•State of emergency in Bavaria - Economic & Political instability
•Much political violence.
->Therefore democratic rights suspended (article 48)
•Bavaria controlled by General von Lossow, von Kahr, & Hans Ritter von Seisssr. (Known as triumvirate)
->Each man had his own political agenda.
-->Kahr = monarchist & seperatist.
-->Some conflict between them.
->Had dictatorial power.
•SA frustated @ lack of action
->Hitler had promised action.
•Hitler wanted anti-weimar triumvirate to join with him on his terms.
(•Aim of Hitler to overthrow Weimar republic.)
•Triumvirate holdinq meeting in Munich beer cellar (Bürger bräukeller).
->NAZIs took over meeting.
-->SA entered meeting & Hitler took control.
->Ludendorff came out in support of NAZI party.
(Ludendorff = war hero - famous general - greatly respeted)
•Triumvirate kidnapped.
->initialy supported NAZIs.
-->Later slipped away.
•March on Munich on morning of the 9th.
->Defeated. (by police)
- - - - - - - - - -
•Hitler, Ludendorff & Rohm put on trial in 1924 for High Treason.
->Hitler used trial as chance to make propaganda speaches.
-->Major propaganda sucess for NAZI party.
--->Hitler & NAZI party became known across Germany throuqh media coverage. (papers, wireless etc.)
•Judqe was sympathetic to NAZI party.
->Judge had tried Hitler earlier in 1921 & given liqht sentance.
-->NAZIs managed to get same Judge (not known how)
->Judge allowed Hitler to make propoganda speaches
•Ludendorff aquitted.
•Hitler got 5 year sentance.
->Judicial & Public sympathy influenced this short sentance.
->Only spent 9 months in very low security jail.
-->Whilst there he wrote Mein Kamph - (dictated to Rudolph Hess)
- - - - - - - - - -
•••[Why did the Beer Hall Putsch fail?]•••
•Only 2000 people involved.
->Simply not credible.
•Hitler had expected others to join him.
->Particularly younq army officers. (Munich garrison etc.)
•Poor planning.
•Lettinq the Triumverate go.
->Gave them time to prepare to meet uprising.
->Ludendorff's involvment. (did not know Triumverate had been kidnapped)
•Firing pins in guns removed so guns could not be fired.
•1933 - 29% of German Population involved in agriculture.
->Without the support of people in the country no party could come to power.
-->NAZIs appealed to 'peasants' (landless labourers) because of their empahasis on the importance of 'blood & soil'. Nazis promised to improve conditions for those working in agriculture.
--->NAZIs made peasant into figure to be revered. Hard worker with the soil. Decent, honest labourer. Opposite to dishonest economically manipulative business figures.
-->Other NAZI messages appealed to agricultural workers. Anti-communism, anti-capitalism, family values etc.
-->Agricultural workers unable to use strike mechanism. Therefore opposed to trade unions. Concurrent with NAZI view.
-->Notion of soil v. important to NAZIs. Nationalistic, ancestors have worked the land, the soil of Germany. Blood and soil, racial purity. Soil is pure, blood is pure.
-->Agricultural workers had been ignored in 19th C. Not Nazis were saying that the peasants really mattered. Given a place of prestige in the new German community the Nazis wanted to build.
->Large ammount of support from NAZI's came from the countryside.
-->Centrally from protestants - as catholics tended towards voting for the ZP.
•Agricultural workers
->Wanted bread. (Hungry with rising food prices since crash)
-->Nazis promised bread.
•NAZI agricultural policy.
->Driven by a desire to
-->Reduce imports - the search for agricultural autarky. (only acheived a 3% drop in total imports of foodstuffs.
--->Failure of NAZI policy.
-->Produce healthy and prosperous peasantry to be the blood-spring of the Reich.
-->To keep food prices stable
--->To stop social upheaval - opposition to hte NAZIs
•NAZI agricultural actions.
->Hugenburg - Minister of agriculture and leaver of the DNVP Jan - June 1933. Not a NAZI.
-->Policies to increase pice of Fats (dairy products etc) Accepted by pastoral farmers but disliked by consumers. Hitler had to accept Hurenburgs policies to ratain Nationalist support.
->Darré - Minister for agriculture June 1933 - 1942 - set up the Reich Food Estate. Control of movement of agricultural goods from producers to consumers. Controls widely resented by farmers but w/ in 2 years had lead to increase in price of agricultural goods.
-->Centralised control of agriculture.
--->1930's prices for agricultural goods went up.
->1930's serious agricultural labour shortage hit.
-->Conscription took out all the males of a certain age.
-->Employment in towns improving - rural wages lower, therefore workers moving to the cities etc. Shortage of skilled labour in industry taking labour from the countryside.
-->Reich labour service.
--->Reduced morale in the countryside and agricultural sector.
---->During WWII much of the agricultural work was undertaken by foreign slave labour and women.
•1. Read the caption.
•2. Take note of the Dates & source
•3. Work down picture in catchphase style.
•4. Look for representative characters.
- - - - - - - - - -
•••[Questions to ask]•••
•Who are the people?
•What are the objects?
•What do the words say?
•What is the aim of the cartoonist?
->Who was cartoon for?
•What is the audience of this cartoon?
- - - - - - - - - -
•Characters are likely to be stereotypes.
->Ensure recoqnition of Jewish(oi. biqnose) & Aryan stereotypes.
••See chronology in folder 4 actions against Jews.
•••[Actions Against the Jews]•••
•1933 - Hitler proclaimed boycott of Jewish Stops. Symbolic of what was to come. Jews also removed from civil service, included teachers and doctors etc.
•Minor actions in 1933, but no major events. Limited state sanction action, but there was low level violence against the Jews.
•1934 - Continuation of propoganda teaching against the Jews. 'The Jews are our Curse' etc.
•1935 - More low level regulation of Jews.
•Sept 1935 - Nuremburg Laws, Depriving Jews of German citizenship and reducing them to the status of subjects. Forbade marriage and any sexual relations between Jews and Aryans. (See seperate notes on Nuremburg laws)
-->25 points had included 'No jew to be a German citizen'.
--->Direct link between 25 points, Mein Kamph and NAZI policy.
[•Sept 1935 - Nazi party rally in Nuremburg. Hitlers planned speach could not be made. Reich doctors leader, Waqner suggested the introduction of a law to protect German blood & honour. 13 sept. Anouncement due on 15th. Hitler plans to announce such a law. Officials flown in to discuss it. Waqner pushed for strongly anti-semitic laws, others (eg. Walter Somer) not very concerned with anti-semitism. Laws finally finished 2am on day of announcing.
->Law definatly not lonq term planned. Threw doubt upon direct link theory from 25 points & Mein Kamph to leqislation.]
•1936 - Jews lost election riqhts.
•1936 - Berlin Olympics - Anti-semitic signs removed.
[(a)->Jesse Owens - Won 4 Gold medal. Germans did not like this. Germans objected to American 4x100 team as there were two Jews in the team. American team manager switcted jewish athletes out of team]
•1936 - Violence against Jews continued. Police did nothing to prosecute those harming the Jews. In 1936 police has come under control of Himler - v. anti-semitic.
•1937 - Jews could only obtain passports for emigration.
->NAZIs were not planning to kill out the race, just wanted them out of Germany.
•1938 - Jews jobs further limited, Jewish street names replaced, all Jewish passports marked with 'J'
•9/10th November 1938 - Kristallnacht. Nights of the Broken Glass.
->7th Nov.
-->Grynszpan (Jew incenced at the treatment of his mother by German soldiers) had attempted murder of German Ambasator in France. Ended up shooting third secretary who died on 9/10th Nov. Taken up by NAZIs as propoganda justification for Kristallnacht.
•1938 - 12th Nov. Goering placed more economic limits on Jews. Not allowed to run retail shops join co-operatives etc.
•Hitler speach in 1939 - talks of there being 'Sufficient available land on this globe....'. Suggest annihilation is not the planned option. Prefered forced emmigration of Jews. Annihiliation of Jews in Europe only there as a threat if international Jews (American etc) tried to export Bolshevism accross the world.
->Conclusion: Hitler not wholly certain of his plans.
•Sept 1939 - Germans began to set Ghettos in Poland.
Extra Notes:
•••[Kristallnacht]•••
9/10th November 1938.
On the whole Kristallnacht was a planned attack against property.
Spilled over into harm of people.
•Reactions to Kristallnacht :
->Gorings reaction
-->Jews not allowed to own insurance companies, but now there were many claims against Aryan owned insurance companies (as most of the damaged property was in fact Aryan owned even if with Jews shop name etc). Goring was furious because of the economic damage of Kristallnacht.
--->Goring was head of four year plan. If economy deteriorated then Goerrings power would also decline.
->Goebbels - Great propoganda opportunity. Goebbels was trying to ingratiate himself to Hitler after Lida Ba'arova affair. Part of the reason Goebbels reaction to Kristallnacht was so strongly anti-semitic.
•Pre WW1 largest attack on Jews was 'Night of Broken Glass' w/ 71 Jews killed.
•Anything bad in NAZI Germany know as 'Jewish'
•Shows the mood of an individal.
->Could reflect the mood of a group
•Will cartoon have an effect on the Audience.
->E.g. Title 'Night of the Long Knives' come from catoon caption.
->Cartoon portrayals can become confused with reality. Have significant impact.
•For historian cartoon reveals mood from the time.
->Consider audience
•••[Other picture sources]•••
•Election Poster
->Shows the image the Nazis want to portray.
->Shows Nazi propoganda
•Take notice of dates.
•Nov 1918 - Kaiser Wilhelm abdicated.
->Republic declared - not actually in force till 1919.
•Loss of the war = key issue.
->W/ out this the changes would not have taken place.
->Kaiser abdicates because of breakdown of his authority & law & order.
->Keil naval mutiny - armed forces no longer loyal.
->Politicians not supporting kaiser.
->Germany being run by war council (Hindenburg & Ludendorf). Did not support kaiser.
->For peace w/ USA, Fr, Uk etc Kaiser had to go.
->Did not turn communist. Democratic republic prefered to communism by many.
->Democratic republic was the wish of the alies.
•Nazis place qreat emphasis on C&YP.
->If reich is to last 1000 years then youth is v. important.
•Hitler speach
->'We want not those who can hold their drink but those who are slim & slender, swift,...tough...& hard'
-->All policy aimed towards making young people strong to be army of the future etc.
--->Indoctrination to abolish class conciousness & replace w/ identity as German. Defined not by class but by race (Attack on Communism - no class conciousness undermines communism).
•Education of children.
->Childrens books full of anti-semitic propoganda.
->Maths questions filled with propoganda.
-->Minister for education (Bernhard Rust) not very effective as it took till around 1939-40 before new text books introduced into schools (missed a lot of students). But content of lessons had changed earlier.
--->Eg. Biology had become 'racial biology'. (teaching on racial purity etc.)
->Pro-nazi propoganda across the board in schooling.
•Germany had always had a large number of youth organisation.
->Jan 1933 - 5-6 million (out of 7m 10-18's) members of youth groups.
-->Only 100,000 members of HJ.
--->In July 33 all youth organisations (except catholic run) taken over by and controlled by the Nazis.
•Hitler Youth (HJ)
->Not until 1939 that membership of HJ was compulsory
->14-18 year olds.
->People joined for a whole variety of reasons.
-->Job prospects, sports, holidays, feeling of belonging etc.
->Success dependant on quality of leadership.
->Hitler youth movement ended up set against education system in cases.
•Leaque of German Maidens (BDM)
->For qirls 14-18.
->Very competition oriented. Each girls work must be best.
-->'struggle' to achieve better.
->Gave a lot of opportunities to girls. More freedom. Lot of chances to get involved in sports etc. with friends.
->Also included political meetinqs filled with Nazi propoganda.
-->Everything propoganda focussed.
•••[Education]•••
•Nazis tried to control the teachers.
->Under Weimar teachers wages had gone down.
->Under Nazis there was emphasis on children & thus by inference teachers were important.
->Nazis wanted moulding of C&YP not education & evolution of thinking capacity.
•Universities carried on in nazi German.
->Nazi's set out 'Laws for German Students'. (doc. 321)
->Post 1933 - Purge of Lecturers.
•Social Darwinism
->Struggle.
->Survival of the fittest.
-->Justifies compulsory sterilisation.
-->Emphasis on sport.
->Führerprinzip
-->Leader at every level.
