WeimarandNaziGermanyForyourGermanyexam,youneedtomakesureyoucananswerkeyquestionsindetail.Youmustbeabletoexplain:-theproblemsfacedbytheWeimargovernmentimmediatelyafterWWI-whytheNaziscouldnothavecometopowerinthe1920s-whyHitlerbecameChancellor-howHitlerbecameDictator-whatimpacttheNazishadonlifeinGermany-theimpactWWIIhadontheNazisForeachthingwehavestudied,thereisadetailedversionofyourclassnotes.TorevisecontentforNaziGermany,highlightthemainpointsofeachsection,theeffectonthegovernmentatthetimeandtheeffectontheNazis.

WEIMARREPUBLIC 1918 EndofWWI(Nov)

1919 SpartacistRising(Jan) TreatyofVersailles(June) 1920 KappPutsch(Jan) 1923 Hyperinflation OccupationoftheRuhr(Jan)

StresemannbecomesChancellor(Aug) Rentenmarkintroduced(Oct) MunichPutsch(Nov) 1924 StresemannmadeForeignMinister DawesPlan(April) 1925 LocarnoTreaty(Oct)

HindenburgelectedPresident 1926 GermanyinLeagueofNations 1929 YoungPlan Stresemanndies WallStreetCrash(Oct) 1932 Nazisbecomethebiggestsingleparty

(July)NAZIGERMANY1933 Hitler

becomesChancellor(Jan) ReichstagFire(Feb) EnablingAct(March)

Otherpartiesbanned(July)BoycottofJewishshops

1934 NightoftheLongKnives(June) Hindenburgdies(Aug) Armyoath(Aug) Hitlerbecomesdictator(Aug) 1935 ReichLawonCitizenship

LawfortheProtectionofGermanBloodandHonour

1936 CompulsorytojoinHitlerYouth BerlinOlympics 1938 Kristallnacht(Nov)

JewsbannedfromGermanschools 1939 T4starts OutbreakofWWII(Sept) 1942 WannseeConference(Aug) 1944 OperationValkyrie(July) 1945 Hitlerdies EndofWWII(Sept)

WhatproblemsweretheWeimargovernmentfacing?AndhowdidHitlerbecomeChancellorin1933?

November1918–WWIendsAfterKaiserWilhelmabdicatedandfledtoHolland,anarmisticetoendWWIwasagreedbetweenGermanyandtheallies.ThiswashardforGermanytotakeastheirfortuneshadchangedsoquickly.TheKaiserhadledGermanstobelievethattheywerewinningthewar.ThemenwhosignedthearmisticewereknownastheNovemberCriminalsandhated.TheGermansclaimedtheyhadbeen‘stabbedintheback’.Theheadofthedelegation,MatthiasErzberger,wasassassinatedinAugust1921forsigningthearmistice.TheWeimarRepublicwasformedunderFreidrickEbert,thefirstdemocraticallyelectedleaderofGermany,andtheSocialDemocrats.ThegovernmenthadtobeformedinWeimar,atownawayfromBerlin,becauseBerlinwastoodangerous.January1919–SpartacistUprisingSpartacistswantedarevolutionsimilartotheCommunistRevolutionin1917inRussia(theviolencethathadgonewiththerevolutioninRussiamademostofEuropeterrifiedofCommunism).TheuprisingwasleadbyRosaLuxembourgandKarlLeibknecht.On5thJanuary,thegroupcapturedthegovernmentnewspaperandtelegraphinBerlin.TheystruggledtogetsupportandwereeasilycrushedbytheFreikorps(agroupofex-soldiers,demobilisedafterWWI,thatthegovernmentusedlikeamilitia).Theleaderswerearrested,interogatedandmurdered.Aftertheuprising,theFreikorpswereusedtocrushotherCommunistuprisingsacrossGermany.June1919–TreatyofVersaillessignedGermanyforcedbythealliestosigna'diktat'(dictatedpeace)topunishthemforstartingWWI.Itwas‘dictated’becauseGermandelegatesweren’tinvitedtothediscussions,theywerejustforcedtosignthetreaty.Mainterms:Land-lose13%oflandwith6mpeoplelivingonit,lostalloverseascolonies,Alsace-Lorraine(giventoFrance)andthePolishCorridor,10%ofindustryand15%ofagriculturallandlostArmy-armylimitedto100000soldiers,navyto15000sailors,6battleships,nosubmarinesorairforceMoney-pay£6600milliontothealliestorebuildafterWWIBlame-Article231blamedGermanyforstartingWWI,thiswashatedbytheGermanpeople,whodidn’tbelievethattheyhadstartedthewaratall.HitlerhatedthetreatyandrepeatedlypromisedtoripitupandmakeGermanygreatagain.

March1920–KappPutschSoldierswholosttheirjobsundertheTreatyofVersaillesjoinedtheFreikorps.TheGermangovernmenttriedtodisbandtheFreikorpsaftertheystartedtoexceedthenumberoftroopsGermanywasallowedtohave.ThiscausedWolfgangKapptomarchintoBerlinwiththeFreikorpsanddeclareanewgovernment.Thegovernmentasked

