Download Germany c.1918-1939: REVISION NOTES

Germany c.1918-1939: REVISION NOTES
Part 1 - Weimar Germany 1918-1929
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The Treaty of Versailles
Kaiser abdicates November 9th 1918, Armistice (cease-fire) signed
November 11th
Treaty of Versailles signed June 1919
It is a DIKTAT – something forced on to Germany. Allies say that
they will carry on the war if Germans do not sign.
For many Germans the defeat in WW1, national humiliation, the
Treaty of Versailles, the Weimar constitution & democracy are all
linked – helps explain why democracy is weak in Germany
Terms of the Treaty –
Germany has to pay REPARATIONS (fixed in 1921 as £6600
million)
Germany loses all its COLONIES (overseas parts of their empire)
German army limited to 100,000 men with no air force & a small
navy with only 6 battleships and no submarines
13% of Germany is now transferred to neighbouring countries as
the map is redrawn
Germany loses land to France (Alsace-Lorraine), Belgium, Poland
(Posen & West Prussia) & Denmark
15% of German coal mines are lost in map changes
Many Germans blame the defeat in the war on “the stab in the
back” (DOLCHSTOSS) – i.e. the Socialists / Communists / Jews
betrayed Germany & the army was never defeated. This myth
makes it harder to accept the Treaty
Treaty weakened democracy in Germany and the German economy
Friedrich Ebert appointed Chancellor in October 1918
The Weimar Constitution
A National Assembly was elected to write this new constitution
It met in Weimar because Berlin was not safe – so we call this
whole period in German history the WEIMAR REPUBLIC, or
WEIMAR GERMANY (or just WEIMAR!)
Constitution ready by August 1919
Very democratic = everyone over the age of 20 gets the vote (men
and women)
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Proportional representation is used in elections – so small,
extremist parties find it easier to get into the Reichstag
The President is the Head of State and elected every 7 years
The Chancellor is the Head of Government. The Chancellor is
chosen by the president but must have more than 50% of the
Reichstag supporting him
The Reichstag is the main house of parliament. There are elections
every 4 years to choose the members of the Reichstag (Deputies)
Proportional Representation will mean that the Reichstag will have
lots of small parties in it – difficult to get strong government.
Article 48 of the Constitution gives the President emergency
powers to make laws by decree.
Friedrich Ebert is chosen as 1st President by the National
Assembly.
Ebert gets support for the new constitution by giving promises to
powerful groups e.g. promises to support the army & head of the
army (General Gröner) promises to support the constitution.
Ebert gets support of business leaders by promising their leader
(Hugo Stinnes) the government will not try to take over their firms
Ebert promises the trade unions and their leader (Karl Legien) that
there will be a maximum 8 hour working day
Economic Problems 1918-23
Germany much poorer after Treaty of Versailles – has lost so much
land, resources, industrial areas etc
1923 – Germany refuses to pay its reparations instalment – says it
has no money
French occupy the Ruhr region and start to take raw materials and
goods as payment
German government orders all German workers to go on strike in
the Ruhr
The Ruhr is so important to German economy – German debts &
unemployment now get out of control
Inflation now gets out of hand because the government was
printing more money to pay for goods
Hyperinflation means that cost of loaf of bread goes from 1 mark
in 1919 to 200 marks by 1922 to 100,000,000,000 marks by 1923.
Shortages of everything inside Germany as money becomes
worthless
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People with savings hit hardest – they lose everything as the money
becomes worthless – helps make middle-class people distrust
democracy
Sept 1923 – Gustav Stresemann becomes Chancellor.
Stresemann cancels the old mark in November 1923 and has a new
currency issued – the Rentenmark
Numbers of Rentenmarks in circulation is controlled strictly and
inflation brought under control
Political Problems 1918-23
Huge splits in Weimar Germany between LEFT-WING & RIGHTWING.
Left-wing people / parties want more equality / change in society.
Main left-wing parties = the Communists (KPD), & Socialists (SPD).
