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Jeopardy. The Coming to power of the Nazis. Weimar Republic. Nazi Domestic Policy. Nazi Foreign Policy. N. Ireland. Q $100. Q $100. Q $100. Q $100. Q $100. Q $200. Q $200. Q $200. Q $200. Q $200. Q $300. Q $300. Q $300. Q $300. Q $300. Q $400. Q $400. Q $400. Q $400.
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Jeopardy The Coming to power of the Nazis Weimar Republic Nazi Domestic Policy Nazi Foreign Policy N.Ireland Q $100 Q $100 Q $100 Q $100 Q $100 Q $200 Q $200 Q $200 Q $200 Q $200 Q $300 Q $300 Q $300 Q $300 Q $300 Q $400 Q $400 Q $400 Q $400 Q $400 Q $500 Q $500 Q $500 Q $500 Q $500 Final Jeopardy
$100 Question from H1 • Give two examples of how hyperinflation affected the people of Germany.
$100 Answer from H1 • Millions of Germans were starving and homeless. • Many Germans had lost faith in the economy. • Germans were on strike in the Ruhr due to passive resistance • It created a barter economy. • Thousands had witnessed their life savings become worthless. • Money was basically worthless. • People were paid by the hour and rushed to pass money to loved ones so that it could be spent before its value meant it was worthless. • People had to shop with wheel barrows full of money • Pensioners on fixed incomes suffered as pensions became worthless. • Restaurants did not print menus as by the time food arrive…the price had gone up! • The poor became even poorer and the winter of 1923 meant that many lived in freezing conditions burning furniture to get some heat. • The very rich suffered least because they had sufficient contacts to get food etc. Most of the very rich were land owners and could produce food on their own estates. • The group that suffered a great deal - proportional to their income - was the middle class. Their hard earned savings disappeared overnight. They did not have the wealth or land to fall back on as the rich had. Many middle class families had to sell family heirlooms to survive. It is not surprising that many of those middle class who suffered in 1923, were to turn to Hitler and the Nazi Party.
$200 Question from H1 • Give two terms of the Treaty of Versailles
$200 Answer from H1 • Any two of: • War Guilt clause 231- Germany was blamed for War. • The Anschluss was forbidden. • The army was reduced to 100,000 men and conscription was forbidden. • Navy was reduced to six battleships and no submarines • They were given the huge sum of £6.6 billion to pay in reparations • They lost vast areas of land including: Alsace and Lorraine, Schleswig-Holstein, The Polish corridor, Eastern and Upper Silesia and Memel. There were also a number of Plebiscite areas. • Occupation and special status for the Saar under French control; demilitarization and a fifteen-year occupation of the Rhineland;
$300 Question from H1 • Give two reasons for the weakness of the Weimar Republic.
$300 Answer from H1 • The Weimar Republic faced many problems. Perhaps the greatest danger was 'the weakness within' - the constitution gave the President, the states and the army too much power, whilst proportional voting meant that the Reichstag was divided and weak. In 1919–23, extremists on both the Left (especially the Spartacist revolt) and the Right (especially the Kapp Putsch) tried to overthrow the government. • The worst crisis occurred in 1923, when the French invaded to try to force Germany to pay reparations. This led to hyperinflation and a number of rebellions (particularly Hitler's Munich Putsch)..
$400 Question from H1 • How did the Weimar deal with violent opposition between 1919-23?
$400 Answer from H1 • The leaders of the Weimar used the political extremes to balance their protests against their regime. • In 1919 the Freikorps were used to quash the Sparatacists and again in Munich between March and May. • Equally the power of the left was used to quash the Kapp Putsch- as a general strike was called to paralyze Kapp and the Freikorps into submission. • This indeed led to the Red Rising in the Ruhr when the same workers that went on strike to defeat Kapp now demanded concessions from the government. Again the army and the Freikorps were used to demolish any chance of a rebellion.
$500 Question from H1 • How did Stresemann deal with the hyperinflation crisis in 1923 and 1924?