forhelpfromtheworkers,whowentongeneralstrike(everyworkergoesonstrike).Thiscausedtheputschtocollapsefourdaysafteritstarted.Theleaderswerenotpunished.June1922–RathenauassassinatedGermanyexperiencedpoliticalviolenceafterWWIintheformofputschesandassassinations,allofwhichmadethegovernmentlookweak.In1922,theGermanforeignminister,WalterRathenau,wasassassinatedbyanultra-nationalistgroup.January1923–OccupationoftheRuhrReparationshadbeensetin1921butin1923,GermanycouldnotaffordtopaytheirreparationspaymentsoFrenchandBelgiantroopsinvadedtheindustrialregionofGermany,theRuhr,intendingtoensuretheygottheirmoney.TheGermanworkersrespondedwithpassiveresistance,apolicyofrefusingtocooperatewiththetroopsandrefusingtowork.Thefactoriesstoppedworkingandthegovernmentpromisedtokeeppayingthewagesofthemennolongerworking,causingevenmorefinancialproblems.January1923–HyperinflationTheGermangovernmentcouldnotpaythepeoplestrikingintheRuhrwhentheyweregettingnomoneyfromtradinggoodsfromthefactories,sotheystartedtoprintmore.Thiscausedhyperinflation,whenthevalueofthemoneydecreasesandcostofthingslikefoodincrease.Theeffectwasdevastating,moneywasworthlesssopeoplebarteredandthevalueofmoneywassounpredictablethatworkerswerepaidtwiceadayandoftenpickeduptheirwagesinwheelbarrows.Peoplewholivedontheirsavings(likepensioners)andthemiddleclasseswhoownedbusinesseshadalltheirmoneywipedout.Thoseindebtcouldpaytheirdebtsoffforafractionofthevalue.Thiscausedalotofpeopletolosefaithinthegovernment.August1923–StresemannbecomesChancellorStresemannbecameChancellorin1923andstartedaperiodofstabilityinGermany.Hecalledoffpassiveresistanceeventhoughthepublicthoughtheshouldhavecontinuedandgottheworkersbackintothefactories.HeintroducedtheRentenmarkandsignedtheDawesandYoungPlansandgotGermanyintotheLeagueofNations.HewasnotChancellorforlong,butstoodasForeignMinisteruntil1929andcontinuedtobeastabilisinginfluenceonGermany,effectivelystoppingextremepartiesliketheNazisfromgainingsupport.AsForeignMinister,hesignedtheLocarnoPact,whichguaranteedthebordersofEuropeancountries,effectivelymakingthempromisenottoinvadeeachother,makingGermanymoretrustworthytotheirEuropeanneighbours.8/9thNovember1923–MunichPutschTheNaziPartyattemptedtotakeoverthegovernmentaftertheWeimargovernmentannouncedthatpassiveresistancewastoend.HitlerwantedtotakeoverBavariaandthenmarchtoBerlinwithhissupportersasMussolinihadinItaly,soplottedwithtwonationalistpoliticianstodoso.Kahr(theleaderofBavariaandoneoftheplotters)

calledofhimandHitler’splanatthelastminute.On8thNovember,KahrwasmakingaspeechinabeerhallwhenHitlerandhissupportersstormedin.Karhagreed,atgunpoint,tosupportHitler.HitlerletKahrgo,whoinformedthepolice.On9thNovember,theNazisstartedmarchingoutofMunichbutweremetbyarmedpolicewhoshot16NazisandarrestedHitler.Heusedthetrialasapublicitystuntandmadehimselfbetterknown.Hitlerwassentencedto5yearsinLandsbergprison,butonlyserved7months,duringwhichhewastreatedreallywell.Whilstinprison,hewroteMeinKampfandastheNaziPartywasthenbanned,workedouthowtogetthembackontrack.Hedecidedtogofor‘theballotnotthebullet’–bevotedintopowerratherthanstorminghiswayinwithviolence.Theputschwasashort-termfailurebutalong-termsuccess.November1923–RentenmarkintroducedTheoldmoneywasscrappedandburntandanewcurrencyintroduced.Thegovernmentcontrolledtheamountofmoneyincirculationandstoppedhyperinflation.Thepeoplewhohadlostmoneyduringhyperinflationwerenotcompensated.September1924–DawesPlanPlansignedtosetGermany'sreparationspaymentsandmakethemmoremanageable.TheAmericanslentmoneytoGermanytoboosttradeandindustryandensuretheirreparationscouldbepaid.TheplanalsoinstructedthealliestoleavetheRuhr.Thiswasabrilliantshort-termsolutiontoGermany’sproblemsbutmadeGermanyveryreliantontheAmericaneconomy.November1928–electionHitlerjoinedthatNaziPartyin1919andbecametheleaderin1921.Afterhewasreleasedfromprison,hechangedthewaytheyworked.HeusedtheSAtobreakupmeetingsofpoliticalrivals,protectimportantNazisandhandoutpropagandaleaflets.Inthe1928election,mostworkerssupportedtheSocialDemocratsbecauseofStresemann’spolicies.Theyreceived3%oftheoverallvote,theydon’thavethesupportoftheworkingclass,GermanyisstableandthepeoplearescaredbyHitler’santi-SemiticideasandbytheSA.August1929–YoungPlanReducedtheamountofmoneyGermanyhadtopayinreparationstomakesuretheycouldpay.October1929–StresemanndiesDiedofastroke.Germanylostitsstabilisinginfluence.October1929–WallStreetCrashGermanyhadborrowed800millionmarksfromtheUSAundertheDawesPlan.WhenAmericaneededthemoneybackwhenWallStreetcrashed,Germanywentintoaneconomicdepression.TheChancellorcutwagesandraisedtaxestotrytostop

