Reading...
Play button
Play button
Use LEFT and RIGHT arrow keys to navigate between flashcards;
Use UP and DOWN arrow keys to flip the card;
H to show hint;
A reads text to speech;
30 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
|
Stab-in-the-back legend
|
A right wing legend. It attributed the loss of the war to the public's failure in answering their patriotic calling, and also said that the war effort was sabotaged by the Socialists, Bolsheviks, and Jews. Parallels the story of the Nibelungenlied. Important to the growth of the Nazi party. Encapsulates the justifications of Nazi Germany. The antithesis "War Guilt Clause". Origins can be traced to mid-1919 and a conversation between German General Ludendorr and British General Malcolm.
|
|
|
Freikorps
|
Term originated in the 18th Century for German's volunteer armies. After 1918, it came to mean the various paramilitary organizations around Germany as soldiers returned home. German soldiers joined this because they felt disconnect at home and longed for military structure. People angrily joined up in order to join the effort to put down the communists, whom they blamed for German defeat. Received support from the Minister of Defense, Gustav Noske, and were used to crush the German Revolution and the Marxist Spartacist League on Jan 15 1919. 12 workers and SPD members were arrested and killed by the korps on May 5 1919. Many Nazi party members, including Ernst Roehm, served as a freikorp. Hitler had many problems with this group, and many were targeted on the night of Long Knives.
|
|
|
The War Guilt Clause of the Versaiiles Treaty
|
Article 231 of the Versailles Treaty. Germany is assigned responsibility for the damages of World War I. The UK and France played a big role in the writing of this article. Often attributed to the rise of National Socialism. Many feel otherwise nowadays.
|
|
|
Proportional Representation
|
A category of electoral formula that is aimed at securing a close match between the percentage of votes a group obtains in an election, and the number of seats they receive.
|
|
|
Article 48 of the Weimar Constitution
|
This article allowed the president to take emergency measures in special circumstances without the prior consent of parliament. Used by Hitler in 1933 to establish his dictatorship and usher in the Third Reich. As a result of Hindenburg dissolving parliament and calling for new elections, due to this article, the Nazi party gained much representation in parliament
Hitler used the Reichstag Fire of Feb 27 1933 as a pretext to get Hindenburg to sign the Reichstag Fire Decree. |
|
|
Hyperinflation
|
When inflation gets very high and goes out of control. Results in prices increasing rapidly and currency loses its value. In German in October of 1923, inflation rates reached 29,500% per month. Prices doubled, on average, ever 4 days. 1 pound of meat at this time cost 36 billion marks. Hitler, in Mein Kampf, makes many references to the German debt, and he draws conclusions about it inevitably leading to National Socialism. The inflation also raised doubts about the competence of liberal institutions. It also created a resentment of bankers/jews.
|
|
|
The Weimar Coalition
|
The coalition of the Social Democratic Party, the German Democratic Party, and the Catholic Centre Party. The principle groups that designed the Weimar Republic. They governed Germany until the elections of 1920, when they lost considerable vote shares. Continued to act in coalition until as late as 1932.
|
|
|
Paul Von Hindenburg
|
The 2nd President of Germany from 1925 to 1934. Had a long career in the Prussian Army, became the German Chief of Staff in 1916. Dissolved parliament twice and eventually appointed Hitler to the role of Chancellor. Issued the Reichstag Fire decree, suspending civil liberties, and signed the Enabling Act, which gave Hitler's administration legislative powers. After he died, Hitler made himself the head of state.
|
|
|
Beer Hall Putsch
|
Also known as the Munich Putsch. A failed attempt at revolution that occured on November 8/9 of 1923. Hitler and other heads of the Kampfbund tried unsuccessfully to seize power in Munich, Bavarie, and Germany. Inspired by Mussolini's march on Rome. Hitler wanted to do a big march against the Weimar Republic. Hitler and his gang marched into the beer hall at 8:30, where von Kahr was giving a speech, and declared that the national revolution had broken out! After many hours of stalling and speeches, 2000 men went for a march and it ended in gunfire. Forever wedged Hitler and Ludendorff. Hitler used his criminal trial to further his ideas. 16 Nazis died and became martyrs.
