Professional Documents
Culture Documents
IGCSE HISTORY
DEVELOPMENT OF DICTATORSHIP : GERMANY, 1918-45
2
years. All Germans over 20 years old, male or female, had the right
to vote.
Proportional Representation was a key element of the
Reichstag. This meant that the number of Reichstag seats which
political parties are given depended on the percentage of votes
they gained. The purpose of this is to set up a democratic
system where no individual can gain too much power. The
Chancellor was the head of the government who chose ministers
and ran the country. He would need the majority of Reichstag votes
to pass a single law. The President was head of state and is re-
elected every 7 years, could dismiss the Reichstag, call for a new
election and had control of the army. Power was also shared
between the Chancellor and the President. No single group or
person had all the power. The President shared similar powers to
President of USA which meant that he could protect the Republic in
a crisis.
The Bill of Rights was set up. This guaranteed every German
citizen the right of freedom of speech, religion and equality under
the law. Cheques and balances introduced into government to make
system fairer. Anyone could form a political party which were all
new freedoms for Germany which was very modern at the time.
3
weakness as Article 48 would later be used and abused by Hitler to
make himself a dictator legally.
4
submarines were allowed. No air forces were allowed. Troops in
Rhineland had to be demilitarised. Rhineland would house French
troops for the next 15 years.
Land,- Alsace Loraine were returned to France. Germany was
forbidden from uniting with Austria. Danzig was made a free city
under League of Nations. The Saar, land of coalfields was given to
France for 15 years. West Prussia, also known as the The Polish
Corridor was given to Poland. Germany lost 13% of land in total,
50% of iron reserves and 15% of coal reserves. 6 million people
were lost.
5
dictatorship again. Communists (extreme LEFT), believe that
everyone should be equal and no one should individually own
anything. Everything should be shared. They believe that all factories
should be own by the workers who should share profits equally.
Fascists (extreme RIGHT) believe in the survival of the fittest. The
best people would end up rich as they deserve what they have
because they are naturally better. Weak people should not be helped
because the country requires strong people.
i. Causes
Right-wing parties. They resented the November Criminals;
6
Freikorps (demobilised soldiers who had refused to surrender their
weapons) to put down the Spartacist uprisings. Thousands of
communists were arrested and killed, mostly in Berlin. Rosa
Luxemberg and Karl Liebknecht were arrested on 15 January and
were murdered by the Freikorps. The threat from the left-wing was
over.
Kapp Putsch, March 1920. Elements of the Freikorps and military
supporters of Dr Wolfgang Kapp marched on Berlin to overthrow the
Weimar Republic and bring back the Kaiser. 12 th March, they took
over the government quarter of the city. President Ebert and the
government fled to Dresden on 13th March, urging German workers
to not cooperate and to go on strike. Up to 12 million workers
responded and refused to work. The gas, electricity, water and
transport all stopped in Berlin, leaving Berlin completely paralysed.
Kapp realised he could not govern and fled to Sweden.
7
ii. Events
In retaliation for the failure to repay reparations, the French and
Belgians sent 750,000 troops into the German industrial
heart, the Ruhr. They confiscated raw materials, manufactured
goods and industrial machinery. The Ruhr was Germanys most
important industrial area as it contained over 80% of Germanys
steel production. The French and Belgian invaded the area on
purpose to make up for Germanys missed reparation fees. German
government urged passive resistance and workers went on
strike. 80% of Germanys industrial production was based in the
Ruhr, French occupation in the Ruhr crippled Germanys industrial
output. The disruption increased Germanys debts, increased
unemployment rates and reduced overall industrial output.
iii. Effects
INFLATION. Reduction of workers working in industry meant that
there will be a drop in output. This meant that there will be
shortages of goods in the cities. This increased prices of
goods in cities. Government needed money to pay debts but
unemployment and failing factories meant that they received less
money from taxes. The government decided to print more money
in 1923. Printing more money increased inflation rates. More
money was printed which reduced value of money and prices
skyrocketed. A vicious cycle had been created and
hyperinflation ensued. For example, price of bread rose from 1
mark in 1919 to 100,000 marks in 1923. German marks became
worthless. Foreign suppliers refused to accept marks for goods,
therefore, imports froze and food shortages became
increasingly worse. It was difficult to obtain basic necessities.
Workers had to be paid twice a day so that they could rush out to
shops to buy goods before prices rose even further. Barter system
was introduced as people resorted to trading goods instead of
money which sends Germany in a backwards direction in terms of
modernisation. Savings were wiped out, those with insurance
policies, savings, and pensions were hit the worst as savings
became worthless.
ii. Effects
Workers who had few savings were not badly affected. Jobs stayed
mostly secure. However, they lost faith in the government. Middle
class men were the most badly affected. Their savings were made
worthless by hyperinflation. Businessmen could no longer buy
goods from abroad as German money was worthless and people
would not accept them as form of money. They lose faith in the
government and started supporting extremists like the Nazis.
Pensioners were badly affected as well as their pensions and
savings were made worthless. They could no work as they are old,
which caused them to literally wait for death. Rich upper class
men were the least affected as they kept their money in property or
overseas. They see the Government as incompetent. Hatred on
Jews as Jews kept their money in foreign banks, and therefore they
are unaffected by the hyperinflation. This led to the hatred of Jews
that Hitler seized on. This helped built unrest for the Munich
Putsch. People blamed the Weimar government for these
problems. Hitler saw this as a chance to manipulate the political
unrest in Germany to launch the Munich Putsch in November 1923.
9
2. THE RECOVERY OF GERMANY, 1924 1929
A. The Work of Stresemann
i. Gustav Stresemann was made Chancellor of Germany in 1923. He
was one of the ablest politicians in Weimar Republic. He faced
several problems as Germany was on the brink of collapsing, and
extremist groups like the Nazis seeing this as a chance to take
over. People were forced to reverse to old ways like the barter
system because money is worthless.
11
become a respectable member of the international
community which led to the international communitys willingness
to cut reparation fees in the Young Plan, 1929.
