History - Weimar and Nazi Germany

• End of WW1

  By Autumn 1918, it was clear Germany would lose the war. Its population and economy were suffering.

  • Food shortages due to British naval blockade which led to Germans dying of starvation and hypothermia.
  • Restricted ability to trade.
  • Decreased workers wages.
  • Germanys currency was losing its value and inflation was rising.

  On the 9th November 1918, Kaiser Wilhelm II was forced to abdicate which meant Germany became republic (voting).

  On 11th November 1918, WW1 ended by Germany surrendering and an armistice being signed between Britain, France + USA.
• Treaty of Versailles

  It was a peace treaty signed on the 28th June 1919 to mark the end of WW1. The terms were:

  • Germany had to return Alsace-Lorraine to France
  • Germanys army was reduced to only 100,000 soldiers and 6 battleships.
  • They had to pay £6.6 billion in reparations.
  • They had to accept full blame for the war.

  Many of the Germans believed the treaty was 'diktat' meaning dictated peace and believed the terms to be unfair, referring to Weimar republic as 'November criminals' for surrendering.
• Growth of Parliament

  The Weimar republic was established as a representative democracy which aimed to give genuine power to all German adults.

  Strengths:

  • Democracy = voting meant it was a fairer way to make decisions.
  • Reichstag = parliament instead of a Kaiser.
  • Bill of rights = guaranteed freedom of speech, religion and equality.

  Weaknesses:

  • Made up of small parties so it was hard to pass laws.
  • Referred to as 'November criminals'.
  • Article 48 = meant the president had power to act in 'emergencies' with consulting parliament.
• Left and Right Wing

  left wing:

  • Parties that were concerned with the rights of workers.
  • Appealed to Germanys growing population of industrial workers.
  • Increasing votes.

  right wing:

  • Parties that supported traditional values and the rights of land and property owners.
  • Worked with the kaiser to pass government laws.
  • Decreasing votes.
• The Sparticist (left wing)

  • Led by Karl Liebknecht + Rosa Luxenburg who ended up being killed.
  • They strongly argued against Ebert's plans for a democratic Germany
  • During 5th-12th January 1919, 50,000 members of sparticist rebelled in Berlin.
  • The government was saved when it armed bands of ex-soldiers, known as freikorps who defeated the spartcist rebels.
  • During the second spartacist rebellion, Ebert used the same tactics and deployed the freikorps to kill 600 communists.
  • His ruthless tactics created long lasting bitterness between the Weimar Republic and the left wing.
• Kapp Putsch (right wing)

  • They preferred Germany under a dictatorial-style government like the kaisers rule.
  • In March 1920, Dr Wolfgang Kapp led 5000 freikorps into Berlin in a rebellion.
  • The army refused to fire at the freikorps.
  • However, the German public, mainly industrial workers, declared a general strike which meant no transport, power or water.
  • It became apparent Kapp was failing so he left the country before being hunted down and dying whilst awaiting trial.
  • Although, there was a number of assassinations against political figures.
• Munich Putsch

  • In 1923, Germany was facing an economic crisis.
  • This gave Hitler the opportunity to gain some support for the Nazi party so he began taking over official buildings.
  • 16 stormtroopers were killed but Hitler escaped in a car leaving others to face the armed police.
  • In the short term, it failed as he did not gain support but increased publicity of the Nazi party.
  • Although he managed to impress judges meaning he and his accomplices got off very lightly.
• Stresman

  • 1923 = Stresman became chancellor, he replaced old currency with a new currency called Rentenmark.
  • 1924 = Dawes plan meaning reparations were spread out.
  • 1925 = The Locarno Treaty, Germany promised to respect its borders with France and Belgium.
  • 1926 = The league of nations, aided Germanys recovery.
  • 1928 = became the second largest industrial power, better standards of living, increased wages.
  • 1929 = Youngs plan meaning reparations were reduced to £2.2 billion.
• Great Depression - 1933


  Economic:

  • Businesses closed down = around 50,000 firms closed.
  • Farmers struggled = 18,000 farmers went bankrupt.
  • Wages went down = value of German wages fell by one third.

  Social:

  • Unemployment increased = one third of German workers unemployed.
  • Crime increased
  • Mood of country changed = disliking new republic.

