Download Weimar and Nazi Germany

WeimarandNaziGermany
ForyourGermanyexam,youneedtomakesureyoucananswerkeyquestionsindetail.
Youmustbeabletoexplain:
-theproblemsfacedbytheWeimargovernmentimmediatelyafterWWI
-whytheNaziscouldnothavecometopowerinthe1920s
-whyHitlerbecameChancellor
-howHitlerbecameDictator
-whatimpacttheNazishadonlifeinGermany
-theimpactWWIIhadontheNazis
Foreachthingwehavestudied,thereisadetailedversionofyourclassnotes.Torevise
contentforNaziGermany,highlightthemainpointsofeachsection,theeffectonthe
governmentatthetimeandtheeffectontheNazis.
WEIMARREPUBLIC
1918 EndofWWI(Nov)
1919
1920
1923
1924
1925
1926
1929
1932
SpartacistRising(Jan)
TreatyofVersailles(June)
KappPutsch(Jan)
Hyperinflation
OccupationoftheRuhr(Jan)
StresemannbecomesChancellor(Aug)
Rentenmarkintroduced(Oct)
MunichPutsch(Nov)
StresemannmadeForeignMinister
DawesPlan(April)
LocarnoTreaty(Oct)
HindenburgelectedPresident
GermanyinLeagueofNations
YoungPlan
Stresemanndies
WallStreetCrash(Oct)
Nazisbecomethebiggestsingleparty
(July)
NAZIGERMANY
1933 Hitler
becomesChancellor(Jan)
ReichstagFire(Feb)
EnablingAct(March)
Otherpartiesbanned(July)
BoycottofJewishshops
1934 NightoftheLongKnives(June)
Hindenburgdies(Aug)
Armyoath(Aug)
Hitlerbecomesdictator(Aug)
1935 ReichLawonCitizenship
LawfortheProtectionofGerman
BloodandHonour
1936 CompulsorytojoinHitlerYouth
BerlinOlympics
1938 Kristallnacht(Nov)
JewsbannedfromGermanschools
1939 T4starts
OutbreakofWWII(Sept)
1942 WannseeConference(Aug)
1944 OperationValkyrie(July)
1945 Hitlerdies
EndofWWII(Sept)
WhatproblemsweretheWeimargovernmentfacing?And
howdidHitlerbecomeChancellorin1933?
November1918–WWIends
AfterKaiserWilhelmabdicatedandfledtoHolland,anarmisticetoendWWIwas
agreedbetweenGermanyandtheallies.ThiswashardforGermanytotakeastheir
fortuneshadchangedsoquickly.TheKaiserhadledGermanstobelievethattheywere
winningthewar.ThemenwhosignedthearmisticewereknownastheNovember
Criminalsandhated.TheGermansclaimedtheyhadbeen‘stabbedintheback’.The
headofthedelegation,MatthiasErzberger,wasassassinatedinAugust1921for
signingthearmistice.
TheWeimarRepublicwasformedunderFreidrickEbert,thefirstdemocratically
electedleaderofGermany,andtheSocialDemocrats.Thegovernmenthadtobe
formedinWeimar,atownawayfromBerlin,becauseBerlinwastoodangerous.
January1919–SpartacistUprising
SpartacistswantedarevolutionsimilartotheCommunistRevolutionin1917inRussia
(theviolencethathadgonewiththerevolutioninRussiamademostofEurope
terrifiedofCommunism).TheuprisingwasleadbyRosaLuxembourgandKarl
Leibknecht.On5thJanuary,thegroupcapturedthegovernmentnewspaperand
telegraphinBerlin.Theystruggledtogetsupportandwereeasilycrushedbythe
Freikorps(agroupofex-soldiers,demobilisedafterWWI,thatthegovernmentused
likeamilitia).Theleaderswerearrested,interogatedandmurdered.Afterthe
uprising,theFreikorpswereusedtocrushotherCommunistuprisingsacrossGermany.
June1919–TreatyofVersaillessigned
Germanyforcedbythealliestosigna'diktat'(dictatedpeace)topunishthemfor
startingWWI.Itwas‘dictated’becauseGermandelegatesweren’tinvitedtothe
discussions,theywerejustforcedtosignthetreaty.
Mainterms:
Land-lose13%oflandwith6mpeoplelivingonit,lostalloverseascolonies,AlsaceLorraine(giventoFrance)andthePolishCorridor,10%ofindustryand15%of
agriculturallandlost
Army-armylimitedto100000soldiers,navyto15000sailors,6battleships,no
submarinesorairforce
Money-pay£6600milliontothealliestorebuildafterWWI
Blame-Article231blamedGermanyforstartingWWI,thiswashatedbytheGerman
people,whodidn’tbelievethattheyhadstartedthewaratall.
HitlerhatedthetreatyandrepeatedlypromisedtoripitupandmakeGermanygreat
again.
March1920–KappPutsch
SoldierswholosttheirjobsundertheTreatyofVersaillesjoinedtheFreikorps.The
GermangovernmenttriedtodisbandtheFreikorpsaftertheystartedtoexceedthe
numberoftroopsGermanywasallowedtohave.ThiscausedWolfgangKapptomarch
intoBerlinwiththeFreikorpsanddeclareanewgovernment.Thegovernmentasked
forhelpfromtheworkers,whowentongeneralstrike(everyworkergoesonstrike).
Thiscausedtheputschtocollapsefourdaysafteritstarted.Theleaderswerenot
punished.
June1922–Rathenauassassinated
GermanyexperiencedpoliticalviolenceafterWWIintheformofputschesand
assassinations,allofwhichmadethegovernmentlookweak.In1922,theGerman
foreignminister,WalterRathenau,wasassassinatedbyanultra-nationalistgroup.
