Nazis in Power 1933-1939
Consolidation of power
Jan. 1933 – Aug. 1934
Hitler’s rise to total power Hitler’s rise to becoming a total Dictator happened step by step. He overcame obstacles by him passing different laws. Each law gave him more and more power and increased his control
January 1933
August 1934
1 Law st
Law for the Protection of the People and the State
The elections of March 1933 Hitler arranged for a general election to be held in March 1933. He hoped that the Nazi Party a landslide victory and get a majority of the seats in the Reichstag.
A week before voting day, the Reichstag building was set on fire.
A Communist, Marianus van der Lubbe, was caught with matches and fire lighters.
This is the window that van der Lubbe supposedly used to break into the Reichstag
Van der Lubbe was later executed using a guillotine
Law for the Protection of the People and the State. Hitler said the fire was part of a Communist plot to take over Germany. Hitler said Germany was in a State of Emergency President Hindenburg believed him, and passed The Law for the Protection of the People and the State (Article 48 of the Weimar Constitution). Hitler banned the Communists from the Reichstag. 1933 elections – Hitler wins 44% of the vote
Gesetz zur Behebung der Not von Volk und Reich
Law to Remedy the Distress of People and Reich
The Enabling Law The Enabling law allowed the Chancellor to pass laws without consulting the Reichstag for 4 years (but you needed a 2/3 majority to pass the act). Hitler set about ensuring that he had such a majority.
This picture, taken from Hitler The Rise of Evil, demonstrates the majority which the Nazis enjoyed
The Enabling Act With the KPD (Communists) banned from the Reichstag opposition to the Nazis was already reduced. Many SPD ministers were “absent� on the day of the vote. Some had been killed, others kept under house arrest. Others were intimidated by the SA who were present throughout the proceedings. The Enabling Act was passed.
The Concordat with the Roman Catholic Church Hitler promised to not interfere with the RC Church provided the church did not involve itself in political issues.
The ‘Night of the Long Knives’ Hitler had made Germany into a one party state, but he soon had problems to deal with in the Nazi Party itself… Two million members, were Storm Troopers, who fought and beat up Communists.
The ‘Night of the Long Knives’ Their leader Ernst Roehm, wanted to make them part of the army - this worried Hitler This would mean Ernst Roehm would be the most powerful man in Germany. The army generals did not like the idea either.
The ‘Night of the Long Knives’ At three in the morning of 30 June 1934, Roehm and the other SA leaders were arrested on Hitler’s orders. They were taken to prison and shot Over the next few days 400 people were executed in this way. The killings were done by Hitler’s own black shirted guards the SS.
With the threat of Roehm and the leading members of the SA removed, the Army were willing to pledge their support to Hitler.
The Double Cross
Hitler becomes Fuhrer One month later (2nd Aug 1934), Hindenburg dies aged 87 and Hitler took over the presidency and appointed himself Fuhrer. The SS were incorporated into the Army and they swore an oath of obedience to Hitler.
The state funeral of Hindenburg and the proclamation of Hitler as Fuhrer
How did the Nazis Maintain Power?
Gleichschaltung ‘Co-ordination’ or ‘Brining into line’
Social Controls
Children in Nazi Germany Watch the two following videos and make your own notes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVUAIPMsZ60 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3RV14xFAFvg&feature=rela
The Hitler Youth
BBC News Link
Youth The key to Hitler’s ‘Thousand Year Reich’ Aim to turn boys into future soldiers and girls into good wives and mothers Boys aged 10 joined the German Young People (Deutsches Jungvolk) At 14 they joined Hitler Youth (Hitler Jugend) By 1936, 60% of all young Germans belonged to a Nazi organisation
The League of German Girls The girls undertook some of the same activities as the boys. These included camping and sports. Instead of the military aspect however, girls were taught to look after their health and to prepare themselves for motherhood.
A typical activity for the girls was to take the infants of larger families for an airing in the park while their parents were at work.
Numbers in the Youth Number of millions in the Youth (10 – 18)
Total in country
1933.
2.3
7.5
1934.
3.6
7.7
1935.
3.9
8.2
1936.
5.4
8.7
1937.
5.9
9.1
1938.
7.0
9.1
1939.
