Unit 3 Rev Notes

Standard Grade History: UNIT 3: Germany 1918-1939 Revision notes

STANDARD GRADE HISTORY

People and Power

GERMANY 1918-39

REVISION NOTES

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THE FALL OF THE KAISER

The German public had supported their government eagerly when war broke out in August 1914. The Kaiser had promised that they would, ‘be home before the leaves had fallen.’

After four years of warfare the country was on the verge of collapse.

LACK OF FOOD - The British Naval Blockade had serious effects: Cold Winters – particularly 1916-1917 when heavy frost destroyed the potato

crop-it became known as the turnip winter. The Army and Navy suffered food shortages also – there was a mutiny in

1917 when the rations for German sailors were reduced. 1,000 calories a day became usual by 1918 – this is less than half of what is

needed for a healthy diet.

DISEASE - Spanish influenza swept through the badly nourished German population. In Europe 400,000 civilians and 186,000 soldiers died from it.

SHORTAGES – coal was running short and this led to power cuts.

CLOSURES – all public buildings, e.g. cinemas and theatres had closed down.

WAR WEARINESS – people were sick of the war Civilians were fed up with lack of food, disease, shortages and the disruption

to their everyday lives. Soldiers were tired of the shelling, gas attacks, casualties and dreadful living

conditions. Their allies were surrendering – Bulgaria in September 1918, Turkey in

October 1918, Austro-Hungary in November 1918.

The German Generals realised that they could not win the war, although they could continue to fight and to inflict heavy casualties on the enemy. After their massive offensive of March 1918 had failed the Germans were being pushed back by the allies.The Generals hoped that reasonable peace terms might be agreed if they stopped fighting in time. It also meant that Germany might not be invaded by the allies.

The allies were willing to make peace but insisted on conditions.Democracy should be introduced to the German Government. The powers of the Reichstag [German Parliament] should be increased.The Kaiser and the Generals were to surrender power – thus ending German militarism.

The Kaiser refused to abdicate.

There was talk of revolution in Germany as the people turned against those who had promised victory, but had brought only misery. General Ludendorff was dismissed. On the 29th of October General Hindenberg told the Kaiser that the army would not support him against the people.The Navy mutinied on the 29th October, as they had been ordered to go to sea for one last battle against the British Royal Navy. Not wanting to throw their lives away on a futile act the sailors refused to put to sea. They demanded an end to the war.

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The mutiny spread to other ports, urged on by Socialists. It then spread in land to the towns and cities. Hamburg on November 6th, Bremen on November 7th and Cologne on November 8th. The country was beginning to fall apart and Workers and Soldiers Councils were emerging to run the country.

On the 9th of November a Republic was proclaimed on the steps of the Reichstag in Berlin.

When the army refused to support him, the Kaiser was forced to abdicate on the 9th. He left Berlin on 10th November, 1918.

On the 11th of November, 1918 an Armistice was agreed with the allied powers. Fighting stopped.

After the 11th November 1918, Germany had three problems to solve: the creation of an adequate form of government. peacemaking rebuilding Germany’s economy

On the 9th November 1918, the Kaiser abdicated and Friedrich Ebert, a moderate left wing leader of the SPD [Social Democratic Party] became president. He was desperate to hold Germany together, and he feared revolution. Ebert believed in the rule of law and power based on a parliamentary democracy. Elections were called for early in 1919 in order to decide how Germany should be ruled.

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THE SPARTACIST REVOLT

The Spartacists were revolutionary Communists who believed that Capitalism was coming to an end. They took their inspiration from the successful Bolshevik Revolution of October 1917 in Russia. This had led to a Communist overthrow of an Empire. They believed the same was possible in Germany. Much of their support was in the Workers’ and Soldiers Councils [also known as Soviets], which had sprung up around Germany.

The Spartacists were led by Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht.

Beginning in 1918 the Communists had moved to take control of some cities.

The Spartacists did not like Ebert and the SPD who did not go far enough in their policies to make Germany socialist. The Spartacists accused Ebert of betraying the working classes.

On the 9th of November, 1918 Ebert received a phone call from General Groener, chief of the German army. They agreed that the army would support Ebert’s government. In return the government would fight against Communism.

On 6 January 1919 the Spartacists rose in Berlin. They called a general strike and took control over important buildings, such as railway stations and newspaper offices. They were lightly armoured with rifles and some machine guns.

In response the SPD government turned to the army. The army could not provide enough help, so they called on the services of the Freikorps.

The Freikorps were ex-soldiers organised into groups under officers. They took their name from these officers. i.e. the Luttzow Corps was named after its commander von Luttzow. They were tough soldiers who hated Communism and loved fighting. They were well armed with artillery, machine guns and even armoured cars.

The defence minister, Gustav Noske retook the city of Berlin from the 11th of January, using these Freikorps. The Freikorps took four days to defeat the Spartacists. They were better armed, better led and used brutal methods. They murdered the Spartacist leaders Liebnecht and Luxemburg for example. Hundreds of captured Spartacists were shot by the Freikorps.

This act split the moderate left wing SPD from the more extreme left wing Spartacists [who renamed themselves as the Communist party, or KPD after 1920]. In the long term this split in the left wing parties of the Republic would help the Nazis as the left found it very difficult to act together.