January1923–OccupationoftheRuhr
Reparationshadbeensetin1921butin1923,Germanycouldnotaffordtopaytheir
reparationspaymentsoFrenchandBelgiantroopsinvadedtheindustrialregionof
Germany,theRuhr,intendingtoensuretheygottheirmoney.TheGermanworkers
respondedwithpassiveresistance,apolicyofrefusingtocooperatewiththetroops
andrefusingtowork.Thefactoriesstoppedworkingandthegovernmentpromisedto
keeppayingthewagesofthemennolongerworking,causingevenmorefinancial
problems.
January1923–Hyperinflation
TheGermangovernmentcouldnotpaythepeoplestrikingintheRuhrwhentheywere
gettingnomoneyfromtradinggoodsfromthefactories,sotheystartedtoprintmore.
Thiscausedhyperinflation,whenthevalueofthemoneydecreasesandcostofthings
likefoodincrease.Theeffectwasdevastating,moneywasworthlesssopeople
barteredandthevalueofmoneywassounpredictablethatworkerswerepaidtwicea
dayandoftenpickeduptheirwagesinwheelbarrows.Peoplewholivedontheir
savings(likepensioners)andthemiddleclasseswhoownedbusinesseshadalltheir
moneywipedout.Thoseindebtcouldpaytheirdebtsoffforafractionofthevalue.
Thiscausedalotofpeopletolosefaithinthegovernment.
August1923–StresemannbecomesChancellor
StresemannbecameChancellorin1923andstartedaperiodofstabilityinGermany.
Hecalledoffpassiveresistanceeventhoughthepublicthoughtheshouldhave
continuedandgottheworkersbackintothefactories.HeintroducedtheRentenmark
andsignedtheDawesandYoungPlansandgotGermanyintotheLeagueofNations.
HewasnotChancellorforlong,butstoodasForeignMinisteruntil1929andcontinued
tobeastabilisinginfluenceonGermany,effectivelystoppingextremepartieslikethe
Nazisfromgainingsupport.AsForeignMinister,hesignedtheLocarnoPact,which
guaranteedthebordersofEuropeancountries,effectivelymakingthempromisenotto
invadeeachother,makingGermanymoretrustworthytotheirEuropeanneighbours.
8/9thNovember1923–MunichPutsch
TheNaziPartyattemptedtotakeoverthegovernmentaftertheWeimargovernment
announcedthatpassiveresistancewastoend.HitlerwantedtotakeoverBavariaand
thenmarchtoBerlinwithhissupportersasMussolinihadinItaly,soplottedwithtwo
nationalistpoliticianstodoso.Kahr(theleaderofBavariaandoneoftheplotters)
calledofhimandHitler’splanatthelastminute.On8thNovember,Kahrwasmakinga
speechinabeerhallwhenHitlerandhissupportersstormedin.Karhagreed,atgun
point,tosupportHitler.HitlerletKahrgo,whoinformedthepolice.On9thNovember,
theNazisstartedmarchingoutofMunichbutweremetbyarmedpolicewhoshot16
NazisandarrestedHitler.Heusedthetrialasapublicitystuntandmadehimselfbetter
known.Hitlerwassentencedto5yearsinLandsbergprison,butonlyserved7months,
duringwhichhewastreatedreallywell.Whilstinprison,hewroteMeinKampfandas
theNaziPartywasthenbanned,workedouthowtogetthembackontrack.He
decidedtogofor‘theballotnotthebullet’–bevotedintopowerratherthan
storminghiswayinwithviolence.Theputschwasashort-termfailurebutalong-term
success.
November1923–Rentenmarkintroduced
Theoldmoneywasscrappedandburntandanewcurrencyintroduced.The
governmentcontrolledtheamountofmoneyincirculationandstopped
hyperinflation.Thepeoplewhohadlostmoneyduringhyperinflationwerenot
compensated.
September1924–DawesPlan
PlansignedtosetGermany'sreparationspaymentsandmakethemmoremanageable.
TheAmericanslentmoneytoGermanytoboosttradeandindustryandensuretheir
reparationscouldbepaid.TheplanalsoinstructedthealliestoleavetheRuhr.This
wasabrilliantshort-termsolutiontoGermany’sproblemsbutmadeGermanyvery
reliantontheAmericaneconomy.
November1928–election
HitlerjoinedthatNaziPartyin1919andbecametheleaderin1921.Afterhewas
releasedfromprison,hechangedthewaytheyworked.HeusedtheSAtobreakup
meetingsofpoliticalrivals,protectimportantNazisandhandoutpropagandaleaflets.
Inthe1928election,mostworkerssupportedtheSocialDemocratsbecauseof
Stresemann’spolicies.Theyreceived3%oftheoverallvote,theydon’thavethe
supportoftheworkingclass,GermanyisstableandthepeoplearescaredbyHitler’s
anti-SemiticideasandbytheSA.
August1929–YoungPlan
ReducedtheamountofmoneyGermanyhadtopayinreparationstomakesurethey
couldpay.
October1929–Stresemanndies
Diedofastroke.Germanylostitsstabilisinginfluence.
October1929–WallStreetCrash
Germanyhadborrowed800millionmarksfromtheUSAundertheDawesPlan.When
AmericaneededthemoneybackwhenWallStreetcrashed,Germanywentintoan
economicdepression.TheChancellorcutwagesandraisedtaxestotrytostop
hyperinflation,somethingthepeoplehated.Businessescollapsed,youngpeopleand
factoryworkersbecameunemployedandthegovernmentcutunemployment
benefits.Theworsethingsgot,thelessmoneypeoplehadtospendandsothe
situationcontinuedtogetworse.Peoplebegantosupportextremepartiessuchasthe
NazisandCommunistsastheWeimargovernmentfailedtosolvetheproblem.People
alsorememberedhyperinflation,bothoftheseeventsshowedthattheWeimar
governmentcouldn’tbereliedupon.