$500 Answer from H1 • He immediately called off passive resistance and ordered the workers in the Ruhr to go back to work. He knew that this was the only common sense approach to a crisis. • The mark was replaced with the Rentenmark which was backed with American gold. • In 1924, the Dawes Plan was announced. This plan, created by Charles Dawes, an American, set realistic targets for German reparation payments. For example, in 1924, the figure was set at £50 million as opposed to the £2 billion of 1922. The American government also loaned Germany $200 million. • This one action stabilised Weimar Germany and over the next five years, 25 million gold marks was invested in Germany. The economy quickly got back to strength, new factories were built, employment returned and things appeared to be returning to normal. Stresemann gave Germany a sense of purpose and the problems associated with hyperinflation seemed to disappear. • 1924 to 1929 is known as the Golden Age of Weimar. Berlin became the city to go to if you had money, the Nazis were a small, noisy but unimportant party. Above all, Stresemann gave Germany strong leadership.
$100 Question from H2 • What was the Munich Putsch?
$100 Answer from H2 • Hitler hoped to exploit the Weimar’s problems with hyperinflation by using the SA to seize power in Munich, before marching on to Berlin. Hitler had hoped that the army and the police would support his putsch. • However, the putsch was a disaster with Ludendorff and Hitler both arrested after they received no support from the police or the army.
$200 Question from H2 • What two significant events happened in 1929 and how did this help the Nazi cause?
$200 Answer from H2 • Firstly Stresemann had died. He had played a huge role in establishing Germany back in favour with the World Powers. He had won the Nobel Peace Prize and was greatly admired in world politics. Significantly he was also a good economic strategist. • The 1929 Wall Street Crash sent the world economy into a slump. Significantly for Weimar Germany, they had been relying on economic investment and loans from the US through the Dawes Plan and later the Young Plan. However, as the US suffered a blow economically they began calling back their loans. This sent Germany into a spiralling economic depression. Millions were left unemployed and faced an uphill struggle to survive. In such a climate the political extremities flourished and the Nazis were able to exploit this. They promised jobs, a better economy, the establishment of a great Germany and attacked those who agreed to Versailles. This appeal won many voters in the coming elections.
$300 Question from H2 • How did the Nazis change their tactics between 1924 to 1928?
$300 Answer from H2 • Hitler decided the Nazis would have to try to win power by legal methods • Hitler released from prison, December 1924 • Re-launched Nazi Party on 27 February 1925 • Winning over working classes- Nazis ran many public meetings in 1920s • Discovered anti-Jewish policies had most appeal for working classes • Nazis increased anti-Jewish propaganda. • Mein Kampf -Published in 1925 and after trial became a best-seller • Key points: • Decisions to be made by one man • Racial purity was vital – no mixed blood • Communism (Bolshevism) and Jews were the greatest threats to Germany • Germany needed to conquer land in the East • Increased membership-Membership rose to approx 120,000 by 1929 • BUT seats in Reichstag fell – just twelve seats in 1928 • Social Democrats had 153 and Communists had 48 • Winning over the middle classes-By 1928 Nazis decided appealing to working classes was not working • BUT new members were coming from farmers and middle classes • Public meetings-Nazis trained party activists in public speaking • Nazi activists organised meetings and invited speakers • Repeated subjects which proved popular • Developed sense of policies which were popular • Membership doubled 1927–1928 • Where were they going next?
$400 Question from H2 • How and why did the support grow for the Nazis between 1929-33?
