1
Q
Kaiser
A
Could dismiss Chancellor
Could dissolve Reichstag
Commander of army
In charge of foreign policy
2
Q
The Army (Kaiser Wilhelm II)
A
Oath of allegiance to Kaiser
Higher ranks advised Kaiser
Depended on Reichstag for funding every 5 years
3
Q
Chancellor
A
Responsible only to Kaiser
Lead Bundesrat and could propose topics and laws to discuss
Could ignore Reichstag
4
Q
Bundesrat
A
Proposed laws that were sent to the Reichstag
Consulted with the Kaiser and Chancellor about policies
5
Q
Reichstag (Kaiser)
A
Elected by males 25+ in a secret ballot every 3 years
Passed or rejected a grant to fund military every 5 years
Passed, amended or rejected laws proposed by the Bundesrat or Chancellor
6
Q
Wilhelm II
A
Dismissed Chancellor Bismarck soon after obtaining power in 1888 because of his realpolitik beliefs
Erratic, yet insecure
Militarism
7
Q
Benefits of industrialisation
A
Coal, iron and steel production grew
Helped build railways, aiding communication and trade
Producing electrical goods and chemicals
Standards of living improved
8
Q
Disadvantages of industrialisation
A
Rapid urbanisation lead to poor living conditions
Larger gap between rich and poor
Expensive food
Growing hatred for foreigners
9
Q
1897 Navy
A
Admiral von Tirpitz appointed as Navy Secretary
10
Q
1898 First Naval law
A
Size of navy increased by 7 battleships, now 19
11
Q
1900 Second Naval law
A
Doubled number of battleships, now 38
12
Q
Entente Cordiale
A
1904 agreement between Britain and France improved relations provided unified counter influence to rising power of Germany
13
Q
1906 Third Naval law
A
6 more battleships, Britain launches first dreadnought
14
Q
Triple Entente
A
1907 Britain France Russia
15
Q
1908 Naval law
A
Approved 21 dreadnoughts
16
Q
1912 Naval law
A
More amendments, increasing fleet size
17
Q
Impact of naval laws
A
Britain’s responses created fear in Germany, leading to more support for the Kaiser’s policies
Created work
Lead to increased taxes to pay
SPD opposed due to cost, lead to more growth for them
Kaiser portrayed SPD as unpatriotic enemies
Encouraged patriotism and nationalism
Conflict between the Kaiser and army leaders who believed the army required more funding
18
Q
Economic problems in 1918 (post war)
A
British navy prevented food imports, lead to malnutrition and most eating turnips and bread
Lots of war pensions paid by state
Lower industrial production due to focus on war
Trade disrupted
In debt to other countries
Inflation to pay debts
19
Q
Treaty of Versailles
A
War Guilt clause
6.6b reparations over 66 years
Loss of land in Europe and overseas colonies
Heavy restrictions on German army
Prevented from joining with Austria
20
Q
Benefits of hyperinflation
A
Farmers paid more for food
Easier to pay loans, debts and mortgages
Cheaper fixed rents
21
Q
Disadvantages of hyperinflation
A
Couldn’t afford essentials
Wages rose slower than prices
Businesses went bankrupt
Pensions worthless
Savings wiped out
Weimar government unpopular
22
Q
President (Weimar constitution)
A
Head of Weimar Republic
Elected every 7 years
Chose Chancellor
Could suspend constitution and pass laws independently (Article 48)
23
Q
Chancellor (Weimar constitution)
A
Head of government
Chose all ministers
24
Q
Cabinet (Weimar constitution)
A
Decision making body of the government
25
The parliament (Weimar constitution)
Made of Reichstag and Reichsrat
All laws had to pass through both
Proportional representation
26
Reichstag (Weimar constitution)
More powerful than Reichsrat
Controlled taxation
Elected every 4 years
27
Reichsrat (Weimar constitution)
Elected every 4 years
Represented regions of Germany
28
Electorate (Weimar constitution)
Men and women over 21
29
Strengths of Weimar constitution
Women able to vote
Voting age reduced from 25 to 21
Elections held for president
30
Weaknesses of Weimar constitution
Proportional representation- hard to pass things and divided parliament
Article 48
31
Who were the Spartacists
Left wing
Had Soviet backing
Based in Berlin
Lead by Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht
32
Who were the Freikorps
Right wing
Made of ex soldiers who kept their weapone
33
Who were the NDSAP
Right wing
Hated democracy and communism
Wanted a strong government and military
Lead by Hitler
Had a paramilitary force- the SA
34
Spartacist Revolt
January 1919
Spartacists took over newspaper and telegraph bureau
Tried to organise a strike in Berlin