July1932–elections
TheNazisbecomethesinglebiggestpartyintheReichstag,winning230seats.Hitler
usestherunuptotheelectiontousenewtechnologybyflyingtoparadegroundsto
givespeechesunderHitlerOverGermany.Thislooksimpressiveandgetshimlotsof
publicity.TheNazismakealotofpromisestotheGermanpeople.Theypromiseto
makeGermanygreatagain,toovercometheTreatyofVersaillesandtodealwiththe
threatfromtheCommunistparty.Theyoftenmakeconflictingpromises,promising
farmersmoremoneyfortheircropsandthepeoplelowerfoodprices.
November1932–elections
TheNazislost34seatsastheCommunistsgained11.TheNaziswerestillthelargest
partyintheReichstagbutweredisappointednottogainanoverallmajority,which
wouldhavemadeHitlerChancellorautomatically.TheSAlosttheNazissupportas
theywereseenasthugscausingtrouble.
30thJanuary1933–HitlerbecomesChancellor
Hindenburgdidn'twantHitlertobeChancelloreventhoughhehadthemostseatsin
theJuly1932elections(noonewouldworkunderhim),sohemadeFranzvonPapen
Chancellor.HehadnosupportandHitlerrefusedtocooperatesoHindenburgcalled
theNovemberelections.GeneralvonSchleicherpersuadesHindenburgtomakehim
Chancellor.VonSchelichercan'traiseenoughsupporttokeephispositionandhasto
resign.Hindenburgcan'treappointvonPapensoHitlerismadeChancellorandvon
PaperViceChancellor.HindenburgwronglybelieveshecancontrolHitler.Hitler
becametheChancellorandtheleaderofthelargestpartyintheReichstag,making
PresidentHindenburgtheonlypersonwhocouldvetohisdecisions.
EXAMHELP!
Youobviouslycan’twriteaboutallthatinanexamanswer,sowhichonesarethemost
important?Underlinethemostimportantlong-termexampleandthemostimportant
short-termexample.MakesureyouexplainhoweachhelpedHitlertobecomemore
popular.
HowdidHitlerbecomeDictator?
HitlerbecameChancellorbutdidn'thaveanoverallmajorityintheReichstag.He
arrangedtoholdanotherelectionon5thMarchanduppedhisuseofpropagandato
getmorevotes.
ReichstagFire-27thFebruary1933
ADutchCommunistcalledMarinusvanderLubbewascaughtinsidethebuildingand
arrested.HitlerusedittopersuadeGermanythatthefirewasaCommunistplotand
thattheCommunistsweregoingtotakeoverGermany.Thatnight,4000Communist
leaderswerearrestedandimprisoned.Thenextday,HitlerpersuadedHindenburgto
givehimemergencypowerstosuspendfreedomofspeech,assemblyandthepressso
hecouldstoptheCommunists.HindenburgbelievedHitlerandpassedtheLawforthe
ProtectionofPeopleandStatewhichgaveHitlerthelegalbasisforhisruleandmeant
theNaziscouldcrushtheCommunists.Itsaid:
-theNazicontrolledpolicehadthepowertosearchhouses
-thepolicecouldholdpeopleindefinitely,withouttrial
-thedeathpenaltywasusedformorecrimes
-meetingsandnewspaperwereshutdown
-politicalopponents,like4000Communists,werearrestedbytheSAandtakenaway
toconcentrationcamps
-theNazipolicetookcontrolofstateradio
AftertheReichstagFire,thousandsofpoliticalopponentswerearrestedand
Communistsmeetingsandnewspaperswereshutdown.Emergencylawsareonly
supposedtostayforafewmonthsbutthesestayedfor12yearsandbecamethebasis
forHitler'srule.Thefirewassoconvenientthathistorianshavesuggestedthatthe
Nazisstartedthefirethemselves,withaseniorGeneralreportingthatGoerring
confessedtostartingthefire.
Elections-5thMarch1933
TheseelectionsgavetheNazismoreseatsintheReichstagastheyusedthepoliceand
SAtostoptheiropposition.OnlytheNazishadbeenallowedtocampaignbeforethe
electionandpoliticalopponentshadbeenroundedupandimprisoned,andinthecase
oftheCommunists,couldbeshot.Manyopponentswentintoexile.TheNazisusedthe
radiotobroadcasttheirpropagandaandanti-Communistmessage.Onelectionday,
theNazisusedtheSAandpolicetointimidatevotersbywatchingovertheirshoulders
astheyfilledintheirballotslips.However,theystilldidnothaveamajorityand
neededacoalition.HitlerpersuadedtheNationalistPartytojointheNazis,givingthem
justoverhalfoftheseatsintheReichstag,andthemajorityHitlerneeded.Atthesame
time,usinghisemergencypowers,hebannedtheCommunistsfromservinginthe
ReichstagandpiledpressureonotherpartiessuchastheSocialDemocratstosupport
him.
EnablingAct-2ndMay1933
WhatHitlernowwantedwasalawthatwouldmeanhedidn'thavetoaskthe
Reichstag'spermissiontopasslawsandallowhimtobecomeadictator.Todothis,he
neededtochangetheconstitution(lawsofthecountry),whichcouldonlybedone
withthebackingof2/3oftheReichstag.HealreadyhadroughlyhalfoftheReichstag's
backing,butheneededmore.
TheReichstagwereduetomeetattheKrollOperaHouse(astheReichstagbuilding
hadburntdown).Hitlerusedthismeetingtointimidatehisoppositionbyposting
supportersoutsideshouting'wewantanEnablingAct'andinsultingmembersof
oppositionparties.HitlerfilledtheKrollOperaHousewitharmedSAandSSmen,
coveringtheexitsandthreateningthemeniftheyvoicedanyoppositiontoHitler
speaking.TheCommunistsweren'tallowedtovoteandtheCatholicCentrePartywere
persuadedtovoteinfavouroftheEnablingActbecauseHitlerpromisedtoprotectthe
CatholicChurch.AllpartiesapartfromtheSocialDemocratsgaveintoNazipressure
andtheEnablingActwaspassed94votesto444.TheActmeanttheReichstaghad
voteditselfoutofexistenceandgivenalltheirpowertoHitler,whocouldpasslaws
withoutconsultingtheReichstag.WhenevertheReichstagmetfromthenon,theyonly
mettohearHitlerspeak.
