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1918-1923 1923 - 1929 Time of disorder and Time of stability and chaos caused by prosperity defeat in WW1. Germany Germans angry at recovers under defeat and at Gustav Treaty of Stresemann Versailles International Weimar Republic agreements set up. Nazi Party very Spartacist little support uprising Kapp putsch Founding of Nazi Party Hyperinflation Munich putsch 1929-33 Germany collapses – due to Wall Street Crash Great Depression in Germany Mass unemployment and hardship Dramatic rise of the Nazi party By 1932 Nazis the biggest party 1933 – 1945 THIS SECTION Nazi era Hitler becomes German Chancellor Hitler becomes dictator Nazi methods of control Life in Nazi Germany Nazis and youth Opposition to the Nazis Who did the Nazis persecute Nazis and the economy REVISION TOPIC 1: HITLER BECOMES DICTATOR OF GERMANY 1933-34 Hitler was sworn in as Chancellor on January 30 th. 1933 At first he was in a weak situation and might not have lasted because - 1. 2. 3. 4. Although he was Chancellor – Hindenburg was still President and hated Hitler’s – and Hindenburg’s friend Von Papen was Hitler’s Vice Chancellor – his job was to restrain Hitler. In the Government there were only two other Nazis apart from Hitler. Nazi support was actually going down at that time – because unemployment was less severe. Worst of all although the Nazis were still the biggest party in the Reichstag they did not have a majority and could still be outvoted by the other parties – this meant they could block what Hitler wanted from becoming law. YET IN JUST OVER 1 YEAR HITLER WAS THE SUPREME DICTATOR OF GERMANY HOW DID HE DO IT? - - - - -(A) CALLING A NEW ELECTION Hitler set out to solve problem (4) first – he wanted a majority in the Reichstag so that he could control the country and do as he pleased. So – he called a new election for MARCH 1933 – and then tried to make sure he won it. (B) USING THE POLICE AND SA (Stormtroopers) Although there were only two other Nazis in the government Hitler made sure that one of them – HERMANN GOERING – was put in charge of the Police. To make sure Hitler won the election he - (a)Used the Police to break up meetings of other parties – especially Communists. (b)Made the SA ‘auxiliary police’ – he gave them the same powers as the normal police and used them to bust up other parties meetings and arrested their leaders. (c )Got President Hindenburg to pass a law only allowing other parties to meet if they gave 48 hours notice – Goering used this to stop those meetings ! (C) THE REICHSTAG FIRE (Feb 27 1933) On the night of Feb. 27th the German Parliament – the Reichstag – went up in flames. A Communist called Van der Lubbe was found inside – he was charged with the crime No one knows whether he really did it or whether the Nazis set the whole thing up. But – Hitler used this to - - (a)Argue that the Communists and others were plotting to take power (as they had set fire to the Parliament). (b)Arrest 4,000 Communists (c )Hitler then got Hindenburg to pass a law THE LAW FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE PEOPLE AND THE STATE – it allowed emergency decrees to be passed giving the police and SA the power to search houses, confiscate goods, and lock people up without trial, ban meetings of other parties, close down newspapers, of other parties, round up political enemies of the Nazis and send them to newly built CONCENTRATION CAMPS. (d) Goering also took over the state radio station and used it for Nazi propaganda. ALL THESE THINGS MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE OTHER PARTIES TO ARGUE AGAINST THE NAZIS IN THE BUILDUP TO THE MARCH ELECTION – only the Nazis were able to campaign for the election and they used the radio to brainwash people into voting for them. The SA even watched people as they voted to stop them voting against Hitler On 27th February, 1933, the Reichstag caught fire. When they police arrived they found Marinus van der Lubbe on the premises. After being tortured by the Gestapo he confessed to starting the Reichstag Fire. However he denied that he was part of a Communist conspiracy. Hermann Goering refused to believe him and he ordered the arrest of several leaders of the German Communist Party (KPD). When Hitler heard the news about the fire he gave orders that all leaders of the German Communist Party should "be hanged that very night." Paul von Hindenburg vetoed this decision but did agree that Hitler should take "dictatorial powers". KPD candidates in the election were arrested and Hermann Goering announced that the Nazi Party planned "to exterminate" German communists. As well as Marinus van der Lubbe the German police charged four communists with setting fire to the Reichstag. This included Ernst Torgler, the chairman of the KPD and Georgi Dimitrov of the Soviet Comintern. On 23rd March, 1933, the German Reichstag passed the Enabling Bill. This banned the German Communist Party and the Social Democratic Party from taking part in future election campaigns. This was followed by Nazi officials being put in charge of all local government in the provinces (7th April), trades unions being abolished, their funds taken and their leaders put in prison (2nd May), and a law passed making the Nazi Party the only legal political party in Germany (14th July). Marinus van der Lubbe was found guilty of the Reichstag Fire and was executed on 10th January, 1934. Adolf Hitler was furious that the rest of the defendants were acquitted and he decided that in future all treason cases were taken from the Supreme Court and given to a new People's Court, where prisoners were judged by members of the National Socialist German Workers Party (NSDAP). (D)THE RESULTS OF THE MARCH ELECTION The Nazis came top but - They still did not quite have a majority – the other parties could still outvote him even though one other party – the Nationalists – backed him- NAZIS NATIONALISTS (sympathetic to the Nazis) SOCIAL DEMOCRATS (Labour) ant Nazi COMMUNISTS (extreme enemies of Nazis) CENTRE (Conservatives) anti Nazi OTHERS 288 seats 52 seats 120 seats 81 seats 74 seats 32 seats So – what would Hitler do to get around this ? - - - - - (E) THE ENABLING ACT March 1933 Hitler decided to give himself the power to rule Germany without the Reichstag – so he - (a) Simply arrested all the Communists in the Reichstag – this got rid of 81 MPs. (b) Then when the Reichstag met in Berlin (in an Opera House – the Reichstag was burnt) the SA turned up and simply forced the other MPs to vote to give all power to Hitler. (c) To achieve this they forced the Reichstag to pas THE ENABLING ACT – it gave Hitler the power to rule without the Reichstag – or even President Hindenburg. (d) From then on Hitler was the DICTATOR of Germany – he could do as he liked. (F) THE LAW AGAINST THE FORMATION OF NEW PARTIES July 1933 Hitler used his new powers to pass this law – which in fact banned all other parties in Germany. Only the Nazis were allowed to exist – and only Nazis sat in the Reichstag. Form now on the Reichstag met – but had no power at all. It was simply a place where Hitler made speeches. (G) THE NIGHT OF THE LONG KNIVES June 1934 Hitler was now dictator – but he still had two groups in Germany who might threaten him - THE SA (STORMTROOPERS). The SA had been used to help Hitler into power – but they now became a threat because - (a)The SA was getting out of control and becoming too powerful - over 2 ½ MILLION OF THEM !– (b)Hitler no longer needed them now he was in power (b)The leader of the SA – ERNST ROHM - was becoming too ambitious – he wanted to make the SA the real army of Germany – and he might have even wanted to replace Hitler as leader. (c )If Hitler gave into Rohm it would mean having to get rid of the real German army. (d)The SA were more radical and left wing than Hitler – they criticised Hitler for not changing Germany enough. THE ARMY (a) It was very alarmed that the Nazis might try to abolish it – its Generals might move against Hitler (b) Although it had only 100,000 men they were better trained and more disciplined than the SA (c) Some army generals hated Hitler – and might have wanted him out. (d) Big business supported the army HITLER’S DECISION - To solve both problems he would - 1. 2. Do a deal with the army – to get rid of Rohm and the SA. They would no longer be a threat to the army or to Hitler himself In return the army must swear an aoth of loyalty to Hitler personally RESULTS – June 29 the SA leaders including Rohm were meeting in the Hotel Hanselbauer in Bavaria. Hitler used the SS – his own black uniformed bodyguards led by Heinrich Himmler – to surround the hotel and grab the SA. Rohm and the others were murdered. At the same time across Germany many other enemies of the nazis were also killed in the NIGHT OF THE LONG KNIVES. Up to 200 might have been shot – others arrested. The SA was brought under control and wound down – and the Army did swear an oath of loyalty to Hitler. Neither the army or SA would now threaten him ! ((H) THE DEATH OF PRESIDENT HINDENBURG August 2nd. 1934 President Hindenburg died – Hitler became President as well as Chancellor – but gave himself a new title – FUHRER or LEADER of Germany. HE HAD DONE IT ! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------DETAIL - THE NIGHT OF THE LONG KNIVES June 29 1934 WHO WERE THE SA? The Nazis own private army who fought other parties Led by Hitler’s friend ERNST ROHM They had grown to 2 ½ million by 1934 - compared with 100,000 in the Germany army. WHY DID HITLER TURN AGAINST THEM? REASON 1 : They were no longer needed – Hitler’ had found the SA useful in gaining power to get rid of his opponents but now he was in power they were no longer needed and were an embarrassment. REASON 2: Rohm’s ambitions Ernst Rohm wanted the SA to replace or take over the German army. This alarmed the army who were only 100,00 strong but highly trained and professional. The army were the only force who could now remove Hitler – and many of its generals did not like Hitler and the Nazis So Hitler was worried that the army would take over as a result of Rohm’s threats – he had to do something about the SA. Hindenburg told Hitler he might order this if the SA were not dealt with. REASON 3: ROHM’S IDEAS Rohm was more radical or left wing than Hitler and wanted the Nazis to take over many of Germany’s businesses. The alarmed big business leaders – and they were the ones who provided the party with much of its money. Hitler disagreed with Rohm’s ideas. REASON 4 : Rohm had made enemies Rohm had fallen out with some very powerful Nazi leaders like Goering and Himmler. They were now telling Hitler that Rohm was planning to take over from Hitler If Rohm went Himmler’s SS would be the most powerful force in Germany REASON 5 : Rohm’s personal behaviour Rohm was a thug, a drunkard and homosexual. Hitler had turned a blind eye to this when he had needed Rohm By 1934 Hitler was not prepared to tolerate this. RESULT – THE NIGHT OF THE LONG KNIVES Hitler decided to fly to Munich to put down the SA rebellion and confront Röhm and top SA leaders who were gathered at the resort town of Bad Wiessee near Munich. Arriving in Munich near dawn, Saturday, June 30, Hitler first ordered the arrest of the SA men who were inside Munich Nazi headquarters, then proceeded to the Ministry of the Interior building where he confronted the top SA man in Munich after his arrest, even tearing off his insignia in a fit of hysteria. Next it was on to Röhm. A column of troops and cars containing Hitler, Rudolf Hess, and others, sped off toward Röhm and his men. At this point, the story is often told (partly conceived by the Nazis) of Hitler arriving at the resort hotel about 6:30 a.m. and rushing inside with a pistol to arrest Röhm and other SA leaders. However it is more likely the hotel was first secured by the SS before Hitler went near it. Hitler then confronted Röhm and the others and sent them to Stadelheim prison outside Munich to be later shot by the SS. An exception was made in the case of Edmund Heines, an SA leader who had been found in bed with a young man. When told of this, Hitler ordered his immediate execution at the hotel. A number of the SA leaders, including Röhm, were homosexuals. Prior to the purge, Hitler for the most part ignored their behavior because of their usefulness to him during his rise to power. However, their usefulness and Hitler's tolerance had now come to an end. Later, their homosexual conduct would be partly used as an excuse for the murders. Saturday morning about 10 a.m. a phone call was placed from Hitler in Munich to Göring in Berlin with the prearranged code word 'Kolibri' (hummingbird) that unleashed a wave of murderous violence in Berlin and over 20 other cities. SS execution squads along with Göring's private police force roared through the streets hunting down SA leaders and anyone on the prepared list of political enemies (known as the Reich List of Unwanted Persons). Included on the list: Gustav von Kahr, who had opposed Hitler during the Beer Hall Putsch of 1923 - found hacked to death in a swamp near Dachau; Father Bernhard Stempfle, who had taken some of the dictation for Hitler's book Mein Kampf and knew too much about Hitler - shot and killed; Kurt von Schleicher, former Chancellor of Germany and master of political intrigue, who had helped topple democracy in Germany and put Hitler in power - shot and killed along with his wife; Gregor Strasser, one of the original members of the Nazi Party and formerly next in importance to Hitler; Berlin SA leader Karl Ernst, who was involved in torching the Reichstag building in February, 1933; Vice-Chancellor Papen's press secretary; Catholic leader Dr. Erich Klausener. By 4 a.m., Monday, July 2, the bloody purge had ended. The exact number of murders is unknown since all Gestapo documents relating to the purge were destroyed. Estimates vary widely from 200 or 250, to as high as 1,000 or more. Less than half of those murdered were actually SA officers. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- REVISION TOPIC 2 HOW HITLER AND THE NAZIS CONTROLLED GERMANY How well did they control the country? DIAGRAM SHOWING METHODS OF NAZI CONTROL - - How did Hitler keep control of Germany? The Terror State Secret police called the Gestapo would spy on and arrest enemies of the state. SS were responsible for running the concentration camps. Everyone was scared of being arrested by the Gestapo and being put in a concentration camp. Propaganda Mass Rallies, Posters and Propaganda films. Keeping Control of Germany The Nazis controlled and censored the radio & newspapers. Popularity School children were indoctrinated with Nazi ideas at school. Ripping up the Treaty of Versailles. Hitler Youth & the Young Maidens. Creating Jobs METHOD 1 : THE TERROR STATE (rule by FEAR) 1.STRICT DICTATORSHIP Between 1933 – 34 Hitler made himself supreme dictator of Germany After 1934 he was supreme - (a)He alone had the right to make the important decisions in Germany (b)There was no other body – a cabinet or Parliament – which could challenge his power (c)All his Ministers had to ‘work towards the Fuhrer’ – listen to his wishes then go away and carry them out. (d)This made it very difficult for his Ministers and other Nazi leaders – Hitler worked few hours and moved from place to place so it was often difficult to see him and get a decision out of him (e)Hitler did not attempt to get all his Ministers and departments of government to work together – he allowed them to compete with each other for his attention and fight each other for power – his job was to make the big decisions and then allow them to fight it out. This led to chaos in the German government. 2.ONE PARTY STATE After the ‘Law Against the Formation of New Parties’ only the Nazi Party was allowed to exist and its members alone ruled Germany. Only Nazis were allowed in the German Parliament – the Reichstag. The rest of Germany was divided up into areas called GAU – and Hitler chose a nazi he trusted to run each one of them. These officials were called GAULEITERS. Hitler let them rule their areas as they wanted and only interfered if there was a problem. All the law courts were taken over by the Nazis and all judges had to be Nazis. There was to be no trial by jury. The real reason for the courts was to punch enemies of the Nazis. The number of crimes punishable by death went up from 3 to 46. 3.POLICE STATE In Nazi Germany no opposition or criticism was allowed – to make sure everyone obeyed the Nazis they set up a POLICE STATE. The main body who ran it were the S.S. who were led by one of Hitler’s most trusted followers HEINRICH HIMMLER and his deputy REINHARD HEYDRICH. WHO WERE THE S.S.? The SS began life as a small group of personal bodyguards for Adolf Hitler - only 500 of them(hence the name Schutz Staffel – means ‘Protection Squads’). They were hand picked and more reliable and responsible than the SA ‘Stormtrooper’ brownshirts and they wore black uniforms to distinguish themselves fro the SA.. But -after the ‘Night of the Long Knives’ in 1934 (when the SS were sent to murder the SA leadership including Ernst Rohm) the SS became the main Nazi organisation and the main instrument of political control in Germany and then in Nazi occupied Europe. This gave enormous power to Himmler and his SS follower and by 1934 there were 50,000 SS men.By 1939 they had imprisoned 162,000 people without trial in concentration camps. The SS were in charge of a number of separate organisations who were based here. The main ones were - - The Gestapo – the feared Nazi Secret Police led by Reinhard Heydrich – known as ‘hangman Heydrich’. He was second in command to Himmler in the SS and a much harder man – he was tipped to succeed