hyperinflation,somethingthepeoplehated.Businessescollapsed,youngpeopleandfactoryworkersbecameunemployedandthegovernmentcutunemploymentbenefits.Theworsethingsgot,thelessmoneypeoplehadtospendandsothesituationcontinuedtogetworse.PeoplebegantosupportextremepartiessuchastheNazisandCommunistsastheWeimargovernmentfailedtosolvetheproblem.Peoplealsorememberedhyperinflation,bothoftheseeventsshowedthattheWeimargovernmentcouldn’tbereliedupon.July1932–electionsTheNazisbecomethesinglebiggestpartyintheReichstag,winning230seats.HitlerusestherunuptotheelectiontousenewtechnologybyflyingtoparadegroundstogivespeechesunderHitlerOverGermany.Thislooksimpressiveandgetshimlotsofpublicity.TheNazismakealotofpromisestotheGermanpeople.TheypromisetomakeGermanygreatagain,toovercometheTreatyofVersaillesandtodealwiththethreatfromtheCommunistparty.Theyoftenmakeconflictingpromises,promisingfarmersmoremoneyfortheircropsandthepeoplelowerfoodprices.November1932–electionsTheNazislost34seatsastheCommunistsgained11.TheNaziswerestillthelargestpartyintheReichstagbutweredisappointednottogainanoverallmajority,whichwouldhavemadeHitlerChancellorautomatically.TheSAlosttheNazissupportastheywereseenasthugscausingtrouble.30thJanuary1933–HitlerbecomesChancellorHindenburgdidn'twantHitlertobeChancelloreventhoughhehadthemostseatsintheJuly1932elections(noonewouldworkunderhim),sohemadeFranzvonPapenChancellor.HehadnosupportandHitlerrefusedtocooperatesoHindenburgcalledtheNovemberelections.GeneralvonSchleicherpersuadesHindenburgtomakehimChancellor.VonSchelichercan'traiseenoughsupporttokeephispositionandhastoresign.Hindenburgcan'treappointvonPapensoHitlerismadeChancellorandvonPaperViceChancellor.HindenburgwronglybelieveshecancontrolHitler.HitlerbecametheChancellorandtheleaderofthelargestpartyintheReichstag,makingPresidentHindenburgtheonlypersonwhocouldvetohisdecisions.

EXAMHELP!Youobviouslycan’twriteaboutallthatinanexamanswer,sowhichonesarethemostimportant?Underlinethemostimportantlong-termexampleandthemostimportantshort-termexample.MakesureyouexplainhoweachhelpedHitlertobecomemorepopular.

HowdidHitlerbecomeDictator?HitlerbecameChancellorbutdidn'thaveanoverallmajorityintheReichstag.Hearrangedtoholdanotherelectionon5thMarchanduppedhisuseofpropagandatogetmorevotes.ReichstagFire-27thFebruary1933ADutchCommunistcalledMarinusvanderLubbewascaughtinsidethebuildingandarrested.HitlerusedittopersuadeGermanythatthefirewasaCommunistplotandthattheCommunistsweregoingtotakeoverGermany.Thatnight,4000Communistleaderswerearrestedandimprisoned.Thenextday,HitlerpersuadedHindenburgtogivehimemergencypowerstosuspendfreedomofspeech,assemblyandthepresssohecouldstoptheCommunists.HindenburgbelievedHitlerandpassedtheLawfortheProtectionofPeopleandStatewhichgaveHitlerthelegalbasisforhisruleandmeanttheNaziscouldcrushtheCommunists.Itsaid:-theNazicontrolledpolicehadthepowertosearchhouses-thepolicecouldholdpeopleindefinitely,withouttrial-thedeathpenaltywasusedformorecrimes-meetingsandnewspaperwereshutdown-politicalopponents,like4000Communists,werearrestedbytheSAandtakenawaytoconcentrationcamps-theNazipolicetookcontrolofstateradioAftertheReichstagFire,thousandsofpoliticalopponentswerearrestedandCommunistsmeetingsandnewspaperswereshutdown.Emergencylawsareonlysupposedtostayforafewmonthsbutthesestayedfor12yearsandbecamethebasisforHitler'srule.ThefirewassoconvenientthathistorianshavesuggestedthattheNazisstartedthefirethemselves,withaseniorGeneralreportingthatGoerringconfessedtostartingthefire.Elections-5thMarch1933TheseelectionsgavetheNazismoreseatsintheReichstagastheyusedthepoliceandSAtostoptheiropposition.OnlytheNazishadbeenallowedtocampaignbeforetheelectionandpoliticalopponentshadbeenroundedupandimprisoned,andinthecaseoftheCommunists,couldbeshot.Manyopponentswentintoexile.TheNazisusedtheradiotobroadcasttheirpropagandaandanti-Communistmessage.Onelectionday,theNazisusedtheSAandpolicetointimidatevotersbywatchingovertheirshouldersastheyfilledintheirballotslips.However,theystilldidnothaveamajorityandneededacoalition.HitlerpersuadedtheNationalistPartytojointheNazis,givingthemjustoverhalfoftheseatsintheReichstag,andthemajorityHitlerneeded.Atthesametime,usinghisemergencypowers,hebannedtheCommunistsfromservingintheReichstagandpiledpressureonotherpartiessuchastheSocialDemocratstosupporthim.EnablingAct-2ndMay1933