|
|
|
Erich Maria Remarque
|
Author of All Quiet on the Western Front. Born 1898, died 1970. Conscripted into the army in 1917. Transferred to the Western Front. The novel described the experiences of the German in World War I. In 1933, Nazis banned his books, claiming he was a Jew descendant.
|
|
|
The Fuehrer Principle
|
"Leader Principle". Describes the fundamental basis of political authority in the Third Reich. "The Fuehrer's word is above all written law". First mentioned by philosopher, "Keyserling". The idea of gifted individuals born to rule (Social Darwinism). After the war, people used this as an excuse that they only did what they were told.
|
|
|
SA
|
Sturmabteilung. Storm Troopers. The paramilitary organization of the Nazis. Also known as brownshirts. Hitler began surrounding his DAP party with troops and guards and protectors long before they were an official military. Officially started being called SA by 1921. Led by Ernst Roehm. Grew in size to thousands. In 1922, a youth section was created. This became the Hitler Youth. Carried out many acts of violence against socialists through the 20s in street fights. Once the Nazis had all the power, the SA were not needed, and even posed a threat to Hitlers leadership. Hitler nipped this in the bud by assassinating the major leaders of the SA in the Night of Long Knives.
|
|
|
Dictatorship
|
A Dictatorship is an autocratic form of Government in which the government is ruled by an individual. AKA Hitler. Has the power to govern without the consent of those being governed.
|
|
|
Goebbels
|
Minister of Propaganda in the Nazi Party. Hitler's closest associate and follower. Known for his oratory skills and anti-semitism. The architect of Kristallnacht. Also orchestrated book burnings. Exerted totalitarian control over media. Used modern propaganda techniques and psychology to prepare the German citizens for war and the anhialation of Jews. Succeeded Hitler, but only for a day. Committed suicide.
|
|
|
Horst-Wessel Song
|
The anthem of the Nazi Party. Became a co-national anthem for Germany. Written by Horst Wessel, an SA commander. Song first performed at his funeral after he was murdered in Feb 1930,
|
|
|
Reichstag Fire
|
An Arson attack on the Parliament building in Berlin on Feb 27 1933. Pivotal of the Nazi Takeover. Used as evidence by the Nazis that the Communists were plotting against the government. Led to Hindenburg passing the Reichstag Fire Decree, which suspended civil liberties, and led to a mass arresting of Communists, including all of the parliamentary delegates. This gave the Nazis a majority, and Hitler consolidated his power.
|
|
|
Gleichschaltung (Forced coordination)
|
Forced coordination. The process by which the Nazi regime successively established a system of totalitarian control over the individual, and tight coordination over all aspects of society. The goal of this policy was to eliminate the individual and force everyone to adhere to specific doctrines. This led to the creation of many compulsory organizations as well. Boys served in "Pimpfen" groups and at 10 entered the "Young German Boys" until they were old enough to enter the Hitler Youth. The introduction of Kraft durch Freude, which was the regimentation of hobbies.
|
|
|
Boycott of Jewish Enterprises
|
April 1, 1933. The first of many measures against Jews in German. SA members stood in front of Jewish owned stores and establishments and stared menacingly. Not truly a success, as many Germans continued to shop in the store, but it was a beginning stepping stone in the Final Solution. A week later, a law was passed that restricted civil service jobs to Aryans.
|
|
|
Book Burning
|
A campaign conducted by Goebbels and other Nazi authorities to ceremonially burn all books that didn't jive with Nazi ideas. On April 6, 1933, the SA proclaimed a nationwide "action against the ungerman spirit".
|
|
|
The Night of Long Knives
|
A purge between June 30 and July 2, 1934. When the Nazi regime carried out a series of executions of politicians, primarily SA members. Hitler wanted to avoid Roehm's wish for the SA to absorb the Reichswehr. Over 85 people died during the purge, and the killings were carried out by the SS and the Gestapo. On May 10, 1933, students burned over 25,000 "un German" books.