12
efficiently. In 1921, Hitler pushed Drexler aside and became party
leader. He gathered influential and powerful party members such
as ; Ernst Rohm (founder of SA), Goering (leader of SS, hero of
Luftwaffe), Rudolf Hess (Hitlers deputy) and Julius Streicher
(founder of Nazi newspaper, Der Strumer). He was also close
friends with General Ludendorf (leader of German army in WW1,
very respectable).
13
ii. Events
During the crisis of 1923, Hitler plotted with Lossow and Kahr to
take over Munich in revolution. Hitler told the SA to be prepared for
a rebellion. 4 October, Kahr and Lossow called off the revolution
which made it difficult for Hitler as he already mobilised 3,000
troops who were ready for battle.
8 November, Hitler and 600 SA burst into a meeting of 3,000
officials of the Bavarian Government held by Kahr and Lossow in the
Beer Hall. Hitler released a gun shot to the ceiling and announced
that he would be taking control of the Government. He claimed that
he would be taking control of Munich and would march to the
German government. He was supported by famous General
Ludendorff. Kahr, Seisser and Lossow were taken off into a side
room where they relunctantly agreed to support the uprising. Hitler
left the hall and Ludendorff allowed Kahr and his associates to leave
which proved ot be a huge mistake as they changed their minds
and now opposed Hitler. The 2,000 strong SA members were now
outnumbered by Bavarian police and army.
9 November, Hitler sent 3000 supporters and the SA to capture key
government buildings in Munich such as newspaper offices and
army headquarters. Hitler marched into Munich on what they
thought was a triumphant march to take power. However, they were
met with 100 state police soldiers who opened fire on them despite
the fact that Ludendorff was on the Nazis side, killing 16 Nazis and
injured Hitler and Goering. Hitlers insurance plan backfired which
eventually led to Ludendorffs arrest on the spot and Hitlers arrest
2 days later.
iii. Effects
Bad -
Hitler and three other leaders (Rohm, Ludendorff and Dr Wilhelm)
stood trial. Hitler was found guilty of treason and was sentenced
to 5 years in prison. Ludendorff was acquitted and others were
released. Nazi Party was banned until 1925.
Good -
Hitler used the trial to get national publicity. The failure of the
Munich Putsch brought recognition to Hitler. He was able to further
develop Nazi propaganda. Every word he spoke was reported in
national papers the next day. He turned his trial into a platform of
propaganda. Hitler manipulated the publicity he was receiving to
promote Nazi ideology. As a result of the publicity, the NSDAP won
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its first seats in the Reichstag, 32 seats in 1924 elections. This was
propaganda victory for the NSDAP.
Hitler used his time in jail to write Mein Kampf. He formed his
political ideas which became a guide for the party. It focused on the
need for one all-powerful leader to guide the party the Fuhrer
Principle. By doing so, Hitler realised that direct action would not
work and decided to win power through the ballot box the
Reichstag principle.
Timing
The Munich Putsch took place in November 1923. By 1923,
Germany has recovered slightly from the hyperinflation due to
Stresemanns efforts as Chancellor. Stresemann introduced a new
temporary system of currency called the Rentenmark in October
1923. The rentenmark became so successful that it was replaced
with a permanent currency called the Reichsmark. Reichsbanks
were created to control the new currency of Reichsmark. Hitler
carried out the Munich Putsch too late as German discontent died
down. By the time of Munich Putsch in November 1923, political
unrest had died down and there would therefore, be less hatred
towards the Weimar Government for Hitler to exploit.
15
appointed two efficient administrators to run Nazi HQ. Hitler
also divided party into regions, appointing gauleiters who ran
the party in each region. To fund this, Hitler befriended wealthy
businessmen who shared his hatred of communism. They hoped
Hitler could limit the power of trade unions. By the early 1930s, the
party was receiving big donations from Thyssen, Krupp and Bosch.
ii. SS and SA
Extra funding was used to strengthen the SA which expanded
to 400,000 members by 1930. They were used to provide security
at Nazi meetings, as bodyguards for important Nazi members,
break up meetings of opposition groups, spread Nazi
propaganda and to intimidate opponents. They gave the
appearance of strength, order and unity to the party.
Hitler also set up the SS (Schutzstaffel) protection squad in 1925
as his own private bodyguard. He was worried about the SA who
were difficult to control and who swore loyalty to Ernst Rohm, the
commander. The SS was run at first by Schreck but was replaced by
Himmler. They were known for their ruthlessness and black
uniform.
iii. Propaganda
The use of propaganda became important as the party hoped to
increase its share of the vote. Goebbels was the Nazi Party
gauleiter for Berlin and was a brilliant propagandist. He worked with
Hitler to improve the party message. They created scapegoats
for Germanys problems. The Jews, Communists and leaders of
the Weimar Republic were made scapegoats for Germanys
problems. The SDPs were hit especially hard as they were the ones
who signed the Treaty of Versailles. Hitler was promoted in
propaganda as the voice of the Nazi Party. By the 1930s, there
were 120 Nazi daily or weekly newspapers, reporting Hitlers
speeches across the whole country. The Nazi Party also
pioneered the use of radio, films and gramophone records to
keep Hitler in the public eye. Hitler was famous, he essentially
went on tour speaking up to five times a day in some cases, he
uses aeroplanes to travel from city to city. Propaganda created
the image of strength for the party. It focused on Hitlers
passion, the spectacle of mass Nazi rallies and the impressive
power of the SA and SS.
16
By 1928, the Nazi Party was well organised and had over 100,000
members. Hitler became the national figure. However, there are
some problems. Since 1923, the economy had recovered,
employment hand increased and inflation had eased. People were
better off and did not want to vote for extremist parties. There were
less political unrest for the Nazi Party to exploit as Germany was
going through its Golden Age. Hitler failed to win over
working class as they voted for Communist or left wing parties.