Economic causes- Wall Street Crash (October 1929) American banks demanded repayment of loans German businesses slumped or went bankrupt Statistics: 1.8 million unemployed (1928) 6 million (1932) People could not afford rents or mortgages Shantytowns People lost faith in Weimar Republic Growth of political extremists Political causes- Stresemann died, October 1929 Disagreement among coalition parties (Centre Party & SPD) 3 alternatives: print more money, cut unemployment, raise taxes Hermann Muller (leader of SPD) refused to cut benefits to save money and resigned Heinrich Bruning (leader of Centre Party) lacked support in Reichstag and used Article 48 to pass legislation “In effect, Weimar democracy came to an end in 1930.”Modern World History, p.153 Hitler’s tactics Support for Nazis grew rapidly, 1929-32 Hitler toured air by plane Speeches Modern technology, microphones & radio Joseph Goebbels responsible for propaganda Nazis owned 8 newspapers Wealthy supporters, e.g. Alfred Hugenberg (leader of German National Party, DNVP & newspaper owner); Thyseen (steel manufacturer) Promises to reduce powers of trade unions SA Numbers increased from to 400,000 by 1932 Street battles, bullying tactics General appeal ‘Stabbed in the back’ theory of the Treaty of Versailles Failures of Weimar Republic, Exploited suffering caused by Great Depression Anti-semitism Elite Feared communist uprising Supported Nazis (e.g. paid for Nazi electoral campaigns) Lost confidence in Weimar Republic Suspicious of Hitler’s background – hoped to control him within government (using Hindenburg & von Papen) Traditionally supported Nationalist Party Farmers Badly affected by Depression and slump in food prices Nazis promised financial support & incentives for farming communities Naturally supported socialist & communists Germany suffering from economic depression 6 million unemployed (1933) Nazis promised to end unemployment & financial hardship Traditionally supported socialists & communists Racial minorities No discrimination under Weimar governments Hitler made Jews scapegoats for Treaty of Versailles Anti-Semitism in Nazi Party (e.g. Mein Kampf) The young Disappointed with Weimar Government Attracted by career opportunities within Nazi Party Impressed by activities of Hitler Youth Movement Joined Hitler Youth to rebel against family constraints Women Greater emphasis on role of women as mothers & housewives Improved women’s rights under Weimar Republic Nazi opposed to female careerism $400 Answer from H2
$500 Question from H2 • How did the actions of the Weimar politicians help Hitler come to power in 1933?
$500 Answer from H2 Recruited by Hindenburg • In November 1932 elections the Nazis again failed to get a majority of seats in the Reichstag. Their share of the vote fell – from 230 seats to only 196. Hitler contemplated suicide. But then he was rescued by Hindenburg. • Franz von Papen (a friend of Hindenburg) was Chancellor, but he could not get enough support in the Reichstag. Hindenburg and von Papen were having to govern by emergency decree under Article 48 of the Constitution. They offered Hitler the post of vice-Chancellor if he promised to support them. • Hitler refused – he demanded to be made Chancellor. So Von Papen and Hindenburg took a risk. On 30 January 1933 Hindenburg made Hitler Chancellor. He thought he could control Hitler – how wrong he was. • In the end, Hitler did not TAKE power at all – he was given it.
$100 Question from H3 • Give two reasons why Hitler ordered the Night of the Long Knives.
$100 Answer from H3 • The army were worried by the SA’s demands for a second revolution. The army generals made it clear to Hitler that they wanted action against the SA. • Hitler knew that the only group that could challenge his authority were the army, so he ordered the action. • Hitler himself felt threatened by Rohm and purged the Nazis to underline his own authority. It was a clear message to everyone, anyone who challenged Hitler would face dire consequences. • Indeed by carrying out the Night of the Long Knives, Hitler knew he could guarantee the support of the army.
$200 Question from H3 • Give two methods used by Hitler to reduce unemployment.
‘Guns not Butter’ [EFICS] 1. Employment In June 1933, the Nazis passed a Law to Reduce Unemployment. The RAD (National Labour Service) sent men on public works; eg the autobahns. •Government spending rose, 1932–38 from about 5 billion to 30 billion marks. Unemployment fell from nearly 6 million to virtually nothing. Hitler built up the armed forces (e.g. conscription took 1 million unemployed). The soldiers needed equipment, so this set steel mills, coal mines and factories back into production. The Luftwaffe gave jobs to fitters, engineers and designers. The Nazi state machinery needed thousands of clerks, prison guards etc. 2. Farming By the 1933 Farm Law, farmers were assured of sales and given subsidies. The government kept food prices at the 1928 level. BUT farmers were organised into the Reich Food Estate and strictly controlled (e.g., one rule stated that hens must lay 65 eggs a year). 3. Industry The New Plan of 1934 stopped imports, and subsidised industry. This is called 'Autarky' - the belief that Germany should be self-sufficient.• Production rose, especially of oil, steel, coal and explosives. In 1936, Goering was put in charge. His Four Year Plan proposed to get the army and industry ready for war in four years. Employers were happy when workers were well disciplined. BUT businesses were strictly controlled; they could be told to make something different/ were not allowed to raise wages/ workers could be sent to other factories. Goering said: ‘Iron makes an empire strong; butter only makes people fat’. Economists know now that these policies cause massive economic problems. 4. Conditions The Nazis tried to make people proud (e.g. the film The Beauty of Work in 1934). BUT trade unions were banned and all workers had to join the German Labour Front. They lost their right to strike for better pay and conditions. Wages actually fell. People who refused to work were imprisoned. Wages and conditions on the RAD schemes were very poor. 5. Strength through Joy (KdF) Movement Workers were offered cut-price holidays, theatre trips and concerts. In Berlin, 1933–38, the KdF sponsored 134,000 events for 32 million people (2 million went on cruises & weekend trips, and 11 million on theatre trips). The KdF designed the Volkswagen (or ‘People’s Car’) ‘Beetle’, which it was planned to be able to buy for 5 marks a week. The government made sure that everybody could get a cheap radio. $200 Answer from H3
$300 Question from H3 • Give two ways in which the lives of women changed under the Nazis.