Freikorps sent to shut it down
Failed due to lack of support
35
Kapp Putsch
March 1920
Freikorps, scared of unemployment, marched in Berlin
Army refused to stop fellow soldiers
Weimar government fled
Kapp took control
Weimar government organised a national strike
Kapp couldn’t rule and fled
36
Munich Putsch
Nov 1923
8th Nov 1923- Hitler forced 2 government officials to support him after storming a beer hall with 6000 SA. Ludendorff let them go behind Hitler’s back
9th Nov- Hitler and SA marched on Munich, met by police and descended into chaos. Ludendorff and government officials arrested
11th Nov- Hitler found and arrested
Failed due to lack of public support and military inadequacy compared to police
37
Impacts of Munich Putsch
Hitler’s trial gained publicity
Mein Kampf, the bestseller, written in prison
Hitler realised he needed to gain power through elections (Nazi party unbanned in 1925)
Nazi party initially banned
38
Stresemann and his solution to hyperinflation
Aug-Nov 1923 Chancellor
After then to 1929 Foreign Minister
Introduced Rentenmark in Nov 1923, value kept consistent
Aug 1924 renamed Reichsmark
39
Dawes Plan
1924
Instalments of reparations temporarily reduced to 50m marks a year
US banks gave loans to Germany
40
Young Plan
1929
Reduced reparations from 6.6b marks to 2b
Payment time extended to 1988
41
Lornaco Pact
1925
Agreement between Germany, Belgium, France, Italy, Britain
Agreed to demilitarisation of Rhineland
Germany agreed to new border with France
Improved relations with France
Not imposed on Germany
Increased status of Weimar Republic
42
Germany joins League of Nations
1926
Showed German views counted
Boosted confidence in Weimar government
43
Kellogg-Briand Pact
1928
Agreement between 62 nations to avoid use of war to achieve foreign policy objectives
Showed Germany was once again a major power
Increased confidence in Germany
44
Impact of international agreements
Strengthened confidence of German citizens in the Weimar Republic
Improved Germany’s relationship with other countries
Helped economic hardships
Reduced support for extremist political groups
Some sectors of the economy (eg agriculture) saw little recovery
Economy dependant on loans
Some Germans didn’t like the agreements
The hated terms of ToV were still in place
Extremist parties still existed
45
Weimar culture
Expressionism- raw emotion portrayed through everyday life, grew from 1924-1929
Art- Weimar artists were able to comment on problems in German society. Artists like George Grosz, Otto Dix and Paul Klee were influential
46
Impact of Depression on German businesses
Had to repay loans
Paid increased taxes
Received no more investments from the US
47
Impact of the Depression on German government
Couldn’t borrow any money
Increased taxes
Cut unemployment benefit
Government workers had wages cut and lost jobs
48
Impact of the Depression on German people
Millions of workers and farm labourers lost jobs
Young people affected by job losses
Family suffered poverty
49
Why did the Depression increase support for extremist parties
Government failing due to proportional representation and overuse of Article 48
Communism offered a solution to unemployment and falling wages
Middle and upper classes turned to right wing parties as they didn’t want Communists taking their businesses
Germans turned to Nazis for a strong government
50
What happened to the seats in the Reichstag during the Depression
SPD seats fell
KPD (communists) increased slightly
NDSAP rose greatly
51
Reasons for Hitler’s growing popularity
He was well known after the Munich Putsch and Mein Kampf
He was a rousing and effective speaker
His speeches and propaganda applied to multiple groups across society, so he gained wide support
Support from wealthy businesses lead to paying for more propaganda
He was forceful and decisive (what people wanted in the Depression)
Emphasised failures of Weimar
SA sabotaged opposition
52
SA
Lead by Röhm
Made of unemployed former soldiers
They controlled unrest in the streets
Used fear and violence to disrupt the opposition
53
When was Brüning appointed as Chancellor
March 1930
54
When did Hitler gain the majority and Brüning banned the SA
April 1932
55
When did Brüning resign
May 1932
56
When did Papen become Chancellor
June 1932
57
When was Papen sacked
November 1932
58
When was Schleicher appointed as Chancellor
December 1932
59
When was Hitler appointed as Chancellor
January 1933
60
