How did the Nazis Implement Women's Policies?

Area 1: Increased Births


Key Measures Attempted

• Financial incentives such as birth grants and marriage loans
• Improved maternity services
• Propaganda to boost self-esteem and status of mothers, such as the Mother's Cross
• Higher taxes on childless families
• Stricter penalties for abortion
• Restrictions on contraception information
• Sterilization of 'undesirables'
• Men encouraged to have affairs and more children

Successes

• Birth rate rose, but slowly declined afterwards

Limitations and Failures

• Nazi eugenic processes limited population
• Birth rate still below that of Nazi Germany

Area 2: Reduced Employment



Key Measures Attempted

• Women were given marriage loans to leave their jobs
• Businesses were encouraged to hire women before men
• Women in top civil service and medical jobs were dismissed
• Women were banned from being judges or lawyers

Successes

• Many women conformed to the Nazi policies and became typical housewives
• Marginal impact on the female employment, mainly in professions
• During the war, women were less mobilized than in the US or the UK

Limitations and Failures

• Number of women in employment rose
• Increased further during the war

Treatment of Women in Nazi Germany

--"Nazi policy for women was confused."

I agree with this statement, but not because the Nazi policy was badly organized, but because it ran into many problems. It was not horrible confused, but it did experience some confusion with issues and exceptions. For example, although women were meant to be housewives, there were some very prominent women in Germany that were very successful, such as Leni Riefenstahl, a high-profile film producer. Some women agreed that they were meant to be housewives, while others resented being forced to quit their jobs when they got married. Finally, after all the effort and limiting women to the house, the Nazis eventually had to abandon that policy because the work force was diminishing during the war. The Nazi policy for women was confused because it experienced many ups and downs, and it completely turned around during the war.

--"Nazi policy for women was a failure."

Nazi policy for women did indeed fail, but only because it had to be abandoned to keep up the work force. All along there was some opposition and resentment towards the policy, however there was also a lot of support. The main reason that the policy failed was because nearly all of the working men in Germany had gone off to fight in the war, and the supply of men in need of jobs was dwindling, so the Nazis had to abandon their policy and turn to the women to work in place of the men. The war is what caused the Nazi policy for women to fail.

Nazi Youth Policies and Education Assessment

1.

The Nazis wanted t0 control the young people because the young people were the future of Germany. Hitler, as stated in source 31, said he could make a new world with the children by controlling them and making them support the Nazis. If the children all supported the Nazis and followed them, they'd do the same thing to the next generation that the current Nazis were doing to them: raise them as Nazis, carrying on the Nazi legacy. Also, children were much easier to convince of something than adults were, so the Nazis targeted children's minds so that they will guarantee future support.

The means by which the Nazis established this control were to start early and consistently brainwash the children with Nazi ideals. The curriculum consisted entirely of Nazi concepts and ideals, and all subjects had a Nazi message behind it. For example, source 29 shows a math problem that says the Jews are aliens, and asks the children to find the percentage of "aliens" in Germany. Also, the school taught children that they were special and superior to all other races, being Aryan. Essentially, every aspect of the German education system was based on teaching the children to believe in Nazi ideals and worship Hitler as their leader.

The appeals of the German youth included social events, fun, healthiness, and discipline. The youth groups included a lot of playing and exercise, so the children could have fun and they could become physically fit, which is what the Nazis wanted. Also, they would learn many skills such as camping and living life as a soldier. They were given some free time, which was still devoted to Hitler and the Nazis. The children got to enjoy themselves, become physically fit, and learn useful skills while the Nazis trained them to be "perfect" Germans.

2. However, not all children supported the Nazis. Their support varied at different times, but there was always opposition. Typically, the working class young people didn't support the Nazis, and neither did groups such as the "Swing" movement and the Edelweiss Pirates. The "Swing" movement wasn't an opponent of the Nazis, but they disagreed with the Nazi control of their lives. They were basically rebellious teenagers that enjoyed American and English music and clothes. However, the Edelweiss Pirates acted out more against the Hitler Youth, mocking and sometimes attacking them. They disagreed with the Hitler Youth and its beliefs, and made that clear. When the Hitler Youth grew much stricter and became focused on assisting the war efforts, its popularity decreased, and the popularity of its opposition increased. Clearly, the Hitler Youth didn't gain the support of all of the German youth.

Was Nazi Youth Policy Successful?

1.

