Studied by 7 peopleWhat was the period of 1924-29 known as in Germany?
The Golden Age of the Weimar Republic
What happened to extremist parties during the Golden Age?
Support lessened because the government and the country was doing well
Wall Street Crash 1929
stock market crash that started the Great Depression in America and affected the whole world
Why did the Wall Street Crash affect Germany?
America recalled its loan of 800 million marks and this left the country in economic crisis
Effects of Wall Street Crash on Germany
Unemployment grew from 900k to 5mil in 2 years
-5 major banks collapsed
-people couldn't pay loans or mortgages
Brunig's government stopped paying benefits
What the the effect of the wall street crash on the extremist parties?
Support grew due to the economic crisis and failing government as Stresemann had died earlier that year
How did Hitler reorganise the nazis?
became absolute leader
regional branches called gaus led by gauleiters
set up Hitler Youth in 1926
how did nazis use propaganda to increase support?
They used Jews, communists and the government as scapegoats, blaming them for WW1 loss and versailles treaty
What was the SA?
nazi paramilitary used to intimidate voters and attack opposition
What did Right-wing politicians like von schleicher and von papen want
they tried to unite the nazis with the smaller nationalist party which would bring back the monarchy, stop communists and dilute the nazis
What happened in the April 1932 presidential election?
Hitler challenged Hindenburg and got 36%, but Hindenburg got 53%. Nazis became single largest party after social democrats fell out with centre party
Who became chancellor in May 1932 after Bruning resigned
Conservative Franz von Papen
Who was Kurt von Schleicher?
a leading general who supported Hindenburg, thought the army could deal with Hitler. Rivals with von Papen
What happened in the July 1932 election?
Nazis won 230 seats, the most,but although Hitler demanded to become Chancellor von Papen stayed
What happened in the november 1932 election?
after von papen called an election the nazis lost seats to the communists and nationalists
who became chancellor in december 1932 and what did he do?
Kurt von schleicher tried to split up the nazis after von papen resigned
how did hitler become chancellor on 30th January 1933?
Hindenburg was advised by von Papen to because he thought it would be easier to control nazis with article 48
Reichstag Fire, February 1933
Nazis 'caught' a communist with matches who 'confessed' to working alone and was executed, many more communists were arrested. Hindenburg used article 48 and the government read letters and tapped into phone calls. Hitler controlled the SA and police
March 1933 election
Hitler gets 2/3 majority which is enough to change the constitution after convincing hindenburg to call for an election, won majority in coalition with nationalists
The Enabling act march 1933
meant that for 4 years hitler could pass any laws by himself. other parties like communists were banned along with trade unions and strikes
Law Against the Formation of New Parties Act July 1933
Banned all other parties and creation of new ones, Nazis in one party state, answered to Fuhrer later
Dachau camp 1933
First concentration camp, originally for political opponents
Who was Ernst Rohm?
Head of the SA and homosexual, wanted more socialist Nazi party
Causes of the Night of the Long Knives
Ernst Rohm, SA leader, had become a threat
3 million strong SA was loyal to Rohm
Rohm wanted the nazis to become more socialist
SA's violence had become embarrassing for hitler
public scandal surrounding Rohm's homosexuality
Himmler wanted the SS to become bigger than the SA, and - army generals worried that SA would take their place, Hitler wanted to win them over, so
They told Hitler Rohm was planning to overthrow him
Events of the Night of the Long Knives, June-July 1934
hitler arranged a meeting with rohm and 100 other SA leaders but on arrival they were arrested and shot
many more opposition were killed
von Papen complained about violence but was told to return home for safety
SS surrounded von Papen's home and cut off telephone wires, capturing his staff
goering justified the killings by saying SA were planning a revolution
Consequences of the Night of the Long Knives
Rohm and the SA's threat removed
other opposition dealt with
people were glad hitler dealt with the SA
army generals became loyal to Hitler
the SA was severely weakened
He had demonstrated his power
How did Hitler become Fuhrer Aug 1934?
Became President when Hindenburg died, combined it with Chancellor to become Fuhrer.
What was the SS?
Hitler's bodyguards, later made up the ordinary, military and secret political police.
Who was Heinrich Himmler?
Head of the SS and architect of the Holocaust
Who was Josef Goebbels?
Hitler's propaganda minister, great speaker like Hitler, twisted many stories into propaganda
What was the Gestapo?
Nazi secret political police led by Robert Heydrich, sent opposition to concentration camps
Gleichschaltung (coordination)
Nazification of Germany as totalitarian state
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