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THE WEIMAR GOVERNMENT

Elections were held in January 1919. The resulting National Assembly met from February 1919, at Weimar [Berlin was too dangerous] to write a constitution. It was decided that:

Germany was to be a RepublicA Parliament, called the Reichstag was elected, and passed laws. All women

and men over 20 had the vote.Elections were based on proportional representation. 60,000 votes gained one

Member of Parliament. It was designed to allow all democratic viewpoints to be represented in the Reichstag.

A second chamber, called the Reichsrat, was set up of representatives sent by the individual German states [like Bavaria, Saxony and Prussia].

The President could choose the chancellor, dissolve the Reichstag and rule by decree [Article 48] in times of emergency. The President was elected for a 7 year term. The chancellor in the Reichstag chose the cabinet, and commanded a majority of the votes.

A Supreme Court was set up, and basic human rights, such as freedom of speech, religion and movement were guaranteed.

WEAKNESSESProportional representation led to coalition governments, which found it difficult to

act decisively in times of crisis.Proportional Representation also allowed small, extremist parties to get seats and

express their views in the Reichstag.It was a weakness to allow the president to rule by decree [Article 48] because

democracy could change to a dictatorship. This was abused by later Chancellors who used it to govern by decree, rather than with a parliamentary majority.

It has been argued that too few supported democracy in Germany at this time. The Communists never forgave the government for their brutal crushing of the Spartacist revolt. The KPD contested elections to the Reichstag but tried to undermine it at every opportunity.

The extreme Right did not like the Republic either. In the early years they were led by the DNVP [German Nationalist Party], which longed for the ‘good old days’ when everyone ‘knew their place’. They hated the Versailles Treaty and the November Criminals who they blamed for betraying the army. They did not like democracy, but again participated in the elections, which took place.

Many in the army, the judiciary and the army longed for a return to what they saw as a more ordered society. They were no friends of the new democratic Republic.

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The Political Parties of the Weimar Republic

National Socialist German Workers’ Party [NSDAP] Extreme right wing partystrongly opposed to the Weimar Republic and Versailles TreatyRacist and very nationalisticBelieved that obedience was more important than individual freedoms.Led by Adolf Hitler.

German National People’s Party [DNVP] very right wing, wanted the monarchy restored wanted the end to the Republic.

German People’s Party [DVP] Reluctant supporters of the Republic. Party of big business, which wanted economic stability to help trade and

industry. Middle Class support.

The German Democratic Party [DDP]:- Middle Class, intellectual moderate liberal party. Professional class support. Interested in individual freedoms Keen supporter of the Republic

Zentrum [Catholic Centre] supported democracy. Represented the Catholic minority in Germany Supporters of the Republic

The Socialist Party of Germany [SPD] Moderate left wing party keen supporters of the Republic. Represented urban working class. Wanted social change through Parliament Wanted a gradual improvement in workers conditions Initially led by Fritz Ebert

The Communist Party of Germany [KPD] Extreme left wing revolutionary communists boycotted early elections but a significant force after 1924. Did not support the Republic and hated the SPD after the Spartacist revolt Believed they were the true part of the working class. Wanted the overthrow of capitalism, state ownership of land and capital,

control of the armed forces, the civil service and legal system. Took their inspiration from the Russian revolution

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THE TREATY OF VERSAILLES (28th June, 1919)

One of the first tasks of the Weimar government was to sign the Treaty of Versailles. The Germans expected a fair treaty because they had followed the wishes of the allies, the Kaiser had gone and democracy had been introduced in Germany.What they got was very different:

Germany lost landAlsace and Lorraine were given to FranceThe Saar coalfields were given to France for 15 yearsEupen and Malmedy were given to BelgiumNorthern Schleswig was given to DenmarkWest Prussia, Posen and Upper Silesia [the so called ‘Polish corridor’ were given

to PolandDanzig was to become a free city under the control of the League of NationsAll Germany’s colonies were to be taken over by the League of Nations

ArmamentsThe Rhineland was to be demilitarisedThe Army was limited to 100,000 menThe Navy was allowed only 6 battleshipsNo submarines were allowedNo airforce was allowedGermany was not allowed to ally with Austria

The war guilt clause – stated that Germany alone was to blame for the war and that she would pay reparations [compensation payments]. Reparations were fixed at £6,600 million in 1921.

In total Germany lost 13.5% of her land, 12.55 of her population, 16% of her coal production, 15% of her agricultural production, 48% of her iron production.She lost her overseas colonies, most of her armed forces and valuable resources from railway engines to motor cars.

THE GERMAN REACTION TO THE TREATY OF VERSAILLES

Was ferociously hostile, as they were quite unprepared for such a hostile peace treaty.

It was seen as a DIKTAT [a dictated peace] as the Germans were not allowed to participate in the negotiations. The War Guilt Clause was particularly resented as the German people did not believe that they alone were responsible for starting the war.

The German government thought about fighting but the Generals warned that they had not option but to accept the peace. On 28th June the Treaty was signed.