Enthusiasm

Source 14.35- The children enjoyed the military life in camps without the danger, and they liked that it all came before traditional school and the parental home

Conformity for Career Reasons

Source 14.35- Children believed that they could find jobs through the persecution of Jews and Marxists.

Source 14.37- Those job openings that the children had expected were being filled by other people only because they were a few years older, and the children were being disappointed and not getting what they had hoped for

Conformity Through Fear

Source 14.36- Many students say that their parents support the Nazis, even when the opposite is true, out of fear that the Nazis will take their parents away.

Source 14.38- The sketch shows a child being taken at gunpoint by some soldiers. This, coming from a youth magazine, would strike fear into the children and make them afraid to oppose the Nazis in any way.

Conformity Through Apathy/Natural Obedience

Source 14.34- The children were brought up to naturally obey and support the Nazis, even though they didn't even know much about their political platform. The "fatherland" was used often to make the children feel they needed to support the Nazis in order to support their homeland.

Nonconformity/Disillusion

Source 14.36- Plenty of children still opposed Hitler and the Nazis, but didn't do so publicly out of fear. They grew tired with the activities of the Hitler Youth, and many stopped attending its events and paying its dues. Many youth violated the Nazi policies and in the working class youth there was a lot of criticism towards the Nazis.

Criticism/Opposition

Source 14.36- The working class youth often criticized the Nazis, and eagerly violated its rules. Many stopped attending Hitler Youth events and stopped paying its dues, as well.

Source 14.37- Children, who are losing their job opportunities to older people, are growing tired of the Nazis' broken promises, lack of freedom, and mindless drilling.

Source 14.39- There were many groups of children from ages 12 to 17 that had a hostile attitude towards the Nazis and the Hitler Youth. They stayed out late at night, and it was suspected that they were responsible for the anti-Nazi graffiti saying things like "Down with Hitler," "Down with Nazi brutality," etc.

2. The sources suggest that the reaction of the young people was, for the most part, positive at first. Many children enthusiastically got involved in the Hitler Youth for the enjoyment of the militaristic living and the potential for future job opportunities. However, as those jobs were denied them and given to older people, and as the Hitler Youth activities and military experience grew old, more and more young people lost support for the Nazi regime and began to turn their backs on it. Some children actively opposed the Nazis and spoke out against them through vandalism such as graffiti.

3. Since most of the sources come from either the German opposition or the police, the origins come from two opposite extremes, but not from a neutral point of view. The material would, of course, have an agenda either strongly supporting or strongly opposing the Nazi regime. Depending on the position of the source's origin, the positives or the negatives about the reaction of the German youth could be exaggerated. Those opposing the Nazis would stretch the truth to make the Nazis look worse, and those supporting them would do the same, but to make them look better. If there were more sources from neutral points of view that had no strong opinion in favor of either side, then those sources would be more reliable in understanding how the German youth reacted to the Nazi youth policy.

4. The Nazi youth policy was rather successful in gaining support from the German youth. It successfully brainwashed many children into supporting the Nazis and sharing its ideals, and it appealed to them through the promise of job opportunites and the excitement of a military life without the danger and without the emphasis on school. Although there was much opposition, it was mostly kept quiet out of fear, and whether or not the youth supported the Nazis, they were afraid to actively oppose them, and therefore the Nazis were successful in preventing the German youth from rising against them.

Nazi Education Policies

1. Identify three important changes made by the Nazis to the education system. Explain the purpose of each change.

A. More Rules and Regulations

The rules were based around making the children support Hitler and the Nazis by forcing them to while brainwashing them so they will on their own. Also, teachers practically had to support the Nazis or else risk losing their job, which meant they will more effectively teach the Nazi ways to the children.

B. Change the Curriculum
Nazi ideas were incorporated into all subjects to plant those ideas into the children's minds and strengthen their support for the Nazis. Also, physical education was stressed, and eventually took up at least 2 hours a day, so that the children will be physically fit and able to fight for Germany.

C. Move Away From Co-Educational Schools

Boys and girls were taught separately so that the girls would learn what traditional women need to know to be a housewife, which is what was in store for them. The boys were taught to be men and serve their country.

