Germany & Fascism

Weimar Republic Parliamentary gov’t Men & women could vote Weak due to so many political parties Blamed for Treaty of Versailles Not popular with anyone!

Germany fell behind in payments to Allies, so France occupies industrial Ruhr Valley –German workers then refuse to work & German gov’t supports them by printing money to pay debts (against Treaty) –Led to massive inflation Jan marks=$1 Nov ,200,000,000,000 (4.2 trillion)=$ marks= 1 loaf of bread marks= 1 loaf ,000,000,000,000 (201 trillion)= 1 loaf Depression gives Hitler an opening

Kids playing with worthless marks Using marks to fire a stove

Hitler Austrian, failed painter, lives on streets of Vienna Age 18 develops his anti-Semitic ideas while meeting with others on the streets Serves in WWI, 1919 joins extreme right-wing group who blames Jews for costing Germany WWI By 1920 leads National Socialist German Workers Party (Nazi)

1923 thrown in jail for attempting to overthrow gov’t in Munich (failed Beer Hall Putsch) –Writes Mein Kampf, outlines goals for Germany Includes libenstraum (living space) in Slavic lands, building of army (against Treaty), racial superiority, etc. As Depression grows, Nazi Party grows Nazis and communists win many seats in the legislature Conservatives feared a communist victory so they ally with Nazis and name Hitler Chancelor (prime minister) Within one year he is in control of all Germany –No other parties allowed, reduced civil rights

Uses similar tactics to Mussolini: nationalism, put people to work, propaganda Called for a 1,000 year Reich (empire) Brown shirted SS troops were his enforcers Gestapo= secret police Ignored Treaty and rearmed Germany

Culture Glorified old German myths- Wagner’s operas Textbooks taught youths how to be good Nazi’s Book burnings Closed Catholic schools & churches, one state run Protestant faith

Jews in Germany Nuremburg laws of 1935 prevented Jews from marrying non-Jews, teaching or going to German schools, holding gov’t jobs Kristallnacht (Night of Broken Glass) destroyed shops, stores and synagogues –Jews were forced to pay for the damages –Later many sent to concentration camps –Symbol of the terror used by Fascist governments to keep people in line Goal was to get Jews to leave

When the Nazis came for the communists, I remained silent; I was not a communist. When they locked up the social democrats, I remained silent; I was not a social democrat. When they came for the trade unionists, I did not speak out; I was not a trade unionist. When they came for the Jews, I remained silent; I was not a Jew. When they came for me, there was no one left to speak out. --Pastor Martin Niemoller