The German Foreign Minister, Walter Ranthenau (a Jew), who signed the Versailles agreement, was seen as a traitor as a result. Owing to the anger felt at the treaty the myth grew that Germany had been STABBED IN THE BACK!When the war ended the German army was in retreat, had no chance of winning and was close to collapse, BUTIt was still intact and was still fighting in France and Belgium when the war stopped which led many Germans to believe that they had not been defeated.

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The very Generals who advised Ebert and the Weimar Government to sign said publicly that the army had been ‘stabbed in the back’ – they would have won the war had it not been for Socialist politicians who signed the armistice in November 1918

VERSAILLES AND VIOLENT PROTEST

The Kapp Putsch, 13 March, 1920Right wing groups also rose up against the Weimar government. The returning soldiers were bitter and thought they should have remained fighting. Under the terms of the Treaty of Versailles the Freikorps had to be disbanded.

A civil servant called Dr Wolfgang Kapp along with right wing politicians, and some army generals, encouraged the Erhardt Freikorps brigade to refuse to disband. Instead it marched to Berlin and set up a ‘patriotic’ government.

Kapp promised strong government to make Germany strong and proud again. He would reclaim the land lost in the Treaty of Versailles.

When the democratically elected government led by Ebert called on the army for help it refused, saying that ‘army does not fire on army’. Ebert and his government were forced to flee.

Ebert called on workers to strike. Berlin came to a complete standstill and gas and electricity were cut off. The attempt to seize power failed but the attitude of the army to democracy was clear to see. So was that of the judges. All those responsible for the putsch received very lenient sentences. Kapp fled to Sweden. Compare with the treatment of the Spartacists.

The Murder of Walter Rathenau, 24th June, 1922Walter Rathenau, Germany’s foreign minister, was assassinated in June 1922.

A right wing group opposed to the Treaty of Versailles killed him as part of a plot to assassinate every politician who had signed the Versailles Treaty.

His killers were sentenced to four years in jail.

When there were left wing risings their treatment was very different.

In 1920 there was a Communist rising in the Ruhr. It was crushed by the army and its leaders were tortured and murdered.

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THE GERMAN ECONOMY, 1919-1929

After the war the German economy had massive problems. Right wing leader blamed all of these difficulties on Versailles in general and on reparations in particular.

Economic problemsGerman attempts to move to build up their economy after the war were hampered by the loss of territory and resources due to the Treaty of Versailles.Reparations added to these difficulties. In 1921 the Allies set the amount of reparations to be paid at £6,600 million in annual instalments of £100 million.

The Ruhr and HyperinflationFrance was annoyed with the fact that Germany was late with its reparations payments in 1923. The French invaded Germany and occupied the Ruhr – a mineral rich area of Germany with coalmines, factories and railways.

The Germans opposed this occupation by striking and gained much sympathy as the French adopted tough tactics, killing 132 people and expelling another 150,000. However, Germany suffered as they had lost their most productive area.

To solve the problem of lack of money the government simply printed more money.

As a result prices rose, more money was printed and so prices rose even faster. This is called hyperinflation, when money eventually loses value.

1914 $1 = 4.2 marks1923 $1 = 4,200,000,000,000marks

The effects of this were appalling.Prices rose faster than wages. In November 1923 a loaf of bread cost 201,000,000,000,000 marks and living standards dropped dramatically. Workers were paid twice a day and had to rush to the shops before prices went up again.

Professional middle classes and those on fixed incomes [like pensioners] suffered as prices rose and their income did not. Savings became worthless. They felt humiliated. Many of this important group lost confidence in the Weimar Government’s ability to cope with the crisis.

Farmers refused to sell their produce for worthless money – shortages pushed prices up even further.

The working classes suffered and starvation and discontent grew. A barter system grew up where people swapped their valuables for food.

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THE STRESEMANN PERIOD 1924 – 29 [not specifically examined]

Gustav Stresemann [of the DVP] formed a new government and quickly realised that Germany could not continue in this way.He ended the policy of passive resistance stopped the printing of paper moneyabolished the mark and replaced it with a new currency - the Rentenmark.These measures saved the country from complete economic collapse, but it triggered unrest in other pans of Germany e.g. the Beer Hall Putsch.

Stresemann’s reforms led Germany back to more stable and peaceful times (1924-9)

The Dawes Plan, which he negotiated in 1924, scaled down reparation payments and arranged American Loans to consolidate the new German currency.

The Locarno Treaty (1925) in which Germany agreed (on equal terms) to some of the changes made by the Treaty of Versailles showed how he had built up German influence abroad and was accepted by other nations as an equal.

Membership of the League of Nations came in 1926. The Young Plan (1929) brought in a final scheme for reparations They would continue until 1988 but at a lower level than set in 1921 and the

allies would leave the Rhineland five years early.

Economic recovery was dramatic in this period: Industrial production doubled and grew even faster in iron, steel, chemical

and engineering industries. Huge Industrial Concerns grew up e.g. IG. Farben. Living standards for workers rose as real wages increased by 33%.

There were still some problem areas: Germany’s agriculture was not doing well Germany was over-dependent on American Loans German Industrialists, while enjoying the economic recovery were still wary of

the Republic and still feared a gradual move towards socialism. In the late 1920’s unemployment began to rise again.

As a result of economic recovery the extreme panics attracted less support. In the 1928 elections 70% of votes went to parties which accepted the Weimar Republic. But, the anti-Weimar Parties were still there still opposing the Republic.

