When? 1935 Nuremburg Laws 1938 Night of Broken Glass. 1941 Einsatzgruppen squads, 1942 Wannsee where death camps are agreed.
Key Facts: Propaganda used to persecute Jews, then legal discrimination, Night of Broken Glass was an escalation towards violence (91 Jews were killed), then after WW2 when Hitler conquered more land he gained more Jews. Jews were sent to ghettos and to concentration camps. Einsatzgruppen (death squads) executed Jews. Later concentration camps were converted to death camps, with gas chambers e.g. Auschwitz and Chelmno
Short Term Impact: Increased violence and de humanisation of Jews.
Long Term Impact: 6 million Jews killed in Holocaust.
When? 28 June 1919
Key Facts: Terms included LAMB- Land (Lost all overseas colonies and 13% of their land.) ARMY (100,000 soldiers 6 battleships, no submarine and no air force), MONEY(They had to pay £6.6 billion in reparations), BLAME (Article 231- Germany had to accept full responsibility for WW1.)
Short Term Impact: Germans hated the treaty they called it a diktat- dictated peace. Reparations caused high taxes for Germans. Germans felt humiliated by size of army and felt defenceless against hostile neighbours.
Long Term Impact: Reparations led to economic crisis e.g. Crisis in Ruhr and Hyperinflation.
Hitler gained support in the 1930’s by promising to overturn the treaty.
When? 1918
Key Facts: Food shortages due to blockades, Spanish Flu was common. The Navy at Kiel mutinied and this led to soldiers and workers doing the same. It was the start of a German Revolution.
Political Impact: Kaiser abdicated and a new democratic government took over. Many ex-soldiers felt betrayed by the new government for ending the war and called them the November Criminals.
Economic Impact: 600,000 war widows required pensions, which cost a fortune. Germany had lent money to its allies during the war which it would probably never get paid back.
Social Impact: Society was divided- factory owners had made huge profits selling weapons, whilst workers had not.
When? 1933- 1937 Schacht New Plan 1937-1939 Goering Four Year Plan
Key Facts: Hitler had 3 economic aims 1) reduce unemployment, 2) Prepare for war 3) Achieve autarky (self sufficiency).
Schacht-(economic specialist) Created work schemes to get people back into work e.g. autobahns (motorways), conscription to the armed forces. Imports were limited. BUT removed from power because he said could not be ready for war.
IMPACT- Unemployment fell by over 4 m. But hard working conditions (47 hour working week) and low pay (less than on unemployment benefits).
Goering- Preparing economy for war.
IMPACT- Germany did rearm. BUT Autarky not achieved as depended on imports for 1/3 goods. “Arms not butter,” meant luxury items were rationed, so felt like the standard of living was going down.
When? 1930’s
Key Facts: The Nazis Propaganda Minister Goebbels the bought newspapers and used radio and cinema broadcasts to spread their message during elections. Hitler used rallies to create excitement. In 1932 he used an aeroplane to visit 20 cities in 7 days to make election speeches. He used simple messages “Work and Bread, ” and “our last hope.”
Short Term Impact: Increased awareness and support for the Nazis. Many people believed they were better off under the Nazis.
Long Term Impact: Over time, when combined with censorship, led to indoctrination.
Key Dates: 1933 Dachau opened
Key Facts: Gestapo (secret police) and SS given full powers. Concentration camps were opened for political prisoners. Crimes punishable by death increased from 3 to 46. 162,000 people were imprisoned without trial by 1937. Informers everywhere.
Short Term Impact: Paranoia, Mistrust which acted as a deterrent so that opposition was limited.
Long Term Impact: Very little effective opposition groups- most campaigns were underground e.g. White Rose movement. Active opposition was only attempted by less than 1% of the population. One exception was the Van Stauffenberg bomb plot 1944, which failed. During the WW2 Hitler took even more brutal approach to opposition e.g. Edelweiss Pirates being publicly hanged.
When? 1923
Key Facts: After Treaty of Versailles Germany had to pay reparations of £6.6 billion. In 1922 Germany failed to pay. So France and Belgium sent 60,000 troops into the Ruhr (industrial area), to take the payment in coal and iron.
Short Term Impact: The German government ordered workers in the Ruhr to strike (passive resistance). The troops were brutal to strikers and over 100 were killed.
Long Term Impact: Because Germany was paying striking workers and still buying coal from elsewhere they were in an economic crisis. They printed money to help, which caused hyperinflation (where money loses its value). Middle class people lost their savings.
When? January 1919
Key Facts: Inspired by the Russian Communist Revolution, Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht led a Communist uprising in Berlin. The leader of Germany, Ebert, called upon 2000 Freikorps (ex soldiers) to defeat the rebellion. Rosa Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht were both killed.
Short Term Impact: Putsch was stopped by right wing Freikorps, but it proved that the Weimar Republic was unpopular and weak.
Long Term Impact:
Lack of support for Weimar Republic and further rebellions including Kapp Putsch the following year.