$300 Answer from H3 Women • The Nazis were very male-dominated and anti-feminist. Nazi philosophy idealised the role of women as child-bearer and creator of the family: • The Law for the Encouragement of Marriage gave newly-wed couples a loan of 1000 marks, and allowed them to keep 250 marks for each child they had. • Mothers who had more than 8 children were given a gold medal. • But not all women were happy with the Nazi regime: • Job-discrimination against women was encouraged. Women doctors, teachers and civil servants were forced to give up their careers. • Women were never allowed to serve in the armed forces - even during the war.
$400 Question from H3 • How did Nazis treat Jews in Germany between 1933-39?
$400 Answer from H3 • The Jews in Nazi Germany suffered appallingly after January 1933.Some rich Jews could afford to leave Nazi Germany (or were forced to) but many could not. Thugs in the SA and SS were given a free hand in their treatment of the Jews. • Once in power, Hitler used his position to launch a campaign against the Jews that culminated in the Holocaust. Hitler blamed the Jews for all the misfortunes that had befallen Germany the loss of the First World War was the result of a Jewish conspiracy the Treaty of Versailles was also a Jewish conspiracy designed to bring Germany to her knees the hyperinflation of 1923 was the result of an international Jewish attempt to destroy Germany. • During the time when Weimar Germany was seemingly recovering under Stresseman, what Hitler said about the Jews remained nonsense listened to by only the few - hence his poor showing at elections prior to the 1929 Depression. During the impact of the Great Depression, though, when people became unemployed and all looked helpless, Hitler's search for a scapegoat proved a lot more fruitful. • After January 1933, the Jews became the "Untermenschen" - the sub-humans. Nazi thugs stopped Germans from shopping in Jewish shops. By 1934, all Jewish shops were marked with the yellow Star of David or had the word "Juden" written on the window. SA men stood outside the shops to deter anyone form entering. This was not necessarily a violent approach to the Jews - that was to come later - but it was an attempt to economically bankrupt them and destroy what they had spent years building up. • On buses, trains and park benches, Jews had to sit on seats marked for them. Children at schools were taught specifically anti-Semitic ideas. Jewish school children were openly ridiculed by teachers and the bullying of Jews in the playground by other pupils went unpunished. If the Jewish children responded by not wanting to go to school, then that served a purpose in itself and it also gave the Nazi propagandists a reason to peddle the lie that Jewish children were inherently lazy and could not be bothered to go to school. • In 1935, the Nuremberg Laws were passed. The Jews lost their right to be German citizens and marriage between Jews and non-Jews was forbidden. It was after this law that the violence against the Jew really openly started. Those that could pay a fine were allowed to leave the country. Many could not and many shops refused to sell food to those who remained. Medicines were also difficult to get hold of as chemists would not sell to Jews. • The campaign against the Jews stopped for a short duration during the Berlin Olympics - but once the overseas press had gone, it started up again. It reached a pre-war peak in 1938 with Krystalnacht - The Night of the Broken Glass. In November 1938, a Nazi 'diplomat' was shot dead by a Jew in Paris. Hitler ordered a seven day campaign of terror against the Jews in Germany to be organised by Himmler and the SS. On the 10th November, the campaign started. 10,000 shops owned by Jews were destroyed and their contents stolen. Homes and synagogues were set on fire and left to burn. The fire brigades showed their loyalty to Hitler by assuming that the buildings would burn down anyway, so why try to prevent it? A huge amount of damage was done to Jewish property but the Jewish community was ordered to pay a one billion mark fine to pay for the eventual clear-up. Jews were forced to scrub the streets clean.