The DNVP had been involved in one government but poor election results convinced it that opposition to Weimar was what its conservative supporters wanted!

The Young Plan attracted strong right-wing opposition because they opposed any co-operation with the allies. Hugenburg, leader of the DNVP organised national opposition including other right-wing groups e.g. the Pan German League, the Stahlheim, the NSDAP (the Nazi’s) to demand a referendum on the Young Plan. They were unsuccessful.

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THE BEER HALL PUTSCH

Hitler had taken over the German Workers Party and by 1923 he had mass support in Munich. He renamed the Party the National Socialist German Workers Party (Nazi Party). They had a party newspaper, a private army (the S.A.) and an emblem (the Swastika) and a 25 point programme of reform which demanded, among other things:

the creation of a Greater Germany with Lebensraum (living space) the exclusion of Jews from offices and citizenship. the state to take over much of the economy the destruction of the Treaty of Versailles the strengthening of central government.

By November 1923 Hitler decided to try to overthrow the Weimar Republic because it was in a state of crisis.

Hyperinflation had reached its peak The new Chancellor Stresemann had given in to the French in the Ruhr. He

had called off the passive resistance campaign. He had handed over reparations. This was extremely unpopular and seen as surrender to the allies.

The PlanThe Nazis were not strong enough to defeat the government on their own.Instead, they intended to seize power in Munich which was controlled by the anti-Weimar, right- wing nationalists Kahr, Lossow and Seisser, and then, to use Munich as a base to gain control in the whole of Germany.

The Beer HallOn 8th November Hitler and a group of S.A. men burst into a beer cellar in Munich where Kahr was making a speech. Hitler fired his revolver in the air and shouted that the revolution had begun. He took Kahr, Lossow and Seisser into a side room to try to persuade them to join him. When General Ludendorf, hero of the War, arrived they agreed to go along with the plan. They had second thoughts later and turned against Hitler claiming that they had been threatened by him.

The MarchIn desperation Hitler decided to lead a march on the centre of Munich to try and rally support. In a narrow street they were confronted by armed police, shooting started and 16 Nazis were killed along with three policemen. General Ludendorff was arrested. Hitler ran away but was arrested later and both were charged with high treason.

The TrialHitler’s trial lasted 24 days and in that time his part;’ and policies were front page news. The judge allowed him to launch bitter attacks on the Weimar republic claiming that the politicians of Weimar were the real traitors. Ludendorff was set free and Hitler was given a jail sentence of five years (he really served only 9 months in the comfort of Landsburg prison.)

During this time he wrote Mein Kampf (My Struggle) which set out his ideas on race, politics and the future of Germany.The Stresemann Period 1924-1929

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THE GREAT DEPRESSION AND THE GERMAN ECONOMIC COLLAPSE

While Germany enjoyed relative prosperity between 1924 and 1929 much of it depended upon foreign loans. By early 1929 unemployment had begun to increase but worse was to follow.

THE WALL STREET CRASH The Wall Street Crash, when stocks lost their value in New York. American

banks began to recall money that they had loaned across the world. This hit Germany hard as the foreign loans which it depended upon were withdrawn.

World Trade fell sharply as many countries introduced protectionist tariffs in order to protect their own industries.

Companies went bankrupt.

THE EFFECTS OF THE CRASH IN GERMANY Loans of money were recalled. Exports and imports fell rapidly. Businesses and banks collapsed. Unemployment rose dramatically in Germany — 3.5 million in 1930 and 4.5

million in 1931 and 6 million in 1932. The Germans announced they were unable and unwilling to pay any more

reparations The Lausanne Conference 1932 agreed to cancel German reparations in

return for bonds to the value of £150.000.000.

When the Weimar Republic needed to be strong it was weak and divided. Arguments about what to do led to the fall of the coalition government led by the SPD Chancellor Muller in March 1930. This represented the end of truly democratic government, as this was the last government based on a parliamentary majority in the Reichstag.

The new Chancellor, Bruning, the leader of the Catholic Centre Party, relied on he support of President Hindenburg to run the country. Bruning did not have a majority in the Reichstag but ruled by using Article 48 of the Weimar Constitution which gave the President special powers. This continued for the next two years.

THE EFFECT OF THE DEPRESSIONThe people of Germany were worried - they feared a return of hyper-inflation and felt very insecure about their jobs as a result of large-scale unemployment.

Factory workers were badly hit by unemployment - by 1932 over 40% of all male workers were out of a job. The streets were filled by men with no jobs and no hope.

Industry and shopkeepers were badly hit as people could not afford to buy food, clothes etc.

2 million German farmers were very badly hit. Agriculture had been struggling since 1925 and this new crisis left many farmers deep in debt and facing bankruptcy.

Many unemployed were forced to live off their welfare aid, which was inadequate. People were on the verge of starvation and could not afford clothes, heating etc.

Many of the Middle Class feared that they would lose their savings again they would lose their property if the Communists came to power.

As more people became unemployed and the failure of the Weimar politicians to solve the economic crisis became apparent people turned to more extreme political parties.

They offered extreme solutions to extreme problems.