2. Give specific examples of how the Nazis tried in schools to develop the spirit of Volksgemeinschaft in the following seven goals:

Anti-intellectualism:
Women were taught only to be housewives and mothers

Children brainwashed to believe Nazi ideals through all subjects

Adolf Hitler Schools lacked many qualities of typical scho0ls

Anti-semitism:

Blamed the Jews for Germany's problems

Taught the children to distrust and profile the Jews

Taught the children that the Jews had always been out to bring Germany down and conspire against it

Indifference to the weak:

Physical education stressed in all schools
Source 14.22 on teaching of history- "the powerless and insignificant have no history"

Nationalism:

In teaching of history- Germany must always show greatness (source 14.22)

Militarism:
Curriculum based on military

Schools had a militaristic environment

Obedience and discipline:
NAPOLAs (National Political Institutes of Education)- military like boarding schools to give the students discipline and military experience

Adolf Hitler Schools- dominated by physical, political, and military training

Hitler Worship:

Comparing Hitler to Jesus

Students had to Hitler salute their teachers daily, and the teachers had to return it with a "Heil Hitler," which the students had to repeat.

3. What methods did the Nazis use to try to ensure schools were teaching correctly? (This is from Friday's in-class work.)

The Nazis ensured that schools were teaching correctly by monitoring them in various ways. First of all, it was almost obligatory for teachers to join the Nationalist Socialist Teachers' League (NSLB) and receive a month of Nazi training. Also, Nazis oversaw classes, and they could arrest the teacher on the spot if they felt it necessary.

4. Write out a statement that explains the main educational aims of the Nazi Education System. (Reference some of the sources.)

The main educational aims of the Nazi Education System was to teach their ways to the children, to teach them to love Hitler from an early age, and to prepare them to serve their country. The Nazis establish a cult of personality around Hitler in the schools by comparing him to Jesus, as in source 14.25. Also, the children are made to honor Hitler by greeting their teacher with Hitler's salute every day, and their teacher has to do the same, after which they all say "Heil Hitler," as stated in source 14.18. Nazi ideals were incorporated into the curriculum, like in source 14.21, which has a math problem that intends to portray that disabled people are a waste of money and space. It says that the money needed to build one insane asylum could build 400 homes, and that the money needed to care for all the disabled people for a day could pay 1,200 wedding loans. These ideas are planted in the children's minds so that they will think like the Nazis and want to build a "perfect" society. Also, militaristic ideals are taught to them so that they will have discipline and be prepared to serve their country in war. For example, source 14.26 shows how important infantry was to Germany's past, and that the "the history of the German people is the history of its infantry."

How did the Depression Help the Nazis?

1a. Source 37:
This source could be used to support either view; it could support that the people supported the Nazis because they were against the issue of unemployment, or it could support that people thought the Nazis were best fit to solve that problem and as it grew, so did their support.

1b. Source 38:

This source clearly supports Goebbels' position, because it was about someone gaining support for the Nazis by seeing the storm troopers' parade. That wasn't about a mutual fear or hatred with the Nazis, but about a positive quality the Nazis had.

1c. Source 39:

This source supports Craig's point of view, because it shows the Nazis opposition to the Treaty of Versailles. This was a dislike that probably all of Germany shared with the Nazis.

1d. Source 40:

This supports Goebbels' position because it shows the size of the Nazi rallies and how much support the Nazis had. It showed a positive trait of the Nazis.

1e. Source 41:

This supports Craig's argument, because it shows the evils of the Communist Party, who were the Nazis' enemies. The Communist Party was a mutual fear and hatred between the Nazis and many people.

1f. Source 43:
This source can easily support both arguments, because it shows both positives about the Nazis and negatives about its opponents. It shows the good things that the Nazi party is promising, while it shows that the other parties are bad and corrupt.

2.
A large part reason for the Nazis' gaining support was opposing the things that the German people also opposed.

• They opposed the Treaty of Versailles, which was the main cause of Germany's crisis apart from the Great Depression
• They attacked the violent Communist Party and its evils, as in source 41
• Also attacked the Weimar system and the democratic leaders for not getting anything done in improving the country
• They feared that traditional German values were in danger

Scale of 1-5 with 5 being you agree fully.
3a. Score: 4 Very few people fully supported the Nazis.
Explain your score:

Although the Nazis had gained a lot of support, that was only after the country fell into the Great Depression, and when the people realized that the system they had hoped for before wasn't working. The people supported the Nazis because they promised to solve the country's problems and they opposed many of the right things.

3b. Score: 5 The key factor was the economic depression. Without it, the Nazis would have remained a minority fringe party.
Explain your score:
The Great Depression is how the Nazis got people to support them, because it's what got people thinking that the democratic Weimar system wasn't working, and they needed a stronger force to take control and bring the country back to prosperity. The Nazis promised to provide this strong leadership and save Germany from its depression.

