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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! Youcouldbeaskedaquestiononanyofthetopicsinthelastsection.Makesurethat foreachyoucan: -describethemaincomponents -explaintheireffectonGermany -explainwhyHitlerdidit Germanykeywords Writeadefinitionnexttothesekeywords AdolfHitlerSchools Napolas Aryan Nationalist Anti-Semitism NightoftheLongKnives BlockWardens NSDAP BundDeutscheMadel PassiveResistance Concordat President DAF Putsch Einsatzgruppen RAD Freikorps ReichLabourService GermanFaithMovement Reichstag Gestapo Rentenmark HitlerJugend SA Hyperinflation SS KraftDurchFreude WaffenSS Kristallnacht WeimarRepublic Lebensborn Lebensraum MeinKampf