People were put off by Nazis extreme views such as hatred of
Jews and re-arming Germany became embarrassing to people in
Germany who were doing well. Stresemann seemed to be regaining
status of Germany in the international community. In 1925, Paul
Von Hindenburg, had become president. His reputation was a
boost to the Weimar Republic as he was an ex-field Marshal of the
German Army. This increased votes for moderate parties such as
the SPD. In the elections of May 1928, the Nazis only won 12
seats and were the 9th biggest party.
17
Drop in production levels
Banks ran out of cash quickly as people withdrew all their savings.
To make the money back, German banks recalled all their loans
to German businesses. However, German businesses needed the
money to operate. As a result, many German businesses closed
which reduced industrial output. Worldwide depression meant
that there was no market for German exports. Americans
stopped buying European goods in order to encourage domestic
goods.
18
Social and Political effects
Closing businesses creates a drop in productivity level which
then creates more unemployment and decreases trade which
then results in government loosing tax revenue. Government
appeared powerless and incompetent. This feeds on the
unpopularity of the Weimar Government especially after the
hyperinflation in 1921 that lasted 3 years. Germans are
unsatisfied and blamed the Weimar Government. This
weakened the Weimar Government gravely. Chancellor Bruning
responded by raising taxes and reduced unemployment
benefits to make payments more affordable. This meant that
people received less money but are taxed heavily and expected to
pay more. This pleased no one, as right-wing parties opposed
higher taxes and left-wing parties opposed lower benefits.
Brunings coalition government collapses and loses his grip
which forced him to rule by Presidential decree (Article 48) to
govern. There were 44 decrees in 1931 but 66 in 1932. Decrees
undermined confidence in Weimar Republic. Confidence placed
on the Weimar government was lost.
19 Fall in demand
F. Nazis Methods to Win Support
i. May 1928 Nazis won 12 seats, Communists won 54 seats
September 1930 Nazis won 107 seats, Communists won 77 seats
July 1932 Nazis won 230 seats, Communists won 89 seats
November 1932 Nazis won 196 seats, Communists won 121 seats.
iv. Farmers
The Farmers supported the Nazis as they were perceived as
protection from the KPD which would have confiscated all land and
abolish private ownership. The Nazi policy of confiscating all private
land in the original 25 point programme was changed in 1928 to a
new policy that said that all private land would only be
confiscated to protect farmers from KPD.
v. Big businesses
Big businesses saw Hitler as their protection from KPD. Their
support was a boost to Nazi funds and networking. The Nazi party
was able to get help from powerful newspaper owners like Alfred
Hugenberg to bring them electoral success.
20
The youth were attracted by Hitlers passionate speeches,
ambitions for the future and atmosphere of Nazi rallies.
Women did not support Hitler at first as his policies limited their role
to the home. However, Nazi propaganda focused on women, saying
NSDAP was best for the country and their families. The youth and
women were a captive audience of the Nazi Party.
Rallies
Goebbels stage managed these events to give an overwhelming
sense of unity amongst the Germans. Germans would automatically
join these rallies as it gives them a sense of belonging. Germans
commitment to the rallies increased as they wanted to be a part of
something big and impressive.
Radio
Goebbels took over radio broadcasting. Regular programs on the
radios were Hitlers speeches. Foreign programmes cannot be
picked up by the radios. This helped intensify the Nazi ideology as
Germans would not be swayed by outsider opinions. All factory
owners, departmental stores, offices, shops, pubs and flats were
21
made compulsory to have speakers installed an hour before the
broadcast so that the whole population can participate fully in the
broadcast.
Films
Anti-Semitic and pro-Nazi films were produced and showed in
cinemas.
Books
Nazis frequently organised book burnings. They took place in public
places such as town squares or city squares to attract attention of
the
masses. They would burn books written by Jews, Communists or
Socialists. They burn any book that contained any ideas that the
Nazi
ideology would disprove. This further intensified Nazi ideology on
the Germans as it was the only thing they are surrounded by. Other
opinions or ideologies were annihilated.
22
H. Events of 1932 to January 1933 including the role of von Papen, von
Schleicher and von Hindenburg.
i. Events
1932
Date Causes Chanc Elections & Government Significance
ellor
March Hindenburgs seven year Brunin Hitler stood for Hilter became a
- April term as President was g President and lost to major political
up. Elections took place Hindenburg. In the figure during
against a backdrop of March elections, the elections.
turmoil caused by the Hindenburg polled 18 People were
Wall Street Crash. Voters million votes, Hitler 11 willing to
were willing to consider million and Communist consider him as
more extreme candidates leader 5 million. As no President. He
in order to end candidate achieved 50% was second
unemployment and (not more than majority) only to
unrest. Schleicher of the vote, elections Hindenburg in
persuades Hindenburg to were held again in April. the publics
replace Bruning because This time, Hindenburg eye.
of proposed land reforms. won 19 million, Hitler 13
million and Communist
leader, 4 million.
May The socialist Chancellor von Nazis asked to join For the first
Bruning used a Papen government coalition. time, the Nazi
Presidential decree to Schleicher invited the Party was now
ban the SA & SS in April NSDAP to join the new part of the
to calm unrest. This right-wing coalition he government of
angered right-wing had formed in removing Germany. This
parties. Schleicher Bruning. Schleicher led many to
decided to remove needed NSDAP support view the Nazis
Bruning. He organised a as they were a big party. as a credible
coalition of right-wing He believed that he party who could
parties and persuaded could control the Nazis, govern sensibly
Hindenburg that they seeing them as merely and work with
had a majority in the children who had to be others for the
Reichstag. Bruning was led by hand. good of
sacked and replaced with Germany.
von Papen who
Schleicher hoped to
control. Von Papen
becomes Chancellor with
no Reichstag support at
23
all, just because he was
close with Hindeburg.