WhatHitlernowwantedwasalawthatwouldmeanhedidn'thavetoasktheReichstag'spermissiontopasslawsandallowhimtobecomeadictator.Todothis,heneededtochangetheconstitution(lawsofthecountry),whichcouldonlybedonewiththebackingof2/3oftheReichstag.HealreadyhadroughlyhalfoftheReichstag'sbacking,butheneededmore.TheReichstagwereduetomeetattheKrollOperaHouse(astheReichstagbuildinghadburntdown).Hitlerusedthismeetingtointimidatehisoppositionbypostingsupportersoutsideshouting'wewantanEnablingAct'andinsultingmembersofoppositionparties.HitlerfilledtheKrollOperaHousewitharmedSAandSSmen,coveringtheexitsandthreateningthemeniftheyvoicedanyoppositiontoHitlerspeaking.TheCommunistsweren'tallowedtovoteandtheCatholicCentrePartywerepersuadedtovoteinfavouroftheEnablingActbecauseHitlerpromisedtoprotecttheCatholicChurch.AllpartiesapartfromtheSocialDemocratsgaveintoNazipressureandtheEnablingActwaspassed94votesto444.TheActmeanttheReichstaghadvoteditselfoutofexistenceandgivenalltheirpowertoHitler,whocouldpasslawswithoutconsultingtheReichstag.WhenevertheReichstagmetfromthenon,theyonlymettohearHitlerspeak.TradeUnionsbanned-2ndMay1933HitlerusedhisnewpowersfromtheEnablingActtobringthecountryintoline,thiswastherapidchangethatiscalledtheNaziRevolution.On2ndMay,theNazisbrokeintotradeunionofficesalloverGermanyandarrestedthetradeunionleaders.AllthetradeunionswerethenmergedundertheDAF,theGermanLabourFront,whichwascontrolledbytheNazis.ThismeanttheNaziscouldimposewhateverworkingconditionstheylikedandcontrolworkersinGermany.Allpartiesbanned-July1933On10thMay,theNazistookovertheSocialDemocrats,theonlypartystillwillingtostanduptothem.TheydestroyedtheSocialDemocratnewspaperandtookalltheirmoney.Twoweekslater,theytookallthemoneytheCommunistPartyowned.Othersmallerpartieshadthesamethingdonetothemandwerebrokenup,leavingonlytheNazis.On14thJuly,HitlerpassedalawthatallowedonlytheNaziPartytoexistinGermanyandbanningandotherpartiesfromformingasopposition.Thismeanttherewasnopoliticaloppositionleft.NightoftheLongKnives-29/30thJune1934Hitlerhadremovedallofhisopposition,hisonlyrivalswereleftinsidehisownparty.HehadbecomeworriedabouttherisingpoweroftheSA,especiallyintheincreasingpopularityoftheirleader,Rohm.TheSAwere2500brownshirtswhobrokeuppoliticalmeetingsandcausedproblemsonthestreets.TheywereundisciplinedandwantedtobenefitfromtheirloyaltytoHitlerbybeinggivenjobsandpowerfulpositions.Rohmalsowantedtotakeoverthearmy.RohmwaspopularamongsttheNazisandoneofHitler'sfriends.ThismadehimapotentialsuccessortoHitlerandmadeHitlerworriedthatRohmmighttrytoousthim.ThiswouldbearealpossibilityifRohmwasallowedtotakeoverthearmy.

Thearmy,ontheotherhand,wereasmallorganisationwithonly100000menaftertheTreatyofVersailles,buttheystillhadthepowertooverthrowHitlerandwerewelltrainedanddisciplined.Thearmywassupportedbypowerful,rich,businessmen,whowantedtobuynewweaponsandexpandthearmy.ThearmyandthearmygeneralsdidnotwanttoberuledbyRohmanddidn'tlikethewaytheSAusedviolence.WhenhehadbecomeChancellor,HitlerhadpromisedthearmygeneralsthathewouldripuptheTreatyofVersaillesandknewhewasgoingtohavetogotowarwithFrancetodothis.Althoughalotofthearmygeneralsdislikedhim,theywentalongwithit.So,on29th/30thJune,SAleadersweredraggedtoNaziheadquartersandshotonHitler'sorders.Inthenextweek,hundredsofotherSAleadersandHitler'srivals,suchasex-ChancellorvonSchleicher,wereexecuted.Rohmwasarrestedandwhenherefusedtocommitsuicide,wasshot.TheNightoftheLongKniveswasimportantbecauseitshowedthatHitlerwasnotgoingtoletanyonestandinhisway,notevenhisownparty.Healsogainedthesupportofthearmyandremovedthelastofthepotentialoppositionwithinhisparty.Hindenburgdies-2ndAugust1934Withinhoursof87yearoldPresidentHindenburgdying,HitlercombinedhispostofChancellorwithHindenburg'spostofPresidenttobecomeFuhrer.HewasthenheadofthegovernmentwithnoPresidenttotellhimwhattodo.ArmyOath-August1934AfterHindenburg'sdeath,everysoldierintheGermanarmysworepersonalloyaltytoHitler.ThismeantthearmyhadswornallegiancetohimratherthanGermanyandwiththeirobedienceanddiscipline,werenotgoingtobreakit.ThisalsomadeHitlerSupremeCommanderofthearmedforces.

EXAMHELP!YoumaybeaskedtocomparetwooftheeventsasthemostimportantbehindHitler’sconsolidationofpower.Makesureforeacheventyoucan:-describewhattheyare-explainhowtheyhelpedHitlergainmorepowerYouwillthenneedtowriteaconclusionexplainingwhyoneismoreimportantthantheother.Forexample:‘TheEnablingActwasmoreimportantthantheReichstagFireinHitler’sconsolidationofpower.’Explainwhetheryouagreeordisagreewiththisview.TheEnablingActwas…ItwasimportanttoHitler’sconsolidationofpowerbecause…TheReichstagFirewas…ItwasimportanttoHitler’sconsolidationofpowerbecause…Themostimportantofthetwowas………………………………because...

NaziGermanybeforeWWIIHitler’sideas

• Nationalism–astrongGermany• Socialism–statetocontroltheeconomy,althoughHitlerdidnotseethisasso

important(didnotwanttoupsetbigbusiness)• Race–Aryanswerethemostsuperior,JewsandSlavsthemostinferior• War–inevitablesoitwasimportanttokeepAryanshealthy• Lebensraum–LivingspaceforGermancolonistsintheconqueredlandofthe

