Fascism
The leadership of a dictator with totalitarian powers in a one party state. The economy is centrally planned but allows for some private ownership (controlled free market) Eg: Adolf Hitler in Nazi Germany
Mein Kampf
Translates to “My Struggle” and is the book that Hitler wrote while in prison
How did the rise of fascism come about in Germany?
1) The Treaty of Versailles
2) Weimar Republic
The Treaty of Versailles
A treaty signed by the German government following WWI. This treaty imposed harsh conditions on the country of Germany such as shrinking their military, and paying billions in reparations
Weimar Republic
The German republic which resented the liberal governments that imposed such harsh conditions on them
Dawes and Young Plans
Plans created by the United States to assist Germany with their reparation payments. Even these contributions weren’t enough and in 1923 the German economy began experiencing hyperinflation
Hyperinflation
Incredibly rapid inflation that causes uncontrollable price surges, and the overall destabilization of the economy. In Germany, hyperinflation was so bad that people needed wheelbarrows of money to purchase a loaf of bread
Consolidating Power
The consolidating power during post WWI became the Nazi’s, who were able to gain control of the German parliament and dismantle its liberal-democratic elements
Reichstag Fire Decree
This decree nullified many key civil liberties of German citizens and is one of the main factors that created a dictatorship
Enabling Act
The enabling act allowed Hitler to have control over all of the branches of government, making Germany a one-party state. This act made Hitler dictator and ended the separation of powers.
Night of the Long Knives
A night where Hitler ordered the elimination of the secret police (SA’s) leaders, who he felt were a threat to his leadership. Because of their dissent, he decided to create this purge end eliminate them entirely
Scapegoating
Hitler named numerous people groups for the problems happening in Germany through the use of propaganda. He scapegoated the Jews, communists, and the Treaty of Versailles
Paul Von Hindenburg
Former president of Germany who was essentially blackmailed into appointing Hitler as chancellor
German Economy
The Nazi party attempted to jump start the German economy using various programs such as the Autobahn which provided employment. The government also took strict control over what was produced/manufactured, classifying Germany as a controlled free market.
Aryan Race
The Nazi ideology that claimed Germans were a superior race. They would use this idea to justify the ethnic cleansing of Germany. They classified Jews, homosexuals, people with disabilities and many more as undesirables
Nuremberg Decrees
Laws that were passed to exclude Jews from German society. This outlined that Jews were subhuman, and could no longer vote, hold office, or be in mixed marriages.
Night of the Broken Glass
After a Nazi official was killed by a young Jew, the German protection squad began destroying any Jewish businesses and breaking the glass of their Synagogues
The Holocaust
This was also known as ‘The Final Solution’, and placed Jews and other undesirables into work and extermination camps. Approximately 6 million Jews died during this time
Lebensraum
Another way that Hitler justified the Holocaust, by claiming that the Jews took up too much room in Germany, and the Aryans needed ‘living space’
Joseph Goebbels
He was the head of the Ministry of Propaganda in Germany
