Unit 3: Nazism in Germany under Hitler

UNIT 3:   NAZISM IN GERMANY UNDER HITLER   (1918-1939)     WW1 in a Nutshell   ● Franz Josef wanted to eliminate Serbia   ● If Serbia did not comply, Austria would attack   ● Austria seeked help from Germany   ● Other great power block: Russia and France   ● July 29 1914: Austria attacked Serbia   ● Tsar Nicholas (Russia) was urged to action to protect Serbia   ● Russia was mobilised, then Germany could mobilise too under the premise it was being   threatened   ● August 1: Germany declared war on Russia   ● August 3: Germany declared war on France     ● Belgium was neutral   ● August 4: Britain declared war on Germany   ● 1918: War is over, Germany lost     Background of Germany (until 1918)   ● Since its creation in 1871, the German Empire was ruled by a monarch, the Kaiser   (emperor)   ● Germany had a parliament (Reichstag) but the elected politicians had very limited powers   ● In 1914, Germany went to war with Britain, France and Russia in WW1   ● By 1918, the German generals were forced to admit the war was lost     ● On 9 November 1918, the Kaiser abdicated and Germany becomes a Republic   ● On 11 November 1918, Germany signed an armistice agreement (ceasefire)     Weimar Republic   ● Fundamental Rights   ○ Personal freedom (no arrest without trial)   ○ Home privacy   ○ Freedom of speech   ○ Freedom to form societies and trade unions   ○ Property is guaranteed   ○ Freedom to have meetings   ● President   ○ President elected separately   ○ Term of 7 years   ○ Appoint & dismiss government   ○ Article 48

● Proportional Representation   ○ % of national vote translates into MPs   ○ Parties with small votes get seats   ○ Coalition government   ● Federal Government   ○ Power to make laws   ○ Central government (Berlin)   ○ 18 Länder (state governments)   ○ Berlin: taxation, religion   ○ Länder: police, court, schools     Kaiser’s Monarchy   Weimar Republic   Members of the Reichstag are voted in   Kaiser/President has the power to appoint/dismiss the Chancellor   and summon/dismiss the Reichstag   Chancellor & Ministers proposed new laws/changes to the laws,   which were voted on by members of the Reichstag   Reichstag has deputies (MPs) who vote for laws they approve of,   by which the country will be governed   Kaiser/President has authority over the countries   Men above 25 allowed to vote   Men & women above 20 allowed to vote   Voters elected the Reichstag   Voters elected the Reichstag, President,   Reichsrat and in plebiscites (referendum) on   changes to the law   Kaiser commands armed forces   President appoints/dismisses officers   Kaiser can’t do that ------>   President can make laws without the   Reichstag’s consent in case of emergency   Bundesrat can’t do that ------>   Reichsrat can veto (reject proposal) the   Reichstag

Features of the   Weimar Republic   Advantage   Disadvantage   Proportional   Representation   Voters are counted centrally   and then converted into   seats in the Reichstag   ● Democracy   ● Increased transpar