Trained boys and girls for these roles.

  • Membership: Founded in 1922, and membership became compulsory in 1936, 80% of young people were members.
  • Groups: There were tiers for each age group, and different gender groups.
  • Activities: An oath of loyalty swore to Hitler, physical activities, and listening to propaganda. Boys had to pass physical challenges, train as soldiers, wore uniforms, went on marches, did drills and played war games. Girls in the League of German Maidens kept fit, taught domestic skills, such as cooking. 
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Reactions of Young People - Hitler Youth

  • Most joined Hitler Youth and enjoyed the activities.
  • The army was mostly Hitler Youth boys by the end of the war.
  • When membership became compulsory, some never joined in and others that were forced to go had hated it
  • Some young people had rebelled against Nazi ideas by joining the Swing Youth movement, where they listened and danced to Swing music, which was a mix of black jazz and white dance music (banned by the Nazis). They wore English-style fashion, girls wore make-up and boys had long hair. They met in swing clubs during the war, greeting each other with "Heil Benny" after band leader Benny Goodman.
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Schools

  • 97% of teachers were members of the Nazi Teacher's League, women teachers were fired.
  • The curriculum was based on indoctrination, teaching what Nazis wanted young people to think. Physical education was favoured over knowledge. There were 3 double lessons of PE every week.
  • Girls and boys were taught different gender roles.
  • Only German history from 1919 onwards was taught, rewritten to support Nazi ideas, e.g. how unfair the Treaty was.
  • Subjects like math had a Nazi twist, e.g. questions about calculating the cost of caring for the mentally ill.
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How Nazis Made Women Conform

  • Married Couple Loans: As long as the wife was not working, and more children meant less money needed to be paid back.
  • Work: Women workers were fired, and banned from being doctors or teachers.
  • School: They were taught to be wives and mothers, learning cooking, cleaning and childcare.
  • Sterilisation: 'Unhealthy' women, including deaf or colour-blind, were sterilised so they couldn't have children.
  • Medals: Gold medals for 8 children, silver for 6, bronze for 4.
  • Block Wardens: Women could not dress fashionably or smoke in public, as local wardens would challenge them in the street or report them.
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Success of Policies Against Women

  • Most women did not want to give up working, and the number of employed women rose as the economy continued to do better.
  • Employers still wanted women to work in their factories, because they were cheaper to employ than men were.
  • During the war, Nazi policies became warped. Women were called up to work, but also told that they had to have 4 children whether married or single.
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How Nazis Reduced Unemployment Rates

  • Armed Forces: In 1919, 100,000 were employed in the armed forces, Nazis rose this to 1,400,000. They were men age 18-25 who had to do 2 years army service.
  • Re-arming: Weapons and equipment were needed, so millions of jobs were created in factories that produced these necessities.
  • Building Programme: Autobahns (motorways), schools, houses and hospitals were built all over Germany.
  • Firing Communists and Jews: Nazi opponents could not work, nor claim unemployment benefit, women were also fired as they had to stay home as mothers.
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Benefits of Nazi Economic Policies: Workers

The 'Strength Through Joy' movement provided loyal hardworkers with perks, such as family holidays and cinema tickets.

BUT...

Trade unions were banned, workers had no rights, strikes were illegal, no one could leave their job without government permission, wages fell, working hours increased. They were also promised a Volkswagen car, which they paid 5 marks a week in advance for, but they were never delivered.

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Benefits of Nazi Economic Policies: Farmers

They supported the Nazi Party the most, Hitler guaranteed food prices and offered them security if they fell behind on rent.

BUT...

Farming remained an old-fashion and inefficient industry. Food prices rose, which hit factory workers hard due to their reduced wages.

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Benefits of Nazi Economic Policies: Businessmen

They did well in the rebuilding of Germany, workers could not strike, wages fell and working hours increased, meaning their profits also went up. The government spent money on goods being made in their factories.

BUT...

Small businesses and small shops lost out in competition with bigger companies.

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Persecution of Minorities

You would be persecuted for the Nazis if you were; 

  • Homeless/a beggar
  • Physically disabled
  • Mentally ill
  • Homosexual
  • Socialist/Communist
  • Jehovah's Witness
  • Ethnic/Religious minorities, such as black, Gypsy or Jewish

They were rounded up, imprisioned, sent to concentration camps or killed.