3c. Score: 2 The politicians of the Weimar Republic were mainly responsible for the rise of the Nazis.
Explain your score:

The politicians of the Weimar Republic were largely responsible for the rise of the Nazis because they were unable to support the country by democratic means, which made the people turn to a more radical solution and support the Nazis, and they also appointed Hitler as chancellor, thinking that would make him adapt their ideals. They were horribly wrong, of course, and once Hitler was chancellor, he was set to take power of Germany. However, many other factors were equally, or even more important than the Weimar Republic politicians. The Great Depression was used to the Nazis advantage to gain support, and Hitler had good leadership qualities. Plus, the Nazis promised to save the country, which is what the people wanted. Naturally, the Nazis' support grew as the people turned to a more radical solution when the democratic alternative failed.

Jan. '33: Hitler is Appointed Chancellor

1. Why did Hinderburg's advisers agree to the appointment of Hitler1933 as chancellor in January 1933?

Hindenburg's advisors agreed to the appointment of Hitler as chancellor in January 1933 because they believed that he was declining in power, and that made him seem like a passing figure. They thought that appointing him as chancellor would surround him with responsible conservative ministers, who would tame him. They believed that Hitler would come to support them, and his followers would do the same after him.

2. Why is the term "totalitarianism" used to describe Nazi Germany?

The term "totalitarianism" is used to describe Nazi Germany because the Nazis took control of every single aspect of German society.

3. Why did the Enabling Law allow Hitler to overcome the constitutional restraints of the Weimar system?
The Enabling Law allowed Hitler to create laws that went against the Weimar Constitution, and since he could create laws without passing them through the president, he had the power to change the Weimar system however he wanted.

4. What was the goal of Goebbels' Ministry of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda?

The goal of Goebbels' Ministry of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda was to turn the people of Germany against the Weimar system and in favor of Hitler and the Nazis.

5. How did Hitler destroy potential sources of opposition?

Hitler destroyed potential sources of opposition by outlawing opposing parties and passing laws that restricted the power of any potential opposition, and granting that power to him. He also restricted people's rights and citizenship.

6. Which laws served as the first steps in Hitler's plan to eliminate Germany's Jewish community?

The Law for the Protection of German Blood and Honor, which made marriage between Germans and Jews illegal, and the Supplementary Decree on Citizenship, which made Jews unable to be German citizens

Purges, Terror and Show Trials

1.What is the significance of Kirov's murder? (This is what I went over in class.)
The significance of Kirov's murder is that Stalin used it as an excuse to start the Great Purge and purge the USSR of any potential opposition.

2. According to Stalin, who had Nikolayev been working for when he assassinated Kirov? Why is this significant?
According to Stalin, Nikolayev acted under orders of a "Leningrad Opposition Centre." This is significant because it justified Stalin's arrests and purging of old enemies and supporters of the left, including Zinoviev and Kamanev.

3. What is a Trotskyite?
A "Trotskyite" is an enemy of Stalin, and therefore the Communist Party. These, among "Zinovievotes" and "counter-revolutionaries," were the people Stalin made the party oppose so he could purge them from the party.

4. There are three major "show trials." List them and a brief description of their significance.
1. "Trial of the Sixteen" - A trial against Zinoviev, Kamanev, and 14 others accusing them of conspiring against the government. They were all shot, eliminating 2 of the Politburo, who could have opposed Stalin.
2. "Trial of the Seventeen" - 17 people were accused of having links with Trotsky and setting up terrorist organizations. All were found guilty and 14 were shot. Made Trotsky an enemy and accused him of being behind terrorist organizations.
3. "Trial of the Twenty-One" - Bukharin, Rykov, and 19 others were accused of and confessed to being in a "Trotskyist-Rightist bloc," wrecking industry, and helping foreign spies. Eliminated Bukharin and Rykov while making Trotsy an enemy.

5. During the Great Terror, there were three stages to the purges, staring with members of the Communist party. What were the next two stages and what type of people were purged?
The purges went second to the armed forces, and many Red Army generals were killed, along with many of the other high ranking soldiers. Finally it spread to everyday citizens, and anyone denounced by another or overheard criticizing Stalin was considered a "Trotskyite" and arrested.

Kirov Murder Mystery

1. In what circumstances did the assassin carry out the murder?

The cirumstances in which the assassin carried out the murder were perfectly convenient for an assassin. Kirov left his personal bodyguard downstairs, and also didn't notice the absence of the usual guards around him.

