Germany : Democracy and Dictatorship + Conflict and Tension

• What was the new currency introduced to beat hyperinflation ?

  Rentenmark
• What was the Locarno Pact ?

  A pact signed by Germany, Britain, France and Belgium in 1925.

  The locarno pact was there to stop wars and instead of starting wars the countries will discuss their issues with each other.

  The Locarno Pact also allowed Germany to join the League of Nations
• What was the League of Nations ?

  A club of countries all over the world who agreed to stop all wars, help eachother, and if one of the countries broke the rules they would be punished.

  Wilson (USA's leader) came up with the idea of the league of nations.
• Why did the USA not join the League of Nations ?

  The USA did not join the league of nations because they believed in isolationism (when a country isolates themselves from what other countries are doing).

  The USA thought being part of the League would lead them to be sucked in to wars being caused by Europe.
• Who was Marlene Dietrich ?

  A german actress who challenged the traditional german values for women.
• Who were the SS?

  Hitlers secret Police
• Who was put in charge for Propaganda ?

  Joseph Goebelles
• When did Wilhelm II abdicate ?

  November 1918
• Who were the Spartacists?

  A group of communists led by Luxemberg and Liebknecht.

  They hates the new Weimer goverment so they treid everything to ruin it through protests and took over buildings in Berlin.

  Since it was getting a lot the goverment had to ask the Freikorps (german ex-soliders who hates communism) to crush them.

  This lead to Luxemberg and Liebknecht dead.

  This is important because this lead to show us how weak the Weimer goverment is and how reliant they are on the Friekorps.

  Since they are so reliant on them this later causes problems.
• Who were the Freikorps? 


  German ex-soldiers who hated communism
• What was the Dawes Plan?

  The USA lent Germany 800 million marks to rebuild its economy.

  It was all good until the Great depression hit and the Wall street crash Where then the US asked for its money back, and Germany was struggling.
• What was the name of the SDP chancellor who helped Weimer recover from 1924-1929?


  Gustav Stresemann
• What was the Young Plan (1929)? 


  Reduced the amount of reparations had to be payed. Reduced it from £6.6 billion to £2 billion
• How was Hitler chosen to be chancellor in January 1933?

  Von Schiecler resigned.

  Hindenburg had to choose someone who was liked by the Reichstag.
• What was the Enabling Act (1933)?

  It gave Hitler power to pass Laws without the Reichstags approval for 7 years.

  It ended democracy in Germany- Hitler no longer needed the Reichstag

  Allowed Hitler to ban all political parties

  Led to Hitler's full control and Nazi control.
• When did Hitler become Fuhrer?

  1934

  Fuhrer (Leader/Dictator)
• Who was the SS led by?

  Heinrich Himmler
• When was the armistice signed to end WW1?

  November 1918
• How much did Germany have to pay back in reparations?

  £6.6 billion
• All germans over what age could vote?

  20 years old
• What was Article 48?

  In 1919 Article 48 was established.

  This gave the President the right to rule by decree, without the need for approval by the Reichstag.

  Nazi's later on used Article 48 in 1933 to get rid of all democracy and turn Germany into a dictatorship.
• Which party took control of Germany after Wilhelm II's abdication?

  The Social Democratic Party (SDP)
• What were the 3 K's?

  Kinde(children)

  Kirche(kitchen)

  Kuche(church)
• What was the Motherhood Cross?

  On August 12th each year, the Motherhood cross was awarded to women who had given birth to the largest number of children.

  Bronze- 4 children

  Silver- 6 children

  Gold- 8 children
• What was the Encouragement of Marriage (1933)?

  This law stated that all newly married couples would get a goverment loan of 1000 marks, which was about 9 months average income.

  The entire loan would be cleared if the couple had 4 kids.

  The aim of this law was very simple, its to encourage newly weds to have as many children as they could.
• What is Lebensborn?

  The Lebensborn was established in 1935 by Himmler, its aims were to increase the rate of racially healthy Aryan children.

  Unmarried Aryan women were encouraged to have kids with the SS or other racially pure German.

  The women would then give birth in secret and the child would then be adopted by a nazi family or if they were 'pure' enough they would be part of the SS.
• What was the purpose of Hitler youth?

  The Hitler youth was designed to Indoctrinate boys, into becoming loyal Nazi soldiers.

  Was established in 1926 but became mandatory in 1936.

  They did the following:

  • Military training
  • Nazi ideologies lessons
  • Fitness and survival skills
  • Encouraged to spy on teachers/parents who opposed Nazi ideologies
• What was the League of German Maidens?

  Prepared Aryans girls for their roles as wives and mothers in Nazi Germany.

  Their aims were:

  • loyal Nazi supporters
  • Physically strong and healthy for childbirth
  • Learn household skills
  • Raise the next Nazi generation of soldiers

  What did they do:

  • Physical training to stay fit
  • Lessons in Nazi ideologies
  • Domestic skills
  • Encouraged to have children with Aryan men
• What was Nazi education like?

  All subjects were to be rewritten to fit the Nazi ideals.

  Children were taught to be anti-Semitics

  Teachers HAD to join the Nazi Teachers Association, if not they weren't allowed to teach.

  PE was seen as the most important lesson, because it kept boy fit and strong for the army.

  Jewish teachers and lecturers were sacked.
• What did Hitler do to the church's role in education?

  He restricted it
• What actions were taken against Catholic newspapers and youth groups?

  They were suppressed and disbanded
• What was the concordat of 1933?

  An agreement between the church and Nazis
• What was Hitler's intention behind the 1933 concordat?

  To reduce the church's power
• What happened to priests in 1935?

  They were arrested and put on trial
• What significant action was taken in schools in 1936?

  All crucifixes were removed
• What did the pope do in 1937 regarding Hitler?

  He spoke against him
• What happened to Catholic education by 1939?

  It was destroyed
• Describe how Nazi's gained control over German Protestant Christians?

  The bible was replaced by Mien Kamf

  The cross was replaced by the Swastika

  Merged protestant church and the 'Nazi church' to create the Reich Church
• What does Gleichschaltung mean?

  The Nazification of all aspects of society
• When was the Treaty of Versailles signed?

  28th June 1919