Right-wing parties / people want to protect traditions of the
country. Main right-wing parties in Germany in the 1920s = the
People’s Party (DVP) and the National Party (DNVP). After 1928
the Nazis become more and more important (NSDAP)
In between these parties you have the Democratic Party (DDP) and
the Centre Party (ZP)
Some of these parties want to end democracy / voting / elections.
They are the Communists (KPD), National Party (DNVP) and the
Nazis (NSDAP)
The right-wing parties tend to want (a) strong government (b)
family values (c) strong army / nation state (d) to support
businesses / capitalism
The left-wing parties tend to (a) want to change society to make it
fairer (b) give power to the workers (c) end capitalism / private
ownership of businesses (d) want to see co-operation between
nations (e.g. in the League of Nations)
Parties in the 1920s have their own private armies to protect
themselves from the supporters of other parties – e.g. the KPD has
the Red Front Fighters, the Nazis have the SA
Huge amounts of political violence in this period. 1919-22 there are
376 political murders, mostly left-wing people being killed by rightwing extremists. E.g. the murder of Matthias Erzberger (he was
one of the people who signed the surrender in 1918), Walther
Rathenau (the Foreign Minister in 1922).
Many attempts to overthrow the government
Most important one from the left is by the Spartacist League.
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Spartacists want a Communist revolution like in USSR
Spartacists led by Rosa Luxemburg & Karl Liebknecht.
Jan 1919 – 100,000 Spartacists start to take over central Berlin
Chancellor Ebert calls in FREIKORPS – groups of extreme rightwing ex-soldiers who hate Communists.
1000s killed including Luxemburg and Liebknecht.
Most important right-wing attempt to take over = the KAPP
PUTSCH
1920 – 5000 right-wing extremists led by Dr Wolfgang Kapp march
into Berlin to grab control of the government and overthrow
democracy
Army refuses to act – government has to leave city
A general strike by the workers of Berlin (organised by the KPD &
SPD) forces Kapp to give up – transport, water supplies & gas
supplies all cut off
Another right-wing attempt to take over is the 1923 MUNICH
PUTSCH by the Nazis (see later)
After 1923 political violence dies down – but 1919-23 the
government is very weak in the face of extremist violence
The Stresemann Era 1924-1929
Gustav Stresemann is Chancellor from August 1923 to 1924, and
then Foreign Minister 1924-1929
1925 – President Ebert dies. Paul von Hindenburg is elected
President. Hindenburg was a WW1 war hero and a supporter of the
Kaiser who did not believe in democracy. His election is a sign that
Germans are not enthusiastic for democracy yet.
He was the most talented & successful Weimar politician and
supported by moderate parties on the left and right
As Chancellor he ended hyperinflation by bringing in the new
currency & persuading the French to leave the Ruhr
As Foreign Minister he agreed the DAWES PLAN, YOUNG PLAN,
LOCARNO PACT & German entry into the LEAGUE OF NATIONS
DAWES PLAN – 1924 – German reparation payments are reduced &
loans from American banks to boost the German economy are
arranged
1923-1928 – unemployment drops, industrial output doubles (i.e. the
amount of stuff Germany made in factories) – Germany is doing
very well
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YOUNG PLAN – 1929 – The overall reparations bill is reduced and
the date for final repayment is put back – so the annual bill is
reduced again to only £50 million a year
This would have been very good for Germany – allow them to cut
taxes – but the Great Depression was just around the corner so it
didn’t have much effect
LOCARNO PACT – 1925 – an agreement signed with the Western
European countries. Germany agrees that it will never try and
change its western borders (which were forced on it in the Treaty
of Versailles)
Last Allied soldiers pull back out of Germany because of this
Germany is saying that they will not fight a war in the future to get
back land like Alsace-Lorraine
Germany now seen as a ‘normal’ country by Britain and France
LEAGUE OF NATIONS – Germany allowed to join in 1926 –
Germany now seen as a ‘normal’ country
KELLOG-BRIAND PACT (1928) – an international agreement which
Germany signed – a agreement that countries which sign will not use
war to achieve their aims in the future. Nice idea – but arguably
didn’t work out very successfully
Stresemann won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1926
Stresemann died in Oct 1929 suddenly – he had restored German
economic stability and given Germany respect in foreign affairs –
but he died just before the Great Depression – maybe he could
have found a way to preserve democracy in Germany if he had
lived?