East• Leadership–oneleaderwhomadeallthedecisions(dictatorship),democracy

wasseenasweak.TheeconomyHitler’saimsfortheeconomywere:reducingtheunemploymentfigures(6mwhenhecametopower),buildingupthemilitarytomakeGermanystrongagain,beself-sufficientincaseofwar(inWWI,BritishblockadeshadnearlystarvedGermany).NewPlan(1933-1935)–HjalmarSchacht,atalentedeconomistandPresidentoftheGermannationalbank,wasgoingtocontrolthelevelofimports,maketradeagreements,spendmoneyonindustryandreduceunemploymentbygettingunemployedpeopletobuildnewmotorwaysandhospitals,compulsorylabour,conscriptionandsackingJewsandoppositiongroupsfromtheirjobs.Theplanworkedupuntil1936whenHitlerannouncedhewantedtorearmfasterandsackedSchacht.FourYearPlan(1935-1939)–SchachtwasreplacedbyGoerring,theheadoftheairforce,whohadnoeconomicexperience.HisaimwastoprepareforwarbyrearmingandmakingGermanyself-sufficient(autarky).Heincreasedtheproductionofrawmaterialsthatwereneededtorearmoverproducingfood(ArmsNotButter),reducedimports,controlledwages,useforcedlabourtobuildnewindustrialplants.Theplanwasn’tsuccessfulbecausethegovernmentwerestillrelyingonimportsfromothercountriesforbasicsurvival,somefoodwasstillrationedandtheydidn’thaveenoughrawmaterials.TheNazisalsotriedtochangethewayworkersworkedtomakesuretheywereloyal(manyworkingclasspeoplehadvotedforsocialistparties).Theybannedtradeunionsandinsteadintroducedneworganisations:DAF(DeutscheArbeitsfront)–builtnewmotorways,hospitalsandschools.Theyalsosettledconflictbetweenworkersandtheirbosses.BeautyofLabour–partoftheDAF,usedtocampaignforbetterworkingconditionsStrengthThroughJoy–partoftheDAF,organisedworkers’freetimebyarrangingactivitiesandholidaysReichLabourService(RAD)–all18-25yearoldmenhadtodosixmonthsworkduty,itwashardandpoorlypaid,theyoftenhadtoplanttreesanddigditches

Youngmenalsohadtodotwoyearsmilitaryservicewhentheyturned18.Increasingthesizeofthearmyfrom100000to1.4m.TheNazisalsoworkedtogainthesupportofeconomicgroups:Smallbusinesses–benefitedfromNazirulebecauselawswerepassedtostopnewdepartmentstoresfromopening,JewishbusinesseswerecloseddownFarmers–benefitedbecausefoodpricesincreased,buttheyhatedbeinggivengovernmentquotasandalotoftheirlabourforcelefttoworkintownsBigbusiness–benefitedbecausetheymademoneyfromrearmamentandtradeunionswerebanned,butthegovernmentdecidedwhattheyshouldmakeandwhoshouldgetrawmaterialsUnskilledworkers–wereputtoworkongovernmentbuildingprojects,somehatedthejobstheyweregivenandtheworkwashardandpoorlypaid,butsomewerehappytobeabletoworkandthegovernmentstartedtobuildcheapflatsforthemtolivein.However,duringNazirule,workershadnorights,theirwageswerelowerthanbeforetheNaziscametopowerandtheyworkedlongerhours.Peoplewhorefusedtotakepartincompulsoryworkcouldendupinaworkcamp.YoungpeopleHitlerwantedtomakesurethathegothisthousandyearReich.Todothishecontrolledthenextgeneration.SchoollifechangedforGermanchildren.TheirteachersbecameapartoftheNaziTeachers’AssociationandtaughttheNazicurriculum.Thosethatdidn’tconformweresacked.Subjectswerechanged:PEwasgivenmoretimeandsportssuchasboxingencouragedtoprepareboysforthearmyandwerecompulsory.PupilshadtopassanexaminPE.HistoryconcentratedonhowGermanybecameaNazistate,theinjusticesoftheendofWWIandtheroleoftheCommunistsandJewsintheGermanstate.NohistoryfrombeforeWWIorfromanothercountrywastaught.BiologybecameawaytorecogniseperfectAryanfeaturesandwhichpeopletheyshouldbemarrying.GermantaughtpupilsaboutheroesfromWWI.TeachersusedfairystoriestoexplaintheriseoftheNazis.ChildrenalsoanalysedspeechesandwritingsbyprominentNazis.GeographyusedthelossoflandundertheTreatyofVersaillestoteachaboutthelandtheNaziswantedback.ItalsotaughttheimportanceforanincreaseinLebensraum(livingspace).MathsbecameawayofteachingchildrenNaziideasthrougheconomics.Forexample,pupilsmightbeaskedtoworkouthowmuchmoneyitwouldcosttokeepadisabledpersonincare.REbecamelessandlessimportantastheNazistriedtomoveGermanyawayfromorganisedreligion.YoucoulddropREaltogetherfrom1937.Girlswerealsotaughtskillsformotherhood,cooking,sewingandhowtochoseasuitablehusband(eugenics).Therewerealsospecialschools.TheSSranNapolasforfuturegovernmentandarmy

chiefs.TherewerealsomilitaryAdolfHitlerSchools.JewsweretreateddifferentlyinschoolsfromAryanchildren.Theywerebroughttothefrontoftheclassandridiculed,bannedfromcertainactivitiesand,eventually,bannedfromschoolsaltogether.UniversitiescomplainedthatundertheNazis,academicstandardsfell.Outsideofschool,childrenhadtheirfreetimeplanned.YouthmovementshadbeenpopularforalongtimeinGermanysoHitlertookovertheseorganisations.Inthe1920s,HitlerformedtheHitlerYouthandencouragedyoungpeopletojoinup.By1933,mostnon-Naziyouthgroupshadbeenshutdownandby1936itwascompulsorytojointheHitlerYouth.By1939,80%ofGermanyoungpeoplebelongedtoaHitlerYouthorganisation.TheHitlerYouthhadorganisationsforallyoungpeople:ForBoys:6-10Pimpf(LittleFellows)–lotsofcampingandgames.10-14DeutschJungfolk(GermanYoungPeople)–learntaboutNazisandthearmy.14-18HitlerJungend(HitlerYouth)–trainingforthearmy.ForGirls:10-14Jungmadel(YoungMaidens)–healthandhowtolookafterafamily.14-21BundDeutscheMadel(LeagueofGermanMaidens)-moreonhealth,thefamilyandchoosingagoodAryanhusband.Itwasseentobelessimportantforgirlstogotoyouthgroupsthanboys,becausetheyweren’tbeingpreparedforthearmy.Toprepareboysforwar,theyweregivenintensephysicalassessmentsandgivenbraverytestslikejumpingoutoffirstfloorwindows.Boyswerealsogivenasmartuniform,aknifeandtookpartinrallies.TheyweregiventestsontheNazipartyandhadtoswearanoathofloyaltytoHitler,justlikethearmydid.TheNazisusedthisoathofloyaltytoencourageyoungpeopletotellHitlerYouthleadersiftheirparentswerebeingdisloyaltotheparty.However,alotofyoungpeoplehatedtheHitlerYouthand20%neverjoined.Thetalkstheyweregivenwererepetitiveanddidn’tlikebeingbossedaroundormadetogoonweekendsawaytocamp.WomenThepositionofwomenisn’talwaysstraightforwardbecausealotofNaziideascontradictthemselves.TheNaziswantedmorechildrenfortheirfuture,sowomenwerereallyimportant.ThebirthratehaddroppedbeforeHitlercametopowerbecausewomenwantedcareersandbecausecontraceptionwasgivenout.Hitlerincreasedthebirthratebycontrollingwomen’slives.Theyweresackedfromtheirjobs,offeredloanswhentheygotmarriedandhadchildren,givenmedalscalledtheHonourCrossoftheGermanMother(themedalswerehandedoutonHitler’smother’sbirthdayandyougotagoldmedalifyouhad8children).Atthesametime,theNazisbroughtincompulsory

