Nazism and the Rise of Hitler

Germany's post-World War I democratic government established in Weimar.

A global war fought from 1914 to 1918 involving many European countries.

Harsh peace treaty imposed on Germany by the Allies after WWI, considered humiliating.

Countries opposing Germany and the Central Powers in WWI, mainly England, France, and Russia.

German Parliament.

Group that met in Weimar to create Germany's new constitution.

Germany's loss in WWI, leading to the abdication of the emperor allowing a new government.

The right to vote for all adult citizens in Germany, including women.

A camp for isolating and detaining people without legal process, often surrounded by barbed wire.

State-funded work programs (e.g., highways) created jobs and promoted economic recovery.

Hitler pulled out of the League of Nations, reoccupied the Rhineland, and annexed Austria and the Sudetenland.

Schacht cautioned against excessive military buildup due to deficit spending, but was forced out.

Acquiring resources and territory through war, culminating in the invasion of Poland.

September 1939 marked the start of World War II in Europe.

Hitler chose war as a solution to economic problems.

Nazi ideology promotes the superiority of the Aryan race and its dominance over other races. It also advocates for acquiring new territories (Lebensraum) to expand German power and resources.

The Nazi concept of 'living space' – acquiring new territories for settlement and expansion of the German nation.

In Nazi ideology, the Aryan race is considered superior, requiring purity and dominance over other races.

Nazi ambition to create a German community by eliminating those considered 'undesirable' and maintaining a pure, healthy racial population.

A specific group considered part of the Aryan race, originating from Northern European countries.

Nazi ideology aimed to dominate and expand influence, often by acquiring new territories

A nation whose political influence/power is limited to a specific geographical location.

Groups of people who are taken over, controlled or controlled politically by another group.

How the Nazis used messages and images to spread their ideas and gain support from different groups of people.

The Nazis aimed to win the support of farmers by presenting themselves as defenders against economic threats from big businesses and communism.

The Nazis tried to recruit workers by portraying themselves as fighters for the people against powerful capitalist interests.

The Nazi ideology, based on strong nationalistic sentiments, belief in racial superiority, and a rejection of democracy.

The economic system where large companies dominate the market, often seen as harmful to small businesses and workers.

A communist ideology advocating for a socialist revolution and control of the economy by the working class.

The Nazis blamed Jewish people for the problems in Germany, claiming they were behind both capitalism and communism.

Hitler became Chancellor of Germany in 1933, using the Nazi ideology and propaganda to gain support and consolidate power.

In 1939, Mahatma Gandhi wrote a letter to Adolf Hitler, urging him to prevent war and choose peace over violence.

Gandhi emphasized the power of non-violence and its ability to overcome even the most violent forces, stating that it could win without bloodshed.

Denmark secretly rescued its Jewish population from Germany during WWII using boats and other methods.

Hitler sought to expand German territory and acquire resources through war, believing it was the solution to economic problems.

Hjalmar Schacht, a German economist, warned against excessive military buildup due to its potential for debt and economic instability.

The terms, phrases, and ways of speaking used by the Nazi regime to promote their ideology and control people's thoughts and actions. It involved using powerful slogans and emphasizing certain ideas while suppressing others.

Seeing the world through the lens of Nazi ideology, accepting its core beliefs and values, including antisemitism and racial supremacy. This perspective often led people to justify and condone Nazi actions.

Many ordinary Germans participated in the persecution of Jews, often out of acceptance of Nazi ideology and the belief that Jews were a threat. They participated in hate crimes, reporting suspicious neighbors, and even marking Jewish homes.

Individuals and groups who opposed the Nazi regime through various actions, like organizing protests, distributing anti-Nazi literature, and helping Jews escape persecution. This resistance often put these people at great risk.

Most Germans did not actively resist the Nazi regime. They were apathetic or too scared to act against it, preferring to ignore the atrocities and maintain their own safety. They were often silenced by fear and threats from the Nazi regime.

A profound and unsettling absence of protest and outcry from the majority of Germans in the face of Nazi crimes. This silence is seen as a shameful apathy and complicity in the face of atrocities.

A famous resistance fighter, Pastor Niemoeller, observed the unsettling silence of ordinary Germans during the Holocaust. He wrote about how people remained silent as each group was targeted, ultimately leading to their own suffering.

A key question surrounding the silence of ordinary Germans is whether their lack of concern for Nazi victims was solely due to fear of the Nazi regime. Did they simply stay silent for self-preservation, or were deeper factors at play, such as acceptance of Nazi ideology or apathy towards the suffering of others?