1929-1932 – Years of Economic Crisis
Wall Street Crash – October 1929 – kick starts the Great
Depression
Banks in America and Germany run out of money and start
demanding that loans be repaid – many German businesses can not
afford to repay and have to sack workers or close
Unemployment starts to rise – 1.3 million in 1929, 6 million by
January 1933
Middle class losing savings, homes and businesses
Working class becoming poverty-stricken
Chancellor during 1930-32 is Heinrich Brüning. All he can think to
do is cut unemployment benefits to try and save money. Pushes
millions into deeper poverty.
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The parties in the Reichstag can not co-operate and Brüning can
only rule by using the President’s emergency powers to make new
laws – rule by decree
Political violence on the streets starts to rise
Part 2 – Hitler and the Rise of the Nazi Party
1918-1933
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Adolf Hitler – Early Life
Born in Austria, parents died when he was young, becomes
unemployed & homeless in Vienna
Believed he was destined for greatness
Outbreak of WW1 gives him a purpose in life and he joins the
German army in 1914
Brave soldier – wins Iron Cross
Sees armistice in 1918 as a betrayal of German army
Believes Germany has been stabbed in the back by Jews and
Communists
Joins the German Workers’ Party (a small group of right-wing
extremists) in 1919
The Birth of the Nazi party 1919-23
Hitler is put in charge of propaganda & ideas of German Workers’
Party
1920 the party is renamed the NATIONAL SOCIALIST GERMAN
WORKERS’ PARTY – or NAZIS
1920 – the party puts forward its Twenty Five Point Programme – a
summary of its ideas
This includes – abolishing Treaty of Versailles, uniting Germany &
Austria, nationalising large businesses, increased pensions, a
stronger German army & government, exclusion of Jews from
German life
The ideas are a mixture of NATIONALISM, SOCIALISM &
RACISM.
1921 Hitler replaces the original leader (Anton Drexler)
His great talent is being able to stir up the emotions of a crowd
when speaking
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The SA (Sturmabteilung) – also known as Brownshirts or
Stormtroopers – is set up in 1921 to protect party meetings
By 1923 the Nazis are the biggest extremist right-wing group in
the south of Germany
November 1923 – Hitler leads an attempt to overthrow the Weimar
government
He thinks the government needs to be replaced because of
hyperinflation and the Ruhr crisis.
Hitler thinks he has promises of support from the leading Bavarian
politician Gustav von Kahr (who is effectively running Bavaria) – but
von Kahr lets him down in the end
Hitler plans to grab control in Munich, then lead a march on Berlin
to put war hero Erich von Ludendorff in power as Chancellor
Hitler announces the start of the uprising in a Munich beer hall
during a political meeting on November 8th
On November 9th the Nazis march into the centre of Bavaria but
the police turn out to stop them – 16 Nazis shot dead in gun battle
Hitler charged with treason
His trial is a joke because the judge is sympathetic to the Nazis
Hitler uses the trial to become a national figure through the
reporting of his patriotic speeches
He is sentenced to five years (should have got life)
He serves 9 months before release in prison at Landsberg Castle
Uses his time in prison to write Mein Kampf (his book explaining his
views and life story)
The Nazi Party 1924-29
Hitler now focuses on winning power through elections – realises
that revolution will not work
The Nazi party becomes much more organised & sets up local party
organisations across Germany
Hitler chooses people who are efficient administrators – e.g. Philipp
Bouhler as secretary
Hitler Youth set up
Results from elections show they are not going anywhere in this
period – 12 seats in the Reichstag won in 1928
This was the period when Weimar Germany was at its most stable –
Nazis do not have much appeal
SS set up in 1925 as Hitler’s personal bodyguard
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Joseph Goebbels put in charge of propaganda – a genius at
producing this
They only have the support of less than 3% of Germans
Nazi voters tend to be peasant farmers and shopkeepers / small
business people – groups not sharing in Weimar prosperity
He gets support (and money) from some important companies /
businessmen– e.g. Thyssen, Krupp & Bosch
Uses modern technology – radio, films & gramophone records to get
their message across
Create image of strength & unity through RALLIES
The Rise of the Nazis 1929-32