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Nazi Persecution of Jews

Before Nazis: Jews suffered religious prejudice for centuries, but pre-Nazi Germany was a very tolerant place, Jews moved there to escape persecution in Russia in the late 1800s.
Up to 1933: Hitler put forward the anti-Semitic Nazi ideas. Mein Kampf blamed the Jews for Germany's problems. The SA bullied and threatened Jewish shopkeepers, they also organised boycotts of Jewish businesses.

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Nazi Persecution of Jews 1933-39

1933: Jews banned from being judges, teachers, civil servants or lawyers.
1935: Nuremberg Laws meant Jews could not be German citizens, and they could not marry Aryans.
1936: They could not own typewriters, preventing them spreading their ideas through letters or articles.
1938: They were banned from being doctors, business owners, and from going to school, cinema and swimming pools.

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Nazi Persecution of Jews 1933-39 pt 2

November 1939: Kristallnacht - A Jewish man shot a German diplomat in Paris. Nazi leaders encouraged supporters to attack Jewish businesseshomes and synagogues. Two nights later, 91 Jews had died. In the following months, 30,000 Jews were arrested and taken to concentration camps.
1939: Jews could not be nurses or dentists, they had a curfew to be home after nightfall, they also had to hand over any jewellery, gold or silver to the police.

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September 1939-June 1941: War Going Well

Germany invaded Poland, France and most of Europe.

  • Germany was not self-sufficient, it could no longer import food so rationing was introduced, the food they did have was very bland.
  • To save energy, hot water was put under control.
  • There were bombing raids on German cities, the first being in Berlin in 1940, however Germany defences were still strong.
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June 1941-February 1943: War with Russia

June 1941: Hitler decided to invade the USSR (Russia), Germany's best soldiers and equipment got bogged down in a long war with Russia.

  • Air raids were more frequent and ferocious, the Allies dropped a combination of explosive and incendiary bombs.
  • They didn't have enough doctors to treat the wounded.
  • Younger and less experienced men were being drafted into war due to so many being killed in the war with the USSR.
  • There was a severe shortage of labour, so people were brought in from other countries as slave labour.
  • Nazis had less control over the Hitler Youth.
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February 1943-July 1944: Total War

After defeat at the Battle of Stalingrad, Germany retreated from Russia, they put all resources into stopping Allie advances. Germany experienced total war for 2 years, all aspects of live was devoted to the war effort.

  • Allies tried to destroy the morale of Germany through bomb raids, the bombing caused homelessness and death on a huge scale. July 1943, Hamburg saw 45,000 people die.
  • All professional sport was stopped.
  • No non-military clothing was produced, clothes swap centres opened .
  • Some foods were now completely unavailable.
  • Propganda was used to try and keep up support and spirit.
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July 1944-May 1945: Defeat

It became clear that Germany was going to lose the war, Allied forces were advancing into Eastern and Western Europe. Refugees were pouring into Germany. May 1945: Nazism was finished, Hitler commits suicide.

  • Air raids were more extreme, two nights in February 1945 left 150,000 people dead in Dresden.
  • Nazi administration couldn't cope, ration cards were not used and people scavenged for food.
  • Railway and postal services were reduced, letter boxes were closed.
  • Theatres and concert halls were closed.
  • The Home Guard was formed.
  • Non-Germans were made to work in armament factories.
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The Holocaust

The Einsatzgruppen: These were special ** squads that would follow the German army on invasions, they would round up Jews in each town, take them into the country, make them dig a trench. They would line the Jews in front of the trench and shoot them so their bodies would fall in.

The Ghettos: Jews were moved into special areas called ghettos when Germany invaded cities in Poland, Czechoslovakia and Lithuania. They were shut off from the city, surrounded by walls and were overcrowded with people. Water, food and power were cut off and hundreds of Jews died every day, anyone who tried to leave was shot dead.

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The Holocaust pt 2

July 31st 1941: Economics Minster Goering and Head of ** Himmler saw these methods as insufficient, therefore they built special death camps which aimed to kill people rather than imprison them. By the end of the war, 6 million Jews had been killed in these death camps, and other 'undesirables' such as Gypsies, homosexuals and 4 million Russian prisoners of war.

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