HISTORY

1. HISTORY

2. HISTORY YEAR 11 HALF TERM 1: Consolidation of power Additional information can be found at BBC Bitesize: https://www.bbc.com/bitesize/topics/zxvfnbk The Night of the Long Knives, 30 June 1934: Hitler saw the SA as a threat and Rohm wanted control of the Army. The SS, led by Himmler, wanted to break away from the SA. 30 June 1934, Rohm and main leaders of SA were shot. About 400 were murdered. Hitler now had control of the Army. The Enabling Act: In March 1933, the Nazis won 288 seats but still did not have a majority. Hitler passed an Enabling Act which gave him full powers for the next 4 years. The SA intimidated members as they entered the chamber and Communists were not allowed to vote. The Enabling Act was passed on 23 March 1933. It meant that the press was censored and Trade Unions were abolished. All other political parties were banned. State governments were abolished and replaced with Reich Governors. Hitler becomes Fuhrer Hindenburg died in August 1934, so Hitler combined the roles of chancellor and President and named himself as ‘Fuhrer’. The Army swore an oath of allegiance to Hitler. He was now in complete control. The Reichstag Fire: Hitler had called an election for 5 March 1933 because he wanted a clear majority in the Reichstag. 27 Feb 1933, a week before the election, the Reichstag went up in flames. The Nazis blamed a Dutch communist ,van der Lubbe, and Hitler and Goebbels saw this as a chance to crush the communists. Hindenburg was persuaded by Hitler to issue an Emergency Decree. This suspended basic civil rights and allowed the Nazis to imprison large numbers of opponents. Communist and Socialist newspapers were banned.

3. HISTORY YEAR 11 HALF TERM 1: Nazi economic, social and racial policies The Hitler Youth Movement The Nazis wanted to control the spare time of the young. Hitler Youth was used to indoctrinate young people. All other youth groups were banned. From 1936, membership was compulsory and there were 7 million members. Boys Ages 10 – 18 Taught Nazi songs and ideas. Took part in athletics, camping and hiking. Practised marching and military skills. Girls Ages 10 – 18 Taught domestic skills in preparation for marriage. How successful were these policies? Although many joined, the Hitler Youth was not popular with all. Many did not attend and some joined illegal groups like the Swing Kids or Edelweiss Pirates. Nazi attitudes and policies towards women: Women had made significant advances during Weimar period – eg/ equal voting rights, careers in law, teaching etc. Nazis reversed many of the gains of 1920s. Men viewed as decision makers whilst women relegated to being responsible for the home and bringing up children. Nazi policies aimed at 3Ks – (Kinder, Kuche, Kirche – Children, Kitchen , Church) Women provided with loans to marry and have children. Motherhood Cross – medals awarded for having children. Nazi control of education: Hitler saw young as the future of the Third Reich. They had to be converted to Nazi ideals via control of education. Textbooks rewritten to fit Nazi view of history and racial purity. Teachers had to join Nazi Teachers’ League or be sacked. Curriculum had emphasis on PE, History and Race Studies. Girls taught how to be good homemakers and mothers. Lessons began and ended with ‘Heil Hitler’ salute. Nazi themes presented through every subject. Additional information can be found at BBC Bitesize: https://www.bbc.com/bitesize/topics/zxvfnbk Reducing Unemployment: 1933 – 6 million unemployed. Creation of National Labour Service (RAD) – compulsory for all males between 18-25 to do manual jobs. Public Works Programme – building autobahns, hospitals and schools. Rearmament – Army increased from 100,000 in 1933 to 1.4 million by 1939. Heavy industry grew e.g.: tanks, aircraft, ships, coal, iron and steel. Nazis introduced the policy of autarky – means Germany would be self-sufficient. Invisible Unemployment. Although unemployment fell to 350,000 by 1939, figures did not include Jews or women. Workforce was controlled by banning trade unions. German Labour Force (DAF) introduced which had control over workers’ hours and pay. Strength Through Joy – rewarded loyal workers with concerts, holidays, promise of cars etc. The Treatment of the Jews: Jews treated as second class citizens. Hitler saw Germans as Aryan race and Jews were ‘subhumans’. Hitler wanted to destroy the Jews. Young people were taught to hate Jews in school lessons. Jews were expelled from German schools in 1938. Measures taken against Jews: 1933 – SA organised a boycott of Jewish shops. 1934 – Jews forced to wear the Star of David 1935 – Nuremberg Laws – Jews lost their citizenship. Jews forbidden to marry non – Jews. 1936 – Jews banned from professional jobs – teachers, doctors, accountants, nurses. 1938 – Kristallnacht – ‘Night of Broken Glass’ – Goebbels organised smashing up of Jewish property and synagogues in retaliation for the murder of a Nazi diplomat in Paris by a Jew, Jews were forced to pay for damage. Jews began to be evicted from their homes and forced into ghettos. Jews forced to hand over radios so that they could not listen to foreign radio stations.