July The publicity from the von Reichstag Elections : Becoming the
Presidential campaign Papen Nazis now biggest largest party in
combined with a party with 230 seats. the Reichstag
successful election Communists won 89 brought
campaign to give the seats. This makes the tremendous
Nazis, 230 seats in the Nazis the largest party power to Hitler
Reichstag, up from 107 in but they still did not as it meant that
the September 1930 have majority of the the Nazis could
election. Any government votes due to bring
coalition now needed proportional government to
Nazi support as they representation. Hitler a halt by
were the biggest party. demanded that refusing to
This made Hitler Hindenburg replaced von cooperate.
confident enough to Papen and announced
demand the him as Chancellor,
Chancellorship from seeing as the Nazis were
Hindenberg. now the biggest party.
Hindenburg rebuffed his
offer, viewing Hitler as a
jumped up corporal.
Novem The Nazis responded to von Reichstag Elections : Von Papen had
ber Hindenburgs refusal by Papen Nazis still the biggest lost his last
refusing to cooperate party with 190 seats. gamble Nazis
with von Papens Communists won 121 were still the
government and walking seats. Von Papen hoped biggest party in
out of Parliament during that if he called fresh the Reichstag
meetings. This left von elections, Nazi support and would
Papens coalition in would decline and they continue with
shambles, its biggest would gain less seats in no cooperation.
party was refusing to the Reichstag. He was Von Papen
cooperate so government wrong, whilst their seats became
had no choice but to did drop to 190, they powerless to
grind to a halt, were still the biggest control events
paralysed. party. and Hindenburg
could not
indefinitely
refuse
Chancellorship
to Hitler.
24
Decem 39 business leaders tried von New Chancellor, von Schleichers
ber to break the political Schleic Schleicher as Chancellor failure to
deadlock by writing a her was confident that the command the
letter to Hindenburg, Nazi vote would drop. majority in the
asking him to appoint However, his main Reichstag
Hitler as Chancellor. They pronlem was that he without Nazi
believed that they could consistently failed to get support (190
control Hitler as the Nazis a majority coalition to seats) meant
relied on them for work in the Reichstag. In that he was
donations. Hindenburg desperation, Schleicher always doomed
still opposed the idea pleaded Hindenburg to to be a
and appointed Schleicher suspend the constitution powerless
as Chancellor and Hitler and declare Schleicher leader. With his
as vice-Chancellor. as head of military downfall, the
dictatorship. Hindenburg only remaining
refused. News of this popular and
leaked out ad Schleicher credible leader
lost remaining support in was Hitler.
the Reichstag. Hindenburg
could no longer
hold out.
1932
Januar Von Papen had actually Hitler New Chancellor. 30th Appointing
y been plotting with January 1933, Hitler was Hitler as
Hindeburg against legally and Chancellor just
Schleicher for a while. democratically proved how
With his downfall, von appointed Chancellor of nave the
Papen believed his Germany. German right-
moment had returned. wing was. They
He persuaded underestimated
Hindenburg to appoint Hitler due to his
Hitler as Chancellor and ex-corporal
himself as vice- past and lack of
Chancellor, still thinking government
that Hitler could be expertise.
controlled. Hindenburg Hitlers power
relunctantly agreed. was still limited
as Chancellor
but he was now
in a position to
manipulate
events to his
own advantage.
25
ii. Roles of von Papen, Schleicher and Hindeburg
Bruning
Chancellor 1930-1932, He failed to deal with unemployment and
made Weimar Government look incompetent. This in turn helped
Hitlers popularity as political unrest increased while Hitler was
offering protection from the KPD and promises like Work and
Bread to appeal to Germans. He was replaced by von Papen
because Schleicher persuaded Hindenburg. He increased taxes to
and reduced unemployment benefits to make payments more
affordable. Right wing parties are angered by the increase in taxes
while the left wing are angered by the reduction in unemployment
benefits. This collapses the coalition government in Weimar and
Bruning was forced to rule by decree, Article 48 as a sign of
weakness. Ruling by decree undermines the confidence people
have for the government. There was 44 decrees in 1931 but 66
decrees in 1932.
Von Papen
Chancellor July 1932-November 1932. He failed to deal with
unemployment but also failed to control the Nazis. Von Papen was
initially installed as Chancellor so that Schleicher could control him
like a puppet from behind the scenes. Von Papen became
Chancellor with no Reichstag support at all. He only became
Chancellor because of his relation to Hindenburg.
Schleicher
Power crazy and failed to solve unemployment or control the Nazis.
Pissed off von Papen who plotted to get rid of him. He could not get
the coalition government to cooperate which complicated matters.
He then persuaded Hindenburg to suspend the constitution and
declared military dictatorship. News of this leaked out and
Schleicher immediately lost all Reichstag support.
Hindenburg
Wanted anyone but Hitler to be Chancellor. When these
governments failed as well, Hindenburg finally listens to von
Papens advise to appoint Hitler as Chancellor and von Papen as
vice-Chancellor to control Nazi activity. The Nazi Party was the
largest party but did not have the majority due to proportional
representation. Von Papen thinks that, therefore, the majority of the
government were non-Nazi since the NSDAP did not have majority
of the votes, that Nazi actions could be limited and/or prevented.
26
Since the NSDAP were popular amongst the Germans, the Weimar
constitution assumed that they could manipulate the NSDAPs
popularity to reinstate confidence and support for the Weimar
Government.
27
Goering quotes the elections to be a masterpiece of propaganda.
28
As a result of the Enabling Act, on 14th July 1933, Hitler issued the
Law against the Establishment of Parties which single-
handedly removed all opposition and declared that NSDAP as the
only legal party. All other parties were banned and their leaders
were put in prison. It was this day that Germany became a one
party state.
29
vii. Nazi Police State 1933-1945
The SS, military group set up in 1925 as personal bodyguards
for Hitler. From 1929, it was run by Himmler. Main role was as the
Nazis private police force. They were totally loyal to Hitler. Hitler
used the SS officers to murder SA officers in the Night of The Long
Knives. During 1930s, the SS expanded to over 50,000 men and
were in charge of all other state security services. Another of
the SS was to carry out Nazi policy of racial purification. The
SS ran concentration camps, SS members had to be racially
pure and could only marry racially pure wives. The SS was a
significant organisation as it helped Nazi control the SA and
served regular army. SS officers were often the most ideologically
fanatical Nazis and would carry out Hitlers orders without
hesitation. It was the loyalty of the SS that enabled Hitler to
efficiently carry out the Final Solution.
