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Germany
GCSE – History Revision
Impact of WWI on Germany Politics
and Anarchy
POLITICAL EFFECTS:
Germany had political problems before the war
Reichstag was weak
Working and middle-class people had little say in the way Germany was run
No effective opposition to the Kaiser (got worse during the war)
Opposition Leader’s imprisoned
Germany ruled as a Military Dictatorship by Kaiser and his Army Leaders
(Ludendorff and Hindenburg)
Weakened the Reichstag further
ANARCHY:
Germany was extremely unstable
Armed demobilised soldier’s were returning home and
joining in violent demonstrations against the War and the
Kaiser.
Impact of WWI on Germany:
Physically and Psychologically
PHYSICAL EFFECTS:
Farming disruption because farm workers had been drafted into armed forces
1918; Germany producing only 50% of milk, 60% of butter and meat it had
produced before the war
British Navy blocked German ports which prevented food from reaching Germans
for the last two years of the war
In weakened conditions civilians were vulnerable to disease. Probably ¾ of
German citizens died from combined effect of hunger and disease
PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS:
Before War, Germans were proud and ambitious for their country
Prepared to work hard for its success
Experiences of the war made Germans bitter and angry
All hopes of the pre-war years had been dashed
Looked around for someone to blame (November Criminals)
Society HAD been famous for its unity and obedience of its people, now famous
for its squabbling and conflicts.
Treaty of
Versailles
November 1918; World War One ended , known as Armistice
Day
11th
Negotiation; from January to May 1919
Big Three; USA, Great Britain and France. (Woodrow Wilson, Lloyd George and
George Clemnceau; know as The Tiger) as well as the Italian President, Orlando
Treaty’s Key Terms; 440 clauses, 200+ pages
German Army reduced; to 100’000 men and not allowed an Air Force or Navy
Article 231; ‘War Guilt Clause’ meant Germany took full responsibility for the
war and that included all the losses and damages
Article 232; Reparation Clause meant Germany had to pay the countries that
had been damaged during the war (GB and France)
Article 428; the Rhineland was a demilitarised zone (the Rhineland had most of
Germany’s mines in it and meant that the
French had a clear path into Germany if
they ever needed it)
Those who signed it became known the
‘November Criminals’.
Gustav
Born; Berlin to a modest family background, he established
his own business
Stresemann
1907; elected as a National Liberal candidate in poor district of Saxony, aged 28
he became the youngest member of the Reichstag
1914; adopted an extremist nationalist stance in the First World War. Was a
member of the Navy League, became a propagandist for a ‘Greater Germany’
and supported the move to unrestricted submarine warfare
1917; became leader of National Liberal Party until its break-up in 1919
1918; was for harsh peaces terms in the settlement with Russia
1919; was denied membership of new Democratic Party, responded by founding
the German People’s Party (DVP). Was emotionally hostile towards the Republic
but decided that he could only make an effective political contribution within the
party system. Accepted Germany’s commitments under the Treaty of Versailles
1920; DVP benefitted from the prevailing Anti-Versailles sentiment and obtained
65 seats in the Reichstag
1921-22; led his part in condemning the murders of the Republican politician
Mathias Erzberger and Walter Rathenau. Also advocated firm legislation against
Right-Wing extremists.
The Weimar
Republic
November 1918; Weimar Republic proclaimed (created)
9th
Born into the throes of military defeat and social revolution
January 1919; National Assembly elected to draft a constitution
Government; members of the Assembly called Weimar Coalition, included the
SPD (German Democratic Party; Deutsche Demokratishce Partei – DDP) and the
Centre Party (Catholic)
Percentage of votes gained by coalition parties; 76.2%, suggested there was broad
support for the Republic
Percentage of votes against the coalition; 10.3% which was for the German
People’s Part (DVP) and the German National People’s Party (DNVP)
February 1919; Assembly selected the first President (Friedrich Ebert)
The President; was elected by popular direct ballot to a seven-year term and could
be re-elected
Article 48; the Emergency Clause gave the President the right to dissolve the
Reichstag, dismiss the Cabinet and veto Legislation (it was a way the President
could have absolute power and it was legal).