TradeUnionsbanned-2ndMay1933
HitlerusedhisnewpowersfromtheEnablingActtobringthecountryintoline,this
wastherapidchangethatiscalledtheNaziRevolution.On2ndMay,theNazisbroke
intotradeunionofficesalloverGermanyandarrestedthetradeunionleaders.Allthe
tradeunionswerethenmergedundertheDAF,theGermanLabourFront,whichwas
controlledbytheNazis.ThismeanttheNaziscouldimposewhateverworking
conditionstheylikedandcontrolworkersinGermany.
Allpartiesbanned-July1933
On10thMay,theNazistookovertheSocialDemocrats,theonlypartystillwillingto
standuptothem.TheydestroyedtheSocialDemocratnewspaperandtookalltheir
money.Twoweekslater,theytookallthemoneytheCommunistPartyowned.Other
smallerpartieshadthesamethingdonetothemandwerebrokenup,leavingonlythe
Nazis.On14thJuly,HitlerpassedalawthatallowedonlytheNaziPartytoexistin
Germanyandbanningandotherpartiesfromformingasopposition.Thismeantthere
wasnopoliticaloppositionleft.
NightoftheLongKnives-29/30thJune1934
Hitlerhadremovedallofhisopposition,hisonlyrivalswereleftinsidehisownparty.
HehadbecomeworriedabouttherisingpoweroftheSA,especiallyintheincreasing
popularityoftheirleader,Rohm.TheSAwere2500brownshirtswhobrokeup
politicalmeetingsandcausedproblemsonthestreets.Theywereundisciplinedand
wantedtobenefitfromtheirloyaltytoHitlerbybeinggivenjobsandpowerful
positions.Rohmalsowantedtotakeoverthearmy.Rohmwaspopularamongstthe
NazisandoneofHitler'sfriends.ThismadehimapotentialsuccessortoHitlerand
madeHitlerworriedthatRohmmighttrytoousthim.Thiswouldbearealpossibilityif
Rohmwasallowedtotakeoverthearmy.
Thearmy,ontheotherhand,wereasmallorganisationwithonly100000menafter
theTreatyofVersailles,buttheystillhadthepowertooverthrowHitlerandwerewell
trainedanddisciplined.Thearmywassupportedbypowerful,rich,businessmen,who
wantedtobuynewweaponsandexpandthearmy.Thearmyandthearmygenerals
didnotwanttoberuledbyRohmanddidn'tlikethewaytheSAusedviolence.When
hehadbecomeChancellor,Hitlerhadpromisedthearmygeneralsthathewouldrip
uptheTreatyofVersaillesandknewhewasgoingtohavetogotowarwithFranceto
dothis.Althoughalotofthearmygeneralsdislikedhim,theywentalongwithit.
So,on29th/30thJune,SAleadersweredraggedtoNaziheadquartersandshoton
Hitler'sorders.Inthenextweek,hundredsofotherSAleadersandHitler'srivals,such
asex-ChancellorvonSchleicher,wereexecuted.Rohmwasarrestedandwhenhe
refusedtocommitsuicide,wasshot.
TheNightoftheLongKniveswasimportantbecauseitshowedthatHitlerwasnot
goingtoletanyonestandinhisway,notevenhisownparty.Healsogainedthe
supportofthearmyandremovedthelastofthepotentialoppositionwithinhisparty.
Hindenburgdies-2ndAugust1934
Withinhoursof87yearoldPresidentHindenburgdying,Hitlercombinedhispostof
ChancellorwithHindenburg'spostofPresidenttobecomeFuhrer.Hewasthenhead
ofthegovernmentwithnoPresidenttotellhimwhattodo.
ArmyOath-August1934
AfterHindenburg'sdeath,everysoldierintheGermanarmysworepersonalloyaltyto
Hitler.ThismeantthearmyhadswornallegiancetohimratherthanGermanyandwith
theirobedienceanddiscipline,werenotgoingtobreakit.ThisalsomadeHitler
SupremeCommanderofthearmedforces.
EXAMHELP!
YoumaybeaskedtocomparetwooftheeventsasthemostimportantbehindHitler’s
consolidationofpower.Makesureforeacheventyoucan:
-describewhattheyare
-explainhowtheyhelpedHitlergainmorepower
Youwillthenneedtowriteaconclusionexplainingwhyoneismoreimportantthanthe
other.
Forexample:
‘TheEnablingActwasmoreimportantthantheReichstagFireinHitler’sconsolidation
ofpower.’Explainwhetheryouagreeordisagreewiththisview.
TheEnablingActwas…
ItwasimportanttoHitler’sconsolidationofpowerbecause…
TheReichstagFirewas…
ItwasimportanttoHitler’sconsolidationofpowerbecause…
Themostimportantofthetwowas………………………………because...
NaziGermanybeforeWWII
Hitler’sideas
• Nationalism–astrongGermany
• Socialism–statetocontroltheeconomy,althoughHitlerdidnotseethisasso
important(didnotwanttoupsetbigbusiness)
• Race–Aryanswerethemostsuperior,JewsandSlavsthemostinferior
• War–inevitablesoitwasimportanttokeepAryanshealthy
• Lebensraum–LivingspaceforGermancolonistsintheconqueredlandofthe
East
• Leadership–oneleaderwhomadeallthedecisions(dictatorship),democracy
wasseenasweak.
Theeconomy
Hitler’saimsfortheeconomywere:reducingtheunemploymentfigures(6mwhenhe
cametopower),buildingupthemilitarytomakeGermanystrongagain,beselfsufficientincaseofwar(inWWI,BritishblockadeshadnearlystarvedGermany).