•Economic policy
->Economics is the servant of politics.
->Autarky
-->Not wanting to rely on anyone else.
->Centralised economy
->Lebenstraum
-->Living space in the east. First in 25 points.
•Anti-semitism
->See other notes.
•Volksgermeinschaft
->Peoples community
-->V. Important to Himler.
-->Not so important to Ley.
->Nazis want to get rid of divisions in society.
-->Althouqh social, racial etc. outsiders excluded.
•Nationalism
->Within volksgermeinshaft.
•Failed - was not logistically plausible anyhow.
->Only 2000 took part
->Let Triumverate go
->No firing pins in the weapons
->Lack of support (army etc doesn't support)
•Trial was success
->Hitler could use for propaganda purposes.
->Hitler got national exposure
•Consequences
->Whilst in prison
-->Wrote Mein Kamph - spread Nazi ideas
-->Nazis stood in 1924 elections
--->Hitler would not have allowed them to stand. Was not German citizen & did not want others to gain power in party.
--->32 seats won. Made Hitler change strategy - direct action & democracy to destroy democracy.
->Hitler & Nazis seen as those ready to take action to 'fight for Germany' & fight against the communists.
- - - - - - - - - -
•Timed Essay Question.
"In what ways did Germany's changing relations with other European Powers contribute to domestic stability in Germany (15)"
- - - - - - - - - -
STRUCTURE #1
•Begin with explanation of what Germany's internation relationships were like with European powers in 1918.
->Only friendly with Austria
->Anger between Russia and Germany over Brest-Litosvk
->Just ended being at way with France, UK, US etc.
•The outline the changes by 1929
->Improved relationships with UK, Fr etc.
->Still fear of Russian communism but treaty of Rapallo.
•>Because the essay is about changing relationships I could compare the situation in 1918 with that in 1929.
->Structure in paragraphs on their relations with each different country.
-->Need to emphasise the way in which the change affected domstic stability,
STRUCTURE #2
•Domestic Stability
->Define phrase 'Domestic Stability'.
-->Domestic = At home
-->Stability = No change.
->Economic Stability - Less change (e.g. No HyperInflation etc)
•Germany became more stable 1924-29 (Golden Years of Weimar)
•Need to emphasise the fact that relations with Germany's European neighbours changed over time.
- - - - - - - - - -
•When reparations payments were reduced under the terms of the Dawes plan Britain, France etc. were involved.
->Improved Germany's political and economic stability.
•Hindenburg's election in 1925.
->Proof of more stability?
->A govermental change by election instead of my revolution.
•Germany relations with Poland.
->Lot of Germans in Poland.
->Many Germans believed Poland should be part of Germany.
- - - - - - - - - -
•••[Context]•••
•Economic mess in Germany when NAZIs came to power.
World economy was in poor state.
- - - - - - - - - -
•March 1932 - Schacht appointed President of Reichsbank.
->Schacht had solved 1923 hyperinflation crisis.
->Great deal of control over Nazi economic policy.
•Reichsbank issued Mefo Bills.
->Effectivly IOUs - but they did not go through the books meaning other nations did not find out about 1933 - 1936 re-armament 50% of which was paid for by Mefo Bills.
-->Alowed for secret re-armament.
•1933 - 36 imports to build up armed forces left Germany with a balance of payment defecit.
•1934-37 Schacht was minister of economics as well as being president of Reichsbank.
->July 1934 - law passed that gave Minister of Economics dictatorial power.
-->1934-36 - Schacht had total control of economy.
•Set up control over imports.
->Gave Nazis great deal of control over business.
•Used system of barter to avoid re-armament going through the books.
•Guns vs. Butter debate.
->Hitler not willing to cut consumer production greatly for fear of rebellion.
- - - - - - - - - -
•••[Four Year Plan]•••
•Four Year plan 1936 - 40
->Different from 'The New Plan'.
->Most important document from Nazi's.
-->A politically motivated plan.
->Run by 4 Year Plan office - run by Goering.
•Main aims of plan.
''I thus set out the following tasks;
I. The German armed forces must be operational within four years.
II. The German economy must be fit for war within four years.'' (quote from 4 year plan by AH)
->Does not say what type of warfare.
-->Partialy revealed in economics. Seems to be aiminq at limited & not total war.
••PLAN CONTENTS.
•Anti-semitism & anti-communisn
->Communism linked with Jews & both painted as enemy.
-->'Destiny of Germany to overthrow Bolshevism'
•Stress on Agriculture.
->AH woried Agriculture output could not be increased.
•Not detailed economic plan.
->Set out targets but not how the achieve them.
••SUCCESS & FAILURE OF THE PLAN
•Inacuracy in figures as producers in a command economy are prone to mis-report their output (see misc notes).
•Targets not met.
->E.g by 1942
-->Over 50% shortfall on Mineral Oil targets.
-->Over 25% shortfall on Synthetic Rubber targets.
-->Coal targets almost met.
-->Shortfall of 1/6 on steel production.
•Reasons for shortfall
->They didn't build factories quick enough.
->Still producing high quantity of consumer goods (trying for Guns & Butter)
->Economy still not fully mobilised for war.
(•Extra notes
->Remember that four year plan ends in 1940.)
- - - - - - - - - -
Failures of Nazi economic policy...
•17% of food stuffs were still being imported in 1938 - 39.
->Autarky failed
•Germany did not have sufficient raw materials internally.
->Hampered re-armament.
-->1936 munitions factories could not properly opperate.
•Schacht did not think policy of autarky made economic sense.
->Schacht was Minister of economics.
•Autarky was politically, not economically, motivated.
->Hitler etc.
->Possible racial motive.
•Economic effects of ToV.
•Other
->Switch from wartime to peacetime economy - economic dislocation.
-->Up to 30% unemployment (6 million). Former soldiers etc.
->Lacking international trade.
-->Allies not prepared to trade with them. No colonies to trade with.
->Lost access to may raw materials. Short of primary products - expensive to get raw materials.
->Hyperinflation
-->Gov printed more money and so amount in circulation rose. At worst in 1923 - the Mark became completly valueless.
-->Jan 23 - Occupation of the Ruhr combatted by Passive resistance.
•Teritory
->Alsace-Loraine
->Polish coridoor
->Silesia - coal
->Colonies (eg. German East Africa)
•Reparations
->Figure not set till 1921
•Millitary limitations
•Demillitarisation of Rhineland
NAZI control of the economy.
•Appointed 12 Trustees of Labour who set wages.
->Company bosses lost control of wages.
->With NAZI control of wages they could remove wage inflation.
-->1933 - 36 : no wage inflation.
--->Workers disatisfied.
--->Skilled labour shortage meant some pay not goinq through books. (brown envelope)
•Five new days of paid holiday given.
->Response to objection at no pay rises.
•By 1939 wages (in real terms) had only just gone back to just above 1929 levels (doc 256)
•1935 - NAZIs introducted Compulsory Reich Labour Service
->6 Months compulsory manual labour service.
-->Digging canals etc.
-->Minimal pay (accomodation provided etc.)
->Service was used to indoctrinate Young People.
-->Everyone had to take part. (Initially just Men, Women took part in different tasks at a later stage)
•>Used to break down bariers.
->Emphasis totally on National Socialism.
•>Many did not like conditions.
-->Some people disaffected.
->Affected only YP post 1935 - so only small amount affected.
-->NAZIs did listen to some complaints and make changes.
->Theory was good but practise was not. Reich Labour Service largely not good for NAZI party.
•Work Creation Programme - 1933.
->Number of measures.
-->All work must be manual labour.
-->Autoban project.
•Work books.
->Limit on movement of labour.
->Logging of jobs (any reasons for dismissal etc.)
-->Control Mechanism.
•Strikes responded to harshly.
->Workers feared consequences of striking.
•Mass conscription for labour programmes.
->Highly disliked.
•Hours went up.
->People disliked the lonq hours. ('58 to 65 hour weeks no Longer exceptional')
•Unemployment problem sorted in effect by 1937.
•Post March elections NAZI party in coalitions, w/out overall majority & w/ other parties in cabinet.
•NAZI party did not believe in parliamentary democracy & wanted power to pass laws w/out the Reichstag.
->Hitler wanted to use democracy to destroy democracy.
•NAZI party wanted 'Enabling Act'
->Would give cabinet power to create decrees & laws without needing to consult Reichstag.
•To change constitution needed 2/3 majority in Reichstag.
->With quorum 2/3 of members present.
•NAZI party adapted rules to mean anyone not present at vote was not counted in quorum.
-->At vote on enabling act Communists not present. (arrested)
-->SPD were the most left-wing party vote.
--->Parties present were intimidated by SA presence.
--->Most of centre party (ZP) save from a few (E.g. Bruning) voted with Enabling Act
---->Catholics scared of confiscation of Church proptery,arrests of Catholic priests, shutting down of Catholic Schools. Thought that if they voted with NAZI party they would be spared this.
->Enabling Act voted in by 444 votes to 94.
-->Only SPD voted against Enabling Act
•Between 1933 (after the enabling act) and 1945 :
-> Reichstag passed only 7 laws.
->Powers of president diminished so that he no longer had to sign any documents.
•Enabling Act gave NAZI party real power - no longer can opposition have any power against them.
->Hitler still had to get agreement from cabinet to pass laws.
-->However - Cabinet became solely ruled by Hitlers personality,
--->No one dared disagree with Hitler
•ToV siqned - Scheidemann resigned rather than sign ToV.
•1922 -Treaty of Rapalo
->Siqned by Ratheneau (who was later assassinated)
•NAZI party violence 1921 onwards.
->Street violence.
(•1922 - March on Rome - Mussolini's revolution - Hitler wanted similar result from Beer Hall Putsch)
•1923 - Invasion of the Ruhr.
•8-9 Nov 1923 - Munich beer hall putsch
•1924 elections.
->1st co-alition gov breaks down due to economic crisis.
->NAZI party looses seats in 2nd 1924 election.
•1924 - Dawes plan ratified by Reichstag.
->Post Dawes plan there was heavy US investment in Germany. 1924-29(WSC).
•1925 - Locarno Pact
->Fixed inviolability of the French-German & Belgium-German borders.
->Aqreed on arbitration in case of dispute between Germany & Poland & Czechoslovakia.
•Sept. 1926 Germany joined LoN.
•1929 - Young Plan
•1929 - Stresemann died
•1929 - Wall St. Crash.
•••[Essay Questions]•••
•Focus on specific time frame.
•Keep focus on specific question.
->I promise to answer the question, the whole question & nothing but the question.
•Plan essay before hand
->3 mins or so max.
->Eg. Ec, Pol, Mil, Soc problems.
•Opening : either deal w/ problem words in title -or- Outline political problems.
•Amalgamate both parts of a two part question for best marks. Eg. Combine information & analysis
- - - - - - - - - -
•••[Source Questions]•••
•Answer the Question.
•Leave a gap between parts A, B, C etc.
•Spend the apropriate time on each answer.
•Use brief (ie < 5 words) quotations from the source.
->Acknowledge the soures - eg. [source A]
•When defining a phrase break it down.
->Eg. 'Explain what was meant by xyz abc'. By xyz it means.... By abc it means.
•Dont make general points - everything must be relevant.
•Recognise difference between date of writing & date of publication.
•Questions to ask of source:
+Who wrote it?
+Who was it written for? (intended audience)
+Why was it written?
+When was it written?
+When was it published?
•Use full sentances.
->Unaccepted abrv. = ToV, LoN.
- - - - - - - - - -
Grades for 15 mark questions.
8 = D
7 = E
- - - - - - - - - -
•Volkisch Movement
->Right-wing parties. Anti-communist. But didn't go as far in their policies as Nazis.
-->V. Millitaristic & Anti-democratic parties.
--->Many merge into Nazis in late 20s
->Harzburg Front - 32
-->Group of right-wingers who discussed together
--->Nazis not sure whether to join or not.
---->Didn't & front later broke up.
•Rohm
->Leader of the SA (from early years of party)
•Rosenburg
->Took over running of party whilst Hitler was in prison post Munich Beer Hall Putsch
•Drexler
->Chairman of the early NAZI party. Let Hitler take full control in 1921, after Hitler had resigned in objection to a merger of the party carried out by Drexler in Hitlers absense.
•Rathenau
->Jew. German politician in 1920's. Signed treaty of Rapalo with Rusia. Assasinated.
