Weimar Germany and Nazi Germany

Important figures

(bar Hitler!!!!)

Herrman Goering

• Hitler's number two• In charge of the Gestapo• Appointed Head of Police

in Prussia in 1933• Put in charge of the

German economy after 1936 – a failure

• In charge of the Luftwaffe during WW2

Heinrich Himmler

• Head of the SS• A fanatical Nazi – a

former school teacher• Hitler’s most devoted

follower• Responsible for the

holocaust• Hated by the other

leading Nazis

Josef Goebbels

• Minister of Propaganda• Seen as being a creep –

has a club foot• Responsible for getting

the Nazi message across• Devoted to Hitler –

committed suicide after Hitler’s death

• Had originally opposed Hitler's leadership

Rudolf Hess

• Hitler’s deputy• Devoted to Hitler• Hardworking and quiet –

the complete opposite to Hitler

• Very mysterious• Fled to England in 1941 –

never found out why• Died in 1988

Ernst Roehm

• Head of the SA – The Nazi party thugs

• An excellent organiser – wanted to take over the army

• Hated by the others – homosexual

• Murdered during the night of the long knives

Erich Ludendorf

• Chief of Staff in WW1• Involved with the

Friekorps after WW1• Joined up with Hitler for

the Munich Putsch• Found not guilty at trial• Stood for President in

1925 – defeated by Hindenburg

• Dumped by Hitler

Paul Von Hindenberg

• Head of army in WW1 – refused to take over 1918

• Elected president in 1925 – asked Kaiser for permission

• Hated Hitler• By 1932 – senile. Not in

control• Died in 1934

Gustav Stresemann

• Leader of Centre Party• Most able politician in

Germany – only one who could stop Hitler

• Chancellor for only six months

• Foreign minister until his death in 1929

• A success

Karl Liebnicht and Rosa Luxemberg

• Leaders of the Spartacusts revolt in 1918

• Communists – wanted to make Germany like Russia

• Their rebellion was put down by the Freikorps - Liebnicht and Luxemberg were executed

Hans Von Papen

• Friend of Hindenburg• Manoeuvred his way into

the Chancellorship in 1932• Had to rule using Article 48

of the constitution – did not have support in the Reichstag

• Upset Von Schiecher – sacked. Turned to Hitler in early 1933

General Von Schleicher

• Head of the army in 1933• Wanted to be Chancellor

– hated Von Papen• Became Chancellor in

November 1932 – VP got him sacked

• Had to rely on Article 48• Murdered during the

night of the long knives

Hjdmar Schacht

• A financial genius – appointed Minister of Economics in 1933

• Did a very good job – reduced unemployment and expanded the army

• Sacked in 1936 in favour of Goering because he was not a Nazi

Cardinal Galen

• Head of Catholic Church in Germany

• Spoke out against the Nazi policy of euthanasia

• The Nazis could not move against him because he was too powerful

• Arrest him and they would upset all Catholics

Dietrich Bonhoeffer

• Protestant Pastor• Campaigned against the

Nazis – warned off in 1938

• Joined military intelligence and spied for the allies

• Caught in 1942 – executed in the last months of the war

Martin Niemoller

• Protestant Pastor• Spoke out against the

Nazis – in particular the euthanasia programme

• Sent to concentration camp but survived the war

• Treated very differently to Galen because he was a Protestant

Leni Riefenstahl

• Hitler’s favourite film maker

• Olympia• Triumph of the will• One of the few

women to be treated as an equal by Hitler

• Shunned by the world after WW2