Weimar & Nazi Germany

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Key Terms 1

  • Weimar Republic- The name given o Germany from November 1918 after the retirement of the Kaiser.
  • Gustav Stresemann- German Foreign Minister from 1924 to 1929. Helped negotiate the Dawes plan (1924), Treaty of Locarno (1925) and the entry to League of Nations (1926).
  • NSDAP- The official name of the Nazi Party. 'National Socialist German Workers' party.
  • Munich Putsch- 8th- 9th November 1923. Failed Nazi attempt to overthrow the Weimar Republic.
  • November Criminals- Name given by Hitler and other right-wing politicians to the social democrat government who had signed the Armistice in November 1918.
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Key Terms 2

  • Reparation- Compensation to be paid by Germany to the allies. 1921 fixed sum of £6,600 million to be paid in yearly instalments.
  • Treaty of Versailles- Peace treaty enforced on Germany by the allies that ended WW1. Signed on 28 June 1919 Palace, France
  • Sturm- Abteilung- Hitlers private army formed in 1921, aka Brwonshirts. Officially meant to protect Nazi speakers but often used to violently break up opposition.
  • Hyper- inflation- Rapid decrease in value of German mark in 1923 due to government decision to print more money. February 1923, $1= 7000 marks, November 1923 $1= 130,000 million.
  • Stab in the back- A myth that developed in Germany claming that the German army was never defeated in 1918 but was betrayed by weak politicians.
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Treaty of Versailles

  • The Treaty of Versailles was a compromise between President Wilson's Fourteen Points and his desire to make a "just peace", and the French leader Clemenceau's desire for revenge.
  • Germany had to accept responsibility for starting the war, and had to agree to pay for the cost of the damage (set at £6600 million in 1921).
  • Germany's army was reduced to 100,000 men with no air forces & a small navy with only 6 battleships and no submarines.
  • No German troops were allowed in the Rhineland, the area of Germany closest to France.
  • Many Germans defeated in WW1, national humiliation, the Treaty of Versailles, the Weimar constitution and democracy are all linked which explains why democrasy is weak in German.
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Treaty of Versailles....

  • 13% of Germany is now transferred to neighbouring countires as the map is redrawn germany loses land to France, Belgium, Poland and Denmark.
  • 15% of German coal mines are lost in map changes.
  • Treaty weakened democrasy in Germany and the German economy.
  • The Treaty of Versailles was a "dictated peace" as Germany was not allowed to negotiate the terms.
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Weimar Constituation

  • Huge splits in Weimar Germany between LEFT- WING & RIGHT- WING
  • Left wing people/ parties wants more equality/ change in society. Main left- wing parties= the communists and socialists. After 1928, the Nazi become more and more important.
  • Between these two parties you have the Democratic Party and the Centre Party. Some of these party want to end democrasy/ voting/ elections. There are the communists, national party and the Nazi.
  • The right wing party want a storng government, family values, strong army/ nation state and to support businesses.
  • The left wing party tend to want change society to make it fairer, give power to the workers, end capitalism/ private ownership of 
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Weimar Constituation....

  • business and want to see co-operation between nations.
  • Huge amounts of political violence in this period. 1919-22 there are 376 political murders, mostly left wing people being killed by right wing extremists.
  • Many attempts to overthrow the government.
  • Most important one from the left is by sparticist league.
  • Jan 1919- 100,000 spartacists start to take over central Berlin
  • Army refuses to act- government has to leave city,
  • A general strike by the workers of Berlin forces Kapp to give up- transport, water supplies & gas supplies all cut off.
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Political problems 1918- 23

  • Huge splits in Weimar Germany between LEFT- WING & RIGHT- WING
  • Left wing people/ parties wants more equality/ change in society. Main left- wing parties= the communists and socialists. After 1928, the Nazi become more and more important.
  • Between these two parties you have the Democratic Party and the Centre Party. Some of these party want to end democrasy/ voting/ elections. There are the communists, national party and the Nazi.
  • The right wing party want a storng government, family values, strong army/ nation state and to support businesses.
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Political problems 1918- 23....

