homework 16; term 1

Outline for Paper 2:

Thesis: Although Hitler used some pretty intense methods which enabled him to rise to power, the social and economic conditions in Germany were the ultimate reason that Hitler became so powerful in 1919.

1. The problems in the existing government… (Everyone was so afraid, they looked for someone to recover all of their problems… someone new.)

a. Weimar Republic was starting to fail

i. It accepted the Treaty of Versailles, which left out Germany -> anger!

ii. Communists & SPD refused to work together, members organized own parties, more violence, attempts to overthrow republic

b. Violence

i. Kapp Putsch (March 1920)

1. Right wing groups tried to seize power; started when government tried to “disband” that Freikorps…German army took no action against the Putsch… Kapp resigned, government regained control; former members stayed hostile to republic -> joining Hitler’s private armies

c. Economic Issues

i. In 1919, Germany was almost bankrupt because of the enormous expense of the war…

1. Attempts to pay reparations were made, but made matters worse. August 1921, Germans ask to suspend making payments to France, but France refused = German crisis!

2. German inflation – people had to spend their money the day they got it, or it would be worth nothing the next day…

a. Middle classes and small capitalists were affected the worst- lost savings- looked to Nazis for help.

3. The more unstable the economy, the more seats Nazis won in the Reichstag

a. 1924- 32 seats… 1932, 230 seats

2. What Nazis offered

a. National unity… a way of making the Germans feel like they weren’t being targeted.

i. Rid Germany of the “real causes.” -> scapegoat on Jews…

ii. German pride…

b. Versailles treaty

i. Promised to overthrow, bring Germany to great power -> all germans would get to be in the Reich

c. Private army

i. Attracted young people… gave them money/ uniform

d. Hitler had good political abilities

i. The real reason he became into power, he got everyone when they were at their lowest point…

1. Public speaking, ideas with emotional force… parades, radio, film…

2. Traveled all over Germany through the air -> looked like a Messiah (savior to the Germans)

Homework 14; term 1

Describe at least three examples of economic and/or political conditions that helped lead to the end of the Weimar Republic.

The Treaty of Versailles was an economic condition which lead to the end of the Weimar Republic. This is because of all of German's losses, such as land as well as coal and iron production areas. Because the Treaty of Versailles targeted Germany, the Germans became angry and they lost their faith in the Weimar Republic. Therefore, the Treaty of Versailles was an indirect economic impact that helped lead to the end of the Weimar Republic.

The inflation and depression after WWI were also economic conditions which helped lead to the fall of the Weimar Republic. Many people were unemployed, so the Germans made the decision to print more money, which led to inflation. Then, the only money which the Germans had, they spent on very small portions of food. Because of this many Germans decided they wanted change, which resulted in the end of the Weimar Republic.

The Weimar Constitution was a political effect that led to the end of the Weimar Republic. This was because the Weimar Constitution specifically targeted the German people, and they felt uneasy as a result of this. Therefore, the creators of the Weimar Constitution weren't liked by the Germans, and the Weimar Republic lost some of its support. Therefore, this was another indirect cause of the fall of the Weimar Republic.

Homework 13; term 1

Worksheet: "The Troubled Infancy of the Weimar Republic."

1. Give two reasons why the Germans resented the Treaty of Versailles.

-They could not accept that they were the losers of World War I.

-They thought that is was unfair and humiliating.

2. Name the three Germany's political parties that were instrumental in setting up the Weimar Republic.

-The social democratic party, the catholic center, and the German democratic party.

3. Describe the results of the election of 1920.

-The democratic parties' share of the vote shrank to less than 50 percent. Never again would the founding political coalition of the Weimar Republic receive more than 50 percent of the vote.

4. On whom did some Germans start to lay the blame for losing the war and being threatened by communism?

-Paul von Hindenburg

5. What was the Freikorps?

-These were the "free corps," which were organized to combat the political forces of the far left in Germany.

6. What are some things that Hitler and the NSDAP stood for? List three.

-Racism

-Anti-Semitism

-Germans were the master race.

7. "Hyperinflation produced winners and losers in Germany." Who were the winners and the losers?

-Middle class Germans, especially those in retirement were the losers. The winners were Germans who had borrowed money, because they could pay off their debts with currency that was only worth a tiny fraction of what they had originally borrowed.