2. What strange coincidences surround the murder?
The strange coincidences surrounding the murder include the accident that killed Bosirov on his way to be questioned, yet no one else was hurt. However the NKVD men that were with him were killed later. Also, the accused NKVD men that were involved were sent to the GULAG, but given short sentences and higher privileges than other prisoners.

3. Is there any evidence to link Stalin to the murder?
When the Zaporozhets were doing suspicious things, like having Nikolayev released twice when he was arrested with evidence suggesting his intentions and recruiting new personnel without permission, Medved got Kirov's support and asked Stalin to remove them, but he refused. This suggests he wanted the Zaporozhets to remain there and keep aiding Nikolayev in murdering Kirov.

4. Is there any evidence to suggest that the NKVD was involved in the murder?
When asked why he killed Kirov, Nikolayev suggested Stalin asked "them," and pointed to the NKVD men. Also, when Yagoda was tried and accused of making it easy for Nikolayev to get to Kirov, he pleaded guilty.

5. Who had the best motive for the murder?
Stalin had the best motive for the murder, because Kirov was growing and gaining power, and of he continued he could pose a great threat to Stalin and possibly take power from him. Nikolayev just hated that he didn't get enough credit, and there was suspicion that his wife was having an affair with Kirov.

6. What theories can you suggest about who was responsible - was it the assassin alone or were others involved?
It is possible that Nikolayev had hated Kirov and wanted to do something about him, but hadn't had plans to kill him. He fainted by Kirov's body, so it doesn't seem that he had the stomach for murder. It seems like Stalin and the NKVD took his intentions further and had him murder Kirov and set everything up for him to do so.

Gulags and the Purges

Read pages 14 - 17 in "Stalin & the Soviet Union - III," which is in your shared file folder. Answer the following seven questions and place them in your blog. These are due Wednesday prior to class.

The Gulag System

1. What type of construction projects were built using the Gulag system?

The Gulag system built projects like the canal between the White Sea and the Baltic Sea. This project was done entirely by hand; no machinery was used.

2. What were the conditions of the work camps?
The conditions of the work camps varied, but they were all bad. The prisoners who worked harder were given more food, and those who didn't work as had got less food. So the prisoners, who were hungry and tired, were not in the condition to be doing the work that was asked of them, and therefore they could not work efficiently enough to earn sufficient food. This, of course, only made them hungrier, and created a vicious circle from which they couldn't escape. Conditions were especially bad in the Kolyma region, where it sometimes got so cold that the mercury in thermometers would freeze.

3. Why do you think slave labor was used in the projects rather than paid laborers?

Slave labor was used in the projects because the state could not afford to pay such a massive amount of workers to do the tasks, so they took the class enemies and forced them to work for free.

Purges, Show Trails and Terror

4. What were the issues surrounding Kirov's murder? Why do you think he had been murdered?

The issues surrounding Kirov's murder were that Nikolayev, the murderer, was stopped a few days before near Kirov's office. He had on him a revolver and a plan of Kirov's movements, however the guards released him and returned his gun. Also, Kirov's bodyguard, Borisov, was not present at the time of the murder. He usually went with Kirov everywhere he went. Then, the next day, Bosirov died in a car crash, the only casualty in a car containing several passengers.

5. What was the Great Purge? What specific group did it target?
The Great Purge was the period of massive arrests and murders that Stalin used to purge the Communist Party of his opposers and those who were unreliable.

6. What was the purpose of the Show Trials?

The purpose of the Show Trials was just for show. The trials were not at all fair, but they were largely publicized, and the press was invited. The many confessions made were not genuine, as they were often forced with torture and promises of survival.

7. What was the Great Terror?

The Great Terror was the state of fear that the whole nation fell into. Nobody knew who it was safe to talk to, because anyone could turn anyone in with false accusations, and get them shot or thrown in the gulags.

In Class: Lenin Between the Revolutions

1. Using Documents C, D, and E (page 2 - all numbers referred to are the big hand written page numbers) explain how Lenin and Stalin worked to secure the supremacy of the party.

Documents C, D, and E show Lenin's efforts to secure the supremacy of his party largely by suppressing the other parties. In document C, he criticizes the other parties and states that they do more harm than good and they spark conflict. He then orders the "dispersal of all groups, without exception." He demands that any group or party that is not his own supporters must cease to exist, or else be expelled from the party, and become an outcast. Stalin, three years later, expresses his views on the Communist Party, and in doing so he not only glorifies the Communist Party, but also strikes down the other parties. He says that the Communist Party was successful in achieving equality because "it was able in good time to purge itself of the opportunistic pollution." It was successful because it managed to oppress its corrupt adversaries. Document E shows the corruption and evil of these opposing parties. The Socialist Revolutionaries and Mensheviks are portrayed as small figures among a city engulfed in shadow, trying to prevent a much larger figure from leaving the dark city behind and moving on to the light revolution. It portrays the two parties as corrupt, and hindering Russia's progress. Stalin and Lenin's techniques in securing their party's supremacy largely includes suppressing the other parties.