Wall St Crash in 1929 begins Great Depression and rise of
unemployment
Hitler says only Nazis can provide firm leadership & jobs for
Germany & blames Versailles treaty for much of Germany’s
problems
The 25 Points are a very attractive message to people suffering in
the Depression
As unemployment rises, so does Nazi vote
Nazis get 107 seats in Reichstag in 1930 and almost 200 in
November 1932 making them largest party in Reichstag (but not in
the majority yet)
Nazis keep their promises vague in elections – their message is
very simple & clear and their propaganda very effective
The uniforms and sense of order / unity is very appealing in time of
crisis
The SA fight street battles with the Communists
By 1930 there are 400,000 SA men
Middle-class Germans are terrified of a Communist revolution &
see the Nazis as the only people willing to fight to stop this
Nazis set up soup kitchens and shelters for the unemployed &
homeless
Promise work and bread to the working class
Nazis have dropped their policies of nationalising industries to
show big business that they can be trusted – Hitler continues to
get support from some leading industrialists / business people who
give money and help
Newspaper tycoon Alfred Hugenberg gives support and allows Nazi
propaganda into his newspapers
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Hitler runs for President in 1932 and gets 13 million votes when
Hindenburg is re-elected with 19 million
Hitler’s speeches are a huge draw with German public – he poses as
the strong modern leader Germany needs
Many people think democracy can not solve Germany’s economic
problems and Hitler appeals to this
Many traditional-minded people are disgusted by the culture of
Weimar Germany – modern art, sexually explicit books and shows
etc – and Hitler appeals to these people with his message
A vote for Hitler is usually a vote against something (democracy /
communism / Weimar culture) – NEGATIVE COHESION
Support for Nazis cuts across all classes and areas but is less
strong amongst working class – who are more likely to vote SPD or
KPD.
Hitler has big appeal to women
Part 3 – The Nazi Dictatorship 1933-1939
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The Nazi Seizure of Power
July 1932 – Nazis are strongest party in Reichstag with 230 seats
Franz von Papen becomes new Chancellor when Chancellor Brϋning is
forced out in April 1932
November 1932 – Nazi vote falls – they are still strongest party
but their vote seems to be slipping away now
Von Papen loses support of the Reichstag and has to resign in
November 1932
Hindenburg does not want Hitler as Chancellor but his preferred
man (Kurt von Schleicher) does not have enough support in the
Reichstag
January 1933 – Franz von Papen (who hates Schleicher) arranges a
deal between President Hindenburg and Hitler
Hitler will get to be Chancellor but with limited powers. Papen will
be Vice-Chancellor and pick all but 2 of the government ministers
Hitler uses one of his choices to make his right-hand man at the
time (Hermann Goering) into the Prussian Minister of the Interior –
giving a leading Nazi control over most of the police in Germany
The Creation of the Nazi Dictatorship – Part 1
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Hitler organises a new election to be held in March 1933 to try and
get the new government a majority in the Reichstag
Nazis intimidate and attack their enemies with the police doing
nothing to prevent this
27th February – the Reichstag building is set on fire by a Dutch
communist called Marinus van der Lubbe
The Nazis see this as a sign that the Communists are about to
launch a revolution
Hindenburg gives permission for Communists to be locked up
without trial – using the emergency powers of the President under
article 48 of the constitution
All communist newspapers banned under emergency powers
Mass arrests of Communists and others
70 people die in violence during the election campaign
March 5th – Nazis and Nazi-supporting parties win 52% of the vote
24th March – the new Reichstag (with Communists excluded) passes
the Enabling Act – a law that gives Hitler the right to rule by
decree (i.e. to make new laws just by announcing them)
April 1933 – Civil service, schools and legal system sees the removal
of all Jews, Socialists and Communists
May 1933 – all independent trade unions banned – all workers now
have to belong to the Nazi controlled DAF (German Labour Front)
July 1933 – all other political parties are banned
January 1934 – all local governments (the 18 Länder / States) in
Germany are taken over by the Nazis – their governors are
appointed by Hitler from now on.