Hitler in the long run.. Their job was to hunt down and either kill or imprison enemies of the Nazis in Germany and in Europe. They tapped people’s telephones, intercepted their letters and spied on people – they had thousands of informers who listened to what people were saying and reported to them. Many of the informers were ‘Block Wardens’ – the Nazis had one of their members in every block of houses or flats in Germany and their job was to report on the people who lived their and whether they were loyal or disloyal. Those who were disloyal could be visited by the Gestapo and taken away. The SD were a special intelligence unit set up by the Nazis to gather information on their enemies – also run by Heydrich. The Ordinary Uniformed Police – were also under the command of Heydrich. The Nazis also used the ‘normal’ police to help them run Germany OTHER BRANCHES - The Office for Economic and Administrative Matters - a boring title which hides its real job – it ran the many factories and farms which the SS owned – but also the concentration camps and the SS ‘deaths Head Units’ who ran the camps – including the death camps like Auschwitz. The first concentration camps (the very first was Dachau near Munich) were set up after 1933 when the Nazis rounded up so many of the political enemies that there was not enough room in the prisons for them. They set up special camps with huts and barbed wire to house them (they called this ‘Protective Custody’). At first they were run by the SA but then the SS took them over. Prisoners were tortured and killed – and used s slave Labour in factories which were set up near the camps. Later racial enemies like Jews and Gypsies were sent to the camps. Finally, after the war broke out, some camps became DEATH CAMPS where Jews and others were sent to be killed by gassing, shooting or work to death The Jewish Office – run by Adolf Eichmann – responsible for organising the deportation and murder of Europe’s Jews. The Waffen SS – the military wing of the SS who fought alongside the German Army. The Race Office – (race and Settlement) which dealt with the racial cleansing of Germany and Europe and the transportation of millions of people for the purposes of race settlement. The ‘Einsatzgruppen’ or Special Action Squads’ - only came into existence during the war -sent out into occupied Eastern Europe to do there work – they were special SS groups whose task was the round up and shoot Jews in conquered towns and villages – they often made the Jews dig large death pits before shooting them. These groups were the main method of killing Jews before the building of places like Auschwitz later on in the war. The men who worked here were mostly ‘armchair killers’. They planned and organised mass murder but did not directly participate(exception – some who worked here had been members of Einsatzgruppen – like Otto Ohlendorf who led Special Unit D in Russia from 1941 – 1942 before graduating to head the department here responsible for the occupied territories in general. He was executed fro war crimes in 1951. Those who worked here could talk about their work in a matter of fact way – and did so at their trials later on. REINHARD HEYDRICH The chief organiser of the SS was Heydrich – Himmler’s trusted deputy. Heydrich ran several of the organisations here but in 1942 he was transferred to be the governor of occupied Bohemia (now called the Czech republic). Here he was assassinated by Czech Commandos trained in Britain and parachuted in to kill Heydrich (all the commandos were themselves killed). Before he died Heydrich had been given the task - by Himmler – of preparing the ‘Final Solution of the Jewish Question’. Heydrich called and chaired a meeting not here but at another SS villa in Wanssee – and the 15 men who attended planned the Holocaust which resulted in the rounding up and transportation of millions of Jews to the gas chambers. CONCENTRATION CAMPS They were first used to house political enemies of the Nazis who could not be sent to prison. At first they were run by the SA but then by the more reliable SS. The first tow were at DACHAU near Munich in the South and then SACHSENHAUSEN near Berlin in the north. Victims were made to work and tortured for information. They were encouraged to commit suicide. Later there was a whole network of camps over Germany and then Europe during the war and they were not just for political enemies – they also included millions of Jews, Russian prisoners of war, tramps, gypsies, homosexuals, churchmen etc HOW THE NAZIS TRIED TO CRUSH RELIGION Facts - 99% of Germans were Christians There were two types of Christians – Protestants and Catholics The Catholics lived mainly in the South – and were 1/3 of the population – Prods 2 /3 Nazis relations with the Churches went through a number of phases - CO-OPERATION 1933 – 35 At first Hitler and the Nazis tried to co-operate with the Churches because - 1. Most Germans were believing Christians – this made the Church strong 2. Many Church members had sided with the Nazis – especially as the Nazis attacked the Communists who were atheists (non believers) 3. The Church agreed with many Nazis ideas – like preserving family life, combating crime. 4. The Churches agreed with Nazis ideas about building up the army and protecting the country. RESULTS 1933-35 Hitler and the Churches got on. 1933 Hitler signed an agreement with the Catholic Church called THE CONCORDAT which promised that Catholic schools and organisations would be left alone. 1933-35 Hitler united all Protestants under one REICH CHURCH and chose a Nazi Bishop Muller to run it – they even wore swastikas. CRUSHING THE CHURCHES After 1935 Hitler set out to crush the Churches and religion because - 1. 2. 3. 4. He was now in a stronger position as a very popular leader He came to see religion as a rival to Nazi ideas – it taught people to be loyal to God and the Church not him. Hitler wanted Germans to regard him as their leader and not Jesus or God, he wanted them to follow him not their religion and he regarded Mein Kamp as the new bible of Nazism which would replace the real bible. Some Churchmen began to attack and criticise the Nazis for some of the things they were doing – especially their treatment of the Jews. Their ideas of tolerance and love and peace were directly opposed to Nazi ideas of punishing the weak and using violence and conquest. Hitler was especially suspicious of the Catholic Church because (a) Their loyalty was to the head of their Church the Pope not Hitler (b) They had always supported the rival Centre Party in politics (c) The Catholic Church had its own youth groups which were a rival to the Hitler Youth (d) The Catholic Church ran many schools – which would not accept so much Nazi propaganda. So he set out to crush them by - - 1935 Hitler sets up a department of Church Affairs – to control the Churches – 700 Protestant Chrchmen were arrested. 1936 The Nazis launched a campaign to stop children attending Church Schools or youth groups -= hundreds of catholic Churchmen and women were arrested. 1937 Christian carols and nativity plays banned in schools. 1938 Priests stopped from teaching religion in schools. 1939 All Church schools were abolished. HOW EFFECTIVE WERE THE NAZIS IN CRUSHING THE CHURCH??? CATHOLICS Hitler’s policies failed to destroy the Catholic Church because - (a)Persecuting the Church and priests simply made them stronger (b)The priests who were sent to concentration camps were regarded as heroes by Catholics and many survived because they were so popular ©Catholic Churches were full each Sunday The Church became one of the main sources of opposition to the Nazis. PROTESTANTS They split into two – SUPPORTERS – those Protestants who supported the Nazis AGREED TO GO INTO THE NEW ‘Reich Church’ and their leader Ludwig Muller . Some even worse Swastikas alongside the crucifix. They had 2000 pastors OPPONENTS – Thos who opposed the Nazis for the ‘Confessional Church’ and Niemoller was their leader. They had 6000 pastors. They were not destroyed either. METHOD 2 : INDOCTRINATION – BY BRAINWASHING THROUGH PROPAGANDA .PROPAGANDA WHAT WAS NAZI PROPAGANDA? = and attempt to brainwash the German people into accepting and supporting Nazi rule. WHO WAS IN CHARGE ? = JOSEPH GOEBBELS – one of Hitler’s must trusted followers. Goebbels used the following methods to spread Nazi propaganda and Hitler worship - - NEWSPAPERS Goebbels took charge of all Germany’s newspapers and decided - (a)What journalists could and could not write (b)What the papers could print (c )Important stories which they had to print – stories praising Nazi achievements and glorifying Hitler (d)To close all non Nazi newspapers down – their numbers were reduced from 4,700 in 1933 to 1,000 in 1944. (e)All Nazi newspapers had to be displayed in public places. RESULTS – Goebbels controlled what the German people could or could not