When? March 1920
Key Facts: Angry about the military terms of the Treaty of Versailles, right wing Wolfgang Kapp gathered 5000 members of the Freikorps (ex- soldiers). They took over key buildings in Berlin. Workers did not support the rebellion and they went on strike. Kapp was forced to abandon plans and flee.
Short Term Impact: Putsch was stopped by workers going on strike, but it proved that the Weimar Republic was unpopular and unstable.
Long Term Impact: As Kapp went unpunished, it encouraged other rebels to try to overthrow Weimar Republic, including Hitler in 1923.
Key Dates: 1933 Concordat with Pope
Key Facts: 1/3 of Germans were Catholic, 2/3 were Protestant. In 1933 Hitler signed concordat promising not to attack the Catholic Church. But the following year he broke his promise and closed Catholic Schools and Youth groups.
Hitler started the Protestant Reich Church with Nazi symbols and worship of Hitler. Led by Bishop Muller. But 6000 pastors opposed this and instead formed the Confessional Church.
Short Term Impact: Nazification of Protestant faith- Mein Kampf used in services. Catholic Church attacked.
Long Term Impact: Hitler never gained full control of the Church. Confessional Church shows how little support there was for the Reich Church. During WW2 Hitler turned his attentions away from enforcing his religious changes.
When? 1923
Key Facts: During the crisis in the Ruhr, to pay their striking workers the German government printed money. The value of money fell rapidly. Prices of goods went up rapidly.
Short Term Impact: Savings became worthless. Middle Class people lost most. Also pensioners who were on a fixed income. Small businesses collapsed. Homelessness and soup kitchens increased. Some poorer people were able to benefit by paying off debts.
Long Term Impact: Political instability- Weimar Republic were blamed for the crisis (e.g. Munich Putsch). Stresemann was able to bring recovery by introducing a new currency and borrowing money from USA (Dawes Plan 1924), but this made Germany reliant on US loans which caused crisis in 1929 when economic crash.
Key Dates? 1939- Hitler Youth officially made compulsory (but effectively compulsory from 1936).
Key Facts: Nazi control of the curriculum in schools e.g. including Race Studies, helped to indoctrinate (brainwash) young people. Napolas were set up for future leaders and Adolf Hitler schools gave military style education. Youth organisations were set up to prepare boys for the army and girls for motherhood.
Short Term Impact: Young people were indoctrinated. Those children who rebelled such as the Edelweiss Pirates were punished (including public hangings).
Long Term Impact: Young people in the Hitler Youth were those most loyal. Many were involved in the final Battle of Berlin in 1945, which was effectively a suicide mission.
When? 1924-1929
Key Facts: As a result of New currency and loans from the USA (Dawes Plan), Germany recovered to pre-war industrial production levels. A new era of freedom and expressionism followed. New movie stars like Marlene Dietrich became popular and so did cabaret. There were new architectural styles like the Bauhaus.
Short Term Impact: Berlin and other cities gained a reputation for being liberal and progressive.
Long Term Impact: Right wing people like the Nazis criticised the negative impact on behaviour, morality and traditional family values.
Key Dates? 25th October 1918 Naval commanders at Kiel refused to send their ships to fight.
Key Facts: Soldiers then followed and workers. 10th November Kaiser Wilhelm abdicated and on the 11th November the new government signed the armistice.
Short Term Impact: Democracy in Germany- new constitution which increased rights of women and new freedoms
Long Term Impact: Political unrest- Many not happy with the new government. Known as the November Criminals for signing the armistice. Also, people were not used to democracy so there were rebellions e.g. Kapp Putsch, Spartacists, Munich Putsch.
When- 1939-45
Key Facts: RARE (Rationing, Area Bombing, Refugees, Employment.) e.g. Rationing- clothes, food and fuel rationing, 2 days of hot water per week. Area Bombing, e.g. Hamburg 1943 60,000 approx. deaths. Refugees, 1944-45 Refugees in Eastern German cities marched west to flee the Soviet liberation. Employment- Women working in armaments factory but only 1 million of 3 million eligible to work did so.
Short Term Impact: Policy of Blitzkrieg meant rationing was not severe at the start of the war (took food from conquered nations).
Long Term Impact: As war continued, hardship became more severe- huge civilian casualties in bombing raids, Women confused by the u-turn in policy from 3K’s to working in factories.
When? November 1938
Key Facts: Kristallnacht or Night of Broken Glass, under orders from Goebbels, SS troops carried out a nationwide campaign of terrors against the Jews.
Short Term Impact: Around 10,000 Jewish shops had their windows broken, 200 synagogues were burnt down, 91 Jews were killed, 20,000 were sent to concentration camps.
Long Term Impact: Stepping stone towards genocide. When there was little reaction from the German public, it intensified violence. During WW2 when Hitler conquered land containing more Jews, he ordered Einsatzgruppen squads to kill as many Jews as possible. From 1941 Gas Chambers were constructed in Concentration Camps.
