The Nazi State 1933-1939

• In September 1935 how many strikes were reported and in which areas of Germany?

  37 strikes were recorded in the Rhineland-Westphalia, Silesia and Wurttemberg
• How many strikes were recorded in 1937?

  250 strikes recorded
• What was the main reason for workers' strikes in 1937?

  Reactions to poor working conditions and/or low wages
• What caused strikes in 1935-36?

  Discontent over food prices
• On the 25,000 workers who participated in strikes in 1935, how many were sentenced to short periods in prison?

  4,000 spend short periods in prison
• What happened to the seven ringleaders of a 17 minute strike at the Opel Car Factory in 1936?

  They were arrested by the Gestapo and imprisoned
• Through which method did many workers resist Nazi rule?

  Absenteeism
• What did the Nazis do to punish 'slackers' (absentees) in 1937?

  Introduced new labour regulations in 1938, laying down severe penalties for 'slackers'
• Why did absenteeism increase during the course of 1933-39?

  It was often a reaction against the pressure for longer working hours
• What happened to 114 workers who were found to be guilty of 'absenteeism' in the town of Gleiwitz?


  They were arrested by the Gestapo
• What was the name of the KPD leader who was arrested in the early stages of the Nazi regime?

  Ernst Thalmann
• What % of KPD membership were killed during 1933?

  About 10% of the KPD membership were killed during 1933
• In which cities did the KPD establish underground networks to recruit members?

  Berlin and Hamburg - traditionally communist cities
• What happened to these underground KPD networks?

  Broken up by the Gestapo
• How did the USSR order the KPD to regard the SPD?

  They ordered the KPD to regard the SPD as the main enemy, not the Nazi Party
• What about the organisational structure of the KPD and SPD made them particularly vulnerable to the police state?

  The organisational structure that made them able to have mass membership meant that their records were easily found and seized and their members were hunted down.
• In which important event in 1933 did SPD deputies openly defy SA and SS intimidation?

  The Enabling Act
• Where did the SPD leadership relocate?

  Fled in exile to Prague, Czechoslovakia
• What methods of resistance did the SPD use?

  Established small secret cells of supporters in factories, established groups like the Berlin Red Patrol, propaganda pamphlets were smuggled across the border
• What was the main priority of the SPD?

  To plan for a future collapse of the regime, rather than mounting a serious challenge to them
• How many privately owned newspapers were there in January 1933?

  4700 privately owned newspapers in Germany
• What law was used to close down socialist and communist newspapers?

  The Decree for the Protection of the People and the State
• By the end of 1933, how many newspapers had the Nazis acquired and what was the combined circulation per day?

  27 daily newspapers with a combined circulation of 2.4 million a day
• How many radio broadcasts did Hitler make in 1933?

  He made over 50 broadcasts
• How were towns and factories equipped so that people could hear these broadcasts?

  Loudspeakers were set up in town squares and factories so everyone could hear important speeches
• What % of households possessed a radio set by 1939?

  70% of German households
• What % of radio staff were dismissed on racial or political grounds by Goebbels?

  13% of staff were dismissed
• In April 1934, all radio stations were brought under the control of which organisation?

  The Reich Radio Company, controlled by the Propaganda Ministry
• What did Goebbels realise about the effectiveness of the cinema as a form of propaganda?

  He understood that film could work on the subconscious of the human mind, by delivering subliminal messages and reinforcing prejudices
• Why were Disney films still shown in Germany despite a ban on most American films?

  Disney cartoons were extremely popular
• How many feature films were produced in Germany between 1933 and 1945?

  Over 1000 featured films were produced in Germany
• What % of films had an overtly political theme?

  14% had an overtly political theme
• What did the Nazi Party Modern Political Propaganda Pamphlet state in 1930 about the use of propaganda?

  Stated that 'good discipline' is the best propaganda and discipline was best displayed in marches and parades
• How were householders expected to show their outward support of the Nazi Party?

  By hanging out swastika flags from their windows
• Who monitored compliance and reported on those who failed to conform?

  Nazi Party 'Block leaders' and failure to conform was reported to the authorities
• How many people were involved in the 1937 Nuremberg Rally?

  Some 100,000 people
• What did Hitler consider the arts an expression of?

  An expression of race
• On 6th May 1933, how many 'un-German' books were burned?

  About 20,000 books
• What were the two main aims of Goering's Four Year Plan?

  For the German Armed forces to be ready for war, and for the German Economy to be fitted for war within 4 years
• Schacht was opposed to the move towards autarky - how was he dealt with?

  Schacht was marginalised and resigned his major economic post