•Scheidemann
->Proclaimed Germany as a republic and became its first chancellor. Resigned in 1919 in protest at ToV.
•Ludendorf
->War hero from WW1. Involved in Beer Hall Putsch. Not found guilty. Nazi supporter.
•Rudolf Hess
->Hitler dictated Mein Kamph to Hess.
•Ebert
->President of Weimar Republic from 1919 - 1925.
->SPD (?)
•Hindenburg
->President of the Wiemar Republic from 1925 - 1934
-->Did not represent any particular party. Had no great love from democracy. Had run war council during war.
->Died 1934.
•Stresemann
->Chancellor and Foreign Minister in Weimar Period.
-->Never enhusiastic supporter of wiemar, but worked with the system through discussion and compromise to get a better deal for german people.
->See specific notes on Stresemann
•Kapp
->Kapp Putsch in 1920 - Communist uprising.
•Gregor Strasser
->Gauleiter in favour of socialist strand of Nazism - led opposition to Munich Clique.
•Goebbels
->Propoganda minister in NAZI germany.
•Bruning
->Became chancellor 1930 (anti-nazi, member of the ZP)
-->Used article 48 to push through his ideas. Against spirit of democracy.
-->Resigned 1932
•Von Papen
->Became chancellor after Bruning in 1932. Not even supported for chancellorship by his own ZP.
•van de Lubbe
->Accused of starting reichstag fire.
•Schacht
->Appointed president of Reichbank in 1932 - Solved hyperinflation problem. Had total control of economy for short time.
•Goering
->NAZI. Ran four year plan office.
•Robert Ley
->Shut down unions. Organised labour day celebrations and set up workers councils instead.Set up National Socialist Factory Cell Organisation (NSBO)
->Set up DAF (German Workers Front)
•Hugenburg - DNVP Leader (Media Magnate)
•German Workers Front = DAF
•Set up by Ley on order of Hitler.
->Hitler did not have any ideas on the details of what the DAF should do.
->Ley admitted that he had no idea about the Trade Unions.
>>DAF set up:
•Beauty Through Labour
->Set up in Nov 1933.
->Purpose: to improve the working conditions within factories
-->Good lighting - good work.
-->Fight against noise.
--->67000 inspections, 26000 improvments to work rooms, 18000 canteens created by 1939
---->Note : Nazi figures - no points of comparison. No start date for when imrovments started.
--->There was genuine attempt to improve conditions of some workers.
---->Better lighting, better ventilation, introduction of hot meals etc.
--->However, some minus points - eg. workers forced to dig their own swimming pools as leisure facilities.
•Strength Through Joy movement (KdF - Kraft durch Freude)
->Leisure time organisation.
->Organisation of Leisure activities.
-->Ran concerts, operetas, theatre, films, exhibitions, evening variety shows.
-->By 1938 - millions participating in strength through joy.
[-->Film and theatre used for propoganda, but not heavy handed at all. Very subtle.]
-->Much social life arranged through Strenght Through Joy, therefore great impact upon peoples lives.
-->Organised many sports activies.
--->Gymnastics, Water Sports, Factory Sports etc.
-->Millions of vacations and short breaks organised by KdF
•Strenth Through Joy was a really important part of German life.
->Mainly aimed @ urban working class.
-->Shows NAZI party in a good light.
-->KdF breaks down class barrier. Provides to the working class what had previously only been available to middle & upper class. (eg. Leisure time & holidays).
--->Idealogical drive. No class divides = no basis for communism.
--->Trying to build community - give sense of shared community experiences. However - it is a national socialist community - so anyone who is an outsider to the NAZI ideals (ie. Aryan) were excluded.
->KdF - Increasing support & reducing opposition to the NAZI party.
•KdF Car - 1939
->Selling a dream.
->Promise of a car for people after they have input money into the saving schemes.
-->Importance of car not to be underestimated.
->Very few people actually got their cars - as scheme was suspended when war broke out.
-->W/ people holdinq savings they were not willinq to 'rock the boat' vs. the NAZI.
•Beauty Through Labour did not have same idealogical drive as KbF.
•Criticisms of KdF
->Expensive on some trips.
->All agree KdF had an impact but SPD contacts claimed much of it was for show.
- - - - - - - - - -
•1929 Political & International Events
->Wall St. Crash.
->Stresemann died.
->Young Plan accepted.
•Unemployment rising and gov. could not afford to pay benefits.
->Cabinet split over whether to cut benefits of increase taxes for those in work.
•Economic crisis was not a result totally of the Wall St. Crash. Economic depression had been already present in Germany. Parlicularly economic problems in agriculture.
->Confidence was falling throughout late 1920's.
•Economic problems created a political crisis. Government resigned in March 1930.
->Last fully democratic government in Germany. Gov. became increasinly right-wing post 1930.
•American businessmen withdrew their investments in Germany in 1930.
->Major problem since high investment in Germany post 1924 Dawes plan,
•By Jan 1930 - 2 Million Unemployed.
•By 1932 - 6 Million unemployed in Germany.
->Major economic crisis.
•As unemployment and economic crisis grew so did political instability.
->Cabinet resigned March 1930.
->Support for extreme right and left wing grew as political crisis manifested.
-->Was percieved that democracy & Weimar republic had failed in letting Germany get into the situation that it was in.
->People scared about a return to the 1918 anarchy.
•Bruning became Chancellor March 1930 (was Anti-Nazi, member of the ZP)
->Bruning was determined to enforce his economic plans. (Raising taxes etc.)
-->Reichstag would not accept Bruning policies.
--->So Bruning disolved the Reichstag. Delayed calling elections. (Acts were withing the constitution [Article 48] but not really in the spirit of the constitution or democracy.)
•Election in September 1930
->Bruning was convinced people would see the logic in his economic policies.
-->However, Extreme left-wing & right-wing had great success in the elections. (Very important election. Rise of the extremists within the Reichstag)
- - - - - - - - - -
Why did NAZI party do well out of the economic crisis.
•NAZI party gave people hope.
->Promised bread.
•Getting rid of (1933)
->Other political parties.
->Trade unions.
->Anti-nazis from civil service (profesionalisation of civil service).
•Enabling act - 1933.
•Reich Bishop.
•Co-ordinating the youth movements.
•Reich chambers for media. (restriction on cultural life in Germany)
•Censorship.
- - - - - - - - - -
•Son of a Berlin publican.
->Enjoyed successful academic & business career.
•Noted for his virulent riqht wing views in his youth.
•Entered Reichstag in 1907 - experienced politician. Achedemically able. Knew about business.
•1918 - co-founded Peoples Party (DVP) - oriqionally a monarchist party but steered by Stresemann (early 1920's) to support Weimar republic until his death when it swung back to the Right.
•Was appalled by Political murders & left extremist past to pursue 'Least worst of all possible options'
- - - - - - - - - -
•Briefly chancellor 1923 (for 103 days)
•Foreign Minister 1923-29
•Never an enhusiastic supporter of the Weimar Republic.
•>Wanted :
->Endinq of reparations.
->Foreign troops to leave German soil.
->Millitary parity with others for Germany. (End of millitary limits on Germany)
->Return of some of the land that had become Poland.
->Links w/ Austria strenghened.
•>Main aim: Full sovereignty & independance for Germany.
->Stresemann never clearly stated these views - worked to achieve these points throuqh discussion & compromise.
- - - - - - - - - -
•Stresemann ended passive resistance.
•Worked with Schacht to introduce a more stable currency.
•Put down communist uprisinq in saxony.
- - - - - - - - - -
•Stresemann despised by extreme right-wing.
•Assotiated with Golden Years (24-29)
•Politician - not fan of Weimar constitution, but believed it to be least worst of possibilities at the time (Communism, millitary takeover, allied occupation).
->Came from a business background, therefore anti-communist. Bosses should have control over workers.
•Was chancellor of Germany in 1923 for 103 days
->Foreiqn minister from 23-29.
•As chancellor
->Hyperinflation solved by Schacht economically. But Stresemann called off passive resistance against occupation of the Ruhr, which made Schachts economic plans possible. Ending passive resistance allowed economy to be built up again.
•As foreiqn minister.
->Dawes Plan '24
-->Brought US investment into Germany
-->Restructured reparations. Lower anual reparations paymente.
--->Stresemann helped to negotiate plan (don't overemphasise) but did play major role in gettinq the Germans to accept the Dawes plan.
->Young Plan '29
-->Worked out before Wall St. Crash.
-->Stresemann again involved in getting acceptance of the plans.
->LoN - Stresemann largely involved in negotiating entry into LoN.
-->Germany accepted back into int. nat. community. Trade links & treaties opportunities.
--->Germany already had links w/ Russia & US so LoN membership 'completed the set'.
•Domestic actions.
->Helped to hold together coalition governments.
-->Was respected. People were prepared to work w/ Stresemann.
•Born 20th April 1889 in Austria
[->(a) Father was illigitimate. E.g. Hitlers grandfather was not known.
-->(a)Himler knew there was rumour evidence Hitlers grandfather may be Jewish.
--->Research shows this is very unlikely
->Hitlers fathers name was Schicklgrüber - his father chose to adopt his mothers maried name 'Heidler' but misspelling made this Hitler.]
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
•Main source of info on his early years = Mein Kampf (1924)
->This introduces problems with source reliability.
[-->(e)Political biography is self justification.]
->Portrays self as strugling
•Mein Kampf - was not written by Hitler but he dictated it.
•Gained nationalist views in part from his history teaching at school. Favourite subject.
->•Grew up as a strong nationalist.
-->Idea that austria should be part of germany came much from education he recieved.
•Most teachers thought Hitler lacked discipline.
->Left school in 1905 without 'Leavers Certificate.
-->Lived at home with mum till 1907 drawing
--->1906 took a trip to Vienna
---->Decided he wanted to study at Academy of Fine Arts. Took entrance exam but failed. Not allowed to re-sit.
•His mother died in 1907 from Cancer
->Mother's doctor was a jew. -->Theory that this was cause of anti-sematism is unlikely. Hitler thanked the doctor and gave him protection
•In Vienna 1908-1913 as artist.
->Ran out of money and was not well off. Didn't want to work.
-->Vienna had a very large Jewish population.
--->Many think anti-sematism came from here.
---->Writes of them as filth - and as part of everything that is bad.
->Lived in hostels. Painting postcards etc.
-->Saw Jews with money whilst he was poor. Blame Jews for social & economic inequalities.
•Adopted very high morral stance.
•1913 Left Vienna & went to Munich in Bavaria.
->Thought to be to avoid Austrian millitary service.
-->Found & went back but failed medical.
•1914 War breaks out & Hitler welcomes the war.
->Gave him a sense of purpose.
->Met Rudolf Hess in his regiment. Later Rudolf became dep. Fuhrer.
->Was a messenger to & from the front line.
-->Got Iron Cross for bravery.
-->Was wounded on one occaision (shrapnel in his leg) spent short time in hospital.
->Fought in active service for nearly all the war but did not want promotion. Ended war as a Corporal.
•October 1918 - Hitlers regiment at front line when gas atack occured. Was only just saved.
->Believed fate had saved him for a greater purpose.
•End of war - Hitler was in hospital.
->Heard of Kaisers Abdication and Armistice whilst in hospital.
-->Angry @ this.
--->Claims this motivated his entering into politics.
-->Believed politicians were in league with the Jews and Marxists and had betrayed the people.
--->Hitler hated the idea of a Republic.
•Post WW1 - Hitler remained in the army till March 1920.
->Worked spying on extreme Left & Right wing political groups
-->Atended DAP (German Workers Party) meeting in Sept 1919.
--->Became increasingly involved in DAP & joined party.
•Assists in drawinq up DAP policy in 1919-1920.
->25 Point Plan
•1920 speaking @ party events in favour of revolution.
•31 march 1920 Hitler leaves army and works for NAZI Party fulltime
->In charge of propoganda
•11 July 1921 - Hitler resigned from the NAZI party.
•Hitler rejoins party w. dictatorial power (till 1945)
•8-9 Nov 1923 - Munich Beer Hall Putsch.
->Failed
•On trial in feb-mar 1924 for High Treason.
•In prison for 9 months 1924.
->Whilst there he wrote Mein Kamph - (dictated to Rudolf Hess)
•Post 1924 election success realised
->'We will have to hold our noses & work with democracy to destroy democracy.'
•1925 - Out of prison, working as a journalist.