30
opposition and his control on society undesirables were simply
sent to camps and never seen again, often murdered or worked to
death.
Campaigning
Censorship
Before 1933, the Nazi Party used the SA to disrupt opposition
meetings, tear down their propaganda posters and violently
intimidate their speakers. This attempt at censoring their message
was never 100% successful. The July 1933, Law Against the
Establishment of Parties enabled Hitler to ban all other political
parties- in effect this made campaigning by other political
parties illegal.
Propaganda
After 1933, Goebbels was in charge of government propaganda. He
could use government resources to publicise Hitler and his views.
Propaganda methods included : German posters advertising
Nazi views and policies, expanding the use of rallies and parades
31
to intimidate the public such as torchlight parades, brass bands
and choirs were all used to great effect. The Nuremberg Rallies
were held annually to create a sense of spectacle, Nazi strength
and German unity. They targeted women because they are
considered the minority. They brought colour and excitement into
peoples lives. Gave people a sense of belonging to a great
movement.
Radio
Censorship
Goebbels placed all radio stations under Nazi control. He made
it a treasonable offense to listen to foreign radio broadcasts
like the BBC. In 1939, over 1500 Germans were arrested for
listening to London-based broadcasts.
Propaganda
Hitler made frequent broadcasts on radio. Cheap mass-produced
radios were sold or placed in cafes, factories and schools. Speakers
were placed in streets to spread the Nazi message. The Nazi
introduced two cheap radios called peoples receivers costing
32 marks. By 1930, there were more radios per person in Germany
than anywhere else in Europe. Regular broadcasts included Hitlers
speeches, German music and history.
Cinema
Censorship
In 1934, film makers had to sent the plot of every new film to
Goebbels for approval before publishing. Goebbels had strict
control of the scripts in movies.
Propaganda
In 1933, German cinema had audiences of over 250 million per
year. Films were shown alongside a 45-minute official government
newsreel, publishing Nazi achievements. Propaganda feature
films were made like The Eternal Jew that tried to spread message
of Nazi Party through mass entertainment. Anti-Semitism was
also promoted. Over 1000 films made by Nazis. Goebbels wanted
people to be entertained this was how propaganda worked best.
32
The Press
Censorship
Newspaper had to print views which the Ministry agreed with or
face the consequences. If they didnt, newspapers could be banned,
forcing owners into bankruptcy. Reich Press Law of 4th October
1933 banned all Jewish or liberal editors from working. Anti-Nazi
newspapers were banned.
Propaganda
Journalists were given briefings with information the government
wanted to publicise. Volkischer Beobachter (Racial Observer) was
the primary newspaper of the Nazi Party as they purchased this in
Munich back in the 1920s. Der Angriff (The Assault) was founded
by Goebbels in 1927 that operates in Berlin. Der Strumer (The
Attacker) was owned by anti-Semite Julius Streicher to spread anti-
Semitic views. People encouraged to buy Nazi newspapers- could be
threatened if you cancel a subscription.
Universities
Censorship
University academics had to support Nazi views or face dismissal.
Between 1933-1938, 3000 academics were dismissed. Anyone
appointed to a university had to be approved by government
and had to complete a 6-week training course at National
Socialist Lectures Alliance Camp.
Propaganda
Nazis realised the powerful role university staff have in shaping
young minds. They were also fearful of allowing too much
independence for academics. Therefore, senior professors and
lecturers were therefore handpicked by Nazis to ensure loyalty.
German history was re-written completely to favour the Nazis
success and future.
The Arts
Censorship
Goebbels controlled the arts through the Reich Chamber of
Culture. All writers, musicians, artists and actors had to be
members or they are barred from working. However, most
artists practised self-censorship.
33
books were banned and burnt on huge public bonfires as a method
of Goebbels propaganda, book burnings (mentioned earlier).
Authors could only write about 4 topics, frontline experience,
world view, regional novels and racial doctrine. By 1939, 2500
authors left Germany.
Propaganda
Art was used as a form propaganda by the Nazis. Nazi art was
based on Classical Realism. It emphasised strength, unity and
German folk tales. Hitler wanted art to display the true German
spirit. The Nazis put on degenerate art displays in 1936.
People were encouraged to criticise it and appreciate its
foreignness. Lots of simple, stark words and images put on
propaganda posters, so that even the uneducated could understand
them.
Sport
Censorship
Minority groups were not allowed to compete for the German
national teams during the Olympics. All athletes had to be Aryan.
Hitler used it to show the superiority of the Aryan race.
Propaganda
Hitler and Goebbels used the 1936 Berlin Olympics to show Nazi
Germany in good light. The film maker Leni Riefenstahl was
employed to produce a feature film of the event. The Nazis built
an Olympic Stadium seating 110,000 people to reflect
Germanys power. All events were organised faultlessly, showing
German efficiency and Germany won the most medals, 33 golds.
34
J. Policies to towards women, the young, the Churches and the Jews.
i. Women
Women in the 1920s
In Weimar Government, women over 20 years were given the vote
and there were about 20 female members in the Reichstag. Women
became more likely to go out to work and more likely to work
in the professions, often being paid equal to men. There were
over 100,000 teachers in Germany by 1933. Women also started
to enjoy more freedom in social activities outside the family,
such as drinking and going to nightclubs. Women also dressed
differently, being influenced by the American flapper style.
35
8 or more. Each year on Hitlers mothers birthday (12th April),
medals were distributed.
The Lebensborn Programme (fountain of life), was another
policy to encourage childbirth. Started in 1935 by SS Leader,
Himmler, with the attempt to encourage the creation of
ideologically pure children for adoption. It made single women
available for fertilisation by SS men. It one home alone, 540
mothers gave birth. Moral decline was evident as single women
were having babies out of wedlock to increase birth rate.