Weimar
Constitution
Here are the basics of the Weimar Constitution;
The President; elected every seven years
The Chancellor; appointed from the Reichstag by the President. But had to be
supported a majority of the Reichstag
The Reichstag; had proportional representation, parties got the same proportion
of seats as their proportion of votes
The German People; all adults can vote, all have equal rights
Article 48; President had power to do what he wanted essentially without having
to consult the Reichstag. But was meant to be used only in an Emergency
State Governments; each of the states in Germany (which
Was 36 after the end of World War One) had their own
governments still but they had reduced powers and
National Laws would overrule State Laws.
Strengths and Weaknesses of the
Weimar
Strengths
Weaknesses
All Germans had equal rights, including
the right to vote
Enemies of the Republic; in 1919 the
Republic had many enemies and it wasn’t
sensible to give equal rights to those who
wished to destroy the Republic
Proportional representation; made sure
that political parties were allocated seats
in Reichstag in proportion to their votes.
This was fair
Divided Government; because of
Proportional Representation no one party
could gain absolute power and small
parties were encouraged to run which
meant there could never be a strong
government
A Strong President; was necessary to
keep control of the government and to
protect the country in a crisis
Too much power; the President had too
much control so it was always possible
that he’d turn himself into a dictator
Each state had its own traditions; it was
right that they should keep some control
over their own affairs.
Hostility from the States; the states could
be hostile towards the nation government
and even try to overthrow it.
20th
Adolf
Hitler
April, 1888 at Braunau am Inn, Austria (Hungary)
Born;
Veteran of WWI; 1914 – was 26 years old, was a Lance Corporal, decorated three
times (Iron Cross: 1st and 2nd class, and Wound Badge). 1918 – was 30 years old,
embittered and in hospital from Mustard Gas attack
Joined Nazi Party in 1919; became leader in 1921 (after Anton Drexler)
Leader of National Socialist German Worker’s Party (NSDAP); Nazi Party for
short. Called himself ‘Führer’
Used charismatic speeches and propaganda to gain support
Was imprisoned for failed coup in Bavaria in 1923; Gained support by promoting
German nationalism, Anti-Semitism and Anti-Communism during trial
Wrote Mein Kampf (My Struggle) whilst in prison; published in 2 volumes in 1925
and 1926. Sold about 240’000 copies between 1925-34
Leader of Germany from 1933-1945; Chancellor from 1933-1945, and Head of State
(Führer) from 1934-1945. Was a Dictator
Wanted to establish a New World Order of absolute Nazi Germany hegemony in
Europe
Pursued a foreign policy with declared goals of seizing Lebensraum ‘living space’ for
Aryan people and directed state resources towards his goal
Included rearmament of Germany in 1939 and transformed Weimar into Third Reich
Died; 30th April 1945. Committed suicide in Berlin, Germany.
Munich Putsch & Hitler’s Trial
Around the same time as the problem in the Ruhr
Hitler thought he could walk into centre of Munich and take-over the state
8th November 1923; Hitler and SA stormed a public meeting of some of the heads of
Munich’s government and declared himself the leader of a new government
Next Day; marched from Beer Hall (Hitler’s base) over to the Bavarian War Ministry
but was stopped by wall of police and army
2 Minutes; police and army shot at the Nazis as they continued to march, 16 Nazis
were killed and Putsch lasted all of two minutes
Hitler fled and hid in Ernst Hanfstaengl’s home. Contemplated suicide before being
arrested roughly forty-eight hours after the failed Putsch
Charged with High Treason; during trial Hitler was able to talk for ages and turned
it into a propaganda stunt. Became known throughout Germany as a result
Prison Sentence of Five Years; instead of being sentenced to death Hitler was given a
five year sentence (at Landsberg Prison). Spent nine months in prison as on 20th
December 1924 he was pardoned and released
In the Pen; whilst inside Hitler had brilliant accommodations and many liberties
other inmates didn’t. Was allowed unlimited supply of visitors, walks on the grounds
etc.
The Occupation of the
The Ruhr was one of the most economically productive areas of Germany Ruhr
and when
Germany defaulted on it Reparations, French and Belgian troops marched into the
Ruhr and took control of it. Below is a basic summary of what happened before and
after.
