Kristallnacht Sources Questions
Alex Boultwood 11a History Kristallnacht Coursework. (a) Source A is a summary of an account by a journalist who was working for a Nazi paper before the war and was written in 1954. Fritz Hesse (the source author) recalls a conversation he overheard between Goebbels and Hitler at a dinner in Munich on the 9th of November. An officer whispered to Goebbels and then Goebbels communicated to Hitler the plans of a mass attack, which he and the SA intended to launch against synagogues and Jewish shops. This source shows that whilst Hitler was not involved in the planning of the attacks he knew of them, did nothing to stop them and undeniably approved of them, he was observed to have " squealed with delight and slapped his thigh with enthusiasm". When Goebbels told him what they were going to do. Source B is a secret report made by the Nazi party supreme court after the events of Kristallnact. Its purpose is to persuade people that Hitler was not responsible for the attacks but would not discourage them if they were started spontaneously. It seeks to convince us that Hitler was not told by Goebbels of the attack preparations, but was merely informed with other party leaders in Munich when they had taken place. The report reinforces the idea that Hitler was not in any way directly involved. In this account Goebbel's is just relaying what has happened and makes a
The development of Nazi policies towards the Jews
The development of Nazi policies towards the Jews The development of the Nazi's Jewish policies was intended to lead to a "final solution" of the Jewish problem, leaving Europe free of Jewish blood and ready for occupation by the German 'master race'. The Nuremberg Laws governed the relationships between Germans and Jews, but they took a long time to be developed and finalised. Some feared the possible international consequences of racist measures. The government was still unable to agree definite criteria for establishing an individuals race. From 1935 onwards influential men such as Goebbels were applying pressure to get more done. Nazi newspapers published many lewd stories which implied that Jews were raping thousands of German girls. Local Party organisations stepped up their actions against Jews. There were renewed attacks on synagogues and Jewish shops. Demands for a "Blood Protection Law" which would prevent marriages between Jews and Germans continued to grow. The Minister of the Interior,
Hyperinflation the invasion of the Ruhr.
Hyperinflation the Invasion of the Ruhr Weimar Germany had greeted with total horror the financial punishment of Versailles. If Germany had paid off the sum of £6,600,000,000, she would have remained in debt to the Allies until 1987 !! However, by signing the Treaty of Versailles, she had agreed in principle to the issue of reparations and in 1921, Germany just about managed to pay its first installment of 2 billion gold marks. Weimar Germany was allowed to pay in kind (actual materials) as opposed to just cash. Most of this 2 billion was paid in coal, iron and wood. In 1922, Weimar Germany simply could not manage to pay another installment. This Allies did not believe - especially France where anger towards Germany still ran deep - and the German government was accused of trying to get out of her reparations responsibilities. This apparent refusal was only four years after the end of the war, and the attitude of the public towards Germany was still very hostile - and not just in France. In 1922, French and Belgium troops invaded the Ruhr; Germany's most valuable industrial area. The French and Belgium troops took over the iron and steel factories, coalmines and railways. Those Germans who lived in the Ruhr and were considered not to be co-operating with the Germans were imprisoned. Food was taken. That this action by the French and Belgium broke the rules of the League of
Why were the Nazis able to achieve power in Germany in the years 1929-January 33?
Why were the Nazis able to achieve power in Germany in the years 1929-January 33? The main reasons for the emergence of Nazi were the weakness of the Weimar Republic, the strength of the Nazi party, the crippling economic factors of the period and the desperation that the public felt because of the high unemployment. The collapse of the Weimar Republic was mainly because of the Depression of 1929 and this depression turned the Nazi party into a mass movement because they seemed to offer a viable solution to all Germany's problems. The fundamental cause for the poor state of the economy was that there was a lack of faith and investment in the German economy. This meant that unemployment rose from between 2 and 3 million in 1930 to 6 million in 1933. This affected all the classes and resulted in a loss of pride and respectability. Many of Germany's "Mittelstrand" faced bankruptcy and a loss of livelihood. This meant the Nazi party was able to use their new importance to condemn the Republic as weak and a symbol of the oppression of the German people. This struck a chord with some key figures in German society who had rejected democracy and sought to bring down the government. When the Americans withdrew their loans to Germany Brüning had to try and force the coalition to accept cuts in unemployment benefit. This resulted in a deadlock and caused deep divisions in the
How did both long-term and short-term causes contribute to Hitler's rise in power?
How did both long-term and short-term causes contribute to Hitler's rise in power? Long-term causes take a long period to come about, the effects are felt for a long time and it takes a long time to reach its climax or consequence whereas short-term causes take a short period of time to come about, the effects are felt for a short time and it takes only a short period to reach its climax or consequence. The Weimar Government was in power between 1919 and 1923. It was a weak government as the voting system of proportional representation produced weak coalition governments, which were unable to provide Germany with a strong central government. The Weimar government had been born out of defeat and revolution and so never had the support of many Germans including the army, the civil service, the police, the judiciary and the universities and schools. Weimar politicians were also burdened with problems, which hampered their efforts to give the Republic a good name. Many Germans blamed them for 'stabbing the army in the back' by signing the Armistice in November 1918, for the Treaty of Versailles (1919), reparations, the terrifying inflation of 1922-1923 and for German's dependence on loans from the United States through the Dawes Plan (1924) and the Young Plan (1929). The Government was also weak as chancellors were often appointed because of their friendship with the President
Why was the Weimar Republic so unpopular with many Germans between 1919 and 1923?