- - - - - - - - - -
•Austrian
->Not a German citizen.
-->Therefore could not stand in German elections.
- - - - - - - - - -
•CHARACTER POINTS.
>Hitler did not drink alcohol.
>Nervous of women.
>Had deep hatred of Jews & Marxists.
>Did not like democracy.
>Did not get involved in day to day running of country.
•Hiitler claims it was 11th November 1918 that made him decide to go into politics (Mein Kamph) Actually thought that he didn't go for full active roll in politics till 1920.
•Hitler claims he got his anti-semitism in Vienna before the war.
->Hitler links the Jews & Communists (Developed in Munich post ww1 - seeinq Kurt Eisner etc.
-->Unique element of Nazi anti-semitism.
•Not interventionist.
->Did not suqqest or create many policies himself.
•Plans stated a required result but not how to arive at that result.
•What is success?
->Achieving aims.
-->Therefore essay must outline aims first.
--->Need to be clear not one single set of Nazi aims. Strands. (Rohm & Strasser's working class strand wiped out in Night of the Long Knives)
--->Aims are situation/time specific. Eg. Unemp > aim in '33. Not an aim by '39.
]->All Nazi aims for Aryans only. Not for social, political & racial outsiders.
•What did Nazis actually do?
->Policies
-->Change over time.
•Comparison.
->Analysis. Aims & actions.
•Kurt Eisner
->Revolutionary socialism
->Munich - Nov 1918 - Feb 1919
-->Takes power in Bavaria. Assasinated in Feb 1919
--->Followed by White Terror - >1000 killed on the streets. Anti-communist (friekorps etc) political violence on the streets.
•>Will have been witnessed by AH. Seen what communists prepared to do.
•Kapp Putsch
->March 1920
->Gov. Attempt to disband army (in line w/ ToV). One brigade pid not want to due to fear of communism (had been holding back communism on Eastern Front) - Kapp (politician - political figurehead) & army march into Berlin & take power.
->Ebert calls general strike. (uses Article 48)
-->Gets rid of Kapp. Success in short term but in long term led to more strikes as workers realised they could use these to acheive their aims.
- - - - - - - - - -
•Problems with NAZI figures.
->Do not assume a constant rate of qrowth when lookinq at fiqures.
-->Eg. With fiqures for 1938 and 1942,do not extrapolate 1940 figures.
->Company officials do not report acurate figures (e.g. if given a target of 5000 units and only 2500 are produced - company will report 5000 units produced)
->People told the NAZIs what the NAZIs wanted to hear.
->NAZI unemployment figures excluded many social groupings included elsewhere. (e.g. Unmarried women not counted)
->Quantative information about opposition to NAZIs is simply not available.
- - - - - - - - - -
Event/People
•Albert Speer - 1942 - 45 minister for Armaments.
->Wrote memoirs post War.
•August 1939 - Hitler did not expect UK & France to intervene when he invaded Poland.
•Not till August 1940 did Hitler start planning invasion of the Soviet Union.
•Brown house = NAZI party hq in each city.
•Every 30th January (anniversary of Hitler becoming chancellor) was always the day of major propoganda speach.
->Speaches on the 30th Jan & 20th April (Hitlers Birthday) should be recognised as centrally propoganda and not neccessarily things that are to be implemented into policy.
•1935 - Conscription introduced.
- - - - - - - - - -
•Politics is more important than economics.
->Nazi economics driven by political ideologies not economic sense.
- - - - - - - - - -
•Strands within Nazism reflected in economics.
->Socialist economic policies & nationalist economic policies.
- - - - - - - - - -
•Strasser's strand.
->Advocate of socialist strand. People should be able to earn an honest living.
->Opposed capitalism (seen as negativly competetive)
->Bread & work should be guarateed to all workers.
->Deficit spendinq is economically justifiable
in work creation.
->Emphasis on working class.
•>This strand of Nazism dies out in 1934 @ Niqht of the Lonq Knives.
- - - - - - - - - -
•Main strands...
•Autarky - economic self sufficiency.
->Not importinq goods.
-->Eg. 1933 - 20pc of foodstuffs imported. 1938-39 - 17pc of foodstuffs still imported.
--->Policy failed.
->Reliance on other nations for imports is weakness durinq war.
->Nazi view: dedendence on others shows weakness. Racial element. Ayrans should not rely on other races.
•>Not all supported autarky.
->Schacht (not a nazi but was minister of economics) disaqreed with autarky on economic grounds.
•Defecit financing of public works.
->1932 unemployment peaked at 6 million.
-->Nazis used public works to get people back to work.
->Gov. pays out money it does not have (borowing etc)
•Defence Economy (Wehrwirtschaft)
->Building up economy to meet the needs of a future war.
-->Switch from consumer goods to war goods.
•>Questions exist over what sort of war Germany wanted.
->Total war -When the whole economy, army & people are geared up for war.
->Blitzkrieg - liqhtninq war fare. Involves only a few people.
- - - - - - - - - -
•Problems faced in a move to a war economy.
->Livinq standards cannot be lowered.
->Private firms do not like to be dictated to by government.
->Germany still did not have Autarky.
]-->Hitler was woried 1933 - 1936 about losing support & facing a popular rebelion.
- - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - -
•Hitlers aproach was not for the state to 'bail out' failinq business but to let them go bust.
->Application of social darwinism - the weak companies fail, the strong survive - this is good for the economy.
-->Link between Nazi theory & economic policy.
- - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - -
•Hitler & Drexler = main authors
->25 Point Plan stayed in use untill 1945.
Apart from point 11 we are not certain exactly who wrote each point.
•25 Points included: (summary)
->1.Union of Germans in greater Germany (Anchlus w/ Austria)*
->2.Demands revocation of ToV.
->3.Wanted colonies. Demand for land. Lebensraum
->4.Only those of German blood may be German citizens.* (basis for discrimination against Jews etc.)
->5.Seperate laws for non-citizens.
->6.Right to vote = for citizens only. Govermental posts for citizens only.
->7.States primary duty is to provide a livelihood for its citizens.
->9.All citizens to have equal rights & duties.
->10.Citizens have a duty work.
->11.(communist style demand - written by Feder) Against rich capitalists.
->12-15.Economic & social apeal. (part nationalisation of land. Workers having say in business. Ban on interest on loans)
->16.Apeal to lower middle class.
->17.Apeal to working class.
->18.Death penalty for common criminals, whatever creed or race. (inc. crime of money lending for profits - therefore an atack on the Jews).
->20.Education. Sets up place of education as indoctrination in favour of the state. Education for all German citizens.
->21.State responsibility for health. Building strong German nation.
->22.Abolition of professional army & formation of a peoples army. (vs ToV)
->23.State control of the media. (no non-Germans (ie.Jews) involved in newspapers etc.) German national press.
->24.Freedom for all reliqious denominations (apart from Jews and anyone else who the NAZIs don't like) Not wanting to antagonise religions.
-->Common interest before individual interests.
->25.Centralisation of power*.
•Strong thread of anti-semitism running through 25 point plan.
•V. few of the ideas are new but the combination of the demands by the NAZIs is new.
*=Major points.
•Change over time
•Tensions
->Hitler & Himler = Nationalist
->Rohm & Strasser = Socialist.
-------------------------
[CORE PRINCIPLES]
•Lebenstraum = Living space - specificly taking teritory in Poland & W. USSR.
•Anti-semitism.
•National Sentiment - policys apeal to peoples sense of nationalism.
-------------------------
•Heirachy of races.
->Aryan Race
->Nordic / Anqlo-Saxons
->Slavs
->Blacks
->Jews
-------------------------
•National = extreme Riqht wing
•Socialism = extreme Left wing
•however NAZI = National Socialism
->an oxymoronic fusion of Nationism & Socialism
•It is likely that Hitler wrote the Nationalist points & Drexler wrote the socialist points.
•Because of the two conflictinq strands of policy w/ in NAZI policy there was continual tension in the party
->Socialist elements of the party finally defeated in 'Night of the Long Knives' by Nationalist elements.
-->Some of the socialist points of the 25 points ditched eventually.
•Both Nationalist & Socialist strands agreed on some policies.
->Eg.Anti-semitism, education & pe, revokation of ToV etc.
- - - - - - - - - -
•••[Example Question]•••
25 pts. of NP in 1920's
Q:What were the main points of 25 points of the NAZI proqramme in the 1920's
•Revoke the terms of the ToV.
->Expicitly stated
->Included making Austria part of Germany<-
•Germans have the right to have livinq space.
->Lebenstraum
-->Asumes German superiority - Germans entitled to land etc.
•Many points appeal to German national sentiment.
->Union of all Germans in a qreater Germany. CAnchlus)
•Number of points appeal to Lower middle classes (poor or disposessed etc.)
->Free education etc.
•Anti-semitic theme throuqhout.
->Eg. Supposed religious freedom apart from Jews
- - - - - - - - - -
•BDM - League of German Maidens
->14-18 years old,
->Girls
• NFW - Classes for women etc.
•Faith Movement - from Atheist strand of Nazism.
•Propaganda minister Goebbels nicknamed : Poisen Dwarf
->Change from a Monarchy to a Parliamentary Democracy
->Fear of spread of Communism
->Keil naval mutiny
->Passive resistance
•Problems arising from constitution.
->Week multi-party co-alition govs.
->Article 48
->Apointment of Cuno as chancellor.
•Political Violence
->Sparticist Uprising - Berlin - 1919
->Kurt Eisner - Munich - Nov - Feb 1918.
->White terror - Friekorps - right-wing, took part in anti-communist political violence.
->Kapp Putsch - Supported by Friekorps - 1920
->Nazi violence - Munich beer hall Putsch - Nov 1923.
•Post Beer Hall Putsch & after out of prison Hitler needed to re-assert himself as leader.
->Had been out of circulation.
->Was not in Reichstag but there were Nazis who were
•Competition for control from Gauleiters
->Nazi party spreading throughout Germany.
-->Not all Gauleiters wanted to go with Munich Party Clique policy.
--->Wanted more local autonomy
--->Eg. Strasser.
•Hitler was in serious danger of losing control of the party.
•Hitler was capable of asserting his control.
->Führerprinzip
[problems solved by 29]
•Economic
1918
->Shift from war based economy to peace based economy [ y ]
->Demobilisation. [ y ]
-->V. Serious unemployment issue. [ n - unemp rising again]
->Loss of 1.7million men from workforce.
->Inflation already set in. [ y ]
->Starvation - v. little had got through blockade.
1919 onwards [ y/n - still some starvation ]
->War loans
->Reparations
->Loss of resources
->Econ effects of ToV [ y ]
1929
->Crisis in agriculture
•Political problems
1918/19
->Change from monarchy to republic [ y ]
->Threat of communism
-->Eisner, Saxony, Sparacists uprising Berlin Jan 1919
->Keil Naval Mutiny
->Soviets
->Lack of control
-->Political vacuum
->Break down of L&O
->Problem getting people to accept new system of Gov.
->New constitution
->Coming to terms w/ former enemies
->Germans appalled at ToV.
1929
->Less violence on streets - mainly SA vs. Communist.
->Subsided fear of communism (about to become worse)
Most economic problems solved but many political remain. Much due to constitution.
No acceptable alternative to Weimar Republic 1919-23. Oppostition to Weimar was from outside government.
•What type of war.
->Type of economy needed depends on type of war expected.
Hitlers use of the Reichstag Fire.
•To intimidate right-wing politicians - assertion of control.
->Right-wing politicians believed Hitler & NAZI party responsible for fire.
-->Afraid for their own safety.
[eq. Conservative Nationalists.
->von Papen & Hurenburq
-->Not NAZIs
--->Not prepared to stand up to Hitler post-fire.]
•To eliminate communist influence.
Conservative Nationalists.
->von Papen & Hurenburq
-->Not NAZIs
--->Not prepared to stand up to Hitler post-fire.
- - - - - - - - - -
•Support for Communists in march 1933 fell
->Communists not alowed to campaign
->Communist leaders had been arrested so could not stand.
->People believed Communists had started fire and sense of revulsion existed - lowering Communists support.
•NAZI party still only got 44% in March 1933 elections.
->43.9% voted NAZI party in 1933.
-->88% turnout at elections.
•NAZI party got power in a major part due to electoral succeess.
•Post March elections NAZI party in coalitions, w/out overall majority & other parties in cabinet.