sterilisationforwomenwhocarriedgeneticdiseases.Theyalsoglorifiedtheimageoftheperfectwoman.Thiswomanwould:notwork,beblonde,athletic,wearingtraditionalclothesandflatshoes,notdyetheirhair,dietorsmoke,beagoodcookwhomadeupspecialstewofleft-oversonceamonth.ThesewomenwouldalsolovetheFuhrerandencouragetheirchildrentodothesame.Thebirthrateincreasedby30%between1933and1936.However,in1937,policiestowardswomenbecamemorecomplicated.TheNazisdiscoveredthatintheprocessofrearming,theyneededwomentofillthejobsleftbymenjoiningthearmy.Thismeantthatmarriageloanswerescrappedandwomenhadtodoayearoflabourduty.Bytheoutbreakofwar,fewerwomenwereworkingthanhadbeeninthe1920s.TheNazischangedthedivorcelawin1938tomakeiteasiertodivorcewomenwhocouldn’tproducechildren,orwhohadSTIs,evenifitwasgiventothewomanbyherhusband.TheNazisevensetupLebensborn,wherepurewomencouldgotoahomeandgivebirthtoapurebabybyanSSofficer.SomewomenlikedthelifetheNazisencouraged.Theywereabletogetjobsiftheywantedthemasemployerspreferredwomen,whowerepaidlessthanmen.SomewomenidolisedHitler,theywrotehimlettersandscreamedhisnameatrallies.TerrorTheterrorstatewasoverseenbyHeinrichHimmler.Hewasanex-chickenfarmerwhoroseuptheranksoftheNazipartytobecomeheadoftheSSin1929andheadoftheentirepolicesystemin1936.HewasthemaninchargeoftheHolocaust.TheSS(Schutzstaffelorprotectionsquad)wereHitler’spersonalbodyguard.TheyworeblackuniformswithSSwritteninlightningontheirbadges.By1939,theSSwasmadeupof240000pureAryanmen.TheSShadspecificphysicalstandardstheirmanhadtoachieve,withevenafillingbeinggroundsfordisqualification.TheywereruthlessandloyalandhadbeenapartoftheNightoftheLongKnives.TheywouldarrestpeopleandsearchhousesandwerethemainwayofterrorisingtheGermanpeople.Theyalsoranconcentrationcamps.Duringthewar,theybecameevenmoreimportantandhadafightingunit,theWaffenSS.WhenHitlerfirstcametopower,theSSarrestedhisopponentsandputtheminprisoncamps.Thesetemporaryprisonscampsthenbecamepermanentconcentrationcamps.Campswereusedforquestioning,tortureandre-education.Peoplediddieintheseearlycampsandfamilieswereusuallytoldtheirrelativehaddiedofadiseaseortryingtoescape.BytheoutbreakofWWII,theprisonswerebeingusedasslavelabour.Himmlercontrolledabout150companiesthatusedslavelabourformakingallkindsofgoods.Theselaterbecamedeathcamps.TheGestapo,thesecretpolice,wasusedtospyonGermanpeopleandreportbacktotheNazis.Theirjobwastoreadpeople’smail,listeninontheirphonecallsandcollectinformationfrominformers.TheNaziPartyhadBlockWardens,whowouldgointo