$500 Question from H3 • How did Hitler strengthen his control over Germany in 1933?
Reichstag Fire - 27 Feb 1933 The Reichstag (the German Parliament) burned down. A Dutch Communist named van der Lubbe was caught red-handed with matches and fire-lighting materials. Hitler used it as an excuse to arrest many of his Communist opponents, and as a major platform in his election campaign of March 1933. The fire was so convenient that many people at the time claimed that the Nazis had burned it down, and then just blamed the Communists. Modern historians, however, tend to believe that van der Lubbe did cause the fire, and that Hitler just took advantage of it. General Election - 5 March 1933 Hitler held a general election, appealing to the German people to give him a clear mandate. Only 44% of the people voted Nazi, which did not give him a majority in the Reichstag, so Hitler arrested the 81 Communist deputies (which did give him a majority). Goering become Speaker of the Reichstag. Enabling Act - 23 March 1933 The Reichstag voted to give Hitler the power to make his own laws. Nazi stormtroopers stopped opposition deputies going in, and beat up anyone who dared to speak against it. The Enabling Act made Hitler the dictator of Germany, with power to do anything he liked - legally. Local government - 26 April 1933 The Nazis took over local government and the police. The Nazis started to replace anti-Nazi teachers and University professors. Hitler set up the Gestapo (the secret police) and encouraged Germans to report opponents and 'grumblers'. Tens of thousands of Jews, Communists, Protestants, Jehovah's Witnesses, gypsies, homosexuals, alcoholics and prostitutes were arrested and sent to concentration camps for 'crimes' as small as writing anti-Nazi graffiti, possessing a banned book, or saying that business was bad. Trade Unions banned - 2 May 1933 The Trade Unions offices were closed, their money confiscated, and their leaders put in prison. In their place, Hitler put the German Labour Front which reduced workers' pay and took away the right to strike. Political Parties banned - 14 July 1933 The Law against the Formation of Parties declared the Nazi Party the only political party in Germany. All other parties were banned, and their leaders were put in prison. Night of the Long Knives - 30 June 1934 The SA were the thugs who Hitler had used to help him come to power. They had defended his meetings, and attacked opponents. By 1934 there were more than a million of them. Historians have often wondered why Hitler turned on the SA. But Hitler was in power in 1934, and there was no opposition left - the SA were an embarrassment, not an advantage. Also, Rohm, the leader of the SA, was talking about a Socialist revolution and about taking over the army. On the night of 30 June 1934 - codeword 'Hummingbird - Hitler ordered the SS to kill more than 400 SA men. Führer - 19 August 1934 When Hindenburg died, Hitler took over the office of President and leader of the army (the soldiers had to swear to die for Adolf Hitler personally). Hitler called himself 'Fuhrer'. $500 Answer from H3
$100 Question from H4 • Give two aims of Hitler’s foreign policy.
$100 Answer from H4 Hitler had three aims: • 1. To abolish the Treaty of Versailles • The Germans hated it, especially: • Tiny armed forces, • The Rhineland was demilitarised, • Anschluss (union) with Austria was forbidden, • Germans were forced to live in Czechoslovakia (the Sudetenland) and Poland (including Danzig). • The Treaty was a constant reminder to the Germans of their humiliation in World War I. Hitler did not accept that the German army had lost the war, and he was determined to make Germany great again. • 2. To expand German territory • The German population was growing. Hitler said that the German nation needed more Lebensraum (‘living space’). He was determined to get Lebensraum by conquering land in eastern Europe. • This was connected with his belief that the Aryan race was genetically superior and destined to rule over others. Hitler believed he had the right to invade eastern Europe and make the Slav peoples Germany's slaves. • 3. To defeat Communism • The Nazis were Fascists: the exact opposite of the Communists who ruled Russia. • Hitler blamed the Communists for Germany's defeat in World War One, and he feared that the Communists were trying to take over Germany. • He was determined to destroy Communism, and this meant a war with Russia.
$200 Question from H4 • How was Hitler able to take over Austria in March 1938?