8. Why did some Germans dislike the cultural changes that occurred in the 1920s?

-Many conservatives believed that the new freedoms for women were a challenge to their traditional, family-centered values. The new realism in literature offended those who favored writers that glorified the German past.

9. Who were the major supporters of the Center Party? Of the SPD?

-Center Party: Catholics

-SPD: workers

10. How did the American stock market crash affect Germany?

-Much of the prosperity in Germany has been fueled by loans from American banks. Germans used these loans to meet reparation payments to the Allies and to finance German industrial expansion.

11. Why do you think many Germans resorted to violence as the economic situation worsened?

-Because they had to protect what they had left, no matter how little it was.

Homework 12; term 1

Worksheet: "Germany's Proud Heritage."

1. List three accomplishments of Otto von Bismarck.

-created a united Germany.

-strengthen the power of the state and increase Germany's influence abroad.

-adopted reforms to improve conditions for workers that put many ordinary Germans ahead of their counterparts in Britan and France.

2, Germany was not very democratic at the beginning of the twentieth century. True or false? Explain your answer.

-False. Germany continued strengthening as the years went on, and I believe their democracy did as well, despite problems with Britain, Russia, and France.

3. Give three reasons why the Triple Entente feared Germany.

-The British saw the German build-up as a threat to their long-standing dominance at sea.

-The British also worried that Germany would challenge their country's position as the world's leading exporter.

-Russian officials feared that the growth of German military power was part of a plan to grab territory from the Russian Empire.

4. How did Germany deal with the fear of being encircled?

- They strengthened their alliance with the Austro-Hungarian Empire to the south-east. Ironically, this alliance brought Germany into the two-front war that many German leaders had long sought to avoid.

5. What event in 1914 set the forces in motion that resulted in war?

-A Serbian nationalist assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand, Austria- Hungary's heir to the throne, and his wife Sophie.

Homework 11; term 1

With reference to origin and purpose, discuss the values and limitations of the movie "Downfall" in leaning about Nazi Germany.

The origin of this movie is based on first hand accounts of Nazis and Germans who were with Hitler in his final days. Because of this, the movie is seen as valuable because of the fact that it involved first hand accounts and recollections of what had happened. The stories are therefore portrayed pretty truthfully because these people actually lived through it. However, the film was produced in 2005, which was after all of this had gone on. Therefore, the accounts of the people may have involved a bit more emotion and feelings than how they had felt when they were living during this actualy time period. This can be seen as a value as well as a limitation. It is a value because it portrays emotion of the soldiers, rather than just depicting them as evil mosters, like every other movie does. However, it is limited because the soldiers probably didn't actually feel that way while this was going on. They probably bluffed about their stories a little bit, to make themselves seem less evil, now that everything has passed.This way they are seen as innocent people, rather than what they actually may have been years ago.

The purpose of this movie is to capture the entire Nazi experience in one film, while trying to make it as real and accurate as possible. This is also both a value and a limitation. it is valuable because they are trying to make it as real and accurate as possible, and capture the entire Nazi experience, however that is basically impossible to do. Therefore, it is a limitation, because no matter how hard they try to portray it all in one film they can not succeed. So it may be missing some important facts which is definitely a downfall of this movie.

Homework 10; term 1

List three more specific details from the movie "Downfall" related to topic 3.

Totalitarianism:

->When Hitler's body was burning, the soldiers who burned it stood before him and did the "Hail Hitler" salute.

->The Nazi Minister of Propaganda committed suicide with his wife after Hitler had committed suicide, because everyone was so afraid of living a life without Hitler.

-> Frau Goebells killed her "perfect" Aryian family, which consisted of 6 or 7 children, after Hitler died, because she didn't want them to be brought up in a world without Nationalist Socialism. I think that this was pretty extreme, and by far the most significant thing that has happened.

Homework 9; term 1

List 4 more examples from the film related to Topic 3.

Aims:

-> Acheieve natural greatness with a strong military

-> Develop a pure "Aryian" race; get rid of Jews, Blacks, Serbs

-> Ethnic cleansing

Methods:

-> Glorification of soldiers

Propaganda:

-> Hitler Youth is once again seen in this segment of the film

-> The guy blows up his family with two grenades during dinner