7.3
8.9
A Nazi Education
Schools and Universities would all be controlled by the Nazis Children would learn Nazi ideas All teachers were made to sign an oath to Hitler and the Nazis All Jewish teachers were sacked
All educational freedoms were removed.
Der Angriff, 27 October 1933 All subjects, German Language, History, Geography, Chemistry and Mathematics – must concentrate on military subjects – the glorification of military service and of German heroes and leaders and the strength of a regenerated Germany. Chemistry will inculcate a knowledge of chemical warfare, explosives, Buna [artificial rubber], etc. while mathematics will help the young to understand artillery calculations, ballistics etc.
Official instructions on the teaching of history, issued 1938 The German nation in its essence and greatness, in its fateful struggle for internal and external identity is the subject of the teaching of history. It is based on the natural bond of the child with his nation and, by interpreting history as the fateful struggle of the existence between the nations, has the particular task of educating young people to respect the great German past and to have faith in the mission and future of their own nation and to respect the right of existence of other nations‌ It must always show greatness ‌ the powerless and insignificant have no history.
Extract from a Nazi maths textbook Question 95 The construction of a lunatic asylum cost 6 million RM. How many houses at 15,000 RM each could have been built for that amount? Question 97 To keep a mentally ill person costs approx 4 RM per day, a cripple 5.5 RM, a criminal 3.5 RM. Many civil servants receive only 4 RM per day, white collar employees barely 3.5 RM, unskilled workers not even 2 RM per head of their families. (a) Illustrate these figures with a diagram According to conservative estimates, there are 300,000 mentally ill, epileptics, etc. in care b) How much do these people cost to keep in total, at a cost of 4 RM per head? c) How many marriage loans at 1,000 RM each could be granted from this money?
In what lesson might you see this quote in? Just as Jesus saved the people from sin and from Hell, Hitler saves the German Volk from ruin. Jesus and Hitler were persecuted, but while Jesus was crucified, Hitler was raised to the Chancellorship. While the disciples of Jesus denied their master and deserted him, the sixteen comrades of Hitler died for their leader. The apostles completed the work of their lord. We hope that Hitler will be able to complete his work himself. Jesus built for heaven: Hitler for the German earth. What It’s a dictation are the Nazis exercise trying from to accomplish a Munich Primary by doingschool exercises in like 1934! this?
What is happening in this picture? Children being examined in school for “suitable Aryan characteristics� What are Aryan characteristics? Which people group are associated with these characteristics?
Blonde hair, blue eyes
Click picture for video
Gleichschaltung ‘Co-ordination’ or ‘Brining into line’ Civil service Jews and anti Nazis dismissed – this provided jobs for German Citizens
Army Oath of loyalty for Hitler rather than for Germany
Gleichschaltug The Judiciary As with civil service Nazis in, anti Nazis out
Local state government Placed under the control of Nazi Reich governors
Women in Nazi Germany Women were not expected to work in Nazi Germany. In Weimar Germany there had been 100,000 female teachers, 3000 female doctors and 13,000 female musicians. Within months of Hitler coming to power, many female doctors and civil servants were sacked. This was followed by female teachers and lawyers. By the start of the Second World War, very few German women were in full-time work.
As housewives and mothers, their lives were controlled. Women were not expected to wear make-up or trousers. The dyeing of hair was not allowed nor were perms. Only flat shoes were expected to be worn. Women were discouraged from slimming as this was considered bad for child birth. Women were encouraged to have a well built figure as slim women, so it was taught, would have problems in pregnancy.
German Mothers competed for this medal ‘Nazi Mother of the Year’ each year
Fear and State Terrorism
Hitler as Fuehrer
“Terror is the best political weapon for nothing drives people harder than a fear of sudden death.�
The Police State August 1934 Germany was now a Dictatorship, and Hitler was the Dictator.
Hitler was now in complete control of Germany, but what did he have to fear?
The Police State Hitler was at risk of being overthrown by his opponents. So he needed protection, and he used a large police force to protect him. This is the reason why a Dictatorship is often called a ‘Police State’.
