Lesson Two
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The Weimar Republic Collapses
Outcomes (SWBAT)
o Define and compare totalitarianism, fascism, and democracy
o Describe the conditions in post WWI Italy that led to the rise of fascism
o Identify the steps that Mussolini took to ensure total control of government
Activities
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8.
Responder pre-lesson quiz.
Refer back to the concept “You Can’t Eat Democracy” to connect the
ideas of fascism, communism, totalitarianism and democracy
Problems Facing the Weimar. Political parties on one side, template on
the other. Take a quick look at the parties and interpret the graph at
the bottom.
Go through the functions of the new republic, problems facing and the
two failed Putsches using the template on other side.
Hitler – PPT with note taking sheet. Key events in his early life that
lead to imprisonment, growing strength, the Enabling act, and the
Night of the Long Knives. Hand out excerpts from “Mein Kampf”.
“Love, Hate, & Propaganda”. “The Strongmen”… show segment on
Hitler, stopping as it turns to look at Mussolini.
Night of the Long Knives – DBQ.
Responder post-lesson quiz
Materials
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7.
Responder pre and post lesson quizzes
You Can’t Eat Democracy hand-out
Problems Facing the Weimar – template and notes
Political Parties in Weimar Germany, 1918-1933 hand-out
Hitler PPT and note taking sheet
“Love, Hate, & Propaganda” from Pen-Hi library… “The Strongmen”
Night of the Long Knives - DBQ
Mein Kampf
In November 1923 the Nazis’ attempted putsch in Munich failed. As a result
Hitler was sentenced to five years in prison, but was released after only nine
months. While he was in prison he was allowed visitors and books. He spent
most of the time writing Mein Kampf, a statement of his own political views.
Extracts from “Mein Kampf”
A
When our political meetings first started I … organized a suitable defensive squad – a squad
composed of young men. These young men had been brought up to realize the best form of
defense was attack. How these young men did their jobs! Like a swarm of hornets they tackled
disturbers at our meetings, regardless of superiority of numbers, however great, indifferent to
wounds and bloodshed.
A description of a Nazi meeting.
B
In a few moments the hall was filled with a yelling, shrieking mob. Numerous beer mugs flew
like shells above the anti-Nazi protesters’ heads. Amid this uproar one heard the crash of chair
legs, the crashing of mugs, groans, yells and screams. It was a mad spectacle. I stood where I
was and could observe my boys doing their duty, every one of them…
C
The people’s state must organize its educational work in such a way that the bodies of the young
are trained from infancy onwards, so as to be tempered and hardened for the demands made on
them in later years. The people’s state ought to allow more time for physical training in the
school. It is nonsense to burden young brains with a load of material of which they will retain
only a small part. Not a day should be allowed to pass in which the young pupil does not have
one hour of physical training in the morning and one in the evening: every kind of sport and
gymnastics should be included, especially boxing…
D
Special importance (in girls’ education) must be given to physical training, and only after that
must the importance of mental training be taken into account. In the education of a girl the final
goal always to be kept in mind is that she will one day be a mother.
Flowers for Hitler in prison in 1923. Second from the right is Hess, who was to be
Deputy Leader of Nazi Germany.
History 12
Name ___________________________
HITLER’S RISE TO POWER
What is “Social Darwinism”?
How did the Depression help Hitler’s popularity and appeal?
Provisions of the “Enabling Act”
Result of the burning of the Reichstag…
Rohm increases his power…”Night of the Long Knives”
History 12
Ms. Lacroix
Name ___________________________
THE NIGHT OF THE LONG KNIVES
Document A
They salute with both hands now.
David Low, Evening Standard, London, July 3, 1934
Document B
If Hitler were to secure their support for his succession to the Presidency, the Generals,
in return, were determined to exact (obtain) the removal of the S.A. threat to take over
the army.
Hitler: A Study in Tyranny, A. Bullock (1962)
Document C
“The list of conspirators had been compiled by the Fuhrer himself, and many of the
names on it, such as General von Schleicher and Gregor Strasser, were those of people
who had nothing to do with the S.A. but were merely under suspicion of being
dangerous to Hitler.
Hans Frank, a close associate of Hitler, speaking at the Nuremburg Trials
Document D
In the Blood Purge of June 30, 1934, the strong left wing party, represented by the S.A.,
was eliminated. That wing had felt cheated of the fruits of the revolution.
Albert Speer, Hitler’s armaments minister, in his memoirs, Inside the Third Reich (1970)
NIGHT OF THE LONG KNIVES – DBQ
1.
Assess the reliability of these documents as sources of evidence about the
Night of the Long Knives (4 marks)
2.
With reference to these documents, explain the significance of the Night
of the Long Knives to Hitler’s assumption of total power. (4 marks)