read – they only read good things about the Nazis – those who did not support the Nazis had no say. RADIO Goebbels knew how important radio had become in the 1930s (bit like TV today). It was peoples main source of entertainment and information.. It was essential for the nazis to control the radio so he - (a)Set up the ‘Reich Radio Company’ – which took over control of ALL radio stations for the Nazis. (b)Provided cheap radios which all Germans could afford – so that all could hear Nazi propaganda on the radio (c )Set up loudspeakers in factories, offices and public places which the Nazis could use to broadcast Hitler speeches and news. RESULT – a whole generation of Germans were brought up knowing nothing but Nazi propaganda from the radio – they never heard an alternative view – and people tended to trust the radio more than the newspapers. FILMS Goebbles took over film making in Germany – he continued to make films which entertained people – but deliberately made political films as well to influence people. He made films which poisoned people against the Jews – like the film ‘The Eternal Jew’ which showed Jews as rats infesting Germany. Of the 1,300 films he made 200 were propaganda films. All films were accompanied by a 45 minute newsreel showing the successes of the Nazi government RESULT – the cinema was a main source of entertainment and information for Germans as it was the world over – yet even here the Nazi message was got through. FESTIVITIES AND CELEBRATIONS Goebbels organised huge public displays and meetings and rallies to impress the German people and rally support for the Nazis. The main rally was the NUREMBURG RALLY which was held every September and lasted one week and included mass meetings, speeches by Hitler and others etc. Other Nazi celebrations were - CULTURE Goebbels wanted to control all the Arts in Germany – including art, music, theatre, literature, sculpture, architecture. – to ensure that Nazi ideas were got across. He - (a) Set up the ‘Reich Chamber of Culture’ run by himself – all musicians, writers, actors had to be members – you could not work unless you were in it so it was a way for Goebbels to end the career of anyone he thought was against the Nazis – mant top writers and musicians left Germany because of this. (b) MUSIC – he drew up strict rules about what musicians could compose – all music had to be German and it had to glorify the German nation – modern music like Jazz was banned (c ) THEATRE – Goebbels controlled which plays could be performed – only those not dangerous to the Nazis were allowed and he encouraged plays which celebrated German history and life. (d) LITERATURE – Goebbels drew up a list of banned books because they gave the wrong political views. The Gestapo removed them from libraries and bookshops – and in one famous event in May 1933 Nazi students at Berlin University took all anti Nazi or Jewish books from the library and burnt them in a square opposite the University. Goebbels encouraged books about race, war and heroic stories about the rise of the Nazis. Goebbels himself wrote a book called Michael in 1929 which glorified Hitler and encouraged young Germans to fight Jews and Communists and to fight for Germany on the battlefield (e) ARCHITECTURE – Hitler was very keen on architecture and once wanted to be an architect himself. He demanded buildings which would be grand and glorify his rule. He favoured massive stone buildings with lots of pillars – like Greek or Roman buildings. Eg Hitler’s architect Albert Speer designed his new Headquarters –the ‘Reichschancellory’ which Hitler moved into just before the war and from which he ruled Germany. Hitler wanted the whole of central Berlin re-built in this style. (f) ART – Hitler also wanted to be an artist and had firm views about what could and could not be painted. He hated modern art and abstract art – he loved simple, realistic pictures which portrayed Germans as heroic and strong. All other art he called ‘degenerate art’eg in 1937 the Nazis put on an exhibition in Berlin at the ‘House of German Art’ which showed good Aryan art – but also degenerate art which the Nazis encouraged people to hate. CASE STUDY: THE 1936 BERLIN OLYMPIC GAMES The Nazis also used sport for propaganda – the most famous example – th1936 BERLIN OLYMPIC GAMES. BACKGROUND In 1936 Germany hosted the Olympic Games – to be held in the capital Berlin The mass media from 49 countries would be there – so Goebbels decided to use this as a chance for Nazi propaganda – a chance to show how great and strong Germany was under Hitler. HOW WAS THIS DONE - - 1. To show that Germans were racially superior the Nazis specially trained their athletes who were professional for the very first time (in those days all athletes from other countries were amateurs) . As a result they DID get more medals than anyone else – they got 33 Gold and the USA second with 24. 2. Persecution of Jews was stopped while the games were on show the world that Germany was not hurting Jews. 3. A brand new stadium was built – the best in the world – to show off German know how, 4. Massive and impressive ceremonies were organised – especially the Opening Ceremony which was the biggest of its kind. 5. The German crowd were encouraged to hero worship Hitler when he entered the stadium – they all gave the Nazis salute and screamed his name. The games were broadcast all around the w orld by radio for the first time - - 92 foreign commentators could describe the races – the biggest ever. This won the admiration of many countries. BUT – the most spectacular performance at the games was by a black American athlete called JESSE OWENS – who won 4 gold medals – this was a blow for the Nazis because black people were supposed to be racially inferior ! THE CULT OF THE FUHRER HOW PROPAGANDA WAS USED TO GLORIFY ADOLF HITLER One of the main aims of Nazi propaganda – to portray Hitler as a genius who - 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Could never make a mistake Knew everything Cared for all the people all the time –and was especially kind to children Worked tirelessly and endlessly for the good of the German people. Was above other men and not like them – a superior almost God like person. HOW WAS THIS DONE? Goebbels propaganda machine ensured that - Newspapers wrote endless articles praising Hitler as a kind of God or Saviour of the German people. Newspapers were made to say that all Germany’s successes at home and abroad were the direct result of Hitler’s genius. Portraits and posters of him showed him as the great ‘Fuhrer’ of the German people who protected children, led the Nation and lived a simple, honest life. Films portrayed Hitler as a genius. DID IT WORK ? Yes – millions of Germans did have faith in Hitler as an exceptional man and never blamed him when things went wrong – they tended to blame those under Hitler for ‘letting him down’. This was reinforced up to 1942 by his great successes - - He did give Germany prosperity – the economy recovered and unemployment dropped to zero. He enjoyed one foreign success after another and defeated all his enemies abroad – he took back the Rhineland in 1936, took over Austria in 1938, took Czechoslovakia by 1939, conquered Poland in 1939 and conquered Norway, Denmark, Belgium, Holland, France in 1940. In 1941 he took most of South east Europe too. In 1941 he invaded Russia and took huge areas of that country. These great victories won him massive support in Germany and seemed to suggest that the propaganda about him was correct !!!! The German public only began to lose faith in him after 1942 when the war turned against Germany – not until defeat was certain from 1944 – 45 did they turn away from him but he was too powerful to overthrow. Even then some people still believed that Hitler would produce a miracle which would save Germany ! OPPOSITION TO THE NAZIS – HOW SERIOUS? YOUTH OPPOSITION During the war some young people formed resistance groups and would not go along with the Nazis – because they were angered by the deaths of so many other young people or fed up with being bullied by the Nazis Eg the SWING YOUTH – who followed the music of black American jazz players and swing bands – all this was frowned on by the Nazis. The Nazis crushed this behaviour and many of them went to concentration camps Eg THE EDELWEISS PIRATES – edelweiss = a white flower and it was worn by young Germans as a symbol of their opposition to the Nazis. They were violent and often attacked and beat up Nazis eg they killed the Nazi Gestapo leader in Cologne. They sheltered deserters from the German army. They were arrested and wiped out. Eg THE WHITE ROSE GROUP - organised by Munich university students who were angered by the Nazi treatment of Poles and Russians in the war. Their leaders were Hans and Sophie Scholl and Professor Kurt Huber (at Munich University). Hans had served in the German Army in Russia and saw the atrocities the Germans had committed there – he thought that if he publicised this the German people might oppose the Nazis. They distributed leaflets and put up posters - but they were caught doing this in 1943 and arrested by the Gestapo. They were beheaded. These groups were totally ineffective against the Nazis CHURCH OPPOSITION Many Christians opposed the Nazis – some openly stood up to them. Facts - 99% of Germans were Christians There were two types of Christians – Protestants and Catholics The Catholics lived mainly in the South – and were 1/3 of the population – Prods 2 /3Nazis relations with the Churches went through a number of phases - CO-OPERATION 1933 – 35 At first Hitler and the Nazis tried to co-operate with the Churches because - 5. Most Germans were believing Christians – this made the Church strong 6. Many Church members had sided with the Nazis – especially as the Nazis attacked the Communists who were atheists (non believers) 7. The Church agreed with many Nazis ideas – like preserving family life, combating crime. 