Key Facts: 3 Ks (Kitchen, Children and Cooking), women sacked from professions. Encouraged to have children by use of marriage loans (after 4 children they did not have to pay them back), and medals (Gold medal for 8 children.)
But from 1937 introduced a “Duty Year” to get women into workforce, then during WW2 Hitler encouraged women to work in factories.
Short Term Impact: 1933- 1939 Birth rate did increase by 25%, but did not exceed it- most families could not afford to have families bigger than 2 children.
Long Term Impact:
Confusion for women as the expectations changed during WW2.
Persecution of non Aryan women- caused distress- forced sterilisation.
Key Dates? 1888- 1914
Key Facts: Kaiser Wilhelm was emperor of Germany. He was jealous of his cousin King George V’s (Britain) empire and strong navy. He spent taxes on his policy of “Weltpolitik” (building an empire), rather than dealing with problems at home, including terrible working conditions in factories after industrialisation. He often ignored political advisors in the Reichstag.
Short Term Impact: Naval Laws up to 1912 led to anger towards Kaiser because taxes were wasted on militarism. Terrible working conditions led to a rise in support for Socialist political parties, some of whom supported revolution.
Long Term Impact: Imperialism (empire building) brought him into conflict with Britain and France and was a cause of WW1.
His unpopularity led to him being forced to abdicate in 1918 as part of the German Revolution.
Key Dates? Dawes Plan 1924, Locarno Plan 1925, League of Nations 1926, Kellog-Briand Pact 1928, Young Plan 1929
Key Facts: Dawes Plan $800m loaned to help with economic recovery. Locarno Pact- Germany accepted Western borders, so were allowed into the League of Nations. Young plan reduced reparation payments over a longer period.
Short Term Impact: By 1928 industrial production reached pre- War levels and Germany became one of the leading exporters of manufactured goods. Led to a boom in culture in Germany e.g. Bauhaus architecture, Golden age for German cinema.
Long Term Impact: All recovery relied on US loans which could be withdrawn at any time. This happened in 1929 Wall Street Crash.
When? October 1929
Key Facts: On Black Tuesday, In the USA the stock market located in Wall Street collapsed and the US economy collapsed completely.
Short Term Impact: USA demanded the loans that they had provided to Germany since 1924 (Dawes Plan) to be repaid in full. This caused economic depression in Germany with business going bankrupt. Unemployment, homelessness and poverty increased.
Long Term Impact: Out of desperation ordinary people in Germany’s political views became far more extreme. People blamed the Weimar Republic for these problems. Because of coalition governments Weimar were weak and indecisive. Hitler promised the 6 million people out of work “Work and Bread,” if he became their leader By July 1932 the Nazis were the largest party in the Reichstag.
When? 8th- 9th November 1923
Key Facts: 8th November- Hitler gained support (at gunpoint) of Kahr (Bavarian PM) and 3000 businessmen for a revolution in Munich the following day. 9th November- Police were tipped off and ready for the 2000 Nazis who were involved in the putsch. 16 Nazis and 3 policemen killed. Hitler was arrested.
Short Term Impact: Putsch was a failure- Nazi Party was banned and Hitler was imprisoned.
Long Term Impact: Hitler received publicity during the trial and a light prison sentence ( 5 years in Landsberg Prison). Actually only served 9 months. Wrote “Mein Kampf” which became ideology of Nazis. Changed tactics to democracy.
When? June 1934
Key Facts: Rohm (leader of the SA) wanted to merge the army and SA under his control. He also wanted to follow Socialism, which would upset big business. Hitler feared this would give Rohm too much power. He used the SS to murder 400 key figures in the SA including Rohm. Also killed previous rivals e.g. former Chancellor von Schleicher.
Short Term Impact: Destroyed all opposition within the Nazi power and gave more power to the brutal SS. Army swore an oath of loyalty.
Long Term Impact: Showed the world Hitler’s brutality and added to the mistrust of him. When Hindenburg (German President) died in August, Hitler combined role of Chancellor and President as Fuhrer (Dictator).
Key Date: January 1933
Key Facts: Series of poor Chancellors who lacked support in the Reichstag. Bruning, von Papen, von Schleicher. They struggled to pass new laws without using emergency powers (Article 48), which was undemocratic and unpopular. After the resignation of each Chancellor an election was held and the Nazis often increased their share of the votes. By July 1932, the Nazis were the largest party in the Reichstag. Hitler demanded to be made Chancellor- Hindenburg (President) finally agreed in Jan 1933.
Short Term Impact: Although Chancellor, Hitler’s power was restricted. Von Papen was his vice Chancellor and he only had 2 other Nazis in the Cabinet.
Long Term Impact: Hitler used the Reichstag Fire as a way to increase his powers. He passed an Enabling Law to pass laws without Reichstag. Hindenburg died in August and Hitler became Fuhrer (Dictator).