NewPlan(1933-1935)–HjalmarSchacht,atalentedeconomistandPresidentofthe
Germannationalbank,wasgoingtocontrolthelevelofimports,maketrade
agreements,spendmoneyonindustryandreduceunemploymentbygetting
unemployedpeopletobuildnewmotorwaysandhospitals,compulsorylabour,
conscriptionandsackingJewsandoppositiongroupsfromtheirjobs.Theplanworked
upuntil1936whenHitlerannouncedhewantedtorearmfasterandsackedSchacht.
FourYearPlan(1935-1939)–SchachtwasreplacedbyGoerring,theheadoftheair
force,whohadnoeconomicexperience.Hisaimwastoprepareforwarbyrearming
andmakingGermanyself-sufficient(autarky).Heincreasedtheproductionofraw
materialsthatwereneededtorearmoverproducingfood(ArmsNotButter),reduced
imports,controlledwages,useforcedlabourtobuildnewindustrialplants.Theplan
wasn’tsuccessfulbecausethegovernmentwerestillrelyingonimportsfromother
countriesforbasicsurvival,somefoodwasstillrationedandtheydidn’thaveenough
rawmaterials.
TheNazisalsotriedtochangethewayworkersworkedtomakesuretheywereloyal
(manyworkingclasspeoplehadvotedforsocialistparties).Theybannedtradeunions
andinsteadintroducedneworganisations:
DAF(DeutscheArbeitsfront)–builtnewmotorways,hospitalsandschools.Theyalso
settledconflictbetweenworkersandtheirbosses.
BeautyofLabour–partoftheDAF,usedtocampaignforbetterworkingconditions
StrengthThroughJoy–partoftheDAF,organisedworkers’freetimebyarranging
activitiesandholidays
ReichLabourService(RAD)–all18-25yearoldmenhadtodosixmonthsworkduty,it
washardandpoorlypaid,theyoftenhadtoplanttreesanddigditches
Youngmenalsohadtodotwoyearsmilitaryservicewhentheyturned18.Increasing
thesizeofthearmyfrom100000to1.4m.
TheNazisalsoworkedtogainthesupportofeconomicgroups:
Smallbusinesses–benefitedfromNazirulebecauselawswerepassedtostopnew
departmentstoresfromopening,Jewishbusinesseswerecloseddown
Farmers–benefitedbecausefoodpricesincreased,buttheyhatedbeinggiven
governmentquotasandalotoftheirlabourforcelefttoworkintowns
Bigbusiness–benefitedbecausetheymademoneyfromrearmamentandtrade
unionswerebanned,butthegovernmentdecidedwhattheyshouldmakeandwho
shouldgetrawmaterials
Unskilledworkers–wereputtoworkongovernmentbuildingprojects,somehated
thejobstheyweregivenandtheworkwashardandpoorlypaid,butsomewerehappy
tobeabletoworkandthegovernmentstartedtobuildcheapflatsforthemtolivein.
However,duringNazirule,workershadnorights,theirwageswerelowerthanbefore
theNaziscametopowerandtheyworkedlongerhours.Peoplewhorefusedtotake
partincompulsoryworkcouldendupinaworkcamp.
Youngpeople
HitlerwantedtomakesurethathegothisthousandyearReich.Todothishe
controlledthenextgeneration.SchoollifechangedforGermanchildren.Their
teachersbecameapartoftheNaziTeachers’AssociationandtaughttheNazi
curriculum.Thosethatdidn’tconformweresacked.Subjectswerechanged:
PEwasgivenmoretimeandsportssuchasboxingencouragedtoprepareboysforthe
armyandwerecompulsory.PupilshadtopassanexaminPE.
HistoryconcentratedonhowGermanybecameaNazistate,theinjusticesoftheend
ofWWIandtheroleoftheCommunistsandJewsintheGermanstate.Nohistoryfrom
beforeWWIorfromanothercountrywastaught.
BiologybecameawaytorecogniseperfectAryanfeaturesandwhichpeoplethey
shouldbemarrying.
GermantaughtpupilsaboutheroesfromWWI.Teachersusedfairystoriestoexplain
theriseoftheNazis.ChildrenalsoanalysedspeechesandwritingsbyprominentNazis.
GeographyusedthelossoflandundertheTreatyofVersaillestoteachabouttheland
theNaziswantedback.ItalsotaughttheimportanceforanincreaseinLebensraum
(livingspace).
MathsbecameawayofteachingchildrenNaziideasthrougheconomics.Forexample,
pupilsmightbeaskedtoworkouthowmuchmoneyitwouldcosttokeepadisabled
personincare.
REbecamelessandlessimportantastheNazistriedtomoveGermanyawayfrom
organisedreligion.YoucoulddropREaltogetherfrom1937.
Girlswerealsotaughtskillsformotherhood,cooking,sewingandhowtochosea
suitablehusband(eugenics).
Therewerealsospecialschools.TheSSranNapolasforfuturegovernmentandarmy
chiefs.TherewerealsomilitaryAdolfHitlerSchools.Jewsweretreateddifferentlyin
schoolsfromAryanchildren.Theywerebroughttothefrontoftheclassandridiculed,
bannedfromcertainactivitiesand,eventually,bannedfromschoolsaltogether.
UniversitiescomplainedthatundertheNazis,academicstandardsfell.
Outsideofschool,childrenhadtheirfreetimeplanned.Youthmovementshadbeen
popularforalongtimeinGermanysoHitlertookovertheseorganisations.Inthe
1920s,HitlerformedtheHitlerYouthandencouragedyoungpeopletojoinup.By
1933,mostnon-Naziyouthgroupshadbeenshutdownandby1936itwascompulsory
tojointheHitlerYouth.By1939,80%ofGermanyoungpeoplebelongedtoaHitler
Youthorganisation.
TheHitlerYouthhadorganisationsforallyoungpeople:
ForBoys:
6-10Pimpf(LittleFellows)–lotsofcampingandgames.
10-14DeutschJungfolk(GermanYoungPeople)–learntaboutNazisandthearmy.