1922, December; Germany failed to make a reparation payment
1923, January; Paris Conference tried to resolve the dispute but on 9th January the
Reparations Commission announced that Germany had deliberately defaulted on the
reparation payments
1923, 11th January; French and Belgian troops sent into the Ruhr and the
occupation devastated Germany’s economy and hyperinflation rose sharply, The
Chancellor at the time (Cuno) enacted Passive Resistance which crippled Germany
(workers in the Ruhr sabotaged machinery, flooded mines and refused to work)
1923, August; Early in 1923 the Dollar was worth 18’000 Marks but by August it was
worth 4’600’000 Marks
1923, November; Hyperinflation reached 4 billion Marks to the Dollar
1923, September; Stresemann ended Passive Resistance against the French in the
Ruhr
1923, October; New currency was introduced, the Rentenmark which was worth 1
billion Marks.
The Dawes
Plan
Stresemann managed to resolve the issue in the Ruhr by organising for a massive
loan from the USA which would be used to repay France and Great Britain as
well as to stabilise the German economy. Below is a basic diagram that shows how
the Dawes Plan worked;
The USA loaned Germany
money to help rebuild its
economy so that it could
continue to make the
reparation payments
USA
War Loans Repaid
Loans
Britain and
France
Germany
Reparations
Women in Weimar
Germany
Women in Weimar Germany had;
Freedom; they could do what they wanted (within reason)
Liberation in 1920s; meant they were allowed to work and such
Jobs; they were allowed to get a job
Education; were encouraged to have a good education, even go to Universities
Right to Smoke, Drink and Wear Make-Up; things that were never allowed for
women were permitted and accepted
More Relaxed Attitude to Sex; it wasn’t
considered to be as secretive as before Weimar
and birth control was frowned upon
Clubs and Jazz Bars; women began to
participate in American Swing Music.
Women in Nazi
Women in Nazi Germany were incredibly different to those ofGermany
Weimar Germany’s
women. They had;
No Freedom; everything they had been allowed to do prior to Nazi Germany was
revoked and they went back to being housewives
Children and Marriage; with the control of Germany the Nazis said the role of
women was for them to be child bearers and to marry a pure man
Mother’s Cross; depending on how many children a woman had she would get a
cross. Bronze if she had four children, Silver if she had six and Gold if she had eight
Marriage Loans; the government gave couples marriage loans so as to encourage
couples to get married (they thought this’d lead to an increase in the population of
racially-pure children)
Education; Nazis didn’t think that women needed a
university education so they encouraged them to stay at
home (the numbers of women attending university
declined)
3 Ks; Children, Church and Cooking/Kitchen. Nazi’s
said these were a woman’s main things in life apart from
total devotion to her husband.
Why Did People Vote For Hitler?
On the whole there were several reasons for why people voted for Hitler after World
War One. They are;
Propaganda (the manipulation of the media); radio broadcasts and newspapers were used
and manipulated (made to sound PRO-Nazi and ANTI-Marxist). Hitler had parades,
parties and marches when he was campaigning to try and convince people to vote for him
Anti-Semitism and Anti-Versailles; people who hated the Jews and the Treaty of Versailles
were drawn to Hitler as he linked Communism, Judaism and the Treaty together citing that
it was a plot to destroy the German people, he promised to make Germany great again
Mass Unemployment; after WWI unemployment in Germany rose sharply and was
catastrophic in 1933 (the Wall Street Crash), Hitler promised the people jobs and better
standards of living
A Divided Government; Weimar’s structure was flawed because no single party could gain
an overall majority so had to have coalitions (that sounds familiar this year) and Hitler
used this to his advantage. Told the people that the government couldn’t deliver on its
promises because it was so divided but that HE could deliver on his
Fear of Marxism (Communism); people were afraid of the Marxists getting to power since
industrialists and the rich would lose their money/wealth. Nazi party was like the ‘Fighter’s
against Communism’ gaining support from the middle and upper classes
Economic Crisis; people were afraid of the crisis getting worse, hyperinflation was already
bad and getting worse (banks had printing presses printing worthless money 24/7) so Hitler
promised them that he would fix the economy.