  Political

  • Street violence increased.
  • Welfare system could not cope = over 6 million people unemployed.
• Adolf Hitler

  • Good public speaker.
  • Opposed the TOV.
  • Despised Weimar republic.
  • Promised jobs in the army, public work and economic strength.
  • Promised to get rid of TOV terms.
  • Promised a strong leader.
• Hindenburg and Chancellor

  • During the Reichstag elections in 1932 the Nazi party had 230 seats which was the largest party but not the majority.
  • Hitler wanted to be appointed chancellor but Hindenburg was suspicious and chose Franz Von Papin.
  • However Von Papin had no support so from the Reichstag so called another election in November 1932.
  • Hitler saw this as a disaster for the Nazi party.
  • Hindenburg chose Kurt Von Scheicher as chancellor however he resigned within a month.
  • On 30th January 1933, they appointed Hitler as chancellor as they believed they could control him.
• Reichstag fire - 1933

  • Hitler called another election as he wanted to get overall Nazi majority.
  • He now had the resources of state media.
  • Elections were going well until the Reichstag building caught on fire on the 27th February.
  • Hitler blamed the communists and declared the fire was the start of a communists uprising.
  • On the scene a Dutch man was arrested and confessed although he was said to have learning difficulties.
  • Consequently Hitler demanded special emergency powers to be passed.
  • The Nazis used this power to arrest communists, break up meetings and frighten voters.
• The Enabling Act

  • In March 1933, the Nazi party won their largest ever share of voters.
  • Hitler now had overall majority and could use it to destroy the constitution of the Weimar republic.
  • He used the SA and SS to intimidate the Reichstag into passing the enabling act which allowed him to make laws without consulting the Reichstag. (Article 48)
  • The catholic centre party co-operated with the Nazis.
  • This meant they retained control of catholic schools.
  • The passing of the enabling act made Hitler a virtual dictator.
• 1933

  • 30th Jan = Hitler appointed chancellor.
  • 27th Feb = Reichstag fire, arrest of 4000 communists.
  • 5th March = Reichstag elections, Nazis had 52% of votes.
  • 13th March = Goebells took control of media.
  • 24th March = Enabling act.
  • 2nd May = Trade unions banned.
  • 14th July = Law against formation of new parties.
  • 20th July = Agreement between state and catholic church.
• Ernst Rohm

  • Ex-soldier from WW1.
  • Leader of the SA 'brownshirts' in 1921.
  • Threat to Hitlers position as a leader because 3 million SA members were loyal to Rohm.
  • Disagreed with some of Hitlers policies.
  • Hitler asked him to step down but he refused.
  • Arrested on 30th June 1934.
• The Night of the Long Knives

  • The SA and Rohm wanted to make the SA into a second German army.
  • Hitler feared Rohm's control of the SA.
  • On the 29th-30th June 1934 squads of SS men broke into the homes of Rohm and other SA leaders and arrested them.
  • Hitler accused Rohm of plotting to overthrow and murder him.
  • Rohm and 400 others were executed.
  • Hitler was thanked by Hindenburg for 'nipping treason in the bud'.
  • On the 2nd August 1934, the entire army swore an oath to be loyal to Hitler.
  • Hindenburg died meaning Hitler was supreme leader - Fuhrer.
• Ways Nazis created Jobs

  • Public work programmes reduced unemployment as workers built autobahms, hospitals and schools.
  • RAD = National labour schemes.
  • 1935 = It became compulsory for 19-25yr olds to do six months labour service which was extended to women in 1939.
• Removing People from Unemployment Register

  • Women pressured to give up paid work and were not included in the unemployment register.
  • Young people working on RAD schemes were not included.
  • Many Jews lost their jobs were not included.
  • All males 18-25 had to do 2yrs military services and were not included.
• Impact

  • Big businesses = benefited as they could reduce wages and increase hours without trade unions.
  • Small businesses = couldn't keep up with the big businesses, 30,000 went bankrupt.
  • Farmers = At first they benefited debts cancelled and food prices increased, however food prices later became strictly controlled.
  • Workers = Felt they had a better life under the Nazis.
• Woman in Nazi Germany

  • Hitlers views of women were very traditional and and he saw them as being a wife and a mother.
  • In the early 1930's there was resentment to working woman as they were keeping men out of jobs.
  • Women roles were 'kinder,kuche,kirche' (children,cooking,church).
  • In 1938 the gold cross/mother cross was introduced as rewards to mothers who reproduced the Aryan race and it encouraged others.
  • Women dressed modestly to reinforce traditional feminine looks.
  • In 1943 woman had to work in factorise due to men being in the army.
• Children in Nazi Germany