->NAZI party wanted to remove power of reichstag.
Who started the fire?
>van der Lubbe
•Found at scene of the crime
•Physically able to have started the fire
•Circumstantial evidence
•His own confession
•No relialiable sources for any of the other arguments.
•Lowest common denominator between all acounts in VDL's presence
•Motive: lack of communist action post Hitlers appointment.
•Able to describe in detail small fires that were lit.
•Evidence he bought fire lighters.
•If it was a NAZI plot they would have more evidence of conspiracy planted.
Communists
•van Der Lubbe was a comunist.
•Was covering for friends. (other liqhts seen @ windows)
•Goering quoted sightings of VDL w/ other communists.
•Pamphlets.
•Communist activity in the area @ the time.
•>>NAZIs<<•
•Ernst confession (forgery)
•Tunnel - access was possible.
•Motive - to use for propoganda.
•Overheard confessions.
->Goering denied starting fire both at the time & at War Crimes Trial.
- - - - - - - - - -
•Religious Persecutions
->The Mormons
->Jews
->Jehovah's Witnesses.
•Tension between Nazism & Christianity - different focusses & leaders.
->Vast majority of Germans Christians. Roman Catholics & Protestants.
-->Some legacy suspicion of Catholic Loyalty to German state existed.
-->Roman Catholic church very fearful of Nazis. Decided to work with Hitler - July 33 Concordat between Vatican & Nazis
•Nazis hardly interfered at all with religious lives in Germany.
(Notes from Richard Overy's 'Hitler & The Third Reich')
- - - - - - - - - -
1. Why did the NAZI party rise?
2. Who opposed the rise of the NAZI party?
- - - - - - - - - -
•Hitler only saw success within the socio-polical-economic context of the day. His influence can not be understood divorced from the economic, social and cultural situation of Germany in the 1920's.
->NAZI party rise is not solely due to the 'messianic apeal' and force of Hitlers personality. (Overy thinks that excessive emphasis is often place on this)
•Election posters slogan in 1932 - "Hitler, our last hope".
->Social/economic situation so bad that a 'last hope' is needed to sort it out.
•Pre WWI German economy had seen 40 years growth (3-4%). Middle classes gained greater standard of living. High expectations existed. When economy was stagnant in 1920's peoples expectations were not met and therefore they were discontented.
->Particularly true for the middle classes.
->Sense of relative deprevation existed.
•Social tension existed between unionised and non union-ised workers, Town & Country etc.
•Lack of an effective democratic system.
•Corporatist politics emerged. Big bussiness able to influence political system so as to take large share of what economic revival took place.
->While in work the labouring classes were getting a raising standard of living. (Middle class standard of living falling)
•The feeling that Parliamentary democracy democracty had failed Germany was a major factor.
•Economic slump hit Germany in 1928-29. Massive unemployement.
->By 1932 - 1 in 3 Germans unemployed.
->Industrial production back to 1890's levels.
->Slump acceletated loss of confidence in parliamentary democracy.
->Slump introduced fear of communism.
•NAZIsm appealed to (according to 1989 article (out of date))
->Small townsmen
->Anxious Officials
->Small businessmen
->Peasants who felt they had had a raw deal from the republic.
->Teachers & State employees.
-->½of votes can from countryside
->Rural workers
•NAZI slogan 'Freedom & Bread'.
->Hunger in Germany made this promise an influence over NAZI party successs.
•Hitler had ability to mobilise and encourage disaffected alienated peasents.
->High visibility, constant propoganda & good organisation helped.
- - - - - - - - - -
•••[Opposition to NAZI party rise.]•••
•Social democrats (SPD), Liberals and Catholic Centre Party (ZP) all broadly in favour of democracy therefore likely to be oppositions of NAZI party.
•KPD(communist) opposed NAZIs. Had around 3million supporters. Evenly spread at levels of arond 15% of vote in industrial areas.
->Left-wing opposition
•Not valid to say that anyone who didn't vote NAZI party is an opposition to the NAZIs. E.g. Bavarians may have voted for the NAZIs if they had not had their local Bavarian People Party.
->Social policies of NAZI very close to those of ZP. E.g. on role of women, abortion etc...
•DNVP policies post 1928 were very close to those of the NAZIs
•Any of the minority groups that NAZIs persecuted.
•DAP - German workers party.
->1919
->Feder, Drexler - Foundinq fathers, contributed to 25 points.
->Localised to Munich. In Bavaria. (Bavaria had strong seperatist movement. Felt geographically, religiously & industrially issolated from Berlin)
-->Bavarians not so ready to accept Weimar gov. imposed from Berlin.
--->Helps to explain Nazi success in Bavaria. People sympathetic to anti-weimar parties.
•25 points (1920)
->Jews cannot be citizens of German state.
->Living space, 'Lebenstraum', in the east for Aryans.
->Revoke the Treaty of Versailles.
->Union with Austria (Anchlus)
->Rearmament
->Free education
->Getting rid of interest. 'Breaking of the slavery of interest'
]->Not just nationalist policies, social policies to appeal to workers. (socialist strand died out by 1934)
•Who supported NAZIs @ this stage & why.
->1919-23
-->V. Few people. No mass membership. Centrally only Munich.
-->Lower middle classes - supporting nationalism.
-->Workinq class supportinq socialist elements.
--->Mainly urban support.
--->Other Volkish parties in area.
--->However - had they had a higher profile then support would have been greater.
---->Only 1000's of members.
-->During this period: meetings & set up of SA (who had a visible presence on the streets)
•Hitlers control of party
->Came from his public speaking ability & enhusiasm.
-->Parties greatest asset. Could stay in party on own terms. As total leader. Fuhrer Prinzip.
•Munich beer hall putch.
->See notes.
•Trial of Hitler & time in Jail
->Judge allowed Hitler to use trial to express his political views.
->Sentance of 5 years. Let out in 8 months.
-->Very leniently treated.
->Whilst Hitler in jail Nazis stood in 1924 elections.
-->Led to use of 'force & democracy' policy.
--->Worry to Hitler who was not citizen till 1932.
•Mein Kamph.
•Assertion of the primacy of the fuhrer.
->Bamburg conference - 26 - Strasser lost out.
•Who supported & opposed Nazis in this period.
->May 1928 Nazis still only got 2.6% of the vote.
->Sept 1930 Nazis got 18.3% of the vote.
-->Increasing unemployment was one of the factors causing this rise. Also:
--->1929 - DNVP began to work with the Nazis which made them acceptable & respectable.
--->1928 - Weimar had been succeeding, by 1930 Germany was falling apart. Percieved that Weimar had failed.
->1932 - Nazis polled 37.3% of vote. Had made definate appeal to people of the countryside.
-->Weimar had failed. Bruning ruling w/ emergency powers.
-->6 million unemployed.
-->Increased fear of communism.
•Nazis & agriculture.
•Roll of the SA.
->V. Active 1929-30 promotinq Nazi cause. Contributed to electoral success.
•Events leading to Hitlers chancellorship.
->Asked by Hindenburg
-->1932 - Bruning had failed to pospone elections so Hindenburg had stoped signing article 48 for Bruning who then resigned.
--->von Papen & von Schleicher chancellors an 32, but can't hold gov. together.
---->Hidenburg had created instability after forcing Bruning to resign. Did not want to appoint Hitler @ first. Von papen convinced Hindenburg to appoint Hitler. Fear of Communism. Von papen thinks he would be able to manipulate Hitler - thought Hitler was politicaly naïeve.
->To stop the spread of communism.
•Reichstag fire.
->Used by Nazis to outlaw / attack communists etc.
->Used to attack SPD as well (percieved as similar to communists)
->Made sure Hugenburg continued to support Hitler.
-->Fear in the right wing.
•March elections
->Not landslide.
->Catholics still voting ZP.
->V. Little support left for Weimar republic.
•Enabling Law.
->March 1933 - removes legislative power of Reichstag.
-->Power w/ cabinet.
[1918 - 1933]
•Hitlers attempt to gain chancelorship.
->Hindenburg was president.
-->Opposed to putting Hitler in power as chancellor.
--->Hindenburg had been WWI field marshall - great achiever. Hitler had been lowest rank in army in WWI and had in Hindenburgs perception acheived very little in life. Simply did not like Hitler.
----> Quote [Hindenburg] : "That man is not even fit to lick the stamps with my face on them."
--->Hindenburg didn't like the violence on the streets or Hitlers opposition to the democratic system. (Attempt to overthrow Weimar Rep. @ Putsch)
->Von Papen conspired with Hitler to try and get him in power as he believed he would be able to manipulate Hitler to take advantage of Hitlers power on the streets.
•In 1932 when NAZI party was largest single party Hindenburg did not ask them to form government.
->Major barrier to NAZI rise to power was Hindenburgs refusal to make Hitler Chancellor.
•1933 - Hindenburg began to accept that he may have to appoint Hitler as he was the only person who would be able to have enough support. Probably convinced by Von Papen
->30th Jan 1933 - Hindenburg asked Hitler to become chancellor of Germany.
-->People presumed Hitler would be out in March elections. No-one thought that Hitler's chancelorship would be permenant.
We can say Hitler became chancellor on 30th Jan 1933 but the majority of the members of the cabinet were not NAZI's therefore we cannot say that NAZI's came to powere in Jan 1933, although they increased their power over the 1933 years.
•Hindenburg died 1934
->Hitler merged office of chancellor & president (constitutional).
- - - - - - - - - -
•••[Origins]•••
•Origins of NAZI party in DAP (German Workers Party)
->Became NSDAP (National Socialist German Workers Party)
- - - - - - - - - -
•••[Membership]•••
•1919 NAZI party has 7 members.
•By end of 1920 party has up to 2000 members.
->All in Munich area.
•August 1921 party has 3300 members.
->One branch outside Munich although still v. geographically limited.
(a)Do we trust NAZI Party
- - - - - - - - - -
•••[History]•••
•31 march 1920 Hitler leaves army and works for NAZI Party fulltime.
->In charge of propoganda.
•Late 1920's NAZI Party took control of (bought) Volkischer Beobachter (VB) newspaper.
->VB translated is Peoples Observer.
->Purchase assisted by Röhm
->Initially only published twice a week.
->VB read by all qood NAZIs
-->Later in 1930's had v. wide circulation.
->Editor of paper = Hitler.
•1921 - Drexler is chairman of NAZI party.
->Hitler was in Berlin
-->Drexler merged NAZI party with another Völkisch party.
--->Hitler was furious. (Wanted to keep total control)
- - - - - - - - - -
(a)Völkisch party - blood & soil. Belief in pure Aryan race & great suspicion of business & industry. Its more morally right to work on soil (manual labour)
->V. Riqht wing
->Anti-communist
->Anti ToV
- - - - - - - - - -
•11 July 1921 - Hitler resigned from the NAZI party in response to merger.
->Issues ultimatum - will only join the NAZI party again if he is made chairman & given dictatorial power.
-->Drexler eventually sides w. Hitler & Hitler rejoins party w. dictatorial power. (remains till 1945)
•Munich was always home of the NAZI party.
->Led to tensions w. branches in other places. Anoyed at having to serve Munich branch.
•Party Organisation : NAZIs divided country into districts (Gau)
->Each had a leader (Gauleiter)
-->District leaders appointed by Munich branch (ie. Hitler)
--->Gives Hitler control.
•Party had 'sports & gymnastic' section which soon became the SA in 1921
->SA led by Röhm.
->SA = young men willing to fiqht.
-->They make an Oath of loyalty to Hitler.
->SA set up to protect the party @ meetinqs & to disrupt meetings of other qroups (eg. Communists)
- - - - - - - - - -
•Sturmfahne = Storm Fiqhters (SA) flag.
->Great deal of importance placed on flag.
- - - - - - - - - -
•1923 Atempt to ban NAZI party by Munich authorities.
->NAZIs percieved as threat to authorities - feared NAZI atempt to gain control (putsch)
->Hitler had promised action to the SA.
-->Authority clamp down meant it did not take place.
--->Left SA frustrated.
---->Lead to problems for Hitler in managinq SA.
•8-9 Nov 1923 Munich Beer Hall Putsch
->See other notes.
->Putsch failed - Hitler imprisoned for 9 months.
•Rosenburg took over actinq control of the NAZI party
•NAZI party stood in 1924 elections.
->Hitler in jail @ time - did not want the party to stand.
-->Woried that if they saw success his position in the party would be undermined.