14-18HitlerJungend(HitlerYouth)–trainingforthearmy.
ForGirls:
10-14Jungmadel(YoungMaidens)–healthandhowtolookafterafamily.
14-21BundDeutscheMadel(LeagueofGermanMaidens)-moreonhealth,the
familyandchoosingagoodAryanhusband.
Itwasseentobelessimportantforgirlstogotoyouthgroupsthanboys,becausethey
weren’tbeingpreparedforthearmy.Toprepareboysforwar,theyweregivenintense
physicalassessmentsandgivenbraverytestslikejumpingoutoffirstfloorwindows.
Boyswerealsogivenasmartuniform,aknifeandtookpartinrallies.Theyweregiven
testsontheNazipartyandhadtoswearanoathofloyaltytoHitler,justlikethearmy
did.TheNazisusedthisoathofloyaltytoencourageyoungpeopletotellHitlerYouth
leadersiftheirparentswerebeingdisloyaltotheparty.
However,alotofyoungpeoplehatedtheHitlerYouthand20%neverjoined.Thetalks
theyweregivenwererepetitiveanddidn’tlikebeingbossedaroundormadetogoon
weekendsawaytocamp.
Women
Thepositionofwomenisn’talwaysstraightforwardbecausealotofNaziideas
contradictthemselves.TheNaziswantedmorechildrenfortheirfuture,sowomen
werereallyimportant.
ThebirthratehaddroppedbeforeHitlercametopowerbecausewomenwanted
careersandbecausecontraceptionwasgivenout.Hitlerincreasedthebirthrateby
controllingwomen’slives.Theyweresackedfromtheirjobs,offeredloanswhenthey
gotmarriedandhadchildren,givenmedalscalledtheHonourCrossoftheGerman
Mother(themedalswerehandedoutonHitler’smother’sbirthdayandyougotagold
medalifyouhad8children).Atthesametime,theNazisbroughtincompulsory
sterilisationforwomenwhocarriedgeneticdiseases.Theyalsoglorifiedtheimageof
theperfectwoman.Thiswomanwould:notwork,beblonde,athletic,wearing
traditionalclothesandflatshoes,notdyetheirhair,dietorsmoke,beagoodcook
whomadeupspecialstewofleft-oversonceamonth.Thesewomenwouldalsolove
theFuhrerandencouragetheirchildrentodothesame.Thebirthrateincreasedby
30%between1933and1936.
However,in1937,policiestowardswomenbecamemorecomplicated.TheNazis
discoveredthatintheprocessofrearming,theyneededwomentofillthejobsleftby
menjoiningthearmy.Thismeantthatmarriageloanswerescrappedandwomenhad
todoayearoflabourduty.Bytheoutbreakofwar,fewerwomenwereworkingthan
hadbeeninthe1920s.TheNazischangedthedivorcelawin1938tomakeiteasierto
divorcewomenwhocouldn’tproducechildren,orwhohadSTIs,evenifitwasgivento
thewomanbyherhusband.TheNazisevensetupLebensborn,wherepurewomen
couldgotoahomeandgivebirthtoapurebabybyanSSofficer.
SomewomenlikedthelifetheNazisencouraged.Theywereabletogetjobsifthey
wantedthemasemployerspreferredwomen,whowerepaidlessthanmen.Some
womenidolisedHitler,theywrotehimlettersandscreamedhisnameatrallies.
Terror
TheterrorstatewasoverseenbyHeinrichHimmler.Hewasanex-chickenfarmerwho
roseuptheranksoftheNazipartytobecomeheadoftheSSin1929andheadofthe
entirepolicesystemin1936.HewasthemaninchargeoftheHolocaust.
TheSS(Schutzstaffelorprotectionsquad)wereHitler’spersonalbodyguard.They
woreblackuniformswithSSwritteninlightningontheirbadges.By1939,theSSwas
madeupof240000pureAryanmen.TheSShadspecificphysicalstandardstheirman
hadtoachieve,withevenafillingbeinggroundsfordisqualification.Theywere
ruthlessandloyalandhadbeenapartoftheNightoftheLongKnives.Theywould
arrestpeopleandsearchhousesandwerethemainwayofterrorisingtheGerman
people.Theyalsoranconcentrationcamps.Duringthewar,theybecameevenmore
importantandhadafightingunit,theWaffenSS.
WhenHitlerfirstcametopower,theSSarrestedhisopponentsandputtheminprison
camps.Thesetemporaryprisonscampsthenbecamepermanentconcentrationcamps.
Campswereusedforquestioning,tortureandre-education.Peoplediddieinthese
earlycampsandfamilieswereusuallytoldtheirrelativehaddiedofadiseaseortrying
toescape.BytheoutbreakofWWII,theprisonswerebeingusedasslavelabour.
Himmlercontrolledabout150companiesthatusedslavelabourformakingallkindsof
goods.Theselaterbecamedeathcamps.
TheGestapo,thesecretpolice,wasusedtospyonGermanpeopleandreportbackto
theNazis.Theirjobwastoreadpeople’smail,listeninontheirphonecallsandcollect
informationfrominformers.TheNaziPartyhadBlockWardens,whowouldgointo
homestocollectdonationstothepartyandcheckonpeople.Theywouldthenreport
anysuspiciousactivity.PeoplecouldbearrestedbytheGestapo,torturedand
imprisonedinaconcentrationcamp.Becauseitwasverydifficulttoknowwhowas
informing,thiswasaveryeffectivewayofstoppingopposition.
PolicebosseswereallNazisandthepolicewasunderthecontroloftheSS.TheNazi
PartyappointedjudgeswhotookanoathofloyaltytoHitlersofairtrialswereunlikely.
NaziscouldusethecourtstotryopponentsofHitlerontechnicalitiesandthenumber
ofoffencesthatleadtothedeathpenaltyincreased.