8. The Churches agreed with Nazis ideas about building up the army and protecting the country. RESULTS 1933-35 Hitler and the Churches got on. 1933 Hitler signed an agreement with the Catholic Church called THE CONCORDAT wHich promised that Catholic schools and organisations would be left alone. 1933-35 Hitler united all Protestants under one REICH CHURCH and chose a nazi Bishop Muller to run it – they even wore swastikas. CRUSHING THE CHURCHES After 1935 Hitler set out to crush the Churches and religion because - - 5. 6. 7. He was now in a stronger position as a very popular leader He came to see religion as a rival to Nazi ideas – it taught people to be loyal to God and the Church not him Some Churchmen began to attack and criticise the Nazis for some of the things they were doing – especially their treatment of the Jews. EXAMPLES MARTIN NIEMOLLER In the 1930s he became the main critic of the Nazis in the Church –he was a Protestant pastor. When the Nazis set up their own ‘Reich Church’ to control the Protestants he broke away and formed his own Church called the ‘Confessional Church’. He then began to speak out against the Nazis. He was arrested in 1937 and sent to prison for 7 months but kept on attacking the Nazis when he was released – and ended up in a concentration camp (Sachsenhausen). He was sentenced to death but the war ended before it could be carried out. DEITRICH BONHOFFER He was a Protestant like Niemoller and helped him found the Confessional Church in 1934. He also spoke out against the Nazis – especially their racial views – and he was banned from preaching. He joined the German secret service in the war but plotted against Hitler and he even helped Jews escape from Germany. He was arrested in 1942 and ended up in a concentration camp. He was shot in 1945, PAUL SCHNEIDER He was a Church man in a small town who began to attack the Nazis – in 1937 he was sent to a concentration camp but continued to smuggle out letters – he was found out and tortured until he was released after 2 years. CARDINAL GALEN He was a Catholic who protested at the nazis killing the mentally ill and disabled – he was so popular that the Nazis dare not touch him ! RESULTS – most religious opponenets of the Nazis were crushed because The Nazis began to attack and destroy religion. This is what they did in - 1935 Hitler sets up a department of Church Affairs – to control the Churches – 700 Protestant Churchmen were arrested. 1936 The Nazis launched a campaign to stop children attending Church Schools or youth groups -= hundreds of catholic Churchmen and women were arrested. 1937 Christian carols and nativity plays banned in schools. 1938 Priests stopped from teaching religion in schools. 1939 All Church schools were abolished. THE ARMY HIGH COMMAND Some senior commanders in the German army opposed Hitler because - (a)Before 1939 Hitler was taking great risks by building up Germany’s armed forces and challenging France and Britain – in 1937 Hitler met them and told them to get ready for war. They felt that Hitler was about to land them all in a war they could not win – and the only way to stop this was to get rid of Hitler. Top Commanders like Fritsche and Blomberg were ready to move against Hitler – arrest and replace him – the minute he made a mistake in his foreign policy. BUT – Hitler always triumphed and France and Britain did not stop him – so their plots came to nothing In the end both Fritsche and Blomberg were removed by Hitler. (b)After the war broke out in 1939 German victories silenced the generals – but after 1942 Germany began to lose the war and many generals feared that Germany itself and the entire German army would be destroyed if the war was not ended. Hitler was planning to fight on – so the only way to end the wear was to remove him and ask the British and Americans for peace. (c )Some Generals and officers in the German army were horrified at the behaviour of the Nazis – murdering Jews and civilians in Russia – and decided to kill Hitler and remove the Nazis on moral grounds. HOW SERIOUS WAS THIS OPPOSITION? Not very – army plots to remove Hitler usually came to nothing as the generals did not have the guts to move against him. The only serious plot was the JULY BOMB PLOT of 1944 THE JULY BOMB PLOT 1944 In July 1944 there was the only serious attempt to kill Hitler – the July Bomb Plot WHO WAS BEHIND IT? For a long time some senior officers in the German Army had opposed Hitler – they were horrified at Hitler;s attacks on other countries and by 1943 they were convinced that Germany was going to lose the war an be destroyed. They wanted to kill Hitler and then make peace with Britain and America before it was too late. The ringleader was a junior officer called VON STAUFFENBERG. He had fought for the German army in Russia and been seriously wounded. He was shocked by the mass murders committed by the SS in Russia – and he was also convinced that Germany was going to lose the war. Stauffenburg volunteered to kill Hitler because he was an intelligence officer who had regular contact with Hitler. Only he could get close enough to kill Hitler THE PLAN On July 20 Stauffenberg was summoned to Hitler’s Headquarters in east Germany called ‘The Wolfs Lair’ at Rastenberg. He planed to place a bomb I his briefcase with a timer. He would place the briefcase next to Hitler and then make an excuse to leave. He would then fly back to Berlin. Here his fellow officers would take over the city on hearing of Hitler’s death. They would then make peace with Britain and America. WHAT HAPPENED? Stauffenberg got into the meeting with Hitler and other Generals – he placed the briefcase next to Hitler by a table and then left – and saw the building blow up. BUT – Hitler had not been killed – the briefcase had been moved by a General . When Stauffenberg got back to Berlin the other plotters heard that he had failed- and the plot collapsed. Stauffenberg was arrested and shot – the other plotters were all murdered later on 5,000 of them RESISTANCE BY ORDINARY PEOPLE Many ordinary Germans came to resent the nazis - their bullying, the pressure to join, the lack of freedom and lack of privacy. This grumbling only got serious when the Nazis began to lose the war and when the bombing of German cities and shortages of food and goods began to bite. But this was never a serious threat to the nazis because - 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. People were too scared to speak out openly or do anything about it. The Gestapo would get you. You never knew who informers were who might give you away. Most people thought that ther Nazis had made people better off not worse. Most people still had faith in Hitler There were no opposition leaders to turn to – they had all been wiped out by the Nazis. HOW THE NAZIS CHANGED GERMAN SOCIETY CHANGES TO THE ROLE OF WOMEN BEFORE THE NAZIS Women had made great progress in the Weimar Republic In 1919 women got the vote and 1/10 of the German Parliament (Reichstag) was made up of women. Women made great progress in careers – there were 100,000 women teachers and 3,000 women doctors They enjoyed more freedom – they went out on their own and behaved as men by drinking and smoking in public They adopted modern fashions eg bobbed haircuts THE NAZIS AND WOMEN They wanted to reverse the changes of the 1920s and return women to their ‘traditional’ role - housewives and mothers. Hitler believed that this was the ‘natural’ role for women Hitler wanted to increase the birth rate – more Germans – so encouraged women to have more children – especially Aryans The Nazi slogan for women – ‘Kinder, Kirche, Kuche’ (Children, Church. Cooking) WHAT DID THE NAZIS DO? WOMEN AND JOBS Women were encouraged to give up their jobs after 1933 and have large families. Women doctors, civil servants, teachers were