The Police State: The SA Hitler’s private army Made up of many “old fighters” who had been members of the freikorps Absorbed into the SS after 1934
The Police State: The SS Created in 1925 Main role as bodyguards to Hitler Gained more power after 1934 They later came to control the concentration camps
The SA
The SS
The Police State Heydrich Himmler
The architects of the police state
The SS on the march
The role of the Police? The role of the Police is Nazi Germany was to arrest people before they had even committed any crimes. All local police drew up lists of people they considered to be ‘enemies of the state’ The police gave these lists to the Gestapo, the Secret State Police who had the power to do as it liked.
Dachau Concentration Camp
Anti-semitism Widespread and gave the German people someone to blame for all of Germany's problems. ‘Anti – Semitism was not only the core of Nazi ideology, but the Jewish stereotype that developed from it provided the focal point for the feeling of aggression inherent in the ideology’ David Welch, The Third Reich- Politics and Propaganda, 2004 April 1933 – boycott of Jewish businesses 7 April 1933 – Jews sacked from civil service October 1933 – Law forbidding Jews from working in journalism
September 1935 – Nuremberg Laws Law for the Protection of German Blood and German Honour – Jews are forbidden to have sexual relations with Germans and from marrying Germans. Any existing marriages were now null and void Reich Citizenship Law – Jews lost their German citizenship and all rights that this granted
November 1938 – Kristallnacht – destruction of Jewish businesses, homes and synagogues. 100 Jews murdered during this, while 20,000 were sent to concentration camps. Jews were fined after in order to pay for the clean up
Crushing of opposition Regular use of paid informants Opposition and their families punished Opposition not united e.g Socialist and Communist Some opposition was small scale, e.g. White Rose Movement. Handed out Anti-Nazi leaflets. Leaders rounded up and executed. Some opposition was from the young so not coherent e.g Eidelweiss Pirates, Swing Kids, Meuten
Fear and State Terrorism http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wRAaCSXzDQ&feature=fvst
Nazi Economy
Economic Policy When Nazis came to power Germany’s economy was already improving, which Nazis were quick to take credit for. To deal with unemployment all Jews and other enemies of the state were sacked to create jobs for German people Those dismissed were not included in unemployment figures
The Nazi Economy
What was the lowest date for unemployment? How would you explain this figure?
Work schemes were introduced, for example, the building of the Autobahn system This meant more men earning and spending money
Inflation was controlled by limiting wage rises Secret rearmament also created work for people ‘Guns before butter’ – Goring
Increased taxes on food entering Germany was used to boost farming Creation of Reich Food estates Hitler banned Trade Unions in 1933
Strength Through Joy Strength Through Joy (Kraft durch Freude) was set up so that all aspects of a worker’s non-working time were looked after. Strength Through Joy supervised after-work activities, holidays and leisure time. Strength Through Joy served two main purposes: The first was to ensure that no one had too much time on their hands to get involved in untoward activities against the state. There was a belief that idle hands might get involved in anti-state misdemeanours. The second main purpose of Strength Through Joy was to produce an environment within Nazi Germany whereby the average worker would be grateful to the state for providing activities and holidays that in ‘normal’ circumstances they could not afford as individuals
By 1936, KdF had a membership of 30 million Germans It arranged theatre trips, summer holidays, skiing holidays, summer and winter hikes, cruises and outdoors activities By 1937, 9.6 million people took part in some form of a KDF holiday
A KDF poster
A KDF liner
Strength Through Joy also set up the scheme for a worker to purchase a car – the People’s Car; the Volkswagen. Workers were allowed to make monthly payments towards a new car, which were recorded in a savings book. However, as war approached, the factories that were meant to produce Volkswagens were turned over to war work and produced the weapons. No worker ever received a Volkswagen car Those Volkswagens that were built went to military staff, while the payments made for a new car were invested into the expansion of the military.
VW Beetle 1938
The people’s car
Nazi foreign policy
In his book MEIN KAMPF Hitler outlined his political goals - to undo the "injustice" inflicted upon Germany by the Treaty of Versailles, to acquire LEBENSRAUM IM OSTEN, to accomplish the "FINAL SOLUTION of the Jewish Question". And he was well aware that these goals only could be reached through another World War.