Propaganda
In1928,JosephGoebbelswasputinchargeofNazipropaganda.Hewasabrilliant
propagandadesignerandanexcellentspeechmaker.Goebbelscontrolledthemediaas
MinisterforNationalEnlightenmentthroughvariouschannels:
Newspapers–Goebbelstoldthemwhattoprintandcontrolledwhoworkedfora
newspaper.Boardsweresetupsoeveryonecouldreadthem.TheNazinewspaperwas
calledDerSturmer.
Rallies–politicalralliesshowedhowstrongtheNaziswere.Therewasaspecialparade
groundbuiltinNuremburgandin1937,100000Nazisparadedthroughthestadium
withflags.Duringtheserallies,everyonemarchedinstepandshowedhowunifiedthe
Naziswere.TheNazisalsoexpectedthatondaysthatwerespecialtothem,suchas
theanniversaryoftheMunichPutsch,thatpeoplewouldhangflagsandgotoparades.
TherewasaweeklongrallyatNuremburgeveryyeartocelebratetheNazis.
Books–Nazishadaveryspecificideaonwhatwasappropriatetoread.Theybanned
authorsfrompublishingandanybooksthatdidnotsupporttheNazimessageorwere
writtenbyJewsorCommunists,wereburntonbigbonfires.
Radio–cheapradiosweremadeandpublicloudspeakerssetupintownsquaresso
everyonecouldlistentotheradioprogramming.TheNazissetuptheReichRadio
Company,whichbroadcastHitler’sspeechesandhistoryprogrammes.Goebbelseven
hadprogrammesmadeforchildren.By1939,70%ofthepopulationofGermany
ownedaradio.Radiosignalsfromforeignbroadcasterswereblocked.
Films–Goebbelsmadeover1000Nazifilms.Peoplewatchedshortnewsprogrammes
beforethefilm,controlledbytheNazis,andyouhadtowatchthenewsreel.There
werealsopro-NazisfilmsmadesuchastheEternalJewin1940,andfilmssuchasthe
TriumphoftheWill,madein1934abouttheNuremburgRally.
Culture–HitlersetuptheReichChamberofCulture.TheNazislikedclassicalartand
architecture,notthemodernartthathadbeenproducedduringtheWeimarRepublic,
andopenedtheHouseofGermanArttoexhibittheworktheyapprovedofnextto
‘degenerateart’(artconsideredunacceptable)withrudenoteswrittenunderneath.
Theylikedmusicthatwastraditional.Showsinthetheatrewerepoliticalorhistorical
andbooksconcentratedonNazisideassuchasWWIheroes.Tobeabletoworkinthe
arts,youhadtobelongtotheChamberofCulturesoifyoudidn’ttowtheline,you
wouldnotbeabletowork.
TheOlympics–awardedtoGermanyyearsbeforetheNaziscametopowerandby
1936,theothercountriesknewhowtheNazistreatedJewishpeopleandsome
threatenedtoboycottthegames.TheNazisdecidedtousetheopportunitytoshow
howstrongandunifiedtheNaziswere,andtotrytostopthecriticism,theytoned
downtheanti-JewishpropagandaandplacedaJewishathleteontheGermanteam.
TheGermanathleteswereallprofessionalathletes,whereastheathletesfromother
countrieswereallamateurs.
Pictures–GoebbelstightlycontrolledthewaytheleadingNazis,andespeciallyHitler,
wererepresentedinpictures.Hecensoredpicturesthatshowedanyweakness,for
examplephotographsofHitlerwearinghisglasses.Hitlerwaspresentedasamanthat
Germanyneededandcouldrelateto,hewasshowntobegoodwithchildren,towork
reallyhard(eventhoughinrealityheoftendidn’tgetupuntilmiddayandwas
unreliable),tobegenerousandbrave.
Churches
In1933,nearlyallGermanswereChristian,with32%ofthepopulationbeingCatholic
and58%ofthepopulationbeingProtestantand2/3ofGermanchildrenattendinga
ChurchSchool.TheProtestantChurchhadmoremembersthantheNaziParty.The
powerandinfluencethechurchheldoverGermanyworriedtheNazis,but:Protestant
pastorsmadeexcellent,pro-Nazispeechesandpeoplelistenedtothem,andthe
churchsomeNaziideas.Themajorityofchurchleaderswantedtokeepreligionaway
frompolitics.Hitlermadeaspeechwhenhefirstcametopowerexplaininghow
importantthechurcheswere,eventhoughinrealityhehatedChristianity.
Hethenmadetwoimportantdeals:
InJune1933,HitlerandtheRomanCatholicchurchsignedaconcordat
(understanding)sayingtheNaziPartyandtheCatholicChurchwouldstayoutofeach
other’sway.
HitlerthenunitedalltheProtestantchurchesunderonebishop,LudwigMuller.They
usedNaziuniformsandsalutesandhadthemotto‘theswastikaonourbreastsand
thecrossinourhearts’.
TheNazisalsointroducedtheGermanFaithMovement,whichwastheNazialternative
toChristianity.Itmeanttheworshipofnatureandthesunandintroducedpagan-style
marriageandburialceremonies.
In1933,Hitlerhadn’tfeltstrongenoughtofightthechurches,butby1935thathad
changed.In1935,HitlersetuptheDepartmentforChurchAffairsandarrested
Protestantministerswhoweren’tsupportingtheNazis.Despitethefactthathe
promisedtoleavethechurchesalone,Hitlershutdownallchurchyouthgroups
between1936and1939,infavouroftheHitlerYouth.Healsohadhundredsof
Catholicpriestsandnunsarrestedin1936andbannedChristianChristmascelebrations
inschoolsin1937,beforebanningreligiousclassesinschoolsin1938.Duringthistime,
localNazishadalotofpoweranddependingonwhereyouliveddependedonpolicy
towardsreligion.SomelocalleaderssentSSmenroundtobeatuppreachersandsome
stillpaidtheirchurchtaxes.