made to leave their jobs Employers were encouraged to give jobs to men not women Girls were discouraged from going into higher education – and professional jobs WOMEN AND THE FAMILY 1933 ‘Law for the Encouragement of Marriage’ gave money (a loan) to young couples who got married – but the woman had to leave her job. Then you kept all the loan if you had 4 kids. ¾ if you had 3, ½ if you had 2 children etc Birth control clinics were closed Abortion was banned Medals give to women with large families eg gold medal for 8 kids, silver for 6 and bronze for 5. The LEBENSBORN project forced Aryan looking girls to mate with Aryan men from the SS to produce Aryan children WOMENS APPEARANCE The ideal woman was fair haired, blue eyed and well built for children The Nazis frowned on women wearing makeup or going out without men. HOW SUCCESSFUL WERE THE NAZIS? At the start the number of women in work went down The number or marriages did increase The birth rate did go up The Nazis Women’s Organisation which encouraged these ideas had 6 million members THEY WERE NOT THAT SUCCESSFUL BECAUSE - The rise in births may be due to the recovery of Germany after 1933 not Nazi ideas The number of women in work went up – 4.85 million in 1933 to over 7 million 1939 After 1937 there was a shortage of workers so the Nazis softened their ideas – married women who had been give the loan could now go out to work and did not have to give up their jobs As war approached more women were needed to work - so after 1938 they relaxed their rules on women working DURING THE WAR – The Nazis were desperate for more births (for the armed forces) so in 1943 they tried to pass a law which said that all women up to 35 HAD to produce 4 children (if they already had 4 the husband could be set free to get other women pregnant! After 1943 when Germany was losing the war women HAD to go to work because the men were needed at the front – 3 million women were called to work in factories (only 1/3 did so) CHANGES TO THE ROLE OF YOUNG PEOPLE WHY DID THE NAZIS TRY TO CONTROL YOUTH? For the Nazis it was a top priority to influence and ‘indoctrinate’ the young because - (1)Young people has no memory of the time before Hitler – they could be brainwashed or indoctrinated with Nazi ideas and they would know no difference (2)Goebbels, Hitler’s’ propaganda Minister, understood that if you catch people young and indoctrinate them with Nazi ideas they will stay with them for the rest of their life and never question or challenge them. They would always bee Nazis – and always support the Third Reich which was meant to last for 1000 years HOW DID THE NAZIS CONTROL THE YOUNG ? This was done in two ways - - CONTROL Through youth organisations Through EDUCATION – in schools and Universities INDOCTRINATION in your free time THE HITLER YOUTH. WHY DID THE NAZI TRY TO CONTROL YOUTH? Hitler and the Nazis placed great importance on influencing the youth of Germany because - - - They knew that if they could catch young people and brainwash them into being loyal Nazis they would stay loyal for life. Young people would not know any ideas different to Nazism. They would not question Nazi ideas. The young were the future of Germany and had to be prepared for their future role as leaders of Germany and then the world Boys had to be prepared to be soldiers in later life and to fight the wars that Hitler was planning Girls had to be prepared for their roles as wives and mothers CONTROL THROUGH EDUCATION The Nazis deliberately used schools to indoctrinate people with nazi ideas so that within a generation they would no nothing else. This was done in a number of ways CONTROLLING THE TEACHERS All teachers had to agree top teach Nazi ideas – or they were sacked. Nearly all teachers belonged to the NAZI TEACHERS ASSOCIATION. CONTROLLING WHAT WAS TAUGHT Lessons were changed to make sure that the ‘right’ ideas were taught - - HISTORY German history was taught and glorified. Teachers had to focus on the rise of the Nazi Party and the bad influence of the Jews. BIOLOGY Teachers had to teach Nazi ideas about race and that Aryans were superior and how to classify other races as inferior. GERMAN In German they read stories about German heroes and learnt about how German culture was better than other countries. GEOGRAPHY They were taught about the lands which had been taken from Germany after the First World War and how they rightly belonged to Germany. The Nazis dropped this subject in the end because its ideas were different to Nazi ideas. R.S. P.E. This became more important and took up 15% of school time – to get German youth fit for the wars and struggles ahead. GIRLS Girls studied different subjects to boys – they did more things like domestic science (cooking) and child rearing. CONTROL THROUGH THE HITLER YOUTH The Nazis set up their own youth wing in the 1920’s – after 1936 when Hitler had been in power 3 years you HAD to join. The Hitler Youth was actually made up of separate organisations for boys and girls of different ages - - AGE 6 - 10 BOYS The PIMPFEN (little fellows) GIRLS 10 – 14 The YOUNGVOLK (Young Folk) The YUNGMAIDEN (Young Girls) The HITLERUGEN (Hitler Youth) The BUND DEUTSCHE MAIDEN (League of German Girls) 14 – 18 WHAT DID THEY DO? 1. Hard physical tasks – the boys had to be made hard and ready for war. 2. They had to go to training camps and do marches, map reading, sports, camping. 3. Each boy had a ‘Performance Book’ which recorded how well he had done at these things. 4. The boys who got top marks were sent to special ‘Adolf Hitler Schools’ at the age of 12 to be trained to be the leaders of the future. 5. The very best of those could go to special schools called ‘Order Castles’ where they were given a proper military training. Many ended up in the SS. 6. Girls also had to go on marches and camping expeditions but they tended to focus on making them fit partners for German men. 7. The youth movements also indoctrinated boys and girls with Nazi ideas. EDUCATION The Nazis deliberately used schools to indoctrinate people with nazi ideas so that within a generation they would no nothing else. This was done in a number of ways CONTROLLING THE TEACHERS All teachers had to agree top teach Nazi ideas – or they were sacked. Nearly all teachers belonged to the NAZI TEACHERS ASSOCIATION. CONTROLLING WHAT WAS TAUGHT Lessons were changed to make sure that the ‘right’ ideas were taught - - HISTORY German history was taught and glorified. Teachers had to focus on the rise of the Nazi Party and the bad influence of the Jews. BIOLOGY Teachers had to teach Nazi ideas about race and that Aryans were superior and how to classify other races as inferior. GERMAN In German they read stories about German heroes and learnt about how German culture was better than other countries. GEOGRAPHY They were taught about the lands which had been taken from Germany after the First World War and how they rightly belonged to Germany. The Nazis dropped this subject in the end because its ideas were different to Nazi ideas. R.S. P.E. This became more important and took up 15% of school time – to get German youth fit for the wars and struggles ahead. GIRLS Girls studied different subjects to boys – they did more things like domestic science (cooking) and child rearing. HOW SUCCESSFUL WERE THE NAZIS IN CONTROLLING THE YOUNG? • Evidence that they were successful – in booklets – • How they took control of the schools and school curriculum • The growth and membership of the Hitler Youth after 1933. • The need for de Nazification after the war BUT THEIR SUCCESS WAS LIMITED The support of the young changed over time • In the mid 1930s there was great enthusiasm for the Nazis by youth because - • They provided activities and outlets for the young eg weekend camps and outings – girls enjoyed these too • Many working class Germans had never had a holiday – they found the outings and rallies like Nuremburg exciting • Many like the uniforms, marches, sense of belonging. • Many were genuinely indoctrinated into Nazis ideas believing that Hitler was a genius, Jews were evil and they should be prepared to sacrifice themselves for Germany • After 1936 membership of the Hitler Youth was compulsory and some resented this and only joined out of fear or because they were expected to • Those on the Hitler Youth during the war became disillusioned – it now became a deadly chore Some young people actually opposed the Nazis • The Edelweiss Pirates – working class youths who attacked the Hitler Youth (ringleaders hanged 1942) • Swing Youth – rebelled by listening to American Jazz music, adopting US or British style dress and daces in clubs. • White Rose Group – middle class educated students and their teachers at University who criticised the Nazis and were rounded up and killed CONCLUSION Throughout the period 1933- 42 the Nazis were successful in winning over the youth of Germany – can be seen