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The LeftThe Communists claimed that the crisis represented the end of capitalism and that they would soon sweep to power supported by the working class. Their support increased as people switched from the moderate socialists to the Communists.Electoral Support for the KPD

1928 54 seats 1930 77 seats July 1932 89 seats Nov. 1932 100 seats.

The Red Fighting League was their equivalent of the Nazi S.A. They took part in parades and rallies watched over by Ernst Thalmann, the Communist leader. They hated the Nazis and fought against them for control of the streets.

The Right: THE RISE OF THE NAZISAfter the Beer Hall Putsch Hitler decided to gain power by legal means. During the successful years of Weimar, Hitler concentrated on organising his political party, and building up membership. He expanded the S.A. (Brown Shirts) and introduced the S. S. (Schutzstaffeln) or Elite Guard to ensure discipline within the Party.

He set up party branches throughout the country and many of them set up special organisations e.g. Hitler Youth, German Girls League etc. These branches would be vital in organising and distributing Nazi propaganda.

Hitler decided to exploit the economic crisis to the full in a bid to gain power He blamed the politicians of Weimar for all the county’s problems.

They had signed the Versailles Treaty They had handed over Germany’s wealth to the allies in the form of

reparations. They were completely incapable of doing anything about it.

In contrast he portrayed himself as a strong leader capable of solving the countriesproblems –the ‘saviour of Germany’.

He cleverly exploited the fears of those worst hit by the economic crisis . Nazi propaganda was aimed at specific sections of the community. They did especially well in the countryside, the border areas, and among the Protestant middle class. Those most resistant to the Nazi message were the industrial workers and Catholics.

To Agricultural workers - he offered higher agricultural prices and more status.

To the middle classes – he would defeat Communism and bring stability to Germany.

To Industrialists — he would defeat the threat of Communism and Trade Unions.

To the Army — he would end Versailles, and expand the army. To the unemployed— Hitler offered jobs.

The strength of the Nazi appeal was that they were able to appear to promise “all things to all men.” They were able to do this because their policies were vague.

Electoral Support for the NazisThe growth of Nazi support was spectacular.

1928 12 seats 1930 107 seats [6 million vote for them] July 1932 230 seats (largest party in Reichstag) Nov. 1932 196 seats (largest party in Reichstag) [13 million voters]

PROPAGANDAHitler’s success had been achieved by his wide-ranging appeal but also with the skilful use of propaganda organised by Goebbles who used

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mass rallies, slogans, military bands, posters, flags to get Hitler’s message across. Hitler was also a superb public speaker The “Hitler over Germany” campaign, was organised to take Hitler by plane

all over Germany to make speeches (very good propaganda as Hitler appeared modern!)

THE S.A.Hitler was also helped by the S.A. which attacked the Communists and the other parties and which made it impossible for them to campaign properly. This encouraged the sense of crisis, and meant that the opposition could not campaign effectively.

ADOLF HITLER Above all Hitler offered strong leadership - something which Weimar had failed to provide. He also offered vague solutions which appealed to many in society. He was seen as a man who would oppose Communism and bring stability to Germany.

CONTINUED PROBLEMS WITH RULING WEIMARChancellor Bruning, using Article 48. continued to rule until June 1932.He attempted to resolve Germany’s problems by cutting expenditure on the unemployed and increasing taxes.This caused great bitterness among the people and he became known as the Chancellor of Hunger. He was replaced by Franz von Papen who also ruled using the Article 48

In 1932 there was a Presidential electionResult – President Hindenburg won (19 million votes) but Hitler came second (13 Million votes).

Summer 1932 – Reichstag elections saw 13 million vote for the Nazis [230 seats gained making them the largest party in the Reichstag] while the SA ruled the street violently e.g. 99 people killed in street fighting.

Hitler demanded they Hindenburg appoint him as Chancellor and he refused as he believed, correctly, they were undisciplined and intolerant.

Hitler Becomes a Dictator 1932-33 Sept 1932 – Reichstag meets and Von Papen was given a vote of no

confidence by the members. Result – He called a new election for November where the Nazis still gained

196 seats and were still the biggest party in the Reichstag. Hitler demanded again that he be made Chancellor and Hindenburg again

refused. However, Von Schleicher, Hindenburg’s advisor said that the army would not

permit Von Papen to stay in office and rule by decree. Hindenburg then appointed Von Schleicher as Chancellor who lasted 57

days as the Reichstag would not agree to his decisions and he then wanted to rule by decree.

Hindenburg was in a difficult position so he plotted with Von Papen. 30 Jan 1933 –Hitler was sworn in as Chancellor as no-one else could rule

without decree BUT Von Papen was appointed as his Vice-Chancellor and there would be only a few Nazi ministers in Government.

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Why did Hindenburg appoint Hitler as Chancellor? He had been through two Chancellors in a year and Hitler’s party had the

largest share of seats. Von Papen was convinced that he could use Hitler to rule and Control him like

a puppet! Hindenburg believed that office may moderate Hitler and the Nazi party

policies.

What Happened? They lost control of him in a matter of days. Hitler persuaded them to hold another election as he claimed he wanted to

get a majority of Nazis into the Reichstag so he could rule democratically!

THE RISE OF THE NAZIS:-summary timeline of main events30th January1933 Hitler was invited to become the Chancellor of a coalition right-

wing government.

