Hitler's Germany - Impact of Hitler's Rule
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Hitler's rule in Germany led to significant political, economic, and social changes, including the establishment of a totalitarian regime and the creation of the 'Fuhrer' position consolidating power. Economically, there were improvements such as re-employment and growth in big industries, but these came with severe restrictions on workers' rights and trade unions. Socially, the regime utilized censorship, propaganda, and persecution of minorities, including the systematic extermination of Jews during the Holocaust.
Hitler's Germany - Impact of Hitler's Rule
- 2. Primary Objective What was the impact of Hitler’s rule over Germany?
- 4. Political Impact Creation of the ‘Fuhrer’ Position, Aug 1934 Night of the Long Knives, Jun 1934 One Party Rule, Jul 1933 Enabling Act, Mar 1933 Reichstag Fire, Feb 1933
- 5. Political Impact Consolidation of power How did Hitler gain absolute power over Germany in 18 months?! Reichstag Fire Invoked Article 48 to destroy the Communist Party Enabling Act Intimidated parliament into enabling the Chancellor (Hitler) to make decisions without the President’s approval One Party Rule Nazi Party was made the only legal party in Germany; other political parties and trade unions were disbanded Night of the Long Knives Hitler made a deal with the army: he would exterminate the SA and the army would pledge an oath of allegiance to him Creation of the Fuhrer position Powers of the President and Chancellor were combined into a new position of Fuhrer, which gave him absolute power
- 7. Economic Impact Under the Nazis, the German economy actually experienced some improvement – but these improvements came at a cost (R2S2M) • Re-employment • Rise of big industries • State control of trade unions • State organisation of leisure time • Militarisation Benefitted the German economy Restricted German workers
- 8. Economic Impact R2 Re-employment Rise of big industries • Workers employed for public works (e.g. roads, expressways/Autobahn, public buildings) • Helped to reduce unemployment • Provided infrastructure and facilities for the people • Nazis supported big industries because they wanted Germany to become self-sufficient • Examples of big industries include oil, steel, car manufacturing, etc. • Nazis supported industries that produced armaments (weapons) for war • Big industries donated to the Nazi Party in exchange for Nazi assistance
- 9. Economic Impact S2 State control of trade unions State control of leisure time • Trade unions were abolished • All workers were forced to join the DAF (German Workers Front, a Nazi-controlled ‘union’) • Workers were not allowed to go on strike or ask for better pay • Needed government permission to change jobs • Economy improved • More people had work • Workers’ rights and benefits were worse off • Nazi propaganda praised workers for their efforts • ‘Strength through Joy’ scheme provided cheap entertainment • ‘Beauty of Labour’ movement helped to improve working conditions • Workers had entertainment and better factories but their activities were controlled and monitored carefully
- 10. Economic Impact Militarisation • Jobs were created by building up the German military • Conscription (compulsory military service) meant that many military-related jobs were created • Germany also created many jobs by modernising its air force (known as the Luftwaffe)
- 12. Social Impact Under Nazi Germany, social life was completely controlled by the state. This is known as a totalitarian regime (p. 96). (CP3) • Censorship • Propaganda • (Secret) Police • Persecution (of Jews and other minority groups) • Impact upon women and youth
- 13. Social Impact Censorship • All works by German writers, poets, artists, etc. was screened by the Nazi Party • Listening to foreign news was punishable by death • Goebbels organised book-burning events Propaganda • Hitler established a Ministry of Propaganda with Goebbels as its head • Propaganda focused on Hitler’s ability to restore German pride and power • The Nuremberg rallies were the iconic demonstrations of Nazi propaganda Joseph Goebbels was the man tasked to control the way the German people thought and what they believed
- 15. Social Impact Secret Police • The Schutz-Staffel (SS) created and ran concentration camps that tortured Jews and others who disagreed with Hitler • The Gestapo spied on and arrested people who were suspected of being anti-Hitler sent them to the concentration camps
- 16. Persecution of Jews and other minorities • Jews were portrayed as an inferior but cunning race that caused the problems facing Germany • Jews were forced to wear the Star of David (see below) • During the Night of Broken Glass, people could loot and destroy Jewish businesses • The Holocaust was Hitler’s systematic plan to exterminate every single Jewish person during WWII • Other targets included gypsies, homosexuals and handicapped people
- 17. Role of Women and Youth • Women were expected to be good wives and mothers • Their role was to create more Aryan babies • Excluded from politics and academics (no uni education) • Aryan Germans between 14-18 years old were expected to join the Hitler Youth • 2.3 million members in 1933 • Indoctrinated with Nazi ideology • Physical and military training for boys