The Creation of the Nazi Dictatorship – Part 2
Ernst Röhm is head of SA
Röhm wanted to see the Nazi system to become more socialist – he
hated Hitler’s links to rich businesspeople and wanted the state to
nationalise big businesses
SA now 3 million strong in 1934
Röhm wants to see the army merged into the SA
The army officers tend to be nobles and are horrified by the
suggestion that they should become part of the working-class,
thuggish SA
The SS (led by Heinrich Himmler and Reinhard Heydrich) want to
destroy the SA power too.
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SS leaders and army officers tell Hitler that Röhm wants to grab
power
30 June 1934 Hitler orders arrest of Röhm & other SA leaders
Around 400 people are shot without trial during the Night of the
Long Knives – including Röhm, von Kahr and von Schleicher
Hitler is removing any possible threat to him and sending out a
message that no disloyalty will be tolerated
Death of President Hindenburg in August 1934 means that there is
no limit on Hitler’s power
Hitler now has the combined power of the President and the
Chancellor and uses the title of Fϋhrer (Leader)
Every soldier now has to swear an oath of loyalty to Hitler
The Terror State / Opposition
Nazi Germany is a Police State – the police are used to control the
lives of everyone (not just criminals)
SS (Schutzstaffel) become more and more powerful after Night
of the Long Knives – they carried out the murders for Hitler
Led by Heinrich Himmler
SS takes control of all of the police
SS runs the concentration camps (the Death’s Head Units of the
SS)
SS only take Aryan men – i.e. those people who are supposed to be
racially pure
GESTAPO = the secret police
Gestapo rely on informers – ordinary members of the public giving
them information
They arrest people who act against / speak against the Nazis
Concentration Camps – first one set up in 1933 at Dachau
Camps are for political prisoners at first and later for criminals
Prisoners at mercy of guards
By 1939 there are about 20,000 people in concentration camps and
150,000 in prisons (for political crimes)
Concentration camps are NOT death camps – there are no death
camps in the period you are studying
Law courts – all lawyers who are opponents of the Nazis lose their
jobs in 1933
All judges have to be members of the National Socialist League for
the Maintenance of the Law
The People’s Court is set up to hear treason cases
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Hitler intervenes in cases to increase punishments whenever he
feels like it
Catholic Church signs an agreement with the Nazis – the
CONCORDAT in 1933
This supposedly says that Catholics will not be mistreated by Nazis
if they stay out of German politics
Catholic priests are harassed by Nazis, Catholic schools closed and
Catholic youth groups banned
Pope criticises Nazis in 1937, criticising their regime
Protestant churches are smaller than the Catholic Church and
divided.
They are merged into one church – the German Christian Movement
This is under the control of Ludwig Mϋller – a Nazi bishop
Some Protestant ministers still speak out against the Nazis and
end up in concentration camps e.g. Martin Niemöller
Religion is hated by Hitler because it is a rival for people’s loyalty
Propaganda
Joseph Goebbels is Minister of People’s Enlightenment and
Propaganda – in charge of all propaganda
Newspapers told what to write by daily briefings from the
Propaganda ministry
All disloyal or Jewish journalists sacked in 1933
Sales of newspapers drop 10% because people find them so boring
and unconvincing
Universities – 3000 professors / lecturers lose jobs in 1930s
Research has to follow Nazi teachings
All artists have to be member of the Reich Chamber of Culture or
are not allowed to publish / show work / perform
Books by Jews or Communists are publicly burned in 1933
Music – Jazz is banned (it is African-American in its origin). Works
by Jewish composers are banned (e.g. Mendelssohn).