$200 Answer from H4 • In July 1934 Austrian Nazis attempted to take control in Austria. However, Hitler failed to assist them, as Italy had threatened to send troops to protect Austria if need be. By 1938 things were different: Italy was now Germany’s biggest ally. • In early 1938 Hitler forced Austrian Chancellor Schuschnigg into agreeing to work more closely with Germany. Schuschnigg was so concerned about Austria’s future that he called a plebiscite over their future. He hoped that Austrians would vote against an Anschluss. Hitler was outraged and called for Schuschnigg’s resignation. He dutifully agreed and he was replaced by Nazi-Austrian Artut Seyss-Inquart. He immediately requested the entry of the German troops into Austria. Most Austrians welcomed their conquerors. This partnership had been forbidden by the Versailles Treaty. • Austria had been acquired by Germany without a single shot being fired. This enhanced Hitler’s prestige and had a dramatic impact upon the whole international scene.
$300 Question from H4 • How did Germany’s relations change with the USSR between 1939-41?
$300 Answer from H4 A Shock to the System • In August 1939, Hitler sent Ribbentrop, a senior Nazi, to Russia. He offered a Nazi-Soviet alliance – Russia and Germany would not go to war, but would divide Poland between them. Stalin knew Hitler was lying, but he did not trust the British either – the Munich Agreement had convinced him that Britain and France would never dare to go to war with Hitler. • Stalin had two choices: A) If he made an alliance with Britain, he would end up fighting a war with Hitler over Poland. B) If he made an alliance with Germany, he would get half of Poland, and time to prepare for the coming war with Germany. He chose the latter. On 23 August 1939, he signed the Pact with Hitler. • In April 1940 German troops occupied Denmark and Norway. Then in May Germany invaded Holland, Belgium and France. Within six weeks Germany had defeated the French, Dutch and Belgian forces by using Blitzkrieg. • Yet the main target for Hitler remained Russia, both for ideological reasons and because this would acquire much of its living space. From the middle of 1940 Hitler started to plan for his eventual invasion of Russia. On June 22 1941 Hitler launched Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of Russia. The Fuhrer appeared relieved to be finally fulfilling his ultimate aim of gaining Lebensraum for Germany. However, he had to delay the invasion for a month to deal with the conduct of the war in other parts of Europe and Africa. Little did he know that this decision would contribute to his downfall.
$400 Question from H4 • How was Hitler able to take control of the Sudetenland and Czechoslovakia?
The Sudeten Crisis Before 1938, Britain had already given way to Hitler on a number of occasions, but it was the events of the Sudeten crisis which showed appeasement in action – trying to buy off Hitler by giving way to his demands. On 11 March 1938, Hitler invaded Austria. It was clear he wanted to do the same in the Sudetenland. On 7 September 1938, the German Sudeten Party demanded union with Germany. There were riots. German newsreels showed ‘evidence’ of Czech ‘atrocities’ against the Sudeten Germans. Hitler threatened to support the Sudeten Germans with military force. Then Chamberlain intervened. 1. Chamberlain met Hitler at Berchtesgaden (15 September). Hitler promised him that this was the ‘last problem to be solved’. Chamberlain decided Hitler was ‘a man who can be relied upon’. He persuaded the Czechs to hand over the Sudetenland. 2. Chamberlain met Hitler at Bad Godesberg (22 September.) Hitler made more demands. At first Chamberlain refused, but then he decided that Czechoslovakia was not one of the ‘great issues’ which justified war, but just ‘a quarrel in a far-away country between people of whom we know nothing’. 3. Britain and France met Hitler again and made a Pact with him at Munich (29 September). They gave the Sudetenland to Germany. On 30 September, Chamberlain returned to England with his famous piece of paper. ‘I believe it is peace for our time’, he told the cheering crowd. Czechoslovakia was not even invited to the talks. The Czechs were free to fight if they wished, but they had no support. They chose not to fight. On 1 October 1938, Hitler marched unopposed into the Sudetenland. He said that it was the start of a 1000-year German Reich (empire). After Hitler had acquired the Sudetenland in 1938, many believed that the rest of Czechoslovakia would be next. In march 1939 Hitler forced Czech President, Emil Hacha, to agree to hand over the rest of his country. For the first time Hitler had take over non-German territory. Britain and France watched on as they watched Czechoslovakia fall into the hands of Hitler and the Nazis. Yet both sides were still unwilling to act. All they did was issue a protest against Germany. Unsurprisingly Hitler ignored their protests and instead demanded Memel by Lithuania. The two powers eventually drew up an agreement to protect Poland on 31 March 1939. $400 Answer from H4