27th February 1933 General Election

23rd March 1933 Enabling Law passed by the Reichstag. Gave Hitler the right to make his own laws.

31st March 1933 State Parliaments forced to hold new elections.

7th April 1933 New State Governors appointed by Hitler.

2nd May 1933 Trade Unions banned - replaced by German Labour Front.

26th May Communist Party dissolved.

22 June-14 July 1933 S.P.D. banned Bavarian People’s Pany. Nationalist and Centre Panics also disbanded.

30th Jan 1934 State Parliaments abolished.

30th June 1934 Night of the Long Knives.

2nd August 1934 Death of President Hindenberg.

Hitler became Fuhrer (leader) and Commander in Chief of the armed forces.

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CONTROL OVER GERMANY

In January 1933 Hitler was far from being a dictator.He had only got a toehold on the ladder to power

Only two of the twelve-member cabinet were Nazis. The Nazis did not have a majority in the Reichstag Hitler held office at the pleasure of the President Hindenberg.

Hitler promised to dissolve the Weimar Republic after he came to power but only by using “legal” means.

He needed a two thirds majority to change the constitution. Another election was called in February 1933

The Reichstag Fire – March 1933The Reichstag Fire was used as an excuse to arrest and ban Communist deputies. 4000 were thrown in prison, their newspapers were shut down and the SA beat up their supporters in the streets.S.A. and S.S. guards then packed the first meeting of the reassembled Reichstag.

What happened? A communist (supposedly acting alone), Marians van der Lubbe was caught

at the scene of a burning Reichstag with matches and fire-lighters. Hitler immediately took advantage of the situation and claimed the country

was on the brink of a communist takeover. He then went to Hindenburg to request The Law for the Protection of the

People and the State. This law banned all communists and socialists from taking part in the election

campaign. Hitler won a in the elections and gained just under half of the seats in the

Reichstag but with allies and the fact there were no Communist deputies in the Reichstag it was enough to pass… The Enabling Law – 23 March 1933

The Enabling Law was passed by the Reichstag in an atmosphere of menace and fear on 23rd March, 1933. Only 94 SPD deputies voted against it.

Whatever the truth about who started the Reichstag fire Hitler used the Enabling Law to eliminate all political opposition to the Nazis.

2nd May 1933 all trade unions banned10th May 1933 Social Democratic H.Q. attacked26th May 1933 Communist Party broken up22nd June 1933 Social Democrats banned14th July all other parties including former allies banned.

By July 1933 Germany was a one-party state.

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THE NIGHT OF THE LONG KNIVESHitler now turned his attention to his own Party.

THE S.A. was now three million strong Ernst Rohm, the S.A. leader was prepared to argue with Hitler over policies.

The S.A. had fought for the Nazis. Now they were in power the S.A. demanded good jobs for the ‘work’ they had done.

Ernst Rohm also demanded the merger of S.A. and the Army.

Hitler feared their influence was too strong. Also, their demands upset the Army their policies would upset big business. Hitler no longer needed the S.A. bullyboys so,

On the 30th June, 1934 (Night of the Long Knives) Hitler struck. The S.S. led by Himmler seized and brutally murdered several hundred

leading members of the S.A. and other ‘enemies’. The army approved of this. Hitler again claimed that he had saved Germanv from a bloody Civil War.

RESULTThe way was now clear for Hitler to amalgamate the posts of Chancellor and President. As Fuhrer. the army swore an oath of personal allegiance to Hitler.No party, group or organisation ~was left to challenge Hitlers power

Germany was now a totalitarian state.NAZI GOVERNMENTThe usual picture of the Nazi State and Government is that of a well-ordered single party state which ruthlessly and efficiently governed GermanyHitler had got rid of the State Governments and the Federal Government leaving no block to his power

Two organisations ran Germany: - the Nazi Party machine and the Civil Service.

They had almost identical authority and power. They were often doing the same job.One person often held a job in both organisations e.g. a local Nazi leader might also be the local mayor.

As a resultA great deal of confusion existed at a local level about who was responsible for what.A great deal of time and resources were wasted in duplicating work or unscrambling contradictory orders.

This confusion actually suited Hitler. It was deliberate as the conflicts made sure that neither the Civil Service nor Party could challenge his power.

all authority was handed down by him all appeals went back to him to decide

Hitler alone was responsible for holding the Third Reich together.The S.S. and especially the Gestapo (state secret police) were used to make sure that no-one challenged his power.

The freedom and rights of the individual were severely restricted by the Nazi State.The rights of the individual counted for nothing when compared to the “needs of the state”.Terrorism, the secret police, propaganda. and censorship were all essential parts of the totalitarian state the Nazis were building.

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For those Germans who did not fall into line but who tried to resist the Nazis these were years of constant fear, imprisonment and brutal treatment.

But these people formed only a tiny minority.

What counted for the majority of Germans was Nazi success.The Nazis had cut unemployment from six to less than one million in four years.National Production had increased by 100% and wages had risen.The Nazi regime had taken away some of their rights, but it had: given them security at home and restored Germany as a leading power abroad.

No government in Germany enjoyed such popular support as Hitler’s, especially amongst the young, and millions of Germans were prepared therefore to ignore the excesses, brutality and violence of the Nazi state.