Foreign Policy Based on the destruction of the Treaty of Versailles Included Lebensraum (living space) for the Aryan races Re-armament programme saw a need for more raw materials which were widely available in Eastern Europe Withdrawal from the League of Nations and the 1933 disarmament conference seen as standing up to rest of Europe over unfair treatment The aim of German policy was to make secure and to preserve the racial community and to enlarge it. It was therefore a question of space…Germany’s problem could only be solved by means of force and this was never without risk. – Adolf Hitler, Hossbach Memorandum, November 1937
German troops enter the Rhineland 1936
Nazi Propaganda
Nazi Propaganda What is propaganda? Propaganda is the use of the Media to aggressively promote one point of view.
Propaganda is ‘brainwashing’ of the public, convincing them of an ideological viewpoint.
Censorship Censorship prevents people from hearing anyone else’s ideas Do you think censorship exists in today’s world?
Activity In pairs discuss different ways in which a government could attempt to ‘brainwash’ the population.
Nazi Propaganda: Methods Posters Radio Film Newspapers
Posters Posters are cheap and easy to distribute Placed in prominent positions they act as a constant reminder of ideology Can be used for many purposes
Study the following propaganda posters carefully. What can you learn from these sources about Nazi methods of propaganda?
Describe what you can see Who do you think each poster is aimed at? What is the message behind the poster? Why was it produced?
What I can see
Key Questions
Hitler in the background
Who is this poster aimed at?
Young HJ boy. Aryan in appearance, serious, looking ahead Military/ Smart Uniform Caption in Bold
Why was this poster produced?
“Youth Serves the Führer”
All 10-year-olds into the Hitler Youth."
What does this poster tell you about Nazi attitude towards youth?
Look at the poster carefully. What makes it so effective? Waving Flags, Bright and Jolly. It is also a Nazi flag and is therefore an appeal to peoples patriotism and sense of loyalty. This youth is obviously happy to join the organisation. She is enjoying herself. Her appearance is also appealing – fresh faced and attractive. Smart Uniform. A sense of belonging to an important organisation. Pride.
What I can see The Eagle (The State) protecting the family The father above the family The mother caring for the baby – scarf on her head representing domestic work Happy, healthy children
Key Question:W hat does this poster tell us about: *Nazi beliefs regarding the family and family life * Nazi attitudes regarding the role of women?
What I can see
Physical features
Key Question:
Handful of money
What does this film poster tell us about Nazi attitudes towards the Jews?
A knotted whip
What is the purpose of this poster?
Map of Germany
Title in Bold
Communist Symbol
Radio Hitler’s Speeches
A variety of Speeches made by Adolf Hitler. Hitler is considered to have been one of the greatest public speakers of all time.
Newspapers Censoring newspapers ensures that only the news you want people to read is available to the public Nazi party members wrote many articles for the press, ensuring that the message was always positive Many publications were banned
Propaganda – Analysis Hitler played on the fears and emotions of the German people and many were captivated by the Nazi message. However, many historians believe that propaganda was more successful in reinforcing existing opinions rather than changing them.
Historian’s Verdict “The NSDAP was in a fortunate political position, unlike almost every other party in the Weimar Republic, of appealing to different groups for different reasons.” – David Welch “There is no doubt that the majority of educated Germans were very distrustful of Hitler’s propaganda”. – Ritter.
Aspects of Nazi rule that inspired fear Banning of trade unions Nazi control of education Concentration camps Nazi control of the legal system
The police stateSS/Gestapo etc Nazi control of the church Persecution of the Jews and other minority groups
Aspects of Nazi rule that encouraged support Indoctrination of children at school
The KDF organisation
Spread of Nazi ideas in universities
Revision of the Treaty of Versailles and other foreign policy success
Hitler Youth movement
Propaganda
Improvements in the economy
Censorship of books, plays and films
Nazis Staying in to Power Task 1.
Create a Mind Map outlining all the factors contributing to the Nazis staying in Power. Use Chapter 11 in Germany 1815 – 1939 textbook.
2.
Then chart your reasons in order of importance –evaluating each reason and providing evidence for their importance. Use chapter
Relevant Factors Establishment of a totalitarian state the crushing of opposition fear and state terrorism social controls propaganda successful foreign policy; economic policies; social policies.