Lenin in Power

1. Read Source 20. What aspects of War Communism are the sailors most angry about? Would you expect peasants in Russia to feel the same?
The sailors are most angry that the Russian people, expecting better freedom, were only thrown into worse slavery and suffering, and their hard working country had turned into a country of war. The Russian symbol of a working country, the sickle and hammer, had become the bayonets and barred windows of the Communists. Peasants in Russia most likely feel the same. They were hoping for bread, peace, and land, but all they got was more suffering, starvation, and war.

2. Does the evidence of Source 23 prove the NEP was a success? Explain your answer with reference to Sources 22, 24 and 25
Source 23 shows that the NEP was, in fact successful. Source 22 shows Lenin's talent with words in the way he assures the people that it has good intentions, and that it was meant to prepare the people for communism. Source 24 shows high hopes for the NEP. It shows confidence that the NEP will rebuild Russia, and says that the future is bring because of it. However, the conditions for the workers were not improved. Wages were still low and the work was still difficult. This meant nothing to Lenin, though, because he was ruthless and had no sympathy whatsoever for the people.

3. From all you have found about Lenin, do you agree with Source 26? Why or why not?
Lenin did a lot to change Russia, and completely turned it around. He led a revolution, changed the government, then started heading Russia towards communism. He was ruthless, and used brutal methods, but he hanged Russia, and helped to rebuild it with his NEP. He did indeed help Russia, however evil he was at times.

How did the Bolsheviks consolidate their rule?
4. Write an explanation of how the Bolsheviks made their rule more secure. Mention the following:
-The power of the Red Army
-Treatment of oppostion
-War Communism
-The New Economic Policy
-The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk
-The victory in the Civil War
-The Promise of a new society
-Propaganda
-Is any one of the above factors more important than any of the others? Explain.

The Bolsheviks consolidated their rule by granting the people some reforms to make them happy, but including other reforms to grant them ultimate power. The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk got Russia out of the war, with massive costs, and brought peace to Russia. The Bolsheviks promised to revolutionize Russia, bring a new, better society, and make life for everyone better I'm general. All throughout the Bolsheviks' quest to gain support, they were feeding the media tons of propaganda, which convinced many people and gained the Bolsheviks more support, and therefore more power. Then they began to use force to gain their power. Their Red Army collected goods from the people, and punished those who disobeyed. Any opposition was treated with brutality, and eliminated by the Red Army. The practice of War Communism kept the Red Army supplied, because people were forced to give up food and supplies, and all business was controlled by the state. As a result, the Red Army was able to win the Civil War and crush the opposition to their rule. However, the people were extremely unhappy, and Lenin eventually decided to issue the New Economic Policy, a temporary policy to build up Russia's economy. He said it was like taking a step back in order to get a running start and jump further, which in turn would gain him even more power.

Lenin in Power

1. What was the Sovnarkom?
The Council of People's Commissars. It immediately began giving what Lenin promised, peace, bread, and land.

2. Why was the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk bad for Russia?
The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was bad for Russia because it suffered huge losses, including a third of it's land, just over half of it's industry, 89 percent of it's coal mines, a quarter of it's agricultural land, and was charged with a massive fine of 300 gold million roubles.

3. Who were the "Whites"?
A group of Bolshevik opposers from inside and outside of Russia.

4.. Read Source 3. What evidence does it provide of Lenin's
a) political skill
He saw an obstacle that had to be overcome, and he stated his intentions of overcoming this obstacle without clearly stating the ruthless methods he had in mind.

b) ruthlessness
The Bourgoisie was an obstacle that was against Lenin's rise, and his plan was just to get rid of the middle class members that got in his way. He had no mercy and was fully prepared to kill anyone that might get in his way to absolute power.

5. Use Sources 5 and 7 to describe how the Civil War affected ordinary people.
The ordinary people of Russsia hated the Bolsheviks, because the Red Army would send armed soldiers to forcibly take their grain, and punishment for military offense was death. People were arrested frequently, and held in prison for months without trial. The middle class was completely oppressed, and weren't allowed to sell things or run their businesses. People all over Petrograd died from starvation. Also, people were in a war zone, and if the fighting reached their village, they paid a price for doing nothing wrong to whichever side wins over the village in battle. The common people were suffering during the civil war.