homestocollectdonationstothepartyandcheckonpeople.Theywouldthenreportanysuspiciousactivity.PeoplecouldbearrestedbytheGestapo,torturedandimprisonedinaconcentrationcamp.Becauseitwasverydifficulttoknowwhowasinforming,thiswasaveryeffectivewayofstoppingopposition.PolicebosseswereallNazisandthepolicewasunderthecontroloftheSS.TheNaziPartyappointedjudgeswhotookanoathofloyaltytoHitlersofairtrialswereunlikely.NaziscouldusethecourtstotryopponentsofHitlerontechnicalitiesandthenumberofoffencesthatleadtothedeathpenaltyincreased.PropagandaIn1928,JosephGoebbelswasputinchargeofNazipropaganda.Hewasabrilliantpropagandadesignerandanexcellentspeechmaker.GoebbelscontrolledthemediaasMinisterforNationalEnlightenmentthroughvariouschannels:Newspapers–Goebbelstoldthemwhattoprintandcontrolledwhoworkedforanewspaper.Boardsweresetupsoeveryonecouldreadthem.TheNazinewspaperwascalledDerSturmer.Rallies–politicalralliesshowedhowstrongtheNaziswere.TherewasaspecialparadegroundbuiltinNuremburgandin1937,100000Nazisparadedthroughthestadiumwithflags.Duringtheserallies,everyonemarchedinstepandshowedhowunifiedtheNaziswere.TheNazisalsoexpectedthatondaysthatwerespecialtothem,suchastheanniversaryoftheMunichPutsch,thatpeoplewouldhangflagsandgotoparades.TherewasaweeklongrallyatNuremburgeveryyeartocelebratetheNazis.Books–Nazishadaveryspecificideaonwhatwasappropriatetoread.TheybannedauthorsfrompublishingandanybooksthatdidnotsupporttheNazimessageorwerewrittenbyJewsorCommunists,wereburntonbigbonfires.Radio–cheapradiosweremadeandpublicloudspeakerssetupintownsquaressoeveryonecouldlistentotheradioprogramming.TheNazissetuptheReichRadioCompany,whichbroadcastHitler’sspeechesandhistoryprogrammes.Goebbelsevenhadprogrammesmadeforchildren.By1939,70%ofthepopulationofGermanyownedaradio.Radiosignalsfromforeignbroadcasterswereblocked.Films–Goebbelsmadeover1000Nazifilms.Peoplewatchedshortnewsprogrammesbeforethefilm,controlledbytheNazis,andyouhadtowatchthenewsreel.Therewerealsopro-NazisfilmsmadesuchastheEternalJewin1940,andfilmssuchastheTriumphoftheWill,madein1934abouttheNuremburgRally.Culture–HitlersetuptheReichChamberofCulture.TheNazislikedclassicalartandarchitecture,notthemodernartthathadbeenproducedduringtheWeimarRepublic,andopenedtheHouseofGermanArttoexhibittheworktheyapprovedofnextto‘degenerateart’(artconsideredunacceptable)withrudenoteswrittenunderneath.Theylikedmusicthatwastraditional.ShowsinthetheatrewerepoliticalorhistoricalandbooksconcentratedonNazisideassuchasWWIheroes.Tobeabletoworkinthearts,youhadtobelongtotheChamberofCulturesoifyoudidn’ttowtheline,youwouldnotbeabletowork.TheOlympics–awardedtoGermanyyearsbeforetheNaziscametopowerandby

1936,theothercountriesknewhowtheNazistreatedJewishpeopleandsomethreatenedtoboycottthegames.TheNazisdecidedtousetheopportunitytoshowhowstrongandunifiedtheNaziswere,andtotrytostopthecriticism,theytoneddowntheanti-JewishpropagandaandplacedaJewishathleteontheGermanteam.TheGermanathleteswereallprofessionalathletes,whereastheathletesfromothercountrieswereallamateurs.Pictures–GoebbelstightlycontrolledthewaytheleadingNazis,andespeciallyHitler,wererepresentedinpictures.Hecensoredpicturesthatshowedanyweakness,forexamplephotographsofHitlerwearinghisglasses.HitlerwaspresentedasamanthatGermanyneededandcouldrelateto,hewasshowntobegoodwithchildren,toworkreallyhard(eventhoughinrealityheoftendidn’tgetupuntilmiddayandwasunreliable),tobegenerousandbrave.ChurchesIn1933,nearlyallGermanswereChristian,with32%ofthepopulationbeingCatholicand58%ofthepopulationbeingProtestantand2/3ofGermanchildrenattendingaChurchSchool.TheProtestantChurchhadmoremembersthantheNaziParty.ThepowerandinfluencethechurchheldoverGermanyworriedtheNazis,but:Protestantpastorsmadeexcellent,pro-Nazispeechesandpeoplelistenedtothem,andthechurchsomeNaziideas.Themajorityofchurchleaderswantedtokeepreligionawayfrompolitics.Hitlermadeaspeechwhenhefirstcametopowerexplaininghowimportantthechurcheswere,eventhoughinrealityhehatedChristianity.Hethenmadetwoimportantdeals:InJune1933,HitlerandtheRomanCatholicchurchsignedaconcordat(understanding)sayingtheNaziPartyandtheCatholicChurchwouldstayoutofeachother’sway.HitlerthenunitedalltheProtestantchurchesunderonebishop,LudwigMuller.TheyusedNaziuniformsandsalutesandhadthemotto‘theswastikaonourbreastsandthecrossinourhearts’.TheNazisalsointroducedtheGermanFaithMovement,whichwastheNazialternativetoChristianity.Itmeanttheworshipofnatureandthesunandintroducedpagan-stylemarriageandburialceremonies.In1933,Hitlerhadn’tfeltstrongenoughtofightthechurches,butby1935thathadchanged.In1935,HitlersetuptheDepartmentforChurchAffairsandarrestedProtestantministerswhoweren’tsupportingtheNazis.Despitethefactthathepromisedtoleavethechurchesalone,Hitlershutdownallchurchyouthgroupsbetween1936and1939,infavouroftheHitlerYouth.HealsohadhundredsofCatholicpriestsandnunsarrestedin1936andbannedChristianChristmascelebrationsinschoolsin1937,beforebanningreligiousclassesinschoolsin1938.Duringthistime,localNazishadalotofpoweranddependingonwhereyouliveddependedonpolicytowardsreligion.SomelocalleaderssentSSmenroundtobeatuppreachersandsomestillpaidtheirchurchtaxes.