NAZI INTIMIDATIONTo retain and extend their control over the German people the Nazis were prepared to use various methods of Intimidationa. the use of existing power and authority of the state, or the creation of a police stateb. coercion and terrorismc. propaganda

A. THE POWER AND AUTHORITY OF THE STATEThe Enabling Laws of March 1934 gave Hitler the power to make laws.He also wanted power to interpret law so the police, law courts judges and civil servants had to be controlled.Goering had already set up a police force of 40,000 S.A. and S.S. men as early as February 1934.

The Courts had been used to defend people’s rights and liberties. This changed under the Nazis.“Undesirable” officials and judges were purged from the Civil Service and Judiciary by the Nazis.All lawyers judges and legal officials were forced to join “The League for the Maintenance of Law”.Judges of unquestionable Nazi loyalty were appointed.Special ‘People’s Courts” were established by April 1935 to try all cases of ‘treason” and all “enemies of the state” whether they had broken any law or not.

B. COERCION AND TERRORISMThe Nazi’s did not have to answer to anyone for their actions.

The S.S. (Schutsstafell was a vital instrument of the Nazi State.) After the S.A. were purged in June 1934 the S.S. became the private army of the Nazi Party.

Under Heinrich Himmler and his deputy Reinhard Heydrich the S.S. were almost a state within a state.

The Gestapo (state secret police) was one branch of the S.S. Their main activity was state security. They had the power to seize people

and property and to do with them what they liked.

The effect of this terrorism extended far beyond those who were tortured, murdered, lost property or simply disappeared.

It created an atmosphere of menace and fear of violence which largely prevented opposition.

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The S.S.and Gestapo infiltrated every type of organisation.Concentration Camps were set up for ‘troublemakers” such as trade unionists.

Communists. Social Democrats, Gypsies, homosexuals and Jews as well as priests and other minor religious groups.

Rumours of cold blooded torture in these places increased this atmosphere of fear and suspicion.

Between 1934 and 1938 up to 10.000 prisoners were held in these camps and by 1939 this had increased to 25,000.

C. PROPAGANDADr Joseph Goebells, as ‘Minister of Propaganda and Enlightenment of the People” was in charge of propaganda. He supervised: the press, book and pamphlet publications radio and film making, the arts, theatre and leisure activities.

The aim of this propaganda was: To convince the German people that living under the Nazis was worth the

loss of Civil liberties. To “win over” the German people by creating a sense of success,

achievement and the national rebirth of Germany.

The Nazis did not try to capture mass support by appealing to facts or to reason but by controlling peoples’ emotions. Truth did not matter so long as the message was said often and boldly enough. Propaganda messages were as simple as possible and slogans were repeated again and again.

To a people who had suffered national humiliation for fifteen years it had a great impact.Censorship was the negative side of propaganda.

Tons of books regarded as being “Un-German” were ceremonially burned in 1933.

Bookshops and libraries were purged, Nazi standards for art, literature and music were established. Novelists, artists, film-makers and scientists had to conform to those

standards or to flee the country.

MASS RALLIESParades, bands, torchlight processions, flags, standards, uniforms and insignia were important to the Nazi image.

The Mass Rally was the main positive instrument of Nazi propaganda, Hardly a month passed without some Nazi holiday or festival (eg. Hitler’s birthday, National Heroes Remembrance Day, Munich Putsch Anniversary). Each ended with a mass rally.

At Nuremberg the Nazis held the Annual Party Rally in September. A week of parades and ceremonies climaxed in a torchlight procession, firework displays, massed bands and march pasts by thousands of faithful Nazi Party Members.

The Nuremberg Rally on 1934 attracted 1.5 million party faithful who came to hear their Fuhrer speak. The Parades were very impressive and made people feel that they ‘belonged’ to a great movement. The Nazis did not want people to think. They wanted them to follow. The rallies were useful in achieving this.

Youth Movements and Education

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Hitler had always stressed how important it was to win over the young so they could be trained and indoctrinated rather than educated as enthusiastic supporters of the Nazi State.The Hitler Youthhad 100,000 members in 1933 and membership was voluntary but pressure was put on youngsters to join.All young Germans had to join it in 1939. Other youth groups were banned.BoysThe Hitler Youth were divided up into sections according to age and sex:Boys 6- 10 Pimpfen (Little Fellows)10 - 14 Jungvolk (Young Folks)14 - 18 Hitletjugend (Hitler Youth)Girls 10-14 Jungmadel (Young Girls)14-18 Bund Deutsche Madel (the League of German Maidens.)

Thereafter young men did national service until 21 or could join the Work Corps.

Physical, sporting and military strength, skills and ability were emphasised.Training camps were compulsory for developing sports, gymnastics and for encouraging total loyalty to the Nazi Party and HitlerSongs and books emphasised the superiority of the German or Aryan Race.

Those with the highest marks were selected for further special training at such schools as the “Adolf Hitler Schools”. The very best of these students went to the “Order Castles”. These were the finishing schools for the future Nazi leaders.

EDUCATIONEducation was one of the areas where control and indoctrination were most seriously Nazified.

Teachers were the first targets. They were coerced to join in the Nazi Teachers’ League.