|
|
|
Deutsche Arbeitsfront (DAF, German labor Front)
|
The Nazi trade union orginization, which Hitler used to replace the various Weimar trade unions on May 2 1933. Led by Robert Ley. Meant to act as a mediator between workers and owners. Enforced set wages, security of work, and also started social security and liesure programs. Combatted capitalism, liberalism, and revolution. Theoretically voluntary, but not really.
|
|
|
Hitlerjugend (Hitler Youth)
|
A paramilitary organization from 1922 to 1945. Second oldest Nazi group to the SA. A blanket name for several smaller youth programs set up by Hitler in order to train future members of the SA. Viewed as "future Aryan supermen" and were indoctrinated with anti-Semitism. Many "activities" closely resembled military training exersizes. Compulsary after 1936.
|
|
|
Eintopfsonntag (Stew Sunday)
|
1 October 1933. Only stew could be eaten on every Sunday. Cost could not exceed 50 pfennigs per person. The money saved got donated. Newspapers published stew recipes.
|
|
|
Volksempfänger (people’s receiver)
|
The official radio receiver of the Third Reich. Developed by Otto Griessing at the request of Goebbels. The idea was to make radio technology affordable for everyone in the country, because Goebbels knew that it was the best way to spread propaganda. Purposefully designed only to receive local stations. First developed in August of 1933
|
|
|
Leni Riefenstahl
|
Artist and director of the Third Reich. She will be forever remembered for directing both Olympia and Triumph of the Will, both Nazi propaganda films. She was good friends with Hitler and Goebbels. Began her career as a dancer and an actress, working in Berg films. Olympie released in 1938, Triumph of the Will in 1936
|
|
|
"degenerate art"
|
Art deemed un-German, Jewish, or Bolshevist. Virtually all modern art. Artists in this field were fired, forbidden to showcase their art, and forbidden to make it. The Nazis also mounted an exhibition in Munich in 1937 to sort of prove a point of how awful it all was. Nazis preferred to promote art that was nationalistic, showed racial purity, obedience, and militarism. Shortly after his rise to power, Hitler took steps to purge the country of this degenerate art.
|
|
|
"Racial Hygiene" (eugenics)
|
The study and practice of selective breeding, applied to humans. Largely associated with Nazi Germany. Refers to Germany's raciallybased social policies. Tageted Jews, retards, gays, crazies, and the week. 400,000 people were sterilized and 70,000 were killed. Hitler believed this was essential to strengthening the nation. The Hadamar Clinic in Hadamar was the site of the Euthanasia program. Based on theories of Fritz Lenz and Eugen Fischer.
|
|
|
Nuremberg Laws
|
Antisemetic laws in Nazi Germany. Classified Germans as people whose 4 grandparents were all "of German blood". Prohibited intermarriage between Jews and nonJews. the Law for the Protection of German Blood and Honour and the Reich Citizenship Law were introduced on September 15, 1935. Also forbade Jews to display the national flag, and to employ women under the age of 45. This is the first time legal discrimination of the Jews was set in place, and it grew form here.
|
|
|
Reichskristallnacht ("The Night of Broken Glass")
|
November 10, 1938. An anti-Jewish pogrom, or rio. Triggered by the assassination of Ernst vom Rath in Paris by a Jew. Led to over 91 Jews being murdered and 30,000 odd people being arrested or put in camps. Nearly 300 synagogues were destroyed, and many homes and businesses were too. Carried out by the Gestapo, SS, and Hitler Youth. Viewed by many to be the beginning of the holocaust. Goebbels insinuated the kick off of the Pogrom.
|
|
|
Swing Youth
|
A group of jazz and Swing lovers in Germany in the 1930s. Located mainly in Hamburg and Berlin. Mostly middle or upper-class teens, opposing Nazis and the Hitler Youth. Often thought of as Lazy and Sleazy by the Nazis. Long hair, hats, umbrellas, dancing, and jargon (Swing heil!) Over 300 Swing Youth arrested in August of 1941.
|