NaziGermanyinWorldWarTwoWWIIsplitsintofourperiodsfortheNazis:1939–1941:ThewargoeswellforGermanyCountriesinvaded:Poland,Norway,Holland,Belgium,France,NorthAfrica,GreeceDefeatsfortheAllies:BritainevacuatessoldiersfromDunkirk,nightbombingincitiesduringtheBlitzTacticsused:Blitzkrieg(lightningwar)InGermany:rationingoffood,tobacco,soapandclothesintroduced(morethingswererationedthatinBritain),importedluxurygoodsfromthecountriestheyinvadedbutmostwenttoNazileadersandtheblackmarket,somepeoplehadbetterdietsunderrationing.1941–1943:ThetideturnsOperationBarbarossa:HitlertriedtoinvadeRussia.TheGermanarmygowithin60milesofMoscow.TheUSA:JoinedthewaraftertheJapaneseattackonPearlHarborFailuresoftheGermanarmy:drivenoutofRussia,NorthAfricaandtheBritishinvadedItalyInGermany:hospitaltrainsbroughtinjuredsoldiersback,propagandacampaignsandextrarationsatChristmasusedtotrytoimprovemorale.1943–1944:TotalwarTotalwar:everypartofGermansocietyandindustryhelpingthewareffortGermanmilitaryfailures:attemptedanotherBlitz,OperationValkyrienearlyassassinatedHitler,Germancounter-attackinFrancefailedD-Day:thealliestookbackFranceInGermany:professionalsportbanned,nonessentialbusinessesshut,civilianclotheswerenolongerbeingproduced,womenweresenttowork,7millionPoW’swereusedinfactories,airraidsworsened,peoplewereevacuatedtothecountryside.1944–1945:FailureanddefeatAlliedbombing:DresdenbombingsRussiansinBerlin:RussiantroopsstormedBerlinandHitlercommittedsuicideInGermany:refugeeswerefleeingtheRussiantroopsandcomingintoGermany,Goebbelstriedonelastbigpush,theHomeGuardwasformed,theworstairraidshappenedand150000peoplewerekilledinDresdenalone,therationingsystemcollapsedandpeoplehadtoscavengeorusetheblackmarket.

ThewaralsoimpacteduponNazirule.OppositionWhentheinvasionofRussiafailed,oppositionincreased.YoungpeoplehadbecomeboredoftheHJasthemosttalentedleaderswentintothearmy.SomejoinedtheSwingYouth,agroupthatlistenedtojazz,woreEnglishclothesandmetinnightclubs.TheEdelweissPirateswentonHJ-stylehikes,althoughhopedtheywouldmeettheHJandcouldbeatthemup.SomeofthemgotinvolvedintheassassinationoftheheadoftheCologneGestapoandwereexecuted.SomestudentsformedtheWhiteRosegroup,whichdistributedleafletsattackingtheNazisfortheirpoliciestowardstheJews.Theleaderswerearrested,triedandexecuted.SomeChurchministerswerealsowillingtoopposetheNazis.DietrichBonhoefferpreachedanti-Nazisermons,helpedJewstoescapeGermanyandbecameinvolvedinaplottoassassinateHitler.HewasarrestedandexecutedatFlossenburgconcentrationcamp.MartinNiemollerandPaulSchneiderwerealsosenttoconcentrationcampsforrefusingtostoppreachinganti-Nazisermons.Hitlerneededthearmyonhisside,butinJuly1944,armyleaderscameveryclosetoassassinatinghim.VonStauffenbergsawthesufferingofGermansoldiersinRussiaanddisagreedwithwhattheSSweredoinginEasternEurope,soheplannedtouseabriefcasebombtokillHitler.Afteralotoffailedattempts,hegotthebriefcaseunderthetable,butitwasmovedatthelastminuteandwhenitwentoff,failedtokillHitler.VonStauffenbergwasexecutedandnearly5000ofHitler’senemieswerekilledinretaliation.MinoritiesHitler’spoliciestowardsminoritiesslowlyincreased.In1933,therewasaboycottofJewishshops,wheretheSAstoodoutsideshopstothreatenpeoplegoinginside.TheNuremburgLawsof1935bannedmarriagebetweenGermansandJews(LawfortheProtectionofGermanBloodandHonour)andtookawayGermanJewishcitizenship(ReichCitizenshipLaw).InNovember1938,Kristallnacht(theNightoftheBrokenGlass)happened.AyoungJewhadassassinatedaGermandiplomatinParisinoppositiontotheGermantreatmentofJewishpeople.TheNazisthenusedthisasanexcusetoattackJewishshops,homesandsynagogues.ThepoliceweretoldtoallowNazisupporterstodothisandaftertwonightsofviolence,on9/10thNovember,91Jewshadbeenkilledandstreetswerecoveredinbrokenglass.ThisleadtoasharpincreaseinNazipolicytowardsJewishpeopleas30,000werequicklyarrestedandsenttoconcentrationcamps.AfterWWIIbegan,policyworsenedagain.AstheNazisinvadedEasternEurope,theSSEinsatzgruppenwentintotowns,roundedupJewishpeopleandmadethemdigtheirowngraves,beforeshootingthem.Somecitiesalsoheldghettos,whereJewswere

madetoliveawayfromtherestofthecityinappallingconditions.By1941,JewshadtowearStarsofDavidontheirclothestoidentifythem.HitlerattackedpeoplehedidnotbelievefittedintohisidealGermany.ThismeanttheintroductionofT4(1939-1941),theprogrammetokillaround70,000disabledpeople.AttheWannseeConferencein1941,HitlerdecidedupontheFinalSolutionto‘theJewishquestion’.Thiswasthedecisiontobuilddeathcamps,withgaschambersandovens.Bytheendofthewar,6millionJewshadbeenmurdered,aswellasGypsies,homosexuals,habitualcriminalsand4millionRussianPoWs.EXAMHELP!Youcouldbeaskedaquestiononanyofthetopicsinthelastsection.Makesurethatforeachyoucan:-describethemaincomponents-explaintheireffectonGermany-explainwhyHitlerdidit

GermanykeywordsWriteadefinitionnexttothesekeywords

AdolfHitlerSchools

Aryan

Anti-Semitism

BlockWardens

BundDeutscheMadel

Concordat

DAF

Einsatzgruppen

Freikorps

GermanFaithMovement

Gestapo

HitlerJugend

Hyperinflation

KraftDurchFreude

Kristallnacht

Lebensborn

Lebensraum

MeinKampf

Napolas

Nationalist

NightoftheLongKnives

NSDAP

PassiveResistance

President

Putsch

RAD

ReichLabourService

Reichstag

Rentenmark

SA

SS

WaffenSS

WeimarRepublic