Those who did not were dismissed or informed on by fellow teachers or pupils. In school there were patriotic ceremonies, books were rewritten to reinforce

Nazi beliefs.

All instruction or indoctrination was to do with “character” rather than “learning” i.e. educate all young people to serve the Nazi State. .41 lessons began and ended with teachers and pupils saluting and saving ‘Heil Hitler’.

Some school subjects concentrated on biology and race study.History books were specially written to praise a mythical German past. History

is one of the first subjects to be targeted by dictators. Such is its importance.

Language classes were used to instill racial hatred and obedience to the Nazi party.

Health and Physical fitness were considered of far greater importance than knowledge, so physical education occupied much of the time at school.

Why did Hitler do this?Hitler targeted the youth of Germany as they were the Nazis of the future. He wanted obedient children in order for them to be the soldiers who fought and mothers who bore children.

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TREATMENT OF THE JEWSHitler had made it very clear in “Mein Kampf’ that he had a deep hatred of Jews. He blamed them for all Germany’s problems, for losing the war, the Versailles Treaty, high unemployment and inflation.

When the Nazis came to power in 1933 anti-Semitism became official party policy.The 1930s were a dreadful time for Germany’s 500,000 Jews.They were driven from jobs and businesses and homes. They were banned from

social clubs, schools, cinemas, restaurants, parks, swimming pools and theatres.

A steady stream of crude propaganda backed up this campaign which seemed to have been aimed at forcing the Jews to emigrate and to ‘resettle” or to expel the remainder.

TIMETABLE OF RISING JEWISH PERSECUTION.

April 1933 boycott of Jewish shops, doctors and lawyers ordered by Hitler

1934 Jews were excluded from the Civil Service. Jew baiting and beating

became common and anti-semitism was taught in schools.

May 1935 Jews forbidden to join the army

September 1935 Nuremberg laws — Jews forbidden to marry Aryans and stripped of German citizenship.

1937 Jews lose businesses for no reason

1938 Jews forced to carry identity cards

Nov 9th - 10th 1938 Kristallnacht – Crystal Night [after all the glass that had been smashed in Jewish property]

Nov 12th Jews fined for the damage done during Crvstal Night.

Nov 15th Jewish pupils banned from Aryan schools.

Crystal Night 1938 was supposed to be a spontaneous outburst of anti-Semitic feeling sparked off by the murder of a German diplomat in Paris by, a Polish Jew. It was in fact a deliberate and well organised attack on Jewish property and synagogues throughout the country which was followed by the forced sale of Jewish Businesses property and homes to meet the 1000 million mark fine imposed upon German Jews.

Eventually Jews found themselves being sent to Concentration camps like Auschwitz and Dachau. Initially they worked here, until death. From 1941 Hitler ordered the ‘Final Solution’ to the Jewish ‘problem’. Concentration camps became death camps, where Jews and other ‘undesirables’ were sorted into those who could work and those who went into the Gas chambers. When the fit became exhausted they to ended up in the gas chambers. 6 million Jews died.

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OPPOSITION TO THE NAZISHitler became Chancellor of Germany on 30th January 1933. Eighteen months later he was a dictator with total power. The majority of Germans never voted for the Nazis. The Nazis had made it clear they would destroy democracy and all who stood in their way.But, the enemies of Hitler failed to join together to stop Hitler.

THE COMMUNISTS AND SOCIALISTSThe Communists looked on the Socialists as their main enemy. They had never forgotten their part in the suppression of the Communist uprisings in the early 1920’s and they struggled with the Socialists for the support of the working class.While the Socialists supported the Weimar Republic the Communists wanted to destroy it.In the years following the Nazi achievement of power many Socialists and Communists were arrested and ended up in the concentration camps. The supporters of the KPD and SPD were intimidated like many in Germany. Most were reduced to simply moaning about the Nazis over a drink, after work.

THE NAZIS AND THE CHURCHAt first Hitler tried to stay on friendly terms with both the Catholic and the Protestant Churches.

The Catholic Church signed an agreement with the Nazis in July 1933 because it was anxious to protect its churches and schools within Germany.

Hitler had no intention of keeping to that agreement. The Catholic Youth Organisations were banned, priests and religious orders

were persecuted and hundreds of clergy had been imprisoned by 1939,

The Protestant Churches within Germany were urged by Hitler to form a united Reich Church under a pro-Nazi Reichbishop Ludwig Muller.

Some of the most courageous parsons led by an ex U-Boat Commander MartinNeumuller resisted. They too were imprisoned.

Some paid with their lives. The young theologian Klaus Bonhoffer was takewith others a week before the end of the war and shot by the S.S.

On the whole the Protestant and Catholic Churches seemed to ignore the evils of the Nazi regime although there were many courageous and heroic individuals but like most institutions the Church seemed unable or unwilling to oppose Nazism openly.

THE YOUNG Some young people did not like the Hitler Youth and what it stood for. They grouped together and called themselves Eidelweiss Pirates and other

names. They attacked the Hitler Youth when they could and did ‘un-German’ activities

like listen and dance to Jazz [Hitler hated Jazz]. They were a nuisance, rather than a threat, but were treated harshly when

caught.

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Unit 3 Rev Notes

Documents

Transcript of Unit 3 Rev Notes