Nazi Ideology
The main parts of the Nazis ideals:
A Strong Germany; The Treaty of Versailles would be abolished and all
German-Speaking people united in ONE country
Führer; One Leader with all the power of the Heads of State and Military
Social Darwinism; The ARYAN people, the superior race
Autarky; Germany should be Economically Self-Sufficient
Germany in Danger; Protecting Germany from the KPD and Jews who had to be
destroyed.
Hitler’s
Promises
These are the things that Hitler promised the people:
Full Employment; promised the German people (the working class) that they
would have jobs
The Beauty of Work; set up the SdA to help Germans see that work was good
and that everyone who could work should work
One Pot Meal; said to the rich and upper class, don’t buy fancy foods on a
Friday, just make a stew with the leftovers as it’s cheaper
Re-armament; began in 1933. The idea of ‘guns
before butter’ to make Germany great meant she
needed a strong army
Autarky; the promise that Hitler would make
Germany totally self-sufficient, didn’t work.
Hitler’s Actions
And this is how Hitler gave the people what they wanted and what he did when
they were busy being happy:
Jobs; fired Jews and women to give their jobs to unemployed German men
Mass Work Schemes; unemployed men worked on Government run workschemes like building motorways (autobahns) which would be useful for when
Hitler started the War
One Pot Meal Diversion; used the One Pot Meal to sidetrack people so as to not
notice their actions or things that he did which were questionable
Re-armament of Germany; which made certain that they had the resources
needed for when Hitler attacked other
countries for ‘Lebensraum’ (living
space).
The Backstairs
Hitler’s rise to power and to the seat of the Chancellor was shrouded in Intrigue
mystery as he was
sworn in as Chancellor even though his support began to dwindle and decrease. This
strange occurrence has been explained through the Backstairs Intrigue; the details of
which are listed below.
April 1932; Hitler loses to Hindenburg in the Presidential Election
July 1932; Reichstag election, Nazis got 230 seats, the KPD got 89 seats. SA (Storm
Troopers/Brown Shirts) had approximately 2 million across the country, beat up
Communists and used intimidation in some places
August 1932; Hindenburg doesn’t like that many things about Hitler but offers him the
role of Vice-Chancellor which Hitler turns down (he wants real power) the megalomaniac
Previous Chancellors from 1930 up to 1932; Muller, Bruning, Papen and Schleicher
November 1932; Reichstag Elections, Nazis got 196 seats (-34) and KPD got 100 seats
(+11) Otto and Gregor Strausser relating to Nazi Party split (had a small effect, they
emphasized the socialist ideas of the party)
30th January, 1933; Hindenburg finally appoints Hitler as Chancellor. Rich
Industrialists, Army Generals and Bankers influenced Hindenburg’s decision to appoint
Hitler. Also Hindenburg’s son Oskar. The Army Generals feared the SA and its numbers
whilst the Bankers feared the Marxists.
1932 in
Detail
April; Hitler stood for President but lost out to Hindenburg who, at 85 years
of
age, was re-elected. Though the margin was close which identified Hitler as
being an actual contender to Hindenburg
May; the Fall of the Bruning Government. Frans von Papen was appointed
Chancellor after Bruning
July; Reichstag elections held. Nazis won 230 seats and became the largest party
in the Reichstag but still didn’t have an absolute majority so had to continue its
coalition
August; Hitler rejected the position of Vice-Chancellor.
He didn’t want to sit next to the powerful he wanted to
be the powerful
September; Reichstag dissolved again
November; Reichstag elections held. Nazi votes
declined to 196 seats. Papen government resigned
December; Von Schleicher appointed as Chancellor.
1933 in Detail
January; Schleicher’s government falls. Hitler is appointed as Chancellor on the 30th
with Papen as Vice-Chancellor
February; 27th, Reichstag Fire – law for the protection of people and state. 2nd,
Newspapers banned from reporting ‘false information’
March; Goebbels is appointed as Propaganda Minister. Reichstag elections were held
and the Enabling Act was passed as Centre-Party was for the Nazis (only Social
Democrats were against; Otto Wels) Nazis gained 288 seats on 5th March
April; Jewish children restricted entry into German schools. First boycott of Jewish
shops (1st) abandoned after one day. The people weren’t anti-Semitic enough to be
alright with it
May; the Trade Unions were abolished. Hitler gave the workers a bank holiday and
when workers at the Trade Unions went back to work the next day they found their
offices occupied by SA troops. Also, a mass-burning of ‘Non-German’ literature was
carried out
June; all Political Parties banned. SS assume control of the concentration camps
(most of them contain political prisoners)
July; Nazi Party becomes the only legal party in Germany. Hitler signs a concordant
with Pope to protect the Roman Catholic Church in Germany as long as the Church
didn’t interfere with politics
November; Reichstag elections held with Nazi Party winning every seat.