Why was Hitler appointed as Chancellor
Papen convinced Hindenburg to make Hitler Chancellor as he believed if he was vice Chancellor him and Hindenburg could control Hitler
61
What did Papen do
Ruled with Cabinet of Barons, not Reichstag, undermining the Weimar constitution
62
63
What did Hindenburg do
Appointed Chancellors that weren’t part of the Reichstag (Schleicher and Papen), undermining Weimar
Ruled by decree a lot
Underestimated Hitler
64
When was the Reichstag fire
1933
65
What did the Reichstag fire result in
Hitler accused Communist party of a conspiracy against the government, which lead to him making Hindenburg issue the emergency Decree for the Protection of People and the State
66
What did the emergency Decree for the Protection of People and the State do (Reichstag Fire Decree)
Hitler could imprison political opponents
They could limit free speech by closing opposition newspapers etc
Removed rights such as freedom of the press and freedom of speech
67
What happened after Hindenburg’s March 1933 election
Nazis secured 2/3 seats as Communists couldn’t because the KPD was banned
68
What did Hitler do after gaining the majority in the Reichstag
Proposed the Enabling Act which said:
The Reich cabinet would pass new laws
The rules could overrule the constitution
Hitler would propose laws
69
When was the Law against the Formation of New Parties issued
July 1933, banned all parties other than NDSAP
70
Night of the Long Knives
Hitler invited Röhm and 100 SA leaders to a meeting in June 1934
They were arrested and shot by the SS
71
Reasons for the Night of the Long Knives
Röhm lead 3m SA and disagreed with some of Hitler’s views
Important people disliked the SA, believing they were violent thugs (including Hindenburg)
German army was 1/30th of the SA, and officers believed Röhm wanted the SA to be the new army but Hitler required the army’s allegiance
SS more disciplined and lead by Heinrich Himmler, who Hitler was closer to than Röhm
72
When did Hindenburg die
2 Aug 1934
73
What did Hitler do after Hindenburg died
Within hours, a law merged the offices of Chancellor and President to form Fürher
Hitler announced the army would now swear allegiance to him and not Germany
74
How did Nazis help the economy
Investing into public work programmes
Putting controls on wages and prices
Controlling imports
75
National Labour Service (RAD)
Started by Weimar government and continued under the Nazis
From Jul 1935 it was compulsory for all 18-25 men to serve it for 6 months
They worked on public works programmes/on farms
It was hated for boring work, low pay and long hours
76
Manipulation of unemployment figures
Jews, women and undesirables ignored
Unmarried men under 25 did RAD, counted as employed
After 1935 it was increasingly common for 18+ year olds to get conscripted to the army
77
Examples of public work programmes
7000km autobahns built
Building of new hospitals and schools
Building sports facilities (e.g. 1936 Berlin olympics stadium)
Building public buildings
Laying new railway lines
Building new houses
Draining marshes and planting trees
78
What was the Four Year Plan
1936-1940
Hermann Goering (minister of the economy from 1937) was responsible for carrying it out
Aimed to:
Supply rearmament (weapons vehicles and equipment)
Make Germany self sufficient in raw materials and food
79
How did the Four Year Plan work out
Autarky (self sufficiency) failed. In 1939 Germany still relied on imports for 1/3 raw materials
Farmers given free labour by RAD but food production only slightly rose
Luxury goods imports increased
Scientists funded to find alternatives for things Germany didn’t have (rubber, cotton, oil) but had little success
80
Rearmament
Began in 1933 in secret until 1935
By 1940 rearmament had happened to an extent but didn’t meet aims of Four Year Plan
Many jobs were created, however this lead to labour shortages
81
Pros of Nazis’ economic policies
Unemployment reduced
Large businesses benefitted from wage restrictions and ban of trade unions
RAD helped public facilities
Farmers benefitted from rising food prices and cheaper labour
Average wages increased
82
Cons of Nazis’ economic policies
Increased cost of food cancelled out wage increase
Working hours increased
Emphasis on buying German products sometimes lead to inferior choices available
Four Year Plan put pressure on economy
Lead to food and other shortages in late 1930s