NaziGermanyinWorldWarTwo
WWIIsplitsintofourperiodsfortheNazis:
1939–1941:ThewargoeswellforGermany
Countriesinvaded:Poland,Norway,Holland,Belgium,France,NorthAfrica,Greece
DefeatsfortheAllies:BritainevacuatessoldiersfromDunkirk,nightbombingincities
duringtheBlitz
Tacticsused:Blitzkrieg(lightningwar)
InGermany:rationingoffood,tobacco,soapandclothesintroduced(morethings
wererationedthatinBritain),importedluxurygoodsfromthecountriestheyinvaded
butmostwenttoNazileadersandtheblackmarket,somepeoplehadbetterdiets
underrationing.
1941–1943:Thetideturns
OperationBarbarossa:HitlertriedtoinvadeRussia.TheGermanarmygowithin60
milesofMoscow.
TheUSA:JoinedthewaraftertheJapaneseattackonPearlHarbor
FailuresoftheGermanarmy:drivenoutofRussia,NorthAfricaandtheBritishinvaded
Italy
InGermany:hospitaltrainsbroughtinjuredsoldiersback,propagandacampaignsand
extrarationsatChristmasusedtotrytoimprovemorale.
1943–1944:Totalwar
Totalwar:everypartofGermansocietyandindustryhelpingthewareffortGerman
militaryfailures:attemptedanotherBlitz,OperationValkyrienearlyassassinated
Hitler,Germancounter-attackinFrancefailed
D-Day:thealliestookbackFrance
InGermany:professionalsportbanned,nonessentialbusinessesshut,civilianclothes
werenolongerbeingproduced,womenweresenttowork,7millionPoW’swereused
infactories,airraidsworsened,peoplewereevacuatedtothecountryside.
1944–1945:Failureanddefeat
Alliedbombing:Dresdenbombings
RussiansinBerlin:RussiantroopsstormedBerlinandHitlercommittedsuicide
InGermany:refugeeswerefleeingtheRussiantroopsandcomingintoGermany,
Goebbelstriedonelastbigpush,theHomeGuardwasformed,theworstairraids
happenedand150000peoplewerekilledinDresdenalone,therationingsystem
collapsedandpeoplehadtoscavengeorusetheblackmarket.
ThewaralsoimpacteduponNazirule.
Opposition
WhentheinvasionofRussiafailed,oppositionincreased.Youngpeoplehadbecome
boredoftheHJasthemosttalentedleaderswentintothearmy.Somejoinedthe
SwingYouth,agroupthatlistenedtojazz,woreEnglishclothesandmetinnightclubs.
TheEdelweissPirateswentonHJ-stylehikes,althoughhopedtheywouldmeettheHJ
andcouldbeatthemup.Someofthemgotinvolvedintheassassinationoftheheadof
theCologneGestapoandwereexecuted.SomestudentsformedtheWhiteRose
group,whichdistributedleafletsattackingtheNazisfortheirpoliciestowardsthe
Jews.Theleaderswerearrested,triedandexecuted.
SomeChurchministerswerealsowillingtoopposetheNazis.DietrichBonhoeffer
preachedanti-Nazisermons,helpedJewstoescapeGermanyandbecameinvolvedin
aplottoassassinateHitler.HewasarrestedandexecutedatFlossenburg
concentrationcamp.MartinNiemollerandPaulSchneiderwerealsosentto
concentrationcampsforrefusingtostoppreachinganti-Nazisermons.
Hitlerneededthearmyonhisside,butinJuly1944,armyleaderscameverycloseto
assassinatinghim.VonStauffenbergsawthesufferingofGermansoldiersinRussiaand
disagreedwithwhattheSSweredoinginEasternEurope,soheplannedtousea
briefcasebombtokillHitler.Afteralotoffailedattempts,hegotthebriefcaseunder
thetable,butitwasmovedatthelastminuteandwhenitwentoff,failedtokillHitler.
VonStauffenbergwasexecutedandnearly5000ofHitler’senemieswerekilledin
retaliation.
Minorities
Hitler’spoliciestowardsminoritiesslowlyincreased.In1933,therewasaboycottof
Jewishshops,wheretheSAstoodoutsideshopstothreatenpeoplegoinginside.The
NuremburgLawsof1935bannedmarriagebetweenGermansandJews(Lawforthe
ProtectionofGermanBloodandHonour)andtookawayGermanJewishcitizenship
(ReichCitizenshipLaw).
InNovember1938,Kristallnacht(theNightoftheBrokenGlass)happened.Ayoung
JewhadassassinatedaGermandiplomatinParisinoppositiontotheGerman
treatmentofJewishpeople.TheNazisthenusedthisasanexcusetoattackJewish
shops,homesandsynagogues.ThepoliceweretoldtoallowNazisupporterstodothis
andaftertwonightsofviolence,on9/10thNovember,91Jewshadbeenkilledand
streetswerecoveredinbrokenglass.ThisleadtoasharpincreaseinNazipolicy
towardsJewishpeopleas30,000werequicklyarrestedandsenttoconcentration
camps.
AfterWWIIbegan,policyworsenedagain.AstheNazisinvadedEasternEurope,theSS
Einsatzgruppenwentintotowns,roundedupJewishpeopleandmadethemdigtheir
owngraves,beforeshootingthem.Somecitiesalsoheldghettos,whereJewswere
madetoliveawayfromtherestofthecityinappallingconditions.By1941,Jewshad
towearStarsofDavidontheirclothestoidentifythem.
HitlerattackedpeoplehedidnotbelievefittedintohisidealGermany.Thismeantthe
introductionofT4(1939-1941),theprogrammetokillaround70,000disabledpeople.
AttheWannseeConferencein1941,HitlerdecidedupontheFinalSolutionto‘the
Jewishquestion’.Thiswasthedecisiontobuilddeathcamps,withgaschambersand
ovens.Bytheendofthewar,6millionJewshadbeenmurdered,aswellasGypsies,
homosexuals,habitualcriminalsand4millionRussianPoWs.
EXAMHELP!
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