36
ii. Youth
All children attended school until they were 14. Boys and girls went
to separate schools. Nazis controlled all elements of the school
curriculum. Mein Kampf became a compulsory school text.
Swastika were placed in classes as a constant reminder of Nazism.
Hiring only pro-Nazi staff to ensure the youth were taught
correctly and only Nazi ideology would be passed down. Jewish
teachers were sacked. Obedience and discipline achieved by the
indoctrination of youth breaks down individuality and originality
in order for unity to play through from the youth to prepare them as
loyal soldiers for WW2.
37
Boys Girls
38
Group Why the opposed the How they How the Nazis
Nazis opposed the dealt with
Nazis them
Edelweiss Young people who do Defiance. The Pirates had
Pirates not want their lives Drinking, no intention of
mapped out by Nazis smoking, overthrowing
and wanted to rebel. dancing in Hitler. They
Many opposed the groups to Jazz, were teenagers
Nazis racial policies as drugs, telling who wanted to
friends were singled out anti-Nazi stories rebel against a
as superior or and jokes, controlling
inferior. beating up government.
Hitler Youth They survived
members, until 1944,
having sex. when the Nazis
They were not clamped down
an organised and arrested
movement, many of them.
therefore it was In December
difficult for the 1942, the
Nazis to hunt Gestapo broke
them down up 28 groups
individually to containing 739
punish them. adolescents.
The White Sophie Scholl, her They distributed All three
Rose brother Hans and their a set of leaflets members were
Group friend formed the White at the university tried and
Rose. It is a group and printed executed for
dedicated to showing more to be sent printing the
people the truth about by post. Under leaflets.
what the Nazis were interrogation,
doing in the war to Sophie refused
minority groups. They to pledge
were appalled by the allegiance to
Nazis method of lying the Nazis.
and propaganda .
iii. Churches
Churches were a problem because :
Strong movement as they are the only movement capable of
evoke a revolution.
39
90% of Germans are Christians.
The Church had the control over hearts and minds that Hitler
needed.
Religious beliefs were powerful. People believed in God and are
therefore less likely to worship Hitler completely as he wishes.
They take priority of the Church over Nazi oath.
Church are very likely to spread anti-Nazi messages as they
oppose Nazi policies.
Catholic Church
Catholic Churches swear loyalty to God and follow the
instructions of the Pope in Rome. Hitler disliked this as his
totalitarian state, he believed all Germans should look to him as
their Fuhrer for instructions and devotion. Christianity was also
treated with suspicion as it preached forgiveness, tolerance and
peace completely different to the Nazi message of strength,
violence and survival of the fittest. 1/3 of all German Christians
were Catholic and they also had their own schools which would
teach children Christian instead of Nazi ethics.
40
of the Catholic Church by Hitler weakened opposition and served to
strengthen his control of society.
Protestant Church
The relationship between Nazis and Protestant Churches
were good at first. Many protestant churches supported the Nazis
as they feared the anti-Christian Communists. Hitler was seen as
the protector of German social and religious traditions. This respect
broke down over time as Nazi social policies and control of society
instead.
41
Some Protestants formed the German Christian Revolution led
by Muller. Hitler made Muller the Reich bishop of Germany in
September 1933. This movement tried to fuse Nazi ethics and ideas
into traditional Christianity. For instance, Nazi flags were displayed
inside Churches and Hitler was portrayed as the protector of the
Church from Judaism. Other Protestant churches did oppose Hitlers
policies and spoke out against him. Pastor Niemoller set up the
Pastors Emergency League (PEL) in 1933 to campaign against
Nazi actions. In 1937, Niemoller was sent to a concentration camp
and the PEL was banned.
Although the Nazi Party could not completely control the German
Christians, Hitler successfully managed to weaken the
potential opposition to his policies. The Concordat with the
Catholic Church and German Christian Movement in 1933 gave
legitimacy to Hitlers regime. By 1930s it was too late for any
sizable Christian opposition to form, Hitler had complete
control of judiciary, legislature and executive.
Reich Church
Integration of all Protestant Churches into one Reich Church.
Spearheaded by pro-Nazi Bishop, Muller as Hitler made him Reich
Bishop in 1933. Priests and Bishops wore Nazi uniforms. Hitler used
biblical languages to convey Nazi ideas by referring himself to
Jesus. The Swastika replaced the cross. Most Germans still felt that
their allegiance lie with their original churches rather than the state-
approved Churches. Hitler wanted Nazism to be worshipped and
followed like a religion, making it difficult for people to support the
Church. Disobedience carrying out baptisms and marriages
against Nazi law, encouraging people to ignore Nazism and follow
the bible made Hitlers want of controlling the churches into a
need as it is proving to be an opposition to his policies. Hitler
cannot compete with the promise of god and heaven after death-
especially in war time. Hitler has to turn into a blind eye and
compromise with the Church in a Concordat which he later
disobeyed.
42
iv. Jews
43
The Nuremberg Laws 1935
On 15th September 1935, the Nuremberg Laws were passed which
said Jews were no longer German citizens. They lost the right
to vote, hold government office jobs or have passports. They
could not marry German citizens. From 1938, Jewish doctors,
lawyers, and dentists could not work for Aryan Germans. Jewish
identity cards had to carry a large letter J that stands for Jew.
Jews had to register all possessions.
44
K. Policies to reduce unemployment
L. The Labour Service, The Labour Front and Strength Through Joy
45
Beauty of Labour
Persuades employers to improve working conditions in factories.
Good ventilation in the workplace. This acts as propaganda to make
Germans believe that work is good and that everyone should work if
they could. This is to ensure the level of happiness of the workers.
The higher the satisfaction of the workers, the less likely the will
plan a strike despite the fact it is illegal. The industrial workforce at
this point is large enough to cause a spectacle in the Nazi regime.
The Nazi regime would have a hard time in controlling and
persecuting them as they are required to boost German economy.