  • The left wing party tend to want change society to make it fairer, give power to the workers, end capitalism/ private ownership of business and want to see co-operation between nations.
  • Huge amounts of political violence in this period. 1919-22 there are 376 political murders, mostly left wing people being killed by right wing extremists.
  • Many attempts to overthrow the government.
  • Most important one from the left is by sparticist league.
  • Jan 1919- 100,000 spartacists start to take over central Berlin
  • Army refuses to act- government has to leave city,
  • A general strike by the workers of Berlin forces Kapp to give up- transport, water supplies & gas supplies all cut off.
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The stresemann Era 1924- 1929

  • Gustav Stresemann is chancellor from August 1923 to 1924, and then foreign minister 1924- 1929.
  • He was the most talented & successful Weimar Politican and supported by moderate parties on the left and right.
  • Dawes Plan- (1924)- German reparation payments are reduced and loans from American banks to boost the German economy are arranged 1923-1928- unemployment drops, industrial output doubles- Germany is doing very well.
  • Young Plan- (1929)- The overall reparations bill is reduced and the date for final repayment is put back- so the annual billis reduced again to only £50 million a year. This would have been very good for Germany- allow them to cut taxes- but the Great Depression was just around the corner so it had less effects
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The stresemann Era 1924- 1929....

  • Locarno pact- (1925)- an agreement signed with the Western European countries . German agrees that it will never try and change its Western border. Last allied soldiers pull back out of Germany because of this.
  • Germany now sees as a 'normal' country by Britain and France.
  • League of Nations- Germany allowed to join in 1926- Germany now sees as a 'normal' country.
  • Kellog- Briand pact- (1928)- an international agreement which Germany signed a agreement that countires which sign will not use war to achieve their aims in the future.
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Years of Economic Crisis (1929- 1932)

  • Wall street crash- October 1929, kick starts the great depression
  • Banks in American and Germany run out of money and start demanding that loans be repaid- many German businesses can not afford to repay and have to sack workers or close.
  • Unemployment starts to rise- 1.3m in 1929, 6m by January 1933 
  • Middle class losing savings, homes and businesses.
  • Working class becoming poverty stricken
  • The Parties in the Reichstag can not co-operation and bruning can only rule by using the presidents emergency powers to make new laws- rule by decree
  • Political violence on the streets starts to rise.
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Adolf Hitler- Early life

  • Born in Austria, parents died when he was young, becomes unemployed & homeless in Vienna
  • Belived he was destined for greatness
  • Outbreak of WW1 gives him purpose in life and he joins the German army in 1914 
  • Belives Germany has been stabbed in the back by Jews and Communists 
  • Joins the German Workers Party in 1919.
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The birth of the Nazi Party 1919-23

  • Hitler is put in charge of propaganda & ideas of German Workers Party
  • 1920 the party is renamed the national socialist german workers party 
  • Hitler found out about the party after being given a assignment on checking up on political groups after the war
  • Hitler became the 7th committee member when he joined the Group
  • Hitler became Drexler's right-hand man in 1920
  • it started with 23 members but rose to 40 in September 1919
  • it rose to about 1100 members in June 1920
  • rose  again to 3000 during 1920
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The birth of the Nazi Party 1919-23....

  • they hated communists and socialists who they blamed for bringing down the Kaiser
  • They hated the Weimar politicans for signing the treaty of Versailles
  • They found democracy weak
  • Hitler was a powerful and passionate speaker so he attracted a lot of people
  • in February 1920 Drexler and Hitler came up with the 25-point program
  • they were willing to use force to achieve this
  • He sentenced to five years 
  • He serves 9 months before release in prison at Landsberg Castle
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The Nazi Party 1924- 29

  • Hiler focuses on winning power thorugh elections- realises that revolution will not work.
  • The Nazi party becomes much more organised & sets up local party organisations across Germany.
  • Hitler chooses people who are efficient administators- secretary.
  • Hitler youth sets up
  • Results from elections show they are not going anywhere in this period- 12 seats in the Reichstag won in 1928
  • They only have the support of 3% of Germans
  • He gets support/money from some importnat countries/ businesses
  • Uses modern technology- radio, films & Gramophone records to get their message across.
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Rises of the Nazi 1929- 32