6. "Most Russians saw the Bolsheviks as the lesser of two evils." With reference to Sources 5, 7, 13 and 16 explain whether or not you agree with this statement or not.

October 1917 Revolution

~~How effective was the Provisional Government?~~

1. Decisions that faced the Provisional Government when it took over in March 1917:
-- What to do about the war
The Provisional Government promised Russia's allies that it would stand by them and stay in the war, and it tried to do so, but the war effort was failing miserable. Soldiers deserted frequently, morale was low, and order was lost. The Russian military was a complete disaster

-- What to do about land
The Provisional Government decided to make the peasants wait until elections were held to establish a government before they could start getting their land, but the peasants started taking it by force anyways, so the Provisional Government came back with force of their own to stop them.

-- What to do about food
Without support from the peasants, the Provisional Government could not bring food into the towns, and as a result, food prices skyrocketed. This, in turn, lost the Provisional Government even more support.

2. How the actions of its opponents harmed the Provisional Government:
-- Members of the soviets
Went against the Provisional Government and continued to hold more power over the people, and gained much more support than the Provisional Government, which wasn't giving the people anything that they wanted.

-- Bolsheviks
Promised the people exactly what they wanted: bread, peace, and land, when the Provisional Government was giving the opposite, therefore turning the support of most of Russia over to the Bolsheviks and the Soviets.

-- General Kornilov
He made an attempt at taking over the government. He prepared his revolt and set off against Kerensky, who had no chance and was forced to call on the Bolsheviks for help. The Bolsheviks obliged, crushed the revolt, and gained a lot of support.

3. Based on your answers to questions 1 & 2, how effective do you think the Provisional Government was? Your answer should be at least two paragraphs. Make sure you provide key details and analysis.
The Provisional Government was a total failure. It had a good idea, serving as a temporary government until elections were held to decide on a final government, but what it did when it held power was completely opposite of what the people wanted. Since the tsar had abdicated, and there was no government, someone had to take control in the meantime. So the Provisional Government, 12 members of the Duma, took power temporarily. Although such a thing was necessary at the time, it was a failure. The majority of the people, mainly the peasants, were not at all satisfied with this temporary government. It didn't give the people anything of what they wanted: peace, bread, and land. The other, unofficial government, the Petrograd Soviet, was the government that really had all the power.
The Petrograd Soviet was another reason why the Provisional Government was as unsuccessful as it was. It promised the peasants what they wanted, which was bread, peace, and land. The Provisional Government decided to remain in the war with Germany, and to make the peasants wait to get their land. The peasants were very dissatisfied and began to take the land by force anyways, to which the Provisional Government responded with "punishment expeditions," beating peasants and burning their homes and farms. This, of course, lost the Provisional Government more support, and without support, it could not get food to people. Amongst all of the Provisional Government's failures, the Petrograd Soviet was gaining more support. It had all the power because it promised the peasants their bread, peace, and land. The majority of the people supported them, therefore they had all the support while the Provisional Government had almost no support.

~~The Appeal of Lenin and Trotsky~~

1. Using Sources 42 - 44, and the Profile of Lenin, add extra details to the profile of Lenin:
-- Why Lenin appealed to people
He was a professional revolutionary, and he was ambitious and determined. Also, he did not give off a very good professional look, and he seemed to the people to be more like one of them, and not a superior gentleman. He was a good speaker and he rallied the people up into a determined struggle in favor of his cause.

-- His personal qualities
He was ruthless and used human beings as tools and materials to do as he pleased. He was short, sturdy, and bald. He looked like a small tradesman, and he appeared fairly unkempt and informal, which appealed to the peasants because he seemed more like them.

-- His strengths as a leader
He dealt with internal divisions within the Bolshevik party, and provided tight control and discipline and unity that other parties lacked.

2. Using Sources 45 - 47, and the Profile of Trotsky, add extra details to the profile of Trotsky:
-- Why Trotsky appealed to people

By far the strongest speaker in the leadership, which made him the best known Bolshevik leader. Made references in his speeches to the lives of his audience to create a sense of familiarity and make the people view him as "one of us."

-- His personal qualities
Talented orator and writer, which is what gave him his talent with speaking to crowds and gaining public support.