Germany so far
Nazis devised a scheme to allow workers to buy a Volkswagen
Beetle as a car for small weekly payments. The autobahns
improved transport and travel. People appreciated the public works
(new schools & hospitals). The streets were safe and there was no
crime. Germany was strong and successful in world affairs. Nazi
rallies provided colour and fun. Nazi youth groups provided
activities and holidays for young people. Nazi ideology gave people
hope and confidence.
46
ii. Economic policies
Was it successful?
The Government invested billions of Reichmarks into this plan. By
1939, Germany still depended on foreign marks. Arms had taken
precedence over developing agriculture, arms not butter
Goerings slogan. 1939, Butter was still rationed in Germany. Only
way for Germany to achieve autarky fully, it had to trade with
countries which could help provide raw materials and food. (THE
NEW PLAN)
47
Rearmament
Nazi economic policy designed to make Germany strong and it
needed a strong military to achieve this. In 1936, Hitler issued a
secret memo, declaring that the economy must be recognised to
make Germany able to wage war within four years. Hitlers four
year plan had several effects on Germany.
Solutions
Trade agreements were made with individual counties to
supply raw materials to Germany in exchange for German
goods. For example, with Hungary, they exchanged butter,
vegetable oil to supply Germany with raw materials in exchange
for German goods. In 1934, The New Plan stopped imports and
subsidised industry to establish autarky. Because, of arms
not guns, agriculture was neglected in the rearmament process.
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As a result, the New Plan was put into action to solve this
problem. This would solve the budget deficit. Production of
oil, cars, coals and explosives rose rapidly. Businesses were
strictly controlled, they were told to produce specific products
and were not allowed to raise wages. Foreign firms reduced
imported goods in Germany as an effort to limit imports.
Domestic firms encouraged to produce more materials.
They were given incentives and subsidies to encourage them to
work harder.
Agriculture in Germany
Successes Failures
Farmers Income increased by Farmers resented
40% between 1928- the interference of
1938 as imports the Reich Food
were limited. Estate.
Food Production Food production Still not at
increased by 20%, production level that
leaving Germany is sufficient to feed
self-sufficient in German population
bread, grains, without the need for
meats, vegetables imports. It is
and eggs. important to
remember that
imports are limited
not stopped
completely.
Limits of success
Unemployment
1933, women were no longer included in the unemployment
figures as they were all forced to stay home, give birth and be a
domestic figure. Jews were sacked from their jobs and no longer
hold German citizenship and were removed from the
unemployment register. The unemployed were obliged to take
any job offered or be classed work-shy and imprisoned.
Conscription removed over a million young men from the
employment market. Therefore, the authenticity of the
unemployment figures of 6 million in 1933, reducing to 3.8
million in 1934 and finally to a 0.8 million in 1939 is
questionable.
49
Did Germany become self-sufficient?
The policy of Autarky was a failure. In 1937, Goering was made
Economics Minister, with the job of making Germany self-
sufficient in 4 years. However the measures he introduced were
unsuccessful. Control were put on imports but if anything,
imports of luxuries increased. Scientists tried to make oil from
coal and to find substitutes for rubber, petrol, cotton and coffee.
Farmers were
subsidised to produce more food, and food imports were
reduced.
Economy
Successes Failures
50
GERMANY GURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR
M. Nazi Policies Towards the Jews Including Ghettos, Death Squads and
the Final Solution
i. Nazi Policies towards the Jews
Ghettos
Nazis did this because they wanted a Jewish free population,
segregate the Jews from the rest of the population, control of
Jewish movement, and to make use of Jewish property for Nazi
use.
The first ghetto was built in Warsaw, Poland when the Nazis invaded
Poland in 1939. They are walled-off guarded parts of cities where
Jews are forced to live. Jews from Germany and other occupied
countries are sent to live there. In Warsaw, Nazis crushed 380,000
Jews which was 30% of the population into a ghetto 3% the size of
the city. By 1942, 50,000 Jews died of hunger, cold and diseases in
Warsaw, Poland
Forcing Jews into ghettos marked a change in Nazi policy. The Nazis
were now using force to remove Jews. This led to high death
rates due to facilities that are poor in hygiene, overcrowding and
famines. This reinforced Nazi propaganda of Jews being dirty.
This led to people perceiving them as sub-humans,
Untermensch and thus ignored the way they were being treated.
SS Death Squads
By invading Poland and the USSR, Nazis came into contact with
many people they considered as undesirable. The SS Death
Squad was a way to rid themselves of these people.
Between 1939 and 1941, they followed the German Army into
Poland and the USSR, systematically murdering any civilians
regarded as undesirable.
51
Final Solution
The Final Solution was a plan to exterminate every Jewish
person. The Nazis decided that all Jews under German control
would be exterminated. After the invasion of USSR in 1941, 4
million Jews came under Nazi control. The Nazi leadership argued
over what to do with them. Goering argued they could be used for
slave labour. Himmler argued they were to expensive to keep and
should all be exterminated.
It started in 1942, 6 major camps were set up. They were all run by
SS leaders and in the outskirts of Germany, away from general
public. Jews were to be transported to areas of Eastern Europe
under Nazi control in carts. The sick, the weak, and the
handicapped would be sent to gas chambers to be gassed to death
whatever they owned would be Nazi possession. The fit people
would be housed in labour camps and worked to death.
They were sent to gas chambers to slowly let poisonous gas infect
their organs and die a painful death. 2000 people were packed into
the chambers. Within 30 minutes, everyone would be dead, and
their bodies would be burnt in the ovens. On average, 4000 people
were killed a day for 3 years. 400,000 Jews were exterminated in 3
months. 90% of Jews in Poland, Germany and Austria were dead.
Other prisoners would be experimented as Nazis science
programme. Most prisoners were tested without anaesthetic in
order to experiment with dried skin. This was turned into gloves,
lamp shades, or even hand bags.
The decision called the Final Solution marked the final step of
the Holocaust. Before the extermination of Jewish people was
uncoordinated and haphazard. Now the entirety of Nazi
government organised the extermination of the Jews as
ethnic cleansing.