Wagner, Beethoven, Bach and traditional German folk music is
promoted.
Modern art in paintings / sculpture is described as Jewish and
disgusting
Plays / films have to reflect Nazi propaganda
Posters pushing Nazi propaganda are everywhere in towns
Rallies are used to show strength and unity of the Nazi movement –
esp. the huge annual rally at Nuremberg
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All radio stations are under Nazi control
Cheap mass produced radios are made so everyone can afford them
and there are loudspeakers in the streets and workplaces so
everyone can hear Hitler’s speeches
All cinema films have propaganda newsreel in front of them
All films have to be approved by Goebbels
Lots of obvious propaganda films made – e.g. Hitlerjunge Quex
Sport – used to put across the message that the Germans are
superior to other nations
1936 Berlin Olympics is showcase for Germany
Germany wins 3 gold medals and comes top of the medal tables –
seen as proof of Aryan superiority
Star of the show is a black American athlete called Jesse Owens –
he wins 4 golds and is a serious embarrassment to the Nazis
All propaganda is there to show Hitler as the god-like genius who is
Germany’s father figure
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Part 4 – Nazi Domestic Policies 1933-1939
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Education & the Young
Schools are taken over and all opponents of the Nazis who are
teachers lose their jobs
Teachers have to join the Nazi Teachers’ League
School subjects are used as propaganda – e.g. History lessons on
the role of the Jew in German History, maths problems that are
about military issues
Mein Kampf is a compulsory school book (Hitler’s autobiography)
Education for boys and girls is heavy on PE
Education for boys aims to turn them into soldiers, for girls it aims
to turn them into mothers
Youth groups for both boys and girls are compulsory but many
teenagers refuse to go
Boys join the Pimpfen aged 6 and the Hitler Youth aged 14
Lots of outdoor activities, training with weapons and Nazi
propaganda
Girls join the BDM – the League of German Girls – again, lots of
physical exercise and outdoor activities
Some teenagers rebel and join anti-Hitler Youth gangs (the
Edelweiss Pirates)
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Some join the Swing Movement – a youth subculture that involves
listening to Jazz / swing records, growing hair long and wearing
tweed (copying the fashions of the English upper class)
Women in Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany is very male dominated with traditional views on the
role of women as mothers and wives.
Getting women to go back to being housewives seen as way to free
up jobs for men.
But after 1937 there were shortages of workers so women began
to take more factory work.
Falling birth-rate in Germany in 1920s and early 1930s – Hitler sees
increasing population as necessary for a strong Germany
Women encouraged to not smoke, wear short skirts or make up.
Ideal woman is blond, athletic with child-bearing hips.
Medals for women with four or more children. 4 kids gets a woman
a Bronze Motherhood Cross, 6 gets Silver, 8 gets Gold. Hitler
Youth ordered to salute women with the medals.
Loans of 1000 marks for newly weds if woman agrees not to take a
job – they can pay back the money or through having kids. 4 kids
means the debt to the state is repaid.
Abortion is illegal and so is contraception.
Birth-rate rises – 15 per 1000 in 1933, 20 per 1000 in 1939.
Married professional women sacked after 1933 – doctors, lawyers
etc.
V. few prominent women in Nazi Germany. Leni Riefenstahl was
film-maker, Gertrude Scholz-Klink was head of Nazi Women’s
Bureau (women’s section of Party), Magda Goebbels was the closest
thing to a ‘first lady’ and had 6 children, Eva Braun was hidden from
public view as Hitler’s girlfriend.
Most famous slogan associated with the Nazis and addressed to
women is “Kinder, Kirche, Küche” –Children, Church and Kitchen.
Lebensborn programme offers nurseries and support for single
mums who have a baby with an Aryan SS man
The Economy / Living Standards
A scheme is set up called KDF (Strength through Joy). It allows
workers to get cheap tickets to cinemas, theatres etc, or cheap
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holidays, or to save for a cheap VW Beetle car. KDF was very
popular.