  • In history German students learnt biased history of the early 1920s.
  • They learnt jews were inferior.
  • History taught loyalty to the Fuhrer was right and good and biology taught they were special as part of the Aryan race.
  • Boys were part of the Hitler youth and girls were part of the league of German maidens.
  • By 1939, membership to the Hitler youth became compulsory and was more centred towards army preparation.
  • The popularity for Hitler youth was decreasing.
• Control of Church and Religion

  • During the early stages of the Nazi regime Hitler signed a concordant with the church stating that they wouldn't get involved in politics.
  • Hitler attempted to unify all protestant churches.
  • In 1930s most churches were ignorant about Nazi intentions and little was done to oppose.
  • However other such as the Catholic Bishop Galen criticised Nazi policies against the disabled.
  • In 1941 he led a protest and the outcome was the policy was temporally stopped.
  • Dietrich Bohoeffer preached against the Nazis and helped many jews escape Germany, he was hung in 1942.
• Persecution in Nazi Germany

  Gypsys:

  • Thought to be inferior race.
  • Extermination = 516 were killed by the Nazis in 1945.

  Homosexuals:

  • Threat to traditional German family views.
  • Sent to concentration camps.

  Handicapped:

  • Threat to German ideal of perfect master race.
  • 1934-1945 = 300,000 men and women sterilised.
• Kristallnacht - 1938

  • Jewish person killed a German person in Paris.
  • On November 9th, Goebbels orders SS troops to smash up and attack Jewish shops, homes and synagogues.
  • 91 Jews murdered.
  • 20,000 Jews sent to concentration camps.
• The Final Solution

  • The persecution of the jews intensified in 1939 when WW2 broke out.
  • The Nazis 'germanised' western Poland so they transported poles from their homes and replaced them with Germans.
  • The Polish Jews were used for slave labour and transported to ghettos.
  • Systematic killing of the jews was decided on Jan 1942 at the Wannsee conference.
  • Himmler (head of SS) planned and led genocide.
  • It began in Poland - Auschwitz + Treblanka.
• Goebbels Propaganda

  • Joseph Goebbels was the minister for propaganda therefore was in charge of the information that was passed on to the German public.
  • During his 12yrs of service, he was responsible for controlling public opinion and what they should or should not hear.
  • He used every resource available to him to make people loyal to Hitler.
• Nazi Control

  Nuremburg Rallies:

  • Showed Nazi organisation.
  • Encouraged support for Nazis.

  Newspaper:

  • Controlled by government.
  • Not allowed to print anti-Nazi work.
  • Jewish editors put out of work.

  Artists:

  • Only Nazi approved painters could show work.
  • Statues of Aryan race made.

  Films/cinema:

  • All films had to carry pro-Nazi messages.
  • Foreign films censored.
• Heinrich Himmler

  • Was made head of the SS in 1929.
  • By 1934 the SS had 52,000 members.
  • Loyal towards Hitler.
  • Used terror and violence.
  • Primary role of eliminating opposition.
  • Established the first concentration camp.
  • He was captured in 1945 but committed suicide.
• The Police State

  • SS = led by Himmler, oversaw the others, very loyal.
  • SD = intelligence gathering agency for the SS, led by Heydrich.
  • Gestapos = secret police force, their job to monitor population for opposition.
• Why was there little opposition?

  • Terror = main Nazi opponents had been killed, exiled and imprisoned.
  • Nazi Success = economic recovery was greatly appreciated.
  • Economic fear = German workers feared lose of jobs.
  • Propaganda = made it so that Germans heard very little about the bad things that were happening.
• Resistance

  White rose group:

  • Leaders = Hons Scholl, Sophie Scholl + Christoph Probst.
  • Actions = Spread anti-Nazi messages through leaflets, posters and graffiti.
  • Consequences = arrested, tortured and beheaded.

  Swing youth:

  • A group of people who were more interested in American fashion and music which went against Nazi culture.
  • The clubs they met at were closed and some got caught by Gestapos then sent to concentration camps.

  Edelweiss pirates:

  • Young people aged 14-18.
  • Refused to behave the way Nazis wanted.
  • Numbers grew to around 2000.
  • In 1942, gestapos arrested 739 members.