  • Wall St Crash in 1929 begins Great Depression and rise of unemployment 
  • Hitler says only Nazi can provide firm leadership & jobs for Germany and blames Versailles treaty for much of Germany's problems.
  • The 25 points are a very attractive message to people suffering in the Depression 
  • Nazi gets 107 seats in Reichstag in 1930 and almost 200 in November 1032 making them largest party in Reichstag.
  • Nazi keep their promises vagie in elections- their message is very simple & clear and their propaganda very effective
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Rises of the Nazi 1929- 32

  • The uniforms and sense of order/ unity is very appealing in time of crisis 
  • By 1930 there are 400,000 sa men
  • Middle class germans are terified of a communist revolution & see the Nazi as the only people willing to flight to stop this.
  • Nazis set up soup kitchens and shelters for the unemployed & homeless
  • Promise woek and bread to the working class
  • Hitler runs for president in 1932 and gets 13 million botes when Hindenburg is reelected with 19 million
  • A vote for Hitler is usually a vote against something (democracy/ communism/ Weimar culture)
  • Hiler has big appeal to women
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The Nazi Seizure of Power

  • July 1932- Nazis are strongest party in Reichstag with 230 seats
  • November 1932- Nazi votes falls- they are still strongest party but thir voteseems to slipping away now.
  • Hinderbirg does not want Hitler as Chancellor but his preferred man does not have enough support in the Reichstag
  • Hitler uses one of his choices to make his right hand man at the time into the minister of the interior- giving a leading Nazi control over most of the police in Germany.
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Creations of the Nazi dictatorship part 1

  • Hitler organises a new election to be held in March 1933 to try and get the new government a majority in the Reichstag
  • Nazi intimidate and attack their enermies with the police doing nothing to prevent this 27th February- Reichstag building destroyed by a massive fire by the Dutch communist called Marinus van der Lubbe
  • All communist newspapers are banned under emergency powers
  • Mass arrests of communists and others
  • 70 people die in violence during the election campaign
  • March 5th- Nazis are supporting parties, they are winning 52% of the vote
  • 24th March- The new Reichstag pass the Enabling act:- a law that gives Hitler the right to rule by decree.
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Creations of the Nazi dictatorship part 1....

  • April 1933- Civil service, schools and legal system sees the removal of all Jews, Socialists and Communists.
  • May 1933- all independent trade unions banned, all workers are now having to belong to the Nazi controlled DAF
  • July 1933- all other political parties are banned
  • January 1934- all local governments are taking over by the Nazi- their governors are appointed by Hitler form now on.
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The creation of the Nazi Dictatorship part 2

  • Ernst Rohm is the head of SA
  • Rohm wanted to see the Nazi system to become more socialist- he hated Hitler's llink to rich business people and wanted to state to nationalise big business
  • SA now 3 million strong in 1934
  • Rohm wants to see the army merged into the SA
  • The army officers tend to be noble and horrified by the suggestion that they should become part of the working class 
  • ** leaders and army officers tell Hitler that Rohm wants to grab power
  • Around 400 people are shot without trial during Night of the Long Knives
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The Terror state

  • Hitler was determined that the Nazi regime would not be bound by law.
  • The Nazis’ concept of authority was based on the leadership principle (do what the leader tells you). As a ‘man of destiny’ who has been chosen to lead the Third Reich, Hitler’s word was law.
  • After 1933, the Nazis didn’t introduce a new legal system, instead they introduced some new laws to deal with political offences and forced the existing justice system to bend to their will.
  • So, the legal principles in Weimar no longer applied - citizens were no longer treated equally under the law and judges/ courts couldn’t make decisions or operate independently of the government. People could be put in prison without trial or without police gathering evidence against them.
  • The law was applied in an arbitrary and inconsistent fashion.
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The Terror state