Jewish businesses boycotted and closed (some groups suffered)
83
Total War
Any businesses not involved in war work/food production closed other than cinemas (propaganda films) All entertainment areas closed. Some services closed eg post
84
Rationing, economic struggles and solutions from 1932-42
Rationing started for food in August 1939
Black market for luxury goods thrived
Late 1941 rationing became more severe because of army in Russia
Foreign workers from invaded countries sent to Germany because of labour shortages
Prisoners of war and inmates at concentration camps were free labour
85
Impact of war 1942-45: Refugees
Ran away from Russia, causing pressure in cities where they fled to as they were already experiencing food shortages
86
Impact of war 1942-45: Rationing
1943- Rations reduced further
1945 rationing system almost collapsed, severe shortages of food and essentials
87
Impact of war 1942-45: Labour shortages
Start of 1943 all 16-65 men and 17-45 women had to register for work
Boys and girls from Hitler Youth and BDM helped with farm work
Forced labour increased
88
Impact of war 1942-45: Bombing
German cities repeatedly bombed- lots of deaths and wounded
1M+ houses destroyed
Damage to factories, 1000s of businesses severely affected
89
Women shouldn’t work
1933- women banned from professional careers
Propaganda used to persuade women to stay at home
Number of employed women fell
After 1939, shortage of labour as men left to fight
Women encouraged to work again
90
Women should get married
Law for the Encouragement of Marriage 1933 initiated the use of marriage loans to newly married couples if the woman agreed to stop
working
Number of marriages increased
It is unclear if this is because of marriage loans or the stronger economy
91
Women should have at least 4 children
Couples let off 1/4 of marriage loan repayments per child they had
From 1936, they were given monthly payments to help with costs of children
German women’s enterprise (DFW) gave medals for having children
Birth rate increased, may be due to a stronger economy
92
Women’s role should be to look after children and home
DFW ran classes and radio programmes for home things
Girls’ education tailored toward being a housemaker
Preparing girls for university in grammar schools banned
DFW gained 6M members
Number of women attending university dropped
93
Youth policies: Reasons
Create proud Germans who supported a strong, independent Germany
Make sure the next generation are loyal supporters of the Nazis
Help children be strong and healthy so they produce good children
Prepare girls to be wives and housekeepers
Prepare boys to be soldiers
94
Youth policies: 1933
Almost all youth groups banned other than Nazi ones
Young people put under pressure to join youth groups
Enemies of the Nazis couldn’t (Jews and disabled)
95
Youth policies: 1939
Compulsory for young people to join Nazi youth groups. Four groups:
Young German Folk (Boys 10-14)
Young Girls (Girls 10-14)
Hitler Youth (Boys 14-18)
League of German Maidens (Girls 14-18)
96
What did boys do in youth groups
Shooting
Military drills
Signalling
Military style camps
Helped fire brigade during the war
97
What did girls do in youth groups
Cookery
Housework
Needlework and craft
Learning what to look for in a good husband
Learning about babies
98
What did both genders do in youth groups
Hiking and camping
Learning about Hitler
Learning about racial superiority
Singing patriotic songs
Sports and competitions
Reporting anti-Nazis
99
Education policies: Schools
Children had to attend school until 14
Separate schools for boys and girls
Set curriculum different for boys and girls
100
Education policies: Teachers
Compulsory for teachers to be Nazis
Teacher camps taught them how to use Nazi ideas in teaching
Nearly all teachers joined Nazi Teachers League
Teachers had to attend courses to learn about Nazi ideas
101
Education policies: Subjects
15% time PE for health
Girls- domestic skills
Boys- science and military
Taught traditional subjects like German, history, geography and math
New subjects were introduced: Race Studies and Nazi Eugenics
102
Education policies: Propaganda
All lessons began and ended with the Hitler salute
Nazi flags and posters were in classes
In 1935 all textbooks had to be approved by Nazis
Traditional subjects rewritten to glorify Germany
Racial ideas and anti-Semitism taught in subjects
103
Successes of the education and youth policies
