Strong Nationalist currents among some of the German population
injustices of the Treaty of Versailles
Weakness of the Weimar political system
German economy was shattered
Ideas of a greater Germany
How Hitler increased his power and became chancellor
1930/1932 elections
increased Nazi popularity
Led to Hitler being offered Chancellor
Steps taken after becoming chancellor
Reichstag Fire Arrests
Enabling Act
Weakness of Weimar system
Intimidation
SS and the Gestapo
Economic and Social Reforms implemented by the Nazis
Impact on Germany
Fall in unemployment
Industrial growth
Economic goals of autarky
Failure
Nazi education systems
Hitler Youth
Nazi Germany at war
Impact on German people
1939-'41
Going in Hitler's favour
1941-'45
Change from winning to loss
Operation Barbarossa
Era of Total War
Sacrifices put on normal German people
Increasing economic strain
State in which Germany was at the end of the war
Destroyed
Defeated
Sample Questions
Nota:
How successful were the Nazis in moulding the German population in line with Nazi ideology?
‘The Nazis were only able to consolidate power through their use of propaganda.’ Discuss.
‘Hitler was able to become Führer entirely through legal methods.’ Discuss.
How important was the use of terror in preventing opposition to the Nazi regime?
Why did no real opposition to the Nazis emerge during the 1930s?
To what extent could it be said that Germany was prepared for Total War?
Could it be said that the Nazis brought prosperity to ordinary Germans?
* How and why Hitler was able to come to power in 1933, and the factors that made the Nazis more appealing to the electorate.
* How Hitler was able to consolidate his power once he became chancellor.
* The economic and social reforms implemented by the Nazis and their impact on Germany as European power and on different groups within German society.
* Nazi Germany at war, especially in relation to the impact of ‘total war’ on the German population.