by the success of their control of schools and also the massive membership of the Hitler youth and the enthusiasm they showed. However, during the war this enthusiasm declined and some young people actually began to rebel although they were never a real threat to the Nazi regime THE NAZIS AND THE GERMAN ECONOMY The Nazis and the German Economy 1 THE SITUATION IN 1933 When Hitler came to power - There had been 6 million people unemployed German industry was still in the Great Depression caused by the Wall St. Crash of 1929 German politicians before Hitler had no solution to this It was one of the main reasons why so many voted for Hitler NAZI AIMS/POLICIES At the start - Economic policy was in the hands of Dr Hjalmar Schacht He was the Minister of the Economy from 1933-1937 Schacht’s Aims To reduce unemployment – get people back working again To make Germany self sufficient in everything it needed and not have to import things from abroad – ’AUTARKY’. This would enable Germany to survive in a war. HOW TO DO THIS He introduce his NEW PLAN It worked – he did limit imports He did deals with other countries to protect the things Germany did need to import German production increased by 50% under him But – he was sacked in 1937 for criticising Hitler HERMANN GORING He replaced Schacht in 1937 even though he knew little about economics His main goals were (a) autarky - making Germany self sufficient and (b) re-armament – get Germanys armed forces ready for war. To do both he introduce the FOUR YEAR PLAN HOW DID HE DO IT? Billions of marks were spent to help business produce artificial replacements for the things Germany imported eg textiles were made from pulped wood, oil was made from coal. These did not work well – Germany still needed imports Huge new industries were set up eg the Hermann Goring Works - to make the things needed for war Arms production was given top priority – food and consumer goods less so. DID THE NAZIS MANAGE TO REDUCE UNEMPLOYMENT? When the Nazis came to power (1933) unemployment in Germany was 6 million Hitler promised to put the economy right. By 1939 it was down to less than ½ million He had succeeded! HOW WAS IT DONE? 1.JOB CREATION THROUGH PUBLIC WORKS Hitler borrowed money and spent it on big construction projects which put Germans back to work –in 1937 he spent 37 billion marks on these Eg he built motorways (autobahns), huge buildings for the 1936 Olympic Games, new government buildings in Berlin All this created jobs and got the economy going 2.INVESTING IN GERMAN INDUSTRY Hitler have money to German businesses to help them gte going again eg he gave money to the car industry to get them to build the ‘Peoples Car’ or Volkswagen. This created more jobs 3.THE NATIONAL LABOUR SERVICE Known as the RAD All men between 18-25 had to join and serve for 6 months This provided an army of workers who helped build the autobahns and the projects like draining marshes This hugely reduced unemployment and put men back to work. 4.INVISIBLE UNEMPLOYED Many people were kept off the unemployed list in other ways - they did not appear in the figures Jews who lost their jobs Many women had to give up their jobs Those in the National Labour Service (RAD Enemies of the Nazis who were locked up 5.RE-ARMAMENT After 1936 Hitler began to rearm Germany – building weapons and this also helped to reduce unemployment This also helped to get heavy industry going again eg 1933-39 production of coal, chemicals doubled and the production of oil, iron and steel trebled. Also – expanding the army from 100,000 to 900,000 took many off the unemployment list THE NAZIS AND THE GERMAN ECONOMY 2 Did people get better off?? German workers Were they better off? Did this get more support for Hitler? 1.PAY AND HOURS Workers wages went up after a period of decline in the late 1920s. There was almost no unemployment – people felt optimistic BUT - They worked longer hours eg average 43 hours per week in 1933 to 47 in 1939 They only got higher pay because they worked longer hours. Their standard of living actually went down because prices went up more than wages THE LABOUR FRONT All trade unions (independent workers organisations) were banned Instead all workers had to join the ‘German Labour Front’ led by Joseph Ley. It aimed to make sure factories produce and make sure there were no conflicts with employers Sometime it did take the side of the workers against the employers HOWEVER - Its committees organised factories and contained both employers and the workers to try to make them work together. It ran 2 organisations aimed at making like better for the workers – ‘Strength Through Joy, and ‘Beauty of Labour’. STRENGTH THROUGH JOY This organised activities for workers in their spare time – mostly cultural visits to the theatre or concerts Some were allowed to go on cruise holidays for the first time For many Germans it was their first ever holiday BEAUTY OF LABOUR Also organised by the German Labour Front It aimed to improve working conditions in factories eg it built canteens, swimming pools, sports facilities, better heating. But the workers themselves had to built these facilities in their spare time. THE VOLKSWAGEN Hitler wanted all Germans to have a car – the ‘Volkswagen’ or ‘Peoples Car’. Workers paid 5 marks per week towards the cost. But - The scheme never happened as the war broke out in 1939 and car factories switched to making military vehicles. HOW WELL OF WERE OTHER GROUPS? FARMERS Farmers did well under the Nazis because they were protected with high food prices and also their debts were written off SMALL BUSINESSES The Nazis tried to protect them to by banning large department stores which competed with them BIG BUSINESS It really did well because the trade unions were abolished so no more strikes and also when Hitler re-armed Germany they got rich making weapons and war supplies for the government eg managers in big business increased their earnings by 70% OVERALL The Nazis did manage to get the German economy to recover after the depression and they got credit There was a sense of hope and optimism Most people thought Hitler really had ‘turned Germany around’ But others say the improvements were not that great for ordinary people and that it was massive rearmament which really got the country back to work – which produced little of any value for ordinary people. WHO DID THE NAZIS PERSECUTE? THEIR TREATMENTOF MINORITIES THE NAZIS AND RACE THEORY 1.RACE PURITY Hitler believed that all people belonged to a race and that some races are superior to others. The ARYAN RACE (mainly Germans) were superior and they should dominate the world – they were biologically superior to all other races – in their physical makeup, their intellect and their civilisation. Other races in Europre were ‘inferior’ – some more so than other eg Hitler spoke of the ‘Latin’ races of Europe like the French and Spanish and Italians as inferior to the Aryans – but well below them were the ‘Slavs’ who lived in Eastern Europe (Poles, Ukrainians, most of all Russians) who were so inferior to the Aryans that it was the duty of the Aryans to enslave them and make them servants to the ‘Master Race’ of Aryans. For a race to stay strong it was essential to maintain its ‘racial purity’. This meant (a)getting rid of all those who undermined the strength of the race – the weak, disabled, those like tramps living useless lives. (b)getting rid of any races which had ‘infected’ the Aryan race – in Germany’s case this was the Jews. (c)Maintaining a ‘racial elite’ - an inner core of the very best Aryans who would lead the rest – under the Nazis this was the role of the SS German Aryans were naturally superior and should be invincible - but they had failed to do this because they had allowed into their midst an alien race – the inferior JEWS who infected the country and damaged German ‘RACIAL PURITY’. They had to be got rid of. 2.RACE WAR Hitler also believed in RACE WAR – that human history was struggle between races – and the strong conquer the weak.. Hitler intended to lead the superior German race – the ‘Master Race’ to conquer all lesser races in Europe – and then the world. His main aim was to invade and conquer Russia to enslave its people – he tried to do this by invading in 1941 (Operation Barbarossa) 3.THE SPECIAL CASE OF THE JEWS Hitler regarded Jews as ‘UNTERMENSCH’ – or SUB HUMANS. This meant that they were not to be classed as human or like other races. This was because – (a)They had no racial territory of their own – no homeland. (b)Instead they were ‘parasites’ who ‘infected’ other races and lived off them. (c)they weakened racial purity and had been the main reason why Germany had not yet triumphed and had lost in WWI Hitler tended to blame all Germany’s misfortunes on the Jews – anti Semitism was common in Europe at that time and they were an easy ‘scapegoat’ – someone to blame for the nations problems. The Nazis went through a number of ideas about what to do about the Jews – from expulsion, to enslavement and in the end extermination to rid Germany and Europe of them once and for all. WHICH GROUPS DID THE NAZIS ATTACK? GERMANS WHO WERE ‘UNDESIRABLES’ OR WHO LIVED ‘USELESS LIVES’ These victims were thought to be a ‘burden on the community’ because they lived useless live sand did not make a contribution. This included - - - (a)Tramps, beggars, alcoholics, juvenile delinquents - in 1933 the Nazis passed the STERLISATION LAW – to stop these people having children – 700,000 people were sterilised (they had no choice). Other were sent to concentration camps – in 1938 a special concentration camp was set up for juvenile delinquents. At the same time over 100,000 beggars were sent to the camps. (b)Mentally ill or disabled – the Nazis considered these to be ‘worthless lives’ so they began a programme of ‘compulsory euthanasia’ for those in mental homes or disabled homes. 