$500 Question from H4 • What were the eight steps to War? (Not a past paper question)
$500 Answer from H4 SCRAMCUP • 1 SAAR PLEBSICITE • The Treaty if Versailles had put the Saar under the control of the League of Nations for 15 years. In 1935 the inhabitants of the Saar voted to return to Germany. The Saar plebiscite is cited by many historians as the first step to war. • 2 CONSCRIPTION&RE-ARMAMENT • Hitler began to build up his armed forces. In 1935 he introduced conscription (calling up men to the army). This broke the Treaty of Versailles, but Britain and France let him get away with it. • 3 RHINELAND • Hitler invaded the Rhineland on 7 March 1936. This broke the Treaty of Versailles. It was a bluff – the German army had only 22,000 soldiers and had orders to retreat if they met any resistance. But once again, Britain and France did nothing. • 4 AUSTRIA • In 1938, Hitler took over Austria. First, Hitler encouraged the Austrian Nazis to demand union with Germany. Then Hitler invaded Austria (11 March 1938). This broke the Treaty of Versailles, but Britain and France did nothing. • 5 MUNICH • In 1938, Hitler tried to take over the Sudetenland. First, Hitler encouraged the Sudeten Nazis to demand union with Germany. Then, Hitler made plans to invade Czechoslovakia. Neville Chamberlain appeased Hitler. At Munich, on 29 September 1938, Britain and France gave Hitler the Sudetenland. • 6 CZECHOSLOVAKIA • On 15 March 1939, Hitler’s troops marched into the rest of Czechoslovakia. This, for most British people, was the time when they realised that the only thing that would stop Hitler was a war. • 7 USSR/NAZIPACT • In summer 1939, Hitler began to unfold his plan to take over Poland. First, the Germans in Danzig demanded union with Germany. Then, Hitler threatened war. Chamberlain promised the Poles that Britain would support them if Germany attacked Poland. In August 1939, Hitler made a secret treaty with Russia. He thought this would stop Britain & France helping Poland. • 8 POLAND • On 1 September 1939, Hitler invaded Poland. On 3 September 1939, Chamberlain declared war on Germany.
$100 Question from H5 • Give two examples of O’Neill’s attempts to improve relations with Nationalists in Northern Ireland in the 1960s
$100 Answer from H5 • He established co-operation with the Dublin based trade union congress • The hand of friendship between Sean Lemass and O’Neill was trying to show the Nationalist community that he was trying to form links with the South of Ireland. • He visited Cardinal William Conway, Archbishop of Armagh and the spiritual leader of Ireland’s Catholics. • Offering official condolences to the Catholic Church on the death of Pope John Paul XXIII in June 1963. • Visiting schools run by the Catholic Church. • Increasing the financial support provided for Catholic hospitals and schools.
$200 Question from H5 • Why did some sections of the Unionist Community oppose O’Neill’s reform policies?
$200 Answer from H5 • There was a divide in opinion towards O’Neill’s policies within the Unionist Community. He had not consulted his party about the visit of Sean Lemass and faced criticism from Brian Faulkner for this. Indeed O’Neill faced an uphill struggle from the start as he was not the popular choice of successor Brookeborough as many of the Unionist MPs wanted Faulkner as the new premier. • Fierce opposition came from Ian Paisley. He was concerned about the influence of the Catholic Church in the Republic, he objected to any links with the South, especially as its constitution laid claim, in articles II and III, to the whole of the island of Ireland. Throughout the decade support of Paisley grew as many unionists came to fear the implications of O’Neill’s policies and to resent the failure of such policies to improve their own lives. • Indeed the UVF had been banned by O’Neill yet in 1966, two Catholics were murdered by the organisation.
$300 Question from H5 • In what ways did violence increase in July and August of 1969? • How did people respond to the arrival of the British troops in August 1969?