All non Nazi trade unions are closed down. Every worker is now a
member of the DAF, the German Labour Front.
Wages are low, people have KDF and DAF contributions taken
from their pay packets.
The working week went from an average 43 hours in 1933 to 47
hours in 1939.
Unemployed workers are given work through the RAD (National
Labour Service) – the pay here is very low and people are
treated very harshly
In 1937 the average worker (compared to 1927) ate less meat,
milk, cheese, white bread, fruit and sugar and drank less beer.
They ate more rye bread and potatoes.
All 18-25 year old men had to do 6 months labour service – low
paid manual labour. This was like conscription – which they also
had to do.
The Nazis made an effort to get cheap canteens and cleaner
conditions in factories through the Beauty of Labour scheme.
Public Works to create jobs building roads, railways, houses and
public buildings like the new Reich Chancellery (the offices in
Berlin where Hitler worked from). Reduces unemployment but
pay is very low.
7000 miles of Autobahns built by 1939
After 1935 conscription is introduced – every man has to do a
year of army service – reduces unemployment.
After 1936 there is a 4 Year Economic Plan to get Germany
ready for war, building up weapons factories.
Spending on the military goes from 3.5 billion marks in 1933 to
26 billion in 1939
German army goes from 100,000 men in 1933 to 900,000 in
1939
Unemployment is virtually gone by 1938. Only ½ million
unemployed in 1938 (down from 6 million in 1932) but this figure
does not include women or Jews who were sacked.
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Treatment of the Jews / Ethnic Minorities
The Germans are believed by Nazis to be the MASTERRACE
(Herrenvolk)
They are supposed to be ARYAN – tall, blond, blue-eyed Northern
European people who the Nazis believe are the superior type of
human being
All non-Aryans are inferior – especially the UNTERMENSCHEN –
‘subhuman’ people – Nazis would include Africans, Gypsies and Jews
in this list.
Early measures against the Jews (1933-1935) include shop
boycotts (1933), banning them from government jobs (1933) &
restaurants (1935)
Nuremberg Laws (Sept 1935) – take away the Jews’ identity as
German citizens.
Also in the Nuremberg Laws – banned Jews and Germans from
marrying or even having sex with one another
After 1938 – persecution intensifies. They have to carry ID cards,
Jewish doctors can not treat Germans, all Jewish property has to
be registered with the government
Nov 1938 – Kristallnacht – mass attack on Jewish community in
Germany
Sparked by murder of a German diplomat in Paris by a Jewish
refugee – Herschel Grynszpan
Idea for the attack is suggested by Goebbels
SA / SS / police all involved
Around 100 Jews killed on the night, 20,000 taken to concentration
camps
191 synagogues burned down, thousands of homes and businesses
destroyed
Jews of Germany made to pay a 1 billion mark punishment fine for
the murder in Paris
Jews banned from schools or from running businesses after
Kristallnacht
April 1939 Jews moved to particular parts of cities / towns –
ghettos
BUT – THERE ARE NO DEATH CAMPS OR MASS KILLING OF
JEWS IN GERMANY DURING THE PERIOD YOU STUDY.
AUSCHWITZ WAS BUILT AFTER 1939 WHEN WW2 WAS IN
PROGRESS
Gypsies also persecuted
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30,000 Gypsies in Germany
They were covered by the Nuremburg Laws in the same way
They were moved to ghettos in 1939
Homosexuals are persecuted – homosexual acts are illegal and will
get you sent to a concentration camp
60% of homosexual prisoners in camps never survive their sentence
because of mistreatment
Camps also used to lock up ASOCIALS – i.e. people who were
prostitutes, career criminals, beggars – or pacifists, Jehovah’s
Witnesses etc
1933 – a law is passed allowing people to be forcibly STERILISED –
700,000 people sterilised in Nazi Germany, usually people who were
disabled
1939 – EUTHANASIA programme begins – disabled children being
killed by lethal injection or starvation
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