6,000 handicapped children were killed by lethal injection or gassing. By 1945 72,000 handicapped people were killed in places like GRAFENECK and 300,000 mentally ill people had been sterilised. RACIAL MINORITIES Gypsies The Nazis also saw Gypsies as racially inferior - 1933 they banned marriage between Germans and Gypsies and after 1938 they were regulated. During the war the Gypsies were murdered in the concentration camps. Black people They were also seen as racially inferior and sub-human 1935 marriages between blacks and Germans was banned Children born to mixed face parents were sterilised. JEWS Jews were only 1% of the German population. They occupied a special place in the Nazi hierarchy of races. They were sub humans who had to be treated differently They were used as scapegoats for all Germany’s problems This led by stages to the HOLOCAUST HOW THE PERSECUTION OF JEWS CHANGED OVER TIME STAGE 1933 – 39: PERSECUTION In these years they did not set out to murder all Jews – only make their lives worse. 14 of all Jews emigrated because of this - From 1933 a massive propaganda campaign poisoned the German people against the Jews – then a series of laws and restrictions were placed upon them - - - 1933 The Nazis organised a one day boycott of all Jewish shops in Germany to try to force them to close down – SA men stood outside the shops to stop people getting in and a star of David was painted on the window. Jews were banned from doing jobs like officials in the government and being lawyers. 1934 A massive anti Jewish propaganda campaign was launched and Jews were banned from public places like parks, swimming pools 1935 Jews were banned from joining the army – the NUREMBERG LAWS banned marriages between Jews and Aryans and banned them from sex outside marriage. The REICH CITIZENSHIP LAW took away basic rights from Jews. 1936 Anti Jewish propaganda died down because of the Olympic Games but Jews were banned from the professions and could no longer be accountants or vets 1937 Many Jewish businesses were confiscated and sold off cheaply to Aryans. 1938 Jews had to register their goods – to make it easier for the Nazis to confiscate it. Jewish doctors and dentists and lawyers banned from treating Aryans. Jews had to have the letter ‘J stamped on their passport. The KRISTALLNACHT -Jewish shops and synagogues smashed by Stormtroopers and after thousands of Jews rounded up and sent to concentration camps. The Nazis fined the Jews for the damage done on Kristallnacht. Jewish children had to go to Jews only schools The last Jewish businesses were confiscated. THE KRISTALLNACHT Also known as the ‘Night of the Broke Glass’ (1)THE EVENT WHICH SPARKED OFF THE KRISTALLNACHT In 1938 a German official at the German Embassy in Paris – von Rath – was shot by a young Jew who was protesting against the treatment of Jews in Germany. This sparked off a wave of burning and looting of Jewish property in Germany by Nazi stormtroopers. (2)WHAT MIGHT THE REAL REASONS FOR THE KRISTALLNACHT BE? Anti semitism The Nazis and especially the Stormtroopers were vry anti Jewish and has long wanted to attack the Jews in Germany. This was bound to happen sooner or later – and the shooting of von Rath gave them the excuse they needed. Power struggles among the Nazis Goebbels was very anti Jewish but had recently fallen out of favour with Hitler (because he had an affair). He wanted to use the assassination of von Rath as a reason to attack the Jews – and so get back in Hitler’s favour. He was supported by Reinhard Heydrich who was also loking for a chance to get at the Jews. Goebbels had an enemy in Hermann Goering, another top nazi close to Hitler – and Goering was against attacking the Jews. So Goebbels saw attacking the Jews as a way of defeating Goering too. (3)WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED ON THE KRISTALLNACHT Crowds of young Nazis swarmed onto the streets and began to smash and loot Jewish shops and homes and burn down Jewish synagogues. So much glass from shop windows littered the streets that it became known as the ‘night of the broken glass’. 400 synagogues and 7,500 shops were smashed, 91 Jews killed and then 30,000 rounded up and sent to concentration camps. (4)DOES THE EVIDENCE SHOW THAT THE EVENT WAS PLANNED ? The Nazis claimed that this was ‘spontaneous’ – in other word young Nazis were so shocked at the murder of Rath that they went out to expres their anger against the Jews. There is some evidence that Goebbels and Heydrich actually planed the whole thing and then covered up their role – actively encouraging the SA to go out and attack the Jews. (5)WHAT WAS THE ROLE OF GOEBELLS AND THE OTHER TOP NAZIS? Heydrich and Goebbels gave orders to the police not to stop the attacks on Jews and then to pretend to call the attacks off. They told the SA that they culd do this and that they would not be stopped. 1939 All Jews had to add new first names The REICH OFFICE FOR JEWISH EMIGRATION was set up - to encourage Jews to leave the country. STAGE 2 1940 – 41 : DEPORTATION AND RE SETTLEMENT The war broke out in 1939 and at first it went well for Germany – they conquered Poland, Norway, Denmark, Holland, Belgium, France, Yugoslavia, Greece etc. This meant that for the first time the Nazis ruled millions of Jews in Europe (10 – 11 million in all). The Nazis still wanted to get rid of the Jews and since 1939 one man – the SS leader REINHARD HEYDRICH had been put in charge. Their original plan was the expel or depart them to be re-settled somewhere else. ORGINAL PLAN – was the send them all to the island of Madagascar near Africa. This fell through because it was costly and impractical in the middle of a war. SECOND PLAN – this one actually happened – Jews were to be rounded up and expelled the one part of POLAND called the ‘Central Government’ ruled by a Nazi leader called HANS FRANK. Many Jews were sent here – but Frank realised he could not take them all – he did not have the facilities. STAGE 3 1941 – 42 : RANDOM KILLING In 1941 Hitler invaded Russia and took over more millions of Jews. For the first time the decision was taken to murder the Jews – mostly by shooting. As the German armies advanced they were followed by special groups of SS killers called EINSATZGRUPEN - they rounded up Communists and Jews and shot them in large pits or encouraged the local people to kill them. So by this stage Hitler and the Nazis seemed to have switched from deportation to mass killing as a way of solving the ‘Jewish Problem’. In Germany Jews were now made to wear the yellow star of David and then they too were deported to the East in Poland to be killed. STAGE 4 1942 – 45 : EXTERMINATION By 1941 the Nazis had already begun to murder Jews in Europe – but random shooting was not enough and it was distressing and time consuming for the SS who had to do it. So a better plan was needed – and HEYDRICH called a famous meeting at WANNSEE in Berlin (the Wannsee Conference January 1942). 15 men - top Nazis and officials – gathered here to pan the Holocaust. – or THE FINAL SOLUTION TO THE JEWISH QUESTION as Heydrich called it. 1. 2. 3. 4. All Jews under Nazi control were to be rounded up and placed in GHETTOS – walled sections of towns in Poland. Here they would be kept and starved so that many died before being moved off to the concentration camps. After this they were to be put on special trains and send to the concentration camps or new extermination camps. In 1942 special extermination camps were set up at Treblinka, Sobibor, Maijanek, and most of all AUSCHWITZ. When Jews arrived they were sorted into those who would die immediately (old, women, children) and those who would work in the camp or in factories attached to the camps before it was their turn to die too. The method of killing – special gas chambers were set up in the camps with crematoria attached to burn the bodies. BY 1945 6 MILLION JEWS WERE KILLED IN THIS WAY