1934 in
Detail
January; all German states were abolished making Germany one, single state.
This meant that there were no local governments to contend with the national
government
April; Himmler was appointed head of the Gestapo due to SS members being the
Gestapo top-officers
June; Night of the Long Knives. SS are no longer a part of the SA and Ernst
Röhm is executed
August; President Hindenburg dies (19th). Hitler
combines officers of President and Chancellor,
makes him the most powerful man in Germany
and an absolute dictator. German Army carry
out the Oath of Allegiance to Hitler personally.
Night of the Long
SA (Sturm Abteilung); ran by Ernst Röhm who’s known Hitler since 1923 (Munich
Putsch)
Knives
Nicknamed Brown Shirts; wore brown uniforms and alternatively known as Storm
Troopers (like Star Wars)
Had 1-2 million young, violent men in SA and many were used in brawls with the KPD
The SA was Hitler’s private Army but it was wild, violent and undisciplined. The real Army
hated it because of the lack of discipline
30th June 1934; (in countryside outside of Munich) Hitler sacrifices Röhm to appease the
Army and gain its support
Purge of major opponents; approximately 80 in major positions across Germany were
killed
SS leaders (Himmler/Heidrich) made up Röhm take-over plot which had no proof and
convinced Hitler of Röhm ’s betrayal
Röhm was arrested on the morning of the 30th June and was placed in a prison cell where he
was given a pistol with a single bullet and told to shoot himself. When he did not do this the
SS soldiers who had arrested him returned and shot him through the head
After this the SS now had total control of the SA and so had more power which made its
leaders happy
Compared to the SA, the SS were the elite, well-educated, blue-eyed and blonde-haired
Germans (known as the Schutzstuffel)
A letter was written to Hitler by General Blomberg (leader of the Army) who commemorated
Hitler for his actions.
War Propaganda; 19331936
1933:
Adolf Hitler was an Anti-Semite since Vienna (common belief)
‘The Longest Hatred’ (Anti-Semitism); don’t know exactly when he became an
anti-Semite or how
500’000 Jews settled in Germany; less than 1% of the overall population
April 1st; mass boycott of Jewish shops. Abandoned after only one day, people
weren’t impressed
Hitler had to tone down his Anti-Semitism (didn’t talk about Jews in his speeches
anymore)
1935-36:
Nuremberg Laws; German Nationality. Jews can’t marry Germans
‘Jews Not Welcome’; signs went up throughout Germany banning Jews from
public places
Berlin Olympics; Anti-Semitism was repressed and Hitler wanted the Olympics to
show how great Germany was (wasn’t happy with Jesse Jackson as a result).
War Propaganda; 19381945
1938-39:
Reichkristalnacht; Night of the Broken Glass
All Jews have to add forename Sara or Israel to their names
September ‘39; Germany invade Poland (mass execution of Jewish Leaders and
Men)
1941-1945:
Final Solution; Holocaust. Called ‘Shoah’ (meaning ‘calamity/catastrophe’). 6
million Jews as well as Gypsies, Jehovah’s Witnesses, disabled, homosexuals and
others were murdered
Auschwitz; in Poland. Largest concentration camp. Auschwitz-I and Auschwitz-II.
1.1 million Jews executed there
Dachau; the prototype for all concentration camps
June 1941; Germany invades Russia.