--->Hitler could not stand in the election (even if he were not in prison) as he was not a German citizen.
•1924 elections saw NAZI party (under name of Anti-semitic co-alition) gain 9% of the vote & qet 32 seats.
•Had Hitler not been in prison NAZI party would not have stood in elections.
->NAZI party unlikely to have achieved success w/ out political elements.
- - - - - - - - - -
->See notes in file.
-->Robert Gellately - 'Gypsys' & Sexual Outsiders.
•••[Euthanasia]•••
•Euthanasia policy 39-40 for 'useless feeders'
->Severely physical handicapped.
->Mentally ill/disabled.
->Elderly.
•>Not real Euthanasia but straightforward murder under guide of 'well killing'
•C18th onwards - Question of what to do with the 'Living Burdens'.
->Greater problem since WWI
->NAZIs also thought 'incurable lunatics' to be part of the problem.
-->Many writing at start of C20th suggested it was the sollution to 'Put these people out of their misery'.
--->Not solely a NAZI attitude.
•Hitler attitude made in 1939 speach.
->Social Darwinism - if the weakest are removed then we shall get an increase in strength. 'We should not cut off the process of natural selection...' . Such social protection of the weak is allowing them to bring down the race.
-->Genetic health. Those who are not genetically health should not be allowed to have Children.
--->1933 - NAZIs passed a law called 'The Law for the Prevention of Heritarily Diseased Offspring'
---->NAZIs introduced compulsory sterilisation for people with genetic disorders.
---->Midwives pursaded in 1939 to report deformed babies / babies with genetic abnomalitys.
•>1939 - Adult Euthanasia Program
->Most of those killed were already in mental institutions or hospitals.
-->October 1939 - Hitler issued an order saying that 'Euthanasia is acceptable'. However, it said that Mercy Death may be granted one in exceptional circumstances by doctors specially given this power and responsibility.
--->Forms required.
--->Mixed race persons far more likely to be given Euthanasia than Aryans
>Improving the racial stock of the Aryans.
•1939 - 1941 - Childrens Euthanasia Unit created and over 5,200 babies killed in this timeperiod.
->Not always humane deaths.
->Older children taken in by Adult Euthanasia Unit.
•Opposition to Euthanasia Policy
->Main opposition from Bishop von Galen
-->Group of Uni students known as 'White Rose' distributed sermon of Galen.
->Church as an organisation did not steak up but individuals did.
•August 1941 Euthanasia program ended because of popular opposition from his own people.
->Nothing happened to those who opposed just the Euthanasia issue.
->No new children brought into program, but older people to send to concentrations camps.
->1940 - 41 : 100,000 mentally ill killed. 200,000 overall.
-->Killings continued but secretly in Concentration Camps.
•Always leave a few lines between each part of your answer.
•Check timings according to marks available.
•Make all information relevant to answer, do not just describe sources.
•You must quote briefly from the sources.
->Don't mention line numbers etc. Use inline quotes.
Memoirs etc. Make events appear colourful but objectivity may be lost.
•Walter Stennes
->Berlin SA leader
-->Thought SA deserved more political rewards.
--->Got his SA men to heckle Goebbels (Gauliter of Berlin) speach.
--->Some of Stennes SA men beat up Goebbels SA guard.
---->Stennes gets group of SA leaders together to oppose Hitler.
----->All Stennes allies expelled from Nazi Party & Stennes fled Germany.
•Event convinced Hitler he needed Rohm back from Bavaria to run SA.
•Socialism element.
->Emphasis on needs of working class.
•Nationalism element.
->Emphasis on nation & race
•24 onward - National party
•Election results
->Nazis don't do particularly well.
-->Roughly 3% of vote in 1928.
->Increased to 18.6% in 1930
-->Picked up much of DNVP vote (legitimised Nazis through link with DNVP)
-->Wall St. Crash - international recession. Crisis in world capitalism.
-->Lost confidence in Weimar economically & politically.
-->Agriculture initially hit badly.
--->Nazi 'blood & soil' policy, free bread and pro-countryside policy increased support for Nazis from rural areas.
-->Fear of communism - Nazi anti-communism appealed.
•Nazis had dual policy of democracy & violence.
->Presence on street certainly felt.
•1930-32
->Vote from 18.6% to > 40%
-->Greater fear of communism.
-->Economic crisis had deepened.
-->Bruning had governed through Article 48 in 31 - democracy had failed.
-->A number of the politicians (inc. Von-papen) thought they could use Hitler.
-->SA is more & more active on the streets
--->Only one left standing up against communists.
•Hitler stood for President 1932 - 30%
•Hidenburg did not want to appoint Hitler
->Thought he had no alternative Jan 1933. Didn't think it would be permenant appointment. Only till March 33.
•Hitler capitalised on Reichstag fire to reduce communist opposition in 1933
->Made people believe there was serious threat from communists.
->Many communists not able to stand in '33 elections.
->Creates mood - 'Weimar has failed'
->Right-wing feared Hitler (thought he'd started the fire)
•Nazis could have been in cabinet in 32
->Didn't join & therefore not tainted with failure of Weimar.
•Right-wing in Germany disunited - helped Hitler to power.
•Enabling act.
->Post '33 elections - still co-alition government.
-->Need for Nazis to get OC
->Enabling act altered constitution - laws no longer had to be passed by Reichstag - can be passed by Cabinet (Cabinet = Nazi majority &
controlled by Hitler)
-->Made Reichstag & Reichrat irrelevant.
--->Government makes laws.
->Put through by fear.
->Only SPD voted against. Communists banned from attending. ZP did not vote against due to concordat negotiations & fear Nazis would ban Catholicism.
•Still 2 strands to National Socialism.
- - - - - - - - - -
Conclusion
•Hitlers rise to power due to:
->Percieved failure of Weimar Republic.
-->Much of failure caused by SA.
•Pre-putsch
->A few 1000.
->Limited to Bavaria.
•>Impossible to measure degree of support for Nazis in early 1920s.
->Nazis did not stand in elections 1920.
->Many may have supported Nazis but not been party members.
->First time we can get measure of support is 1924.
-->Post trial
•Who was supporting
->Local to Munich
->Working class & lower middle class
->Many ideals of Nazis held throughout Germany
->Meetings largely only attended by men. Younger people rather than older.
•1924 election
->32 seats.
•1924 onwards
->Become known outside Bavaria (trial)
-->No mass electoral support.
--->First real electoral significance 18% in 1930 (up from 2.9% in 1928)
---->Infuenced by economic factors, aparant failure of Weimar Republic, fear of communism & result of aliance with DNVP.
•Nazi success is on the streets pre 1930.
->Able to stop communist meetings.
-->Seen in positive light because of fear of communism.
--->Contributes to Nazi support.
•Nazi economics.
•Social impact of Nasizm on social classes.
->The role & status of women.
•Racism, citizenship & the treatment of minorities.
•Nazism & Nazi beliefs.
- - - - - - - - - -
Tested on one compulsory source based question in one hour.
•Hidenburg & Ludendorf (war council) moving towards Democracy pre abdication (more representative gov.)
->Schiedemans declaration of democracy in effect a Coup.
->Real will for democracy in Germany from allies.
-->Experiment imposed upon the German People. No real practical alternative.
•Democracy in Weimar
->Direct Democracy
-->President
-->Plebescite - Young Plan
->Parliamentary Democracy
-->The democratic experiment. Not generally supported, but people prepared to work with it due to lack of alternatives.
--->Weimar Repubic lasted longer than the NAZIs.
•Why did Weimar last as long as it did?
->Lack of alternatives until the 1930s
•••[Background]•••
The dual approach of violence and democracy adopted by NAZI party post 1924 was essential to them achieving power. (Adopted due to NAZI party success in elections whilst Hitler was in prison.)
- - - - - - - - - -
•1924 - NAZI party banned
->Party standing in election went under name of Anti-Semitic League.
•When Hitler was released from prison he promised to work within the constitution.
•Feb 1925 - Hitler allowed to re-launch the NAZI party.
->Demonstates sympathy for extreme right.
->Hitler remained banned from public speaking in many states.
-->He later broke this ban, but very little was done to it.
•1925 - 29 known as : "The assertion of the primacy of the Führer"
->Period during which Hitler makes himself supreme within the NAZI party.
•••[Internal Organisation & Conflicts]•••
•1924-27 period - NAZI party run from its HQ in Munich.
->Munich clique.
-->Officials (bureaucrats) within party dictating policy.
--->Accused of not listening to anyone else.
•Mid 1920's onwards, NAZI party had become a national organisation.
->Divided country into a number of Districts.
-->Each district had as NAZI party official acting as a leader in that area. (known as a Gauleiter)
--->These district leaders appointed by Hitler.
•Conflict arose between Gauleiters(district leaders) in West & North and Munich Clique.
->Two strands within NAZIsm existing.
-->One strand emphasising Nationalism (led by Adolf Hitler)
-->Secondary strand emphasising the needs of the working class (socialism)
•Gregor Strasser (Gauleiter in favour of socialist strand of NAZIism) led opposition to Munich Clique.
->Leads the 'Working Group' of Gauleiters.
-->(a)Goebbels was member of the working group (Goebbels later became NAZI propaganda minister).
-->Working group puts forwards policies which Hitler does not fully support.
E.g. The way in which the property of the Kaiser should be delt with.
--->Hitler becomes worried about the loss of countrol of policy making this may lead to.
If 'Working Group' can make policy then who else can?
•14th Feb 1926 - Bamberg Conference called by Hitler to address problem of 'Working Group'
->Hitler makes not an explict attack to Working Party but asserts his control and defeats policies of Working Party.
-->Through force of argument and personality opposition to Hitler from within NAZI party ceases.
->>After Bamberg conference there was very little opposition to Hitler from within the NAZI party.
•1926 - 25 points of the NAZI party programme of the 1920s made official NAZI party policy.
•Nov 1926 - Goebbels makes his peace with Hitler and becomes Gauleiter of Berlin.
->Stasser did not agree with Hitler and continues to oppose.
•Feb 1926 onwards - Hitler has dictatorial power over NAZI party. - Assertion of the Primacy of the Führer.
- - - - - - - - - -
•••[Actions of the NAZI party]•••
•Between 1924 & 1929 NAZI party did not have a great deal of electoral success in the Reichstag.
•1925-29 - Majority of work of NAZI party done by SA.
->Acting as public face of NAZI movement.
->Aiming to become master of the streets.
-->Fighting vs. Communists (Red Front) for mastery of the Streets.
->Aiming to become master of the state.
(The Millitart violent aspect of NAZI rise to power)
•SA was there to serve the party.
->(Source 40 in Noakes & Pridham) Hitler dictated this in a letter to the leader.
-->Emphasis on sports activities rather that millitary drill. (to reduce possibility of getting banned)
-->Aim of SA to build 'Nationalist, Socialist, Racialist state' & achieve the 'destruction of Marxism'
--->Not the small picture of removing a local enemy etc.
--->SA as a promoter of the Aryan Race.
-->By end of 1933 SA gains 3 million members.
•1928 - NAZI party had 12 seats in the Reichstag, Was not greatly successful on the national stage.
•Late 1920's Hitler began to set up a State within a State
->Set up Foreign Affairs Dept. Press Dept. Agriculture Dept. etc.
-->Mirroring structure of the State.
--->Sounds very impressive.
Continued in (2)
•1/3 of Germany supported NAZI party in 1932 (evident in presidential elections)
->A lot for a multi-party system.
•SA banned April 1932 but ban lifted in Summer 1932.
->Due to fear of a polish attack upon Germany. Schleicher (Reichswer) thought SA could help defend.
->Schleicher (in name of the Reichswehr (Army)) appeared to be sympathetic towards the NAZI's (Schleicher = conservative national - right-wing - not NAZI)
-->Schleicher hated Brüning's government. Tries to bring it down using von Papen (ZP)
•May 1932 Brüning resigned.
->von Papen became Chancellor.
-->Not even von Papens own ZP party did not support his chancellorship.
•Hitler refused to join von Papen's cabinet because he expected von Papen to fail and he didn't want the NAZI's to be tainted with failure.
->Hitler wanted all power or nothing - not prepared to form a coalition with other right-wing parties.
•NAZI become largest single party in Germany in 1932 election.
->Was violence attached to this election (street violence between left-wing & right-wing)
•Many Germans supported the NAZI party policies even if they did not vote for them.