Concentration camps
The war economy needed extra workers so concentration
camps provided an endless supply of slave labour. They also
allowed the Nazi to control the Jews more closely, and away from
general public.
The Nazi built camps as early as 1933 but at first they were camps
for political prisoners. Then, it was used to house undesirables
52
or in Hitlers words, people unworthy of life such as the
homosexuals, gypsies and disabled people. After 1939, the size and
number of the camps grew. In 1937, the Buchenwald Camp in
Germany was set up for 1,000 prisoners. By 1939, it held 10,000
and by at the end of the war, over 80,000 people. 56,000 Jews
died at Buchenwald between 1937 and 1945.
In the ghettos, Jews faced tough living conditions but were often
left alone. In camps, they were used as slave labour and many
died from overworking, starvation and mistreatment. During
the war, a deliberate policy to exterminate workers through
overworking was introduced.
Death Camps
Some existing labour camps were converted into Death Camps, but
many death camps were built from scratch. They were a way for
Nazis to implement the Final Solution.
The first death camp was built in 1942 in Poland. Camps were run
by SS officials. Prisoners arrived by train. Their belongings are
taken, then herded into gas chambers. By 1944, 90% of Jews in
Germany, Poland and Austria had been killed.
N. The Changing Role of Women, total war, rationing and the effects of
Allied Bombing.
53
1939. As a result, he needed a large amount of people as troops for
the war. The Nazis implemented policies like the Lebensborn
programme and Mothers Cross to encourage the birth rate.
Mothers were awarded medals when they had more than 8 children.
The Lebensborn programme led to a change in Germany as there
was a moral decline when women were having babies of out of
wedlock. The Nazi regime broke down the individuality of these
women and they were now perceived as baby makers.
Hitler ordered invasion of the USSR as he was hoping for victory. His
army became bogged down in a four-year battle for survival which
decreased troop morale. By the end of 1942, Germanys war was
going badly. 94,000 German soldiers fighting in the USSR
surrendered to the Soviet army. Terrible defeat forced Goebbels to
call for total war. Harsh reality of war was puncturing Nazi
confidence. Goebbels made the longest radio speech calling on all
Germans to show Allies that they were not defeated, they could
carry on fighting and make sacrifices for Germany. The purpose of
this was to boost morale within the Germans.
54
such as sweet shops. In August 1943, manufacture of civilian
clothing was suspended. Exchange centres were opened where
people could swap furniture and clothes. June 1943, Goebbels
commissioned the film Kolberg, which told of heroic German
resistance in Napoleon in 1807 to increase morale. Working hours
increased. Women aged 17-50 were registered to work. Age limit for
compulsory labour for women was raised to 50. All non German
servants to go into armaments factories. All theatres, opera houses,
music halls and places of entertainment were closed.
iii. Rationing
As air raids worsened, many Germans left the cities and were
evacuated into smaller rural villages like Northeim. As a result,
population in Northeim doubled.
55
In early 1945, some of the most extreme air raids begun. In 2
nights of bombing, up to 150,000 people were killed in Dresden as
Allied bombers destroyed 70% of the properties in the city. Many of
them were refuges from the East newly arrived in the city. A raid on
the railway yard killed more than thirty thousand women and
children. By the end of the war, as many German civilians had been
killed by allied bombing as Germans soldiers died in combat.
56
iii. Military Opposition
Cause
To seize political control of Germany and its armed forces from the
Nazi Party in order to obtain peace with Western allies as soon as
possible. Underlying desire of high ranking military generals and
colonels to show to the world that not all Germans were like the
NSDAP and Hitler.
Significance
Over 5,000 generals were arrested in their suspected part of the
plot, 19 generals and 27 colonels including Stauffenberg were
executed.
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Hitler decided to invade the Soviet Union
The decision to invade the Soviet Union was a massive mistake
which drew the Germans into a long, 4 year drawn-out struggle.
From June 1941, Hitler invaded the Soviet Union with a force of 3
million and by winder, had reached Moscow. However, the war
turned against Hitler after the Battle of Stalingrad ended in
February 1943. Over 90,000 German soldiers surrendered. From
this point, there was less than 65% of German army fighting
the Russians. By April 1945, the Russians had pushed the
Germans all the way back into Berlin.
Nazi philosophy
Nazi philosophies slowed down the war effort. Hitler allowed
the SS and the German Army too much control of the economy.
He started using women in the labour force a tad late.
58
By July 1944, allied armies were pushing the Germans back into
the west. Refugees were pouring into Germany from the areas
being reconquered by the allies. Goebbels called for Total War
and prepared to mobilise Germany for one final effort to win the
war. He ordered the following :
In early 1945, some of the most extreme air raids begun. In 2 nights
of bombing, up to 150,000 people were killed in Dresden as Allied
bombers destroyed 70% of the properties in the city. Many of them
were refuges from the East newly arrived in the city. A raid on the
railway yard killed more than thirty thousand women and children.
By the end of the war, as many German civilians had been killed by
allied bombing as Germans soldiers died in combat.
Northeim 1945
As allied and Russian troops advanced into Germany, town after
town, they met little resistance from the local people who were
drained from the war. As the tanks approached Northeim, Mayor
59
ordered the SA militia to defend the town to death but drove
himself away to the hills to get drunk. The SA ignored is instructions
and handed over the town without a fight. Leader of socialist, Carl
Querfurt was brought in to head a new emergency council for the
town. Nazi flags were burnt. 853 Nazi books were removed from the
library and pulped. Northeim breathed a sigh of relief and its
population busily returned to the mayor and tried to prove that they
had opposed the Nazi occupation all along.
Berlin 1945
Amid the ruins of their capital city, Hitler, Goebbels and other Nazi
leaders committed suicide. The war and the Nazi regime was over,
but at an appalling cost in human lives and after years of
unimaginable suffering.
Death
Hitler committed suicide shortly before the Germans surrendered to
the allies. He committed suicide shooting himself in the head with a
gun. Germany was then surrendered to the Allies on May 7 th, 1945.
This marked the end of the famous Nazi regime.
60