4. HISTORY YEAR 11 HALF TERM 1: Terror and persuasion The Use of the SS and the Gestapo: The Nazi police state operated through the use of force and terror. SS and Gestapo were controlled by Himmler (1936). SS formed in 1925 By 1934 SS had 50,000 members which grew to 250,000 by 1939. SS members wore black. The Gestapo – Secret Police – set up in 1933 by Goering. It came under control of SS after 1936. The Gestapo could arrest and imprison those suspected of opposing the state. Usually suspects were sent to camps. By 1939, there were about 160,000 people under arrest for political crimes. Additional information can be found at BBC Bitesize: https://www.bbc.com/bitesize/topics/zxvfnbk Concentration Camps: Set up in 1933 after the passing of the Enabling Act. At first they were used for detaining political opponents including communists, socialists and trade unionists. Examples include Dachau, Sachenhausen, Buchenwald. Prisoners were classified into categories denoted by a different coloured triangle. Camp inmates were underfed and treated with brutality. Mortality rates were high. Censorship of newspapers and the arts: Newspapers: Non- Nazi newspapers were closed down. By 1935, Nazis had closed down 1,600 newspapers and 1000s of magazines. Music: Hitler hated modern music like Jazz so encouraged traditional German Folk Music and the classical music Theatre: Theatre had to concentrate on German history and political drama. Cheap tickets were made available to encourage people to see plays. Architecture: Hitler encouraged ‘monumental’ style for public buildings. Large buildings made of stone – often copied from Greek or Roman times. Art: Hither hated modern art – especially from the Weimar period – it was banned. Art highlighting Germany’s past greatness and strength and power of the Third Reich was encouraged. Artists encouraged to portray workers, peasants and women as glorious and noble creatures. Control of the Legal System: Nazis controlled the Reichstag and could make laws. Judges had to become members of the Nazi Party. Lawyers had to swear an oath of loyalty to Hitler. In 1934 the People’s Court was established to try cases of treason. The judges were loyal Nazis. Hitler would alter sentences if he felt they were too soft. From 1936, judges had to wear the swastika and Nazi eagle on Goebbels and Propaganda Radio: Cheap radios could be bought – by 1939, 70% of German families owned a radio. Radios could not listen to foreign broadcasts. Sets installed in cafes, schools, factories and loudspeakers placed in the streets. Cinema: Film plots censored by Goebbels before going into production. All film performances accompanied by a 45 minute newsreel which glorified Hitler and Germany Hitler ordered Goebbels to make anti – Jewish films. Rallies: Nuremberg rallies lasted for several days and attracted 1 million people each year. Posters and Books: Posters were to be seen everywhere and especially targeted at the young. All books were censored and controlled to put across the Nazi message. Book burnings took place across Germany. About 2,500 writers left Germany between 1933 and 1939.

5. HISTORY YEAR 11 HALF TERM 1: Hitler’s foreign policy Hitler’s Foreign Policy Aims: Reverse the Treaty of Versailles: Hitler never accepted terms of the T of V He promised to restore lands lost in 1919 and build up German Armed Forces. Unite all German – speaking people: Hitler wanted to create a ‘Greater Germany’ by uniting all Germans into one homeland. For example, there were Germans living in the Sudetenland in Czechoslovakia. Lebensraum: German word for ‘living space’ - Germany would have to expand in the East and take over land in Poland and East Russia. Anschluss: Hitler supported the union with Austria which was forbidden under the T of V. Destroy Communism: Hitler was determined to destroy the USSR He was also convinced that Stalin wanted to take over Germany. Additional information can be found at BBC Bitesize: https://www.bbc.com/bitesize/topics/zxvfnbk The Rhineland 1936: Rhineland had been demilitarised under T of V. Allied Troops withdrew from Rhineland in 1935. In March 1936, Hitler sent troops into Rhineland – neither GB or France did anything to stop Hitler Results of the re-occupation of the Rhineland: The successful re-occupation improved Hitler’s popularity in Germany. The success encouraged Hitler to challenge the Treaty of Versailles even more. Rearmament and conscription – 1933- 1935: In October 1933, Hitler withdrew Germany from the League of Nations. Hitler announced plans to build up the German Army and airforce. Hitler signed a non- aggression pact with Poland in 1934. Hitler no longer had to fear attack from Poland and GB saw Hitler’s agreement as proof of his peaceful intentions. In March 1935, conscription reintroduced in Germany – the army was to have 550,000 men Hitler said it was self-defence because France and USSR were building their armed forces. In June 1935 – Anglo- German Naval Treaty signed by which Germany was allowed to build up a fleet up to 35% the size of GB’s. Anschluss 1938: In 1936, Hitler and Mussolini signed the Rome- Berlin Axis. Italy and Germany agreed to follow a common foreign policy aimed at stopping the spread of communism in Europe. In 1937, Japan and Germany signed the Anti – Comintern Pact. Aimed at limiting the Communist influence around the world. In 1938, Hitler decided to unite with Austria. The Anschluss was proclaimed in March 1938. Results of the Anschluss: GB did not protest as most Austrians seemed pleased with the union. Hitler had got away with breaking the T of V again. The Sudetenland Crisis, 1938: Sudetenland had 3 million German speakers. Hitler feared a free and hostile Czechoslovakia and thought USSR might invade Germany through Czechoslovakia. Hitler wanted to acquire the Sudetenland as it had valuable resources and to create more ‘Lebensraum’ for German people. From April 1938, Hitler ordered Hennlein, to stir up trouble. Hitler offered his support to Sudeten Nazis. Chamberlain the British PM, intervened and reached agreement at Munich. – The Sudetenland was to be given back to Germany and GB and Germany agreed never to go to war again. BUT Czechoslovakia had been deserted by her allies, GB and France and Hitler gained even more confidence. The Nazi- Soviet Pact 1939 and the outbreak of war: March 1939, Hitler invaded the rest of Czechoslovakia. In August 1939, the Nazi – Soviet Pact was signed – Germany and USSR agreed not to attack each other and invade Poland and divide it between them. 1st September 1939, German troops invaded Poland. 3rd September 1939, British and France declared war on Germany.