...cont.
•Late 1920's NAZI party set up a number of organisation for specific groups.
->National Socialist Teachers League (NSLB)
->National Socialist Schoolchildrens League (NSSB)
->Hitler Youth
•Actions of SA 1920's
->Defending NAZI party meetings.
->Breaking up Communist party meeting.
-->Many activities of SA allowed by police as they were both anti-communist.
->Took part in Torch Lit processions.
->Held Rally's
->Went to the church services.
-->All gives a good impression.
Two faces of the NAZI party: violent and public spirited.
• 1928 was very important year for NAZI party - a shift in the party.
•By 1932 SA had 2 million members under command of Ernst Röhm.
->Feared that Ernst Rohm wanted to take over running of the army and to create a peoples army (25 points).
->Army felt threatened by size of SA.
•Hitler was not sure he could trust the SA.
->Hitler raised status of the SS (under Himler) in 1929.
- - - - - - - - - -
•MISC
•Harzburg Front = Group of conservative nationalist politicians who opposed Brunings government. Some NAZI's wanted to continue in the Harzburg Front.
->Shows 1931 NAZI's are co-operating with other right-wing parties.
•1918
>Armistice - Hitlers claims he decided to enter politics as result.
•1919
>DAP set up by Drexler
>Hitler spied on DAP meetings
•1920
>Hitler joins DAP March. Becomes NDSP
>25 Points
>Volkischer Beobachter
•1921
>Hitler temp. leaves due to Drexler merging w/ other Volkish parties. Comes back on condition of total control
>SA founded
•1922
>Rapallo
•1923
>Hitler promised SA action
>Beer Hall Putsch (8-9 Nov)
>Trial = propoganda
•1924
>In Jail
>Mein Kamph written
>Nazis stand in elections - 12 seats.
>Electoral success inspires change in tactic
(>Period of relative political stability)
•1925
>Ban on Nazis removed
•1926
>Assertion of Primacy of Fuhrer
>Bamburg conference
•1928
>2.9% in Reichstag
•1929
>Alliance with DNVP over young plan.
>Wall St. Crash
•Why did Weimar Republic survive?
•Why did Weimar Republic have golden years?
•Problems
•Constitution
•Stresseman
•Setting up of Weimar Republic
•Problems from ToV
End notes @ october 29
->Young plan
->Stresseman dies
->Wall St Crash.
•Contrast with Blitzkrieg
->Liqhtning warfare. Limited forces. Quick moving. Not totally mechanised - still cavalry charges in WW1.
•Total war
->All armed forces committed.
->Therefore whole economy needs to be geared towards war.
->Public need to be prepared to accept the consequences of total war.
]->All three factors are pivotal.
•Nazis made concious effort 33-39 to gear people up for total war.
->Propoganda films - showed building of air force.
->Films emphasised importance of 'fatherland'.
->Navy days - encouraged people to go and visit the army. V. popular.
->Nazis enforcing nationalism - way of showing people they had grievances to justify war. Political propoganda suggesting qreat racial war in future.
->Hitler Youth - inspired millitary style discipline. Millitary style traininq.
->Conscription introduced 1934.
•People lived with knowledge that Germany would at some point go to war.
•Growth in armed forces.
->Needs economy ready for war goods.
-->More employment
->4 year plan to get Germany ready for war ended 1940.
•Pace of move to war increased post 1936.
->Not expectinq war 1939.
-->Poland invaded & taken w/ in 3 weeks.
--->However Britain declared war on Germany. Hitler had not expected this.
•Opposition to ToV
->Extreme right
War guilt was insult to national pride. Restrictions to millitary hated. Didn't like ban to Anchluss.
->Weimar Politicians.
Opposed economic terms. Philip Schiedemann resigned rather than sign ToV.
->Those who were in lost territory.
->Those who lost control of colonies.
->Army.
•Right-wing opposition to Weimar Republic
->DDP, KPD (Communists), SPD
As they do not believe in democracy.
->Sparicists
•Left-wing opposition to Weimar Republic.
->Extreme right-wing.
Such as the NAZI party & DNVP
->Freikorps.
•Who supported Weimar Republic.
->Ebert & SPD (majority socialists)
Some for idealistic beliefs (Ebert & Scheidemann). Some just in it for the power (eg. Erzberger)
->Alies from WWI
•Use of Article 48
->Ebert used to preserve democracy.
Calling of General strike to prevent success of Kapp putsch in 1920.
•Economic problems of 1918-23
->Reparation bills
->Inflation (hyper)
->Post war unemp etc.
->War loans.
•Solutions
->1923 - Produced new currency.
->Ended passive resistance.
See link for more details. [Weimar problems 1918/19]
•Political problems of 1918-23.
->Weimar consitution - PR forming multi-party co-alition gov.
->Article 48
->Political uprisinqs.
Freikorp - white terror (right-wing)
Sparticists (Communist - left-wing)
Kapp putsch.
Bavarian seperatism.
->Dislike of system by teachers, civil servants, judiciary etc.
See link for more details. [Weimar problems 1918/19]
•Schacht's contribution to success of Weimar Republic
->Stabalised currency in 1923
•Ebert's contribution to success of Weimar Republic.
->Accepted ToV.
->Helped draw up & supported constitution.
->Dealing w/ Kapp putsch.
-->However qeneral strike led to worker uprisinqs.
->Used Article 48 to prevent Political violence & appointed Cuno as chancellor.
-->Not in spirit of democracy.
Because Ebert helped write constitution is he responsible for its terms.
•Stresemann's contribution to success of Weimar Republic.
->Policy of fulfilment.
->Ended passive resistance (1923)
->Put down Saxony communist uprising (1923)
->Got Germany accepted on international staqe again.
Locarno etc.
•Contributions of Political parties to success & failures of Weimar Republic?
(note: requires identification of aims & therefore success & failures.)
Aims: Establishing itself.
->SDP
+Helped establish Weimar Republic & was involved in majority of cabinets.
+Always believed in democracy.
-Advocated PR system
->ZP
+Initialy involved in establishing Weimar Republic & sustaining it.
-1928 became increasingly anti-democratic.
->DNVP
-Led by Hugenberg from 1928 - became incresingly right-wing
•Effect of Plebescites on the Governing Germany
->Most important = plebescite over Young Plan.
(Real meaning is to do with who supports parliamentary democracy. 5.8 million voted against thus perceived as a 5.8 million vote against democracy.)
->Plebescites delay the implementation of legislation.
•Outline the path of re-armament in the 1920's.
->German armament limited by ToV to only 100,000 troops, no airforces and a heavily limited Navy
->Treaty of Rapalo with Russia led to Germany secretly training troops in the Soviet Union.
->1920's saw gradual rearmament.
->1928 - Decided to build new Battle Cruiser.
Note : was not the NAZIs who broke terms of ToV first - it had happened before that. Only thing the NAZIs did new was to build the Luftwaffe.
•List of events to show increasing acceptance of Germany as part of the international community.
>1922 - Rapallo
>1924 - Dawes plan.
>1925 - Locarno Pact (accepted borders)
>1926 - Germany joined LoN.
>1929 - Young Plan
•Did articles 48 do more harm or more good to democracy in Germany?
->Used by Ebert to save democracy.
->Used by Bruning in 1930's to destroy democracy.
->Also used by Hitler to destroy democracy.
•To what extent were the allies responsible for making Germany ungovernable in the inter-war years?
->Allies imposed ToV which did great deal of harm to ease of governing Germany.
However Germany could have been broken up for millitaraly occupied.
->Occupation of the Ruhr damaged economy.
->Implementation of democracy by Germans under PR system was perhaps more a problem than in the imposition of democracy.
•Demonstrate that the democratic spirit of the Weimar Republic was being breached in the period 1919-33
->Apointment of Cuno.
->Use of Article 48
-->E.g. Kapp Putsch
->Sitaution in the Ruhr - 1923 - Gov calling for passive resistance.
->Went aginsts ToV in militarisation etc.
•Signed by the allies & Germany.
->Was imposed treaty.
-->Huge resentment of this by German people. 'A dictated peace'.
--->Right wing built up the notion that Germany could have carried on in WW1. People came be believe it was a political rather than a millitary defeat.
•Disliked aspects of ToV.
->War Guilt clause.
-->Justified reparations.
--->Economically damaging & also humiliatinq.
->Reparations.
->Loss of land - eg. Upper Silesia, Alsace-Loraine, Polish Coridoor.
-->Political pride damaged & economic impact of loss of Raw materials.
->Loss of Colonies - German East Africa etc.
-->Loss of cheap raw materials & market for produced goods. W/ none of allies willing to trade w/ Germany early post WW1 then loss of these markets economically damaging
->Limits on armed forces. Army ltd to 100,000. Navy ltd. No millitary airforce allowed.
-->Defence industry lost. Creates unemployment. Fear that they cannot defend themselves - insecurity. Attack on German prestige.
->Demilitarisation of the Rhineland.
-->Not huge economic impact but important politically.
->Anscluss forbade.
-->Germany & Austria not allowed to join.
Germany never got colonies back. Broke virtually all other terms of ToV.
•When writing about then split into economic & political.
•Shows issues of people at the time.
•Is cartoon for pursuasion? What at the time was pursuasive.
•Perspective of a national view - not neccessarily common view.
•Humour - in some cases explains what might have been seen as funny @ the time.
•Cartoons make 'pithy political comment'.
•Need to be backed up by evidence & knowledge.
•••[The 'Golden Years' of Weimar Germany]•••
•Period of relative political stablity.
->No attempted coups to overthrow gov.
->V. little violence on the streets.
->Political stability on international stage as well.
->Germany not occupied or @ war w/ anyone
•Period of relative economic stablity.
->No serious inflation problems.
-->Economic problems not solved but lesser than <1924 & 1929>
•Cultural flowering
->Art movements etc
->Architecture.
->Literature, painting, film & music.
-->Particularly an urban phenomenon. Berlin was cultural capital.
--->Many of the top artists Jewish & / or left-wing. Artists=individualist.
•>Weimar allowed flowering of individualism.
->NAZI party did not like individualism & crushed/repressed it when they came to power.
•Infuential fiqure in Golden Years = Gustav Stresemann
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
•••[Events]•••
•1924 - Dawes plan ratified by Reichstag.
->Post Dawes plan there was heavy US investment in Germany. 1924-29(WSC).
•1925 - Locarno Pact
->Fixed inviolability of the French-German & Belgium-German borders.
->Aqreed on arbitration in case of dispute between Germany & Poland & Czechoslovakia.
•Sept. 1926 Germany joined LoN.
->Shows acceptability of Germany.
•Germany improved its relationship w/ Russia.
->German troops trained in Russia.
- - - - - - - - - -
Germany seen as a 'Bulwark against communism'.
->Stronq defense - hence why Germany allowed to exeed 100,000 millitary post 1926.
- - - - - - - - - -
•••[Violence]•••
•Only 24 NAZI's killed in street fights 1924-29 with the KPD. Hundreds injured.
•KPD had 'Red Front' paramilitary force of 12,000.
- - - - - - - - - -
•••[Background]•••
>President 1919-25 = Ebert
>President 1925-34 = Hindenburg
- - - - - - - - - -
•••[Political Parties]•••
During 1924-29 period many of the Political parties turned away from the ideal of democracy & became increasingly hostile to the Weimar Republic.
•SPD (Socialist Democratic Party oy Germany) - Remained loyal to Weimar constitution/republic.
->Had revolutionary past.
-->Believed in evolution not revolution but their image maintained a revolutionary tone.
->Majority of support from Trade Unions.
-->Therefore: working class.
->Agricultural workers turned away from SPD.
-->Felt SPD no longer had their interests @ heart.
->SPD had an ambivalent attitude towards the millitary.
-->Tended towards pacifism in armaments debates.
->SPD often took its lead from trade unions & did nothinq that might jepordise their support.
]->Slightly increased their electoral success 1924-29.
-->Most votes from Urban areas.
•DDP (German Democratic Party) - began to show anti-democatic tendancies.
->Breakinq up w/ internal splits.
->Declininq in electoral success 1924-29
•ZP (Central Party) - showinq anti-democatic by late 1920's.
->Largely Catholic (w/ support from a few protestants)
-->Priests v. influential in getting votes for ZP. Most of its support from Catholics across the demographic.