  • Before, individual states would control their police forces. The Nazis didn’t abolish these but created a system of party controlled, political political forces that were answerable to Hitler. These ran alongside the original police forces.
  • This created confusion and competition between the forces and the men who controlled them.
  • These forces existed:Between 1933 and 1936, there was competition and rivalry between Himmler, Röhm and Goering for control over the police. Himmler’s power was strengthened by the Night of the Long Knives when the powers of the SA were reduced. After the Night of the Long Knives, the police system looked like this:
    • ** - controlled by Himmler
    • SD - worked with the ** and gathered intelligence for the **
    • SA - acquired police powers and detained political prisoners
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Nazi Propaganda

  • Nazi propaganda was to unite- would make Germany strong 
  • Nazi took simple ideas repeated them
  • Encouraged the german people to hate countries that signed the treaty of versailles
  • Nazis used powerful propaganda designed to get support of the german people 
  • Spreading Information that influences how people think and behave- shaping peoples minds 
  • It only gives certain points of view- often leaves out important facts 
  • Public rallies to spread their propaganda
  • Sporting events- 1936 Berlin Olympics used to show off German wealth and power
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Nazi Propaganda....

  • Modern art was banned
  • Posters showing evil of germanys enemies
  • Nazi voice in homes ( radios)
  • Persuaded that nazis were right- stopped people reading/hearing that gave different message
  • 1933- founded the minisrty of public Enlightenment and propaganda 
  • Some priests who disagreed with the nazis got sent to concentration camps 
  • School textbooks were re-written to make Germans look successful 
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Education & the young

  • Schools are taken over and all apponents of the Nazi who are teachers lose their jobs
  • Teachers have to join the Nazi Teachers league
  • School subjects are used as propaganda e.g German History, maths problems that are about military issues.
  • Education for boys and girls is heavy on PE
  • Education for boys aims to turn them into soldiers, for girls it aims to turn them into mothers
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Education & the young....

  • Youth group for both boys and girls are compulsory but many teenagers refuse to go 
  • Lots of outdoor activities, training with weapons and Nazi propaganda
  • Some teenagers join the swing movement- a Youth subculture that involves listerning to Jazz/ sing records, growing hair long and wearing tweed. 
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Women in Nazi Germany

  • Work was for men, women should stay at home and have children. 

  • Nazi's pushed women out of professions such as law, medicine and teaching. 

  • Made jobs for men - helped to reduce unemployment. 

  • Law for the encouragement of marriage (1933) lent couples who married 1,000 marks (a month's wage) if the wife left work. The money had to be spent on domestic goods as it was given in vouchers for certain shops. 

  • For each child the woman had, they were let off a quarter of the marriage loan. 

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Women in Nazi Germany....

  • This was effective as it boosted marriage, large families, and women staying at home. 

  • There were radio broadcasts and classes on how to be a good mother.

  • There were strict rules to ensure that women married to produce racially pure children.

  • Mothers who had more than 8 children were given a gold medal. The medals were  bronze for 4 children, silver for 6 children and gold for 8 + children.

  • The Nazis had to call many women back to work after 1936 as there was a shortage of male workers due to conscription.
  •  During the war (1939-45) there was a labour shortage and the Nazis tried to make up the shortfall using prisoners of war rather than take women out of the home.
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The Economy

  • All non Nazi trade unions are closed down. Every worker is now a member of the German Labour Front.
  • Wages are low, people have contributions taken from their pay packets.
  • The working week went from an average 43 hour in 1933 to 47 hours in 1939.
  • In 1937, the average worker ate less meat, milk, cheese, white bread, fruit and sugar and drank less beer. They ate more bread and potatoes 
  • All 18-25 year old men had to do 6 months labour service- low paid manual labour 
  • Public Workers created jobs e.g bulding roads, railways, houses and public buldings like the office in Berline where Hitler worked.
  • Spending on military goes from 3.5 billion marks in 1933 to 26 billion in 1939 
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Treatment of the Jews

  • 1933- Jews are encouraged to leave the country
  • April 1933- Boycott of Jewish shops and businesses, banned from working in civil service and banned from holding position like doctors, dentists and judge.
  • October 1933- Banned from working as a journalist
  • May 1935- Banned from entering the armed force
  • July 1928- Issues with identity card and doctors, dentist and lawyers were forbidden from treating.
  • February 1939- Jewish forced to hand over precious metals and jewllery
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