World History Ch 28.5- Hitler and the Rise of Nazi Germany

Ruhr Valley

A place where many German workers worked

What did Hitler use as an excuse to launch an attack on all Jews?

A young Jew whose parents had been mistreated in Germany shot at a German diplomat. Hitler used this as an excuse to launch the Kristallnacht.

How did the Weimer Republic form?

As World War 1 finished, Germany was on the brink of chaos. The kaiser abdicated under the threat of a socialist revolution, and Germans drafted a constitution to create a democratic government. The constitution set up a parliamentary system led by a chancellor. It gave women the right to vote and included a bill of rights

How did Hitler win the support of the Conservative party, leading to his election through legal means?

Conservatives feared growing Communist power. Although they despised Hitler, they believed that they could control him, therefore supporting his election

What was the outcome of France occupying the Ruhr Valley?

German workers protested with passive resistance and refused to work. The government supported these workers and continued to pay them, printing out huge amounts of paper money to do so. This caused severe inflation, making the German mark almost worthless.

Why did France occupy the Ruhr Valley?

Germany fell behind in reparation payments.

How did Hitler achieve his goals?

He created an efficient, but brutal, system of totalitarian rule. Nazis controlled all aspects of German life. The Gestapo rooted out opposition. The population was relieved by the belief in his promises, so they supported Hitler. Anyone who was worried about his terror apparatus immediately became a victim of it

How did Hitler battle the Great Depression?

He launched large public programs, where tens of thousands of people were put to work. He also began a program to rearm Germany, and to unite Germany and Austria. Both of these were a rejection of the Versailles Treaty

How did Hitler begin to drive the Jews from Germany?

He passed the Nuremberg Laws.

What did Hitler do after he became a dictator?

He suspended civil rights, destroyed the Socialists and Communists, disbanded other political parties, making Germany a one party state, and brutally executed Nazis he thought were disloyal

Why did many nations change from democratic to authoritarian rule?

Many of the countries who switched were small countries with rural agricultural economies that lacked capital to develop industry. Social and economic inequalities separated poor peasants from wealthy landlords.

What political problems did Germany deal with?

Politically, Germany was weak because it contained many small parties. The chancellor had to form coalitions that easily fell apart. The government was under constant demand from the people, such as the Communists, who wanted radical changes, and the Conservatives, who believed the government was too liberal and weak. The Weimer Republic was blamed for the Versailles treaty.

Anti-Semitism

Prejudice against Jews

Chancellor

Prime minister

What did Hitler believe was Germany's first, second, and third Reich?

The First Reich was the medieval Holy Roman Empire. The Second Reich was the empire formed by Bismarck in 1871. The Third Reich was his own rule, which he believed that the Third Reich would last a thousand years

How was inflation brought under control?

The United States gained British and French approval to reduce German reparation payments with the Dawes plan.

Mein Kampf

The book that Hitler wrote while in prison. It was the basic book of Nazi goals and ideology. It reflected Hitler's obsession, which included extreme nationalism, racism, and anti-Semitism

Final Solution

The extermination of all Jews

Dawes plan

The reparation payments were reduced, France withdrew from the Ruhr, and American loans helped the German economy recover.

Nuremberg Laws

These laws deprived Jews of German citizenship, and placed severe restrictions on them. They were prohibited from marrying non-Jews, attending or teaching at German schools or universities, holding government jobs, practicing law or medicine, or publishing books

How did Nazis "purify" German culture?

They denounced modern art, saying that it was corrupted from German influences. Jazz was condemned due to its African roots. German ideas were glorified. Hitler believed that Christianity was "weak" and "flabby". He sought to replace religion with his racial creed.

How did Nazis influence the youth?

They used speeches to spread messages of racism, destroy their "enemies" without mercy, and to believe in the Nazi ideology. The "Hitler Youth" would pledge absolute loyalty to Germany, and would undertake physical fitness programs to prepare for war. School courses and textbooks were rewritten to reflect Nazi views

What did Germany's new leader, Adolf Hitler promise?

To solve the economic crisis and restore Germany's former greatness. He also promised to end reparations, create jobs, and end the Versailles treaty

How did Nazi rule affect women?

Women had limited roles in society. They were dismissed from upper level jobs and turned away from universities. Rewards were given for having many children(which were only awarded to Aryan women)

Kristallnacht

"The Night of the Broken Glass" Nazi- led mobs attacked Jewish communities all over Germany, Austria, and parts of Czechoslovakia. Before long, Hitler began to make plans for his "Final Solution"