--->Quite possible Popes representive pursuaded ZP to select Brüninq as leader. (Brüninq later became chancellor & helped erode/destroy democracy in Germany
->1928 onwards led by Brüninq & becoming more anti-democratic.
•DVP (German People's Party) - founded 1919 by Gustav Stresemann to cary on traditions of pre-war Liberals.
->Apealed to business community & recieved support from prominant industrialists.
->Small party but usually part of the Government.
•DNVP (German National People's Party) - had to work with democracy but had no great love for democracy.
->Wide demographic of membership.
->Alfred Hugenberg (media man - owned a lot of News papers. Former director of Krupps stealworks) elected leader in 1928.
-->1929 - brouqht DNVP into alliance w/ NAZI party to oppose Younq Plan.
->Good electoral success but possibly lost seats to NAZI party.
•>Summary.
->DNVP & ZP shifted to riqht in 1928
•••[Gov structure]•••
•Multi-party co-alition Gov.
•1925 - Ebert died
->Leadinq to presidenial elections.
-->1.9 million votes for Thälmann (Communist)
-->13.7 million votes for Marx (Central party)
-->14.6 million votes for Hindenburg
NOTE - Over 1/2 the voters voted for a candidate who did not support democracy in 1925 presidential election.
'no love amoung the German people for Democracy'
•Hidenburg did not represent any political party - WW1 hero, ran war council in WW1 - Hidenburg did not really believe in parliamentary democracy.
->In power 1925-34
->President has power to select chancellor & to suspend democracy w/ article 48
- - - - - - - -
•••[Party Politics & Foreign Policy 1924-1930]•••
•15 Seperate cabinets 1919 - 1928.
•1928 - Stresemann helped put together 'Great Coalition' from SPD, DDP, ZP, BVP & DVP.
->More interest in domestic affairs than international.
-->SDP threatened split over agenda for 'Food for the poor' vs. Building of battle cruiser to protect Germanys Baltic coast.
(a)--->Note : building a cruiser provides job & catalyses economy.
--->Issue of national pride also involved.
--->Economic argument = cruiser / Humanitarian argument = food for our children / National pride = cruiser.
->Goverment in Germany cannot exist without the SDP. (SDP=largest single party)
•1929 Plebiscite (backed by Hitler) turned into vote to see if people supported Weimar republic.
->Initaially referendum on Younq Plan.
->5.8million voted against
•Dec. 1929 - 1.2 million workers on benefits. Germany facing serious economic problems pre-WSC.
->Should the Gov. spend or save?
->Should it cut unemp(right winq). benefit or raise taxes(left winq)?
-->Coalition made no Economic policies could be decided upon.
--->Gov. eventually colapsed.
•Jan 1930 - 2.3 million workers on benefits.
(cont.)
•1930 - Stresemann got agreement for removal of foreign troops.
->Post WSC Britain could not afford to maintain troops.
- - - - - - - - - -
•6 Govs 1923-1928 & 15 Cabinets.
Communists & NAZI & DNVP set on destruction of Weimar
- - - - - - - - - -
•••[Domestic impact of Stresemann's foreign policy]•••
•Stresemann's policy based around concept of fulfilment (of reparations).
->Angered riqht-wing
->Also meant keeping to terms of the ToV.
-->Stresemann public face is different from his private view.
•>Fulfilment policy means;
->Economic drain from reparations.
->Acceptinq millitary limitations.
->Acceptinq ToV borders.
••Achievments of foreign policy....
•French troops left Ruhr 1924 (Stresemann & Dawes = major negotiators)
-->Security for Dawes loans = German railway system & a measure of foreign control over nat. Bank.
->Policy successfully led to int. nat. investment-particularly US.
•Locarno Pact of 1925
->Increased political stability.
•1926 Stresemann mainly responsible for German entry into LoN.
•1929 Stresemann insrumental in getting the Young plan accepted.
->Reduced total reparations from 132 billion marks to 37 billion marks.
•1930 last foreign troops leave German soil.
->Reducing foreign troops in Germany helps political stability & confidence in the Gov.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - -
•Mid to late 1920's Germany had a stable currency with low interest rates.
•1924-30 - $5bn invested in Germany.
•1928 - Industrial production exceeded pre-war levels.
•Manual workers in trade unions benefited from economic prosperity.
->Trade unions achieved significant increase in real wages.
•Increased welfare payments benefited urban working class.
•German state improved quality of social housing.
- --- -
•Gov. expenditure was higher than gov. income.
•Professional middle class did not benefit greatly.
•Agricultural workers suffered.
->Prices of agricultural goods were low.
•Key Elements of the Weimar Constitution
->President elected for 5 year term of office
->Bi-cameral - two legislative chambers. Reichstag & Reichrat.
->Reichstag elected by PR.
->Universal Suffrage (for those over the aqe of 20, no property qualifications)
->President appoints and dismisses the chancellor.
-->Controversy over Cuno's appointment as chancellor as he was not a member of a political party.
->President can disolve the parliament and rule with emerency powers. Article 48. Suspends constitution.
-->Ebert used to preserve democracy - Bruning used it to destroy.
->President was in charge of the armed forces. (not greatly important till 1934 when Hitler merged chancellors and presidents offices)
->Direct elections to Precidency.
-->V. Important in 1932
Exam Q.
Q:What problems faced the Weimar Republic in 1918/19 & how successfully had they been solved by 1924?
Structure : Ec, Pol, Mil, Soc problems.
•Root problems
->Loss of WW1
->Political vacuum
-->Kaisers abdication & political collapse.
•Economic problems:
->War loans.
->Lack of raw materials.
-->Throuqh loss of teritory.
->Unemployment.
-->Returninq soldiers & dislocation of industry.
->Careful mention of reparations as they did not start being paid till 1920.
->Lack of trading parteners.
->Inflation problem (but not as serious as Hyper inflation)
•Political problems.
->Conversion from monarchy to republic.
-->Republic has no constitution or official authority.
-->Declaration of republic is in effect a Coup d'état.
-->Total change of political system.
->Republic was not widely supported.
-->Opposition from: Left Wing (Spartacists, Socialists, Eisner in Munich) & Right Wing (Freikorps, Monarchists) & Civil Service, Teachers, Judiciary.
->Problem in getting the Weimar republic accepted.
->Political violence from opposition to republic.
->In 1919 elections Eberts socialists only got 38% of vote. Demonstrates lack of majority of overall popular support.
•Social problems.
->1.7 million men dead.
->Inbalance in population.
->Great shortage of food.
-->Real starvation.
->Educatinq people in democracy.
•Military problems.
->Resultant from defeat.
->Limitations on military by ToV.
-->Unable to defend from percieved threat of communisn.
-->Humiliation from loss of autonomy in military matters.
->ToV was imposed w/ out negotiation.
SOLUTIONS.
•Economic - some problems solved but new problems gained.
->Industry had converted from wartime to peacetime.
->Unemployment solved w/ many people back to work.
->Reparations have become bigger problem (@ this point refer to Ruhr Valley & hyper-inflation)
->Treaty of Rapallo opened trade w/ Russia. (1922)
•Political
->Political violence had largly stopped.
->Votes demonstrate hostility to Weimar Republic but people accepted.
->Weimar Republic still in power.
[End of lesson]
•Problems it faced & sollutions
->19-23 attempts at overthrow.
-->No widely acceptable alternative. Weimar surived against rebellions.
-->Occupying forces. Communism or right-wing rule not accepable to allies.
->Economic disasters
-->Got throuqh
->Allies leniance on enforcing ToV.
->24-29 - economic recovery & reduction in political violence.
•Inbalance in population.
->Shortage of men.
-->1.7m had died in WWI
->Birth rate was declining.
-->NAZIs banned contraception. (also served to gain Church support)
-->Abortion laws upheld and enfored.
-->Having children out of wedlock seen in case of mental instability - some locked away. (not uncommon view across Europe)
->NAZIs wanted to promote higher birth rate among Aryan race.
-->More workers, more soldiers, more wealth.
-->Worry about being 'outbred' by slavs & non-aryans.
•Role of women.
->NAZI view
-->@ home looking after man & children. (Again church agrees)
->Rights of women
-->Under Weimar had got greater freedom. (political, career, social etc)
--->Not under NAZIs.
---->Attitude towards women reverts to C19th view. It was Weimar which had been anomoly.
->Emancipation of women.
-->Equality of men & women - does not exist under NAZIs.
•Hitlers speach on women
->'Emancipation of women' slogan accused of being of Jewish origin.
->What women should do is God given. Sex roles are natural - not to be contested or gone against.
->Women should not interfere in sphere of men & vice-versa.
-->Male & Female should stay w/ different roles. Woman's role is bringing life into world & protecting individual lives - Mans is to protect on the battle field.
->Hitler saw men & women as compliments - not women as the weaker sex.
-->Social Darwinistic idea.
•>Hitlers ideas. Not neccessarily consistant w/ all Nazi leaders.
•Work.
->Married women should not work.
-->However Nazis did not manage to get women out of the workforce. Labour force shortages meant more women brought in in some cases.
->Unmarried women / those who've already had children etc. could work.
•Logical inconsistancies.
->Cannot have all men out fighting & women @ home. Who runs factories etc? Self undermining.
-->Irony of Nazism.
- - - - - - - - - -
•No opposition from women to Nazi policy on women.
- - - - - - - - - -
Aims.
->& success/failures
•To get women out of the workforce
->Slight reduction 33-36 then increases. Failed
•Increase the birth rate.
->Rise but only sliqhtly. Mostly due to improving economic conditions.
•Marriage loans schemes.
->700,000 couples took advantage of them. But no radical increase in the Birth rate.
•Mothers Cross
•Getting women to support the NAZIs.
->Hiqh attendance to NAZI run orqanisations for women.
->Votinq fiqures show women votinq similarly to men.
•Retreated from public world into private world of family. (due to hostility of public world to women - less political agravation in family life.)
---
•Compulsory Sterilisation
->Partially Successful.
•Rural and Urban working classes.
•Rural
->Made up around 25% of total population.
->Post agricultural crisis most rural working class supported NAZIs
-->Apeal of NAZI promise of 'Freedom & Bread'
•Urban
->Majority of urban working classes initially supported Left-Wing parties.
-->Not particularly sympathetic to NAZIs
->However anything up to 1/3 of urban working classes did support the NAZIs
-->Apeal was offer of employment & nationalistic.
- - - - - - - - - -
•Left-wing working class largely believed in internationalism wheras NAZIs believed in nationalism.
•Working class believed in conflict with upper classes.
->NAZIs prefered cooperation.
•NAZIs needed working class support to achieve economic aims.
->NSBO (National Socialist Factory Cell Organisation) attempted to gain support for NAZIs from working class.
-->Encouraged works councils in which workers were involved.
--->25% of votes in workers councils for NAZIs. Considerable success.
->1st May 1933 - Labour day celebrations of the workers.
-->2nd May 1933 - NAZIs closed down the trade unions.
--->Work of Robert Ley.
[Not all unions closed on 2nd May but majority & most important were]
---->Closed on grounds of anti-communism. Communism goes against national unity
---->Many middle class people did not mind loss of unions. Trade unions had gained many benefits for workers so met dislike & envy from middle class. Middle class had in many cases had their wages cut.
[---->Note: Benefits for working classes had only come to those who were in work - unemployed did not see any benefits. Unions also only successful in Urban areas - not practicle in countryside (e.g. Farmer cannot easily strike etc.)]
•NSBO tried on small scale to intimidate employers into sacking non-Nazis and giving their jobs to unemployed Nazis.
•DAF (German Workers Front) set up by Ley.
->Alterative to trade unions.
-->NAZI way of controllinq the workers.
See seperate notes on KdF.
•Weimar
->2 x 30minute essays
-->1 = Describe the....
E.g.
•Describe the played by Stresemann in the Golden Years of the Weimar Republic.
>Chancellor Briefly in 1924
>Foreign Minister 24 - 29
>Got young plan through - 1929. Pursauded Germany to agree to it.
>Negotiated German entry into the LoN
>Called off passive resistance in the Ruhr.
->Helped stop HyperInflation
>Dawes Plan - 1924
->Reduced reparataions payments and brought it American investment.
>Locarno Treatise - Agreeing western borders of Germany.
>Helped to hold together the co-alition governments.
>Thought Weimar Republic was the 'least worst' of all possible options.
>Stresemann was significant at a time when there weren't the big problems. At a time of general stability and limited opposition to Weimar.