As the July-August marching season approached, grave concerns were raised over the likely impact of marches in an already tense situation. Chichester-Clark had just replaced O’Neill after he was ‘blown’ from office after the series of loyalist bombing campaigns (at the time blamed on the IRA). In addition the violence at Burntollet had seen tensions increase dramatically between both communities. As loyalists attacked a civil rights march in Burntollet with the police standing idly by. As well as this the paramilitary groups seemed to be emerging. The violence broke out in Belfast first, but before long it spread to Derry. In Belfast the violence took the form of house burning, mostly by loyalists. In Derry it began after the annual Apprentice Boys parade. Rioting intensified in Derry, culminating in the Battle of the Bogside which lasted for 50 hours. These troubles were brought to an uneasy end with the introduction of the British troops. At first many within the Nationalist Community welcomed the British troops as they saw it as a moral victory over the RUC and B-Specials. They believed that the army could protect them. However, the army were faced with an impossible situation, trying to maintain order while a political solution was imposed. The curfew placed on Lower Falls by the army was a political disaster and acted like a recruitment drive for the IRA, as well as weakening the initial good relations with the nationalist community. As Professor JJ Lee has highlighted ‘The ‘arms searches’ came as a god send to the IRA.’ Indeed the actions of the British troops on 30th January 1972, known as Bloody Sunday, were to act as an even bigger recruitment drive for the IRA. 13 innocent people were shot dead by the parachute regiment. Many Unionist politicians, while welcoming the British troops, resented the additional interference in their handling of Northern Ireland matters. Indeed this was the first step down a road that was to lead to the establishment of 'direct rule' from Westminster. $300 Answer from H5
$400 Question from H5 • Why were Unionists opposed to the power sharing executive of 1973-74?
The Northern Ireland Constitution Act (1973) Following the 1973 United Loyalist Council (ULC) strike the British Government issued a White Paper which proposed the setting up of an assembly at Stormont to be elected by proportional representation (PR). The elected assembly was envisaged as working on a basis of partnership and agreement between Unionists and Nationalists, that is power-sharing. Even more radical were the proposals in the White Paper for there to be an involvement in the government of Northern Ireland by the Irish Government. The proposals were to increase the tensions that already existed within the main Unionist block and eventually lead to further splits in the Unionist Party. The Northern Ireland Constitution Bill was introduced in Parliament on 15 May 1973 and became law on 18 July 1973. The Act, and related legislation, paved the way for the new assembly with devolved powers to be established at Stormont. The 1973 Act lead to a conflict of loyalties within the Unionist community. In addition to the prospect of Nationalists being given a say in the running of Northern Ireland, the Government of the Republic of Ireland would also have a role. Implicit in all that had happened to date was the fact that the Northern Ireland constitutional question was back on the political agenda. The election of the Northern Ireland Assembly - 28 June 1973 The election for the proposed Stormont Assembly was held on 28 June 1973. The results table proved to be confusing because the party labels did not reveal the different positions taken by candidates within the Unionist Party on the question of the White Paper proposals. The majority of unionist candidates were against the proposals on power-sharing. However, the combination of unionists, nationalists, and Alliance Party of Northern Ireland (APNI) candidates, in favour of the proposals, outnumbered those against the proposals. This coalition of parties, however, took quite a considerable time to reach agreement. The first meeting of the Northern Ireland Assembly took place on 31 July 1973, but it was not until the 22 November 1973 that it is announced that agreement has been reached on the setting up of an 'executive', made up of 11 members. The Sunningdale Agreement - 9 December 1973 In reaching agreement on a power-sharing executive to govern Northern Ireland the question of the proposed 'Irish dimension' had not been resolved. It was to tackle this issue that the parties involved in the executive took part in a conference in Sunningdale, Berkshire, which also included representatives of the British and Irish Governments. The most contentious elements in the eventual 'Sunningdale Agreement' were the proposals for the setting up of a Council of Ireland. For many unionists the Council of Ireland was totally unacceptable. The Westminster election - 28 February 1974 Although the Northern Ireland Executive members encountered problems from the time they were sworn in, the first public test of opinion came with the Westminster election on 28 February 1974 which was viewed as a referendum on power-sharing and the Sunningdale Agreement. Those opposed to Sunningdale fought the election under the auspicious of the United Ulster Unionist Council (UUUC) and won 51 per cent of the votes cast, and took 11 of the 12 Westminster seats. While the results of the election did not have a direct affect on the Northern Ireland Executive it did show the increasing opposition to power-sharing and the Council of Ireland. The result also provided those opposed to Sunningdale with a mandate to continue to try to end the Northern Ireland Executive. $400 Answer from H5
$500 Question from H5 • Why did the Republican prisoners go on hunger strike in 1980 and 1981?