Some young people found many activities offered by youth groups exciting and enjoyable
PE improved genetal fitness
Anti-Semitism accepted
Young Germans generally more enthusiastic about Nazism than parents
Many people joined Hitler Youth before it was made compulsory, however could have been due to the lack of extracurriculars avaliable
104
Failings of education and youth policies
Military discipline in youth groups hated
Some young people opposed, didn’t partake in youth groups and joined groups like the Swing Youth and Edelweiss Pirates
105
Nazi beliefs vs Church beliefs
Nazi: Hitler all powerful
Aryan race superiority
Fominance of strong over weak
War and violence important
Church: God ultimate authority
Everyone equal in God’s view
Peace
Strong should look after the weak
106
Concordat
July 1933
Catholics free to worship and schools continued as they were but bishops had to swear an oath to Nazis
Clergy had to stay out of politics
Hitler broke his promise and banned catholic youth organisations and closed Catholic schools that didn’t teach the Nazi curriculum
107
108
Reich church
1933
All Protestant churches merged to form Reich church leaders by Ludwig Müller which:
Supported Nazi views
Excluded Old Testament teachings (Jewish)
Dismissed non-Aryan members
Sometimes displayed Nazi symbols and had members wearing Nazi uniforms called German Christians
109
Confessional Church
Lead by Martin Niemöller 1934
Opposed Reich church and Nazi regimes
Taught only whats in Bible
Repressed by Nazis, some churches closed, members harassed and pastors sent to concentration camps
110
Confessional Churches vs Reich Churches (numbers)
6000 Protestant Churches in Confessional, only 2000 in Reich
111
Aryan
Tall
Blue eyed
Blond
Master race
112
Aryan women
Athletic and strong for producing lots of children
113
Aryan men
Athletic and strong for work or to be a soldier
114
Race farms
Aryan men and women having Aryan children
SS central as they only recruited Aryans and were only allowed to marry Aryans
115
Untermenschen
Slavs
Roma
Black
Jews
116
Why were Jews hated
Associated with Communism
Often successful (jealousy)
Aliens (strange practices, clothing and beliefs)
Blamed for WW1 defeat and ToV (some Weimar politicians Jewish)
Karl Marx (founder of Communism) from a Jewish family
117
Other undesirables
Physically and mentally disabled
Gay
Tramps and beggars
Socialists
Trade unionists
118
Nuremberg Laws
1935
Reich Law on Citizenship- Only German blood can be citizens, non Aryans are subjects not citizens
Jews can’t vote, have a German passport or work for the government
Reich Law for the Protection of German Blood and Honour- No non-Aryan can marry German citizens, non Aryans aren’t allowed to do it with German citizens
119
How were other undesirables dealt with
Gay men- prison/concentration camps
Tramps and beggars- labour in concentration camps
Disabled- Law for the Prevention of Hereditary Diseased Offspring sterilised disabled people
Severely diseased babies and children killed 1939-45
Mentally ill and disabled adults killed by gas
120
1933 Jews
One day boycott of Jewish businesses
121
1934 Jews
Some Jews banned from going to public places
122
1935 Jews
Nuremberg Laws
123
1936 Jews
Jews banned from professional careers eg accountancy
124
1937 Jews
Jewish businesses taken over by Aryans
Jewish passports had to be stamped with a ‘J’. Israel or Sarah had to be added to Jewish names
125
1938 Jews
Jews had to register properties and Jewish shops vandalised (Kristallnacht)
126
1939 Jews
Banned from owning businesses
127
Kristallnacht
7 Nov 1938 Jew shot a German
Goebbels embellished this to the point where gangs were running amok Jewish communities destroying and burning shops, homes and synagogues
100 Jews killed
128
How were Jews killed
Oct 1939 first ghettos built in Poland to separate Jews from people
Jun 1941 Einsatzgruppen
Dec 1941 first death camp
Jan 1942 Leading Nazis met at Wansee Conference to discuss the Final Solution
Mar 1942 First gas chambers used to kill Jews
129
What happened at Aushwitz/death camps
At Aushwitz specifically Jews underwent selection, if fit to labour worked to death
Generally, Jews were stripped, hair shaved and possessions taken on arrival
Killed in gas chambers and buried in large pits/cremated in large ovens
130
Methods of censorship
Public burning of Jewish books
Newspapers opposing Nazis closed
Only radios that didn’t receive foreign stations made