Why was the Weimar Republic so unpopular with many Germans between 1919 and 1923? After The War a new type of government was set up in Germany. This was the Weimar Republic. Between 1919 and 1923 it had to deal with many problems. 1919 saw the Spartacist Rebellion and the new government was forced to agree to the unpopular Treaty of Versailles. In 1920 the Kapp Putsch succeeded in taking over the government for a while. In 1921 Germany began to pay reparations and inflation began to get out of control. Two years later France and Belgium invaded the Ruhr and the hyperinflation was now out of control. The NSDAP, led by Adolf Hitler and General Ludendorff, tried to take over the government at this time. This bad start had three main causes. The First reason why the Weimar Republic started badly was that there were political problems. Some people were very upset that the Kaiser had been forced to leave. This was a politically a bad start because it showed that some people would have preferred to have had the previous political system. The communists disliked the new republic because not much would change. The workers would still be poor and the rich would still be rich. They wanted the workers to have power. This contributed to the Weimar Republic's early unpopularity because there are a group of people (the communists) who know that they will not agree with the key policies
Were the Nazis successful in controlling the lives of women and young people between 1933 and 1939?
Were the Nazis successful in controlling the lives of women and young people between 1933 and 1939? To succeed is to accomplish an aim producing a favourable outcome. The Nazis did accomplish many of their aims. They were extremely prejudiced. They disliked anyone who challenged their views such as women who wanted to work and youths who did not decide to conform to the regime. They set up beliefs of stereotypical families advertising them with propaganda. One poster displays the ideal family, a voluptuous Aryan woman ideal for child bearing, a strong Aryan man and four young Aryan children. These children were Germany's future. They were taught this from an early age. Every aspect of life was censored and a new style of living was formed. The Nazi policies were extremely anti-Semitic. This was due to the Jews religious beliefs and their tendency to own large businesses. They were sometimes also blamed for Germany's defeat in World War One. Women, who under the Weimar constitution had many freedoms, were taught that that their role in life was to be wives and mothers, which was more important than pursuing a valuable career. They had once been able to vote but the Nazis were an entirely male dominated organisation. Women were pressured into conforming to the regime. Working women in the 1930's were seen as keeping men out of work, whilst women from rural parts of Germany
Nazi Germany Overall, legality was an important factor in Hitler's consolidation of power, if not the most important
ATH P26 a) Source B is the President Hindenburg's congratulation telegram to Hitler, a few days after the Night of the Long Knives. In the telegram, the SA leadership was considered 'treasonable intrigues in the bud', as SA's rival paramilitary SS leader Himmler and the German army had led the Chancellor and President to believe. The same content appeared in Source C, which is Hitler's explanatory speech to the Reichstag shortly after the event. Clearly, Rohm's revolutionary/riotic attitude and eagerness to gain power had alarmed the conservative elites, and his obsession with a 'second revolution' was not pleasing Hitler. Hitler chose to secure the support of the conservative right, and abandoned his long-time friend and loyal subordinate Rohm. In Source C, the event was presented as an act of justice and responsibility to the regime; Hitler, being the 'Supreme Judge of the people', had the most stately reasons for the purging of the 'offenders' without consulting the Constitution (which was already powerless at that time) or going through a trial. Moreover, in Source B, his actions were praised to be 'decisive' and 'courageous'. b) During the period 1933-1934, Hitler as Chancellor began a series of actions to consolidate his power. He had realised much earlier that this could not be achieved by means of violence, but alternatively, through law and order. Source A, an
Was Hitler a Totalitarian Dictator?
Was Hitler a Totalitarian Dictator? A Totalitarian is a dictator which controls all the aspects of their citizens lives. In practice the term is often is used to describe a political situation where a small group of people, or one organization, has total authority over a nation. In Hitler's Germany there were many characteristics of a Totalitarian state and a Totalitarian Dictatorship. The Government ran and censored the media. All forms of communication were liable to interference from above and could, and were, heavily censored. This removes freedom of speech, therefore enabling the government to influence popular opinion via propaganda and false news messages. The Age of Anxiety, the age of the lost generation, was also an age in which modern Fascism and Totalitarianism made their appearance on the historical stage. Before examining if Hitler established a totalitarian dictatorship, it is necessary to look at how Hitler, once in power, established a dictatorship. In my essay I will be examining three different methods of control, one how Hitler manipulated the law, two how Hitler used terror and three how Hitler used propaganda and persuasion. Hitler used the law to his own advantage throughout his quest to become the Fuhrer and when he eventually became the Fuhrer. Hitler removed his opposition through the Enabling Act. The Enabling Act gave Hitler the power to
Discuss the view that the Versailles treaty created as many problems as it solved.
Jonathan Mitchell Discuss the view that the Versailles treaty created as many problems as it solved. On the 28th June 1919 at Versailles Palace in France the Germans signed one of the most influential peace treaties ever proposed by democracies. The Germans believed the treaty to be a farcical document littered with anti German clauses designed to cripple Germany. France however, with probably the highest economic and physical damage from the war, saw the treaty as to lenient on the Germans. Britain and the USA (France, USA, Britain being affectionate named the big three due to there status after the war) were more liberal and forgiving about the punishment Germany should receive. Britain and the USA were more concerned with the long term economic and political threats that a decimated German state could pose to the international balance of power in Europe. Historians for years have pondered over the harshness or leniency of the treaty and what by doing so it caused in later day Europe. During the First World War most of the physical warfare had been conducted on French and Belgium soil, not touching German or British land. The French felt within their rights to punish Germany so harshly so that it could no longer pose a threat to French national borders; they wished to completely eradicate Germany as a significant power in Europe. A long standing rivalry between the two