Nazi
Olympic Games; 1936 Berlin highlighted German PridePropaganda
Josef Goebbels; brilliant speaker, propagandist and had a doctorate. He was
intelligent and manipulative
Newspapers; Volkischer Beöbachter (only newspaper in Germany) and Anti-Semitic
magazine (Dur Stürmer)
Posters, elections, marches/rallies, education and youth control
Anti-Semitism
Cheap Transistor Radios; 35 Rentenmark. 1939 - 80% population had radios in cars
and homes (constant propaganda)
Economic Recovery; rise in employment ‘All Hitler’s Work that’s all you need to
know’
Foreign Policy; Rhineland taken back in 1936 and Austria incorporated into
Germany in 1938
Cinema; ‘Triumph of the Will’ movie which highlighted German Pride and how
Hitler was doing Germany good.
Controlling
Germany
GESTAPO:
Ge; Secret
Sta; State
Po; Police
SECRET STATE POLICE
Arrests/trials; arrested people who were outspoken against Hitler and Nazi Party
Imprisonment; political prisoners were arrested and imprisoned in Camps
Denunciation; relied on neighbours snitching on each other
Concerned about Young People; had a lot of power (Eidelweiss Pirates, White Rose)
Understaffed; didn’t have a lot of people in them, SS members in charge
SS:
Nazi Elite; weren’t like SA, were intelligent and racially-pure
Schutzstuffel
Black Uniforms; looked more professional and important unlike SA, brown uniforms
Highly Educated; many had university degrees and doctorates
Himmer/Heidrich; the leaders of the SS
Anti-Semitism; main thing, hatred of Jews was rampant in its ranks
Political Operations; controlled the Concentration Camps and other things
Military; had a lot of control over the German Army, took lead in some places.
Controlling Germany’s
Youth
SUCCESS:
Indoctrinated young Germans with Nazi values
Controlled school curriculum; maths curriculum was distorted to show social
examples
War shown as a positive thing
Boys turned into soldiers, girls to wives and mothers
Make children more Anti-Semitic; had more of an effect on younger children
Nazi Teaching Association
Hitler Youth (Hitler Jugend; H.J); baby Nazis (Little Fellows). Parades (7:30-9:30
in the evenings)
League of German Maidens
Weekend/Summer Camps; had passwords like ‘Adolf Hitler’
Physical Exercise; believed in the youth being physically and mentally fit
FAILURE:
White Rose; Hans and Sophie School part of resistance group. Executed in February
1943
Swing Groups; low level resistance to Nazi Culture
Eidelweiss Pirates; wore Eidelweiss badges (flower) and distinctive clothes. Good for
alienated youth opposed to regimental nature of Hitler Youth.
Events Leading up to the
Holocaust
April 1933; Boycott of Jewish shops, abandoned after one day
1st
1935; Nazi Party rallies and speeches against Jews
9th June 1938; Munich’s largest Synagogue is pulled down
25th July 1938; New restrictions on Jewish doctors
17th August 1938; All Jews have to put ‘Sara’ or ‘Israel’ in their names
27th September 1938; Jewish lawyers forbidden to practice
28th October 1938; Deportation of 17’000 Jews of Polish nationality to Poland
7th November 1938; Jewish refugee in Paris shoots German diplomat. Goebbels uses
this to fuel nationwide attack against Jews in Germany
9th-10th November 1938; Reichkristalnacht. 91 murders of Jews, burning of 191
synagogues, ransacking of over 7’000 Jewish shops and 30’000
Jews arrested and imprisoned. Planned by Goebbels who was in
trouble with Hitler so thought this would impress him.
Events of the
Holocaust
1941:
Germany invades Russia; Einsatzgruppen (mobile SS units; action squads) advance
into Russia and start to execute Russian Jews
Mid-August; Executions of Jewish children in Russia begins
1st September; Jews wear yellow Star of David on sleeves. Same month 33’371 Jews
murdered by Einsatzgruppen at Babi Yar
14th October; Jews in Germany moved to ghettos in Poland (Warsaw ghetto)
15th October – 11th November; 20 trains leave Germany carrying Jews to Lodz
December; First use of Gas Vans in executing Jews (Chelmno, Poland). Auschwitz
and Auschwitz-Birkenau – the execution of nearly 1 million Jews
1942:
July; Mass executions begin at Treblinkain, Poland.
800’000 Jews killed by august 1943under the
administration of just 50 Germans and 150
Ukrainians
By end of war about 6 million Jews had been
executed at the Concentration and Death Camps
that the Nazis created.