Media creators (eg filmmakers) told what to say
131
Methods of propaganda
Posters
Rallies
Military parades
Cinema
Radio
Sports teams did Nazi salute
Olympics promoted Nazi ideology
132
Effects of propaganda and censorship
Citizens only saw what Nazis wanted them to see
Believed messages and supported Nazi policies
133
Reich Chamber of Culture
Sept 1933
Part of Ministry of Propaganda, headed by Goebbels
Aimed to ensure art, architecture etc fitted with Nazi ideas
Banned things Nazis disagreed with, promoted what they liked (eg glorification of war)
134
Music Nazi
Made by jews and jazz (black) banned
Marching music and traditional classical music by artists like Bach preferred
Hitler loved Wagner’s music, it was often about tradition German heroes, so he promoted it
135
Art Nazi
Artists often visited by Gestapo to check they weren’t breaking rules
Impressionist art removed from galleries
Painters couldn’t produce art unless they were members of the Reich Chamber of Visual Arts
136
Literature Nazi
Millions of banned (‘unacceptable’ ideas/by jews) books burned in public bonfires
Only books approved by Chamber of Culture could be published
137
Film Nazi
Nazi party made films
Had to be approved by Goebbels
138
Architecture Nazi
Large Ancient Rome style buildings
Modern architecture disapproved
Albert Speer, Hitler’s favourite architect, designed many major buildings (eg ground where rallies held at Nuremberg
139
Himmler
Lead SS
Controlled racial policy
In command of all police and security services
140
Legal system Nazis
All verdicts decided by a judge (no jury)
Cases of treason tried in secret by specially selected judges
All judges has to belong to a Nazi league and favour Nazi party in verdicts
141
Role of SS in police state
Members highly trained and disciplined (follow any orders)
Unlimited power to search property, arrest and imprison with no trial
Recruits had to be Aryan
After 1936 they ran all police and concentration camps and einsatzgruppen and death camps
142
Role of Gestapo in police state
Many members professional police, not Nazi members
No uniform
Aimed to identify opponents
Spied on people using Nazi Party informants and general population
Used torture in questioning, small force (50000) but terrifying
Led by Heydrich (1936) under SS
143
Opposition and resistance 1933-39
People to afraid of SS, Gestapo and informers to risk
Opposition groups banned, so it’s hard
144
Impact of police state
Fear and intimidation (people believed Gestapo always listening so did what Nazis wanted)
Stifled debate (informants)
Encouraged spying
People informed as- scared of Nazis, held grudges or Nazi supporters
145
How opposition was dealt with up to 1939
Arrested
Threatened
Sent to concentration camps
Many opposition groups more cultural than political and had few members, weren’t seriously punished
146
Edelweiss Pirates
Boys who wore American clothing
Nazis weren’t threatened
Went on hikes to get away from Nazi restrictions
Taunted Hitler Youth
Read banned books listened to banned music
Wrote anti Nazi propaganda
Mainly based in working class districts
Formed in late 1930s potentially due to Hitler Youth conscription
147
Swing Youth
American clothes, music and films
Gathered to smoke drink and dance
Organised illegal dances
Largely composed of children from wealthy families (could afford record players)
148
Opposition 1939-45
White Rose Group
Edelweiss Pirates
July Plot 1944
149
White Rose Group
Set up at Munich University by Hans and Sophie Scholl and Kurt Huber
Group let people know about atrocities, created and distributed leaflets opposing Nazis and war. All leaders eventually caught and executed
150
Edelweiss Pirates and Swing Youth 1939-45
Spread Allied propaganda leaflets
Gave shelter to army deserters
Attacked members of Hitler Youth and some Nazi officials (1944 killed head of Cologne Gestapo)
Some caught and hanged
151
July Plot 1944
Operation Valkyrie, briefcase bomb
After conference it was attempted
Almost 6000 executed, including Stauffenberg, the leader
152
Impacts of July plot
Army brought under SS control after, reduced internal opposition
Highlighted how deep opposition was toward Hitler at the end of the war
153
Punishments for resistance 1939-45
Punished more
Jazz—> Concentration camps
People who spoke out against regime publicly killed
Opposition in army a real threat, plotters killed as a deterrent
History
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