-- His strengths as a leader
By far the strongest speaker in the leadership, which made him the best known Bolshevik leader. He was source of public inspiration for the Bolsheviks. His genius seemed to even surpass Lenin.

3. Finally, write a short report on the contribution of each individual to the Bolsheviks' success in 1917.

Lenin's contribution the the Bolsheviks' success in 1917 was his order and discipline, while that of Trotsky was incredible speeches gaining public support. Lenin was more often behind the scenes, planning things out and calculating all the steps. He was the mastermind behind the Bolsheviks' success. He supplied all the order and discipline among the Bolsheviks to keep it in order, and made the plans. Meanwhile, Trotsky was using his genius to gain public support. He was an incredible speaker and he knew how to captivate the people and make them listen to him, and they liked what he said. As a result, the Bolsheviks gained support while developing an excellent, well organized party with a plan to take over the government.

Lenin and the Bolsheviks Take Power

1. Why was Lenin reluctant to compromise with the Mensheviks or Socialist Revolutionaries? 
Lenin was reluctant to compromise with the Mensheviks and Social Revolutionaries because he thought their willingness to compromise would mess up his plans for revolution.

2. List two reasons why the Provisional Government under Kerensky could not govern. 
- Neither the socialists nor the liberal democrats trusted or respected him
- The order in Russia had fallen apart, and attempts to restore it failed

3. The Bolsheviks did not have a majority at the Congress of Soviets after the October Revolution. How did they manage to assume power?
The Mensheviks and SR's didn't participate. They were angry about the armed insurrection against the Provisional Government, so they stormed out of the Congress, and the Bolsheviks had assumed control.

4. What did the Bolsheviks have to give up in order to get out of World War I? What was the name of the Treaty?
The Bolsheviks signed the Brest-Litovsk treaty to get out of World War I, but it had to give up a large part of Russian land to Germany, including Poland, Ukraine, Finland, and the Baltic States. It was a shameful peace for many people in Russia.

5. What was the Checka?
The Checka was the All-Russian Extraordinary Commission to Struggle against Counter-Revolution, Sabotage, and Speculation. It was like a ruthless police force that operated outside of law to eliminate Lenin's opposition.

6. What supporters joined the Red Army? White Army?
Supporters of the Bolsheviks joined the Red Army, and it's enemies and their supporters joined the White Army.

7. How many Russians died during the Civil War? How many emigrated to other countries?
Around 13 million Russians died during the Civil War, and about 2 million emigrated to another country.

Russia: Revolutionary Period, 1905-1917

1. Peter Stolypin believed that the crown's survival depended on what two factors?

- Restoration of order

- Genuine cooperation of the Duma

2. What was the "Stolypin's necktie"?
The "Stolypin's necktie" was the nickname for the noose, because Stolypin and the government executed so many Russians.

3. Economic conditions between 1910 and 1914 in Russia were mixed.
a. What are examples of the postive economic conditions?
- The Ministry of Finance issued loans from Western European banks, which helped Russian and foreign owned industries to bounce back
- Iron and coal productions increased, along with Russia's exports and imports, and Russia became the world's leading grain exporter.

b. What are examples of negative economic conditions?
- Conflict increased everywhere
- Thousands of strikes and peasant disturbances
- Lots of political and ethnic divisions help together only by a weak tsar

4. List three ways that Russia financed its costs during World War I.
- Increasing taxes
- Securing foreign loans
- Increasing the supply of paper money by six times

5. Why was Rasputin an important figure? How was he regarded by many Russians?
Rasputin was important because he was just a peasant that supposedly cured the hemophiliac son of the tsar, and therefore was appointed as one of Nicholas's advisors. He seriously abused the position and was horribly corrupt, and he made Russians dislike the government even more.

6. List two reasons why workers called for a change of government in the winter of 1916-17.
- There was a critical food shortage
- By then, the government had shown that it was completely incompetent of running the country

7. Why was the soldiers' mutiny of February 27 so important?

The soldiers' mutiny of February 27 was the turning point, and the event that sparked a finale of revolts that finally got the tsar to step down. Because of the soldiers' mutiny, about 170,000 weapons got onto the street, and violence increased drastically. The bloody revolts were too much for the monarchy to handle, since it had lost its loyalty from its people and its armed forced, and it collapsed. Tsar Nicholas abdicated on March 2, 1917.

8. How did the Soviet gain the loyality of the soldiers?
The Soviet gained the loyalty of the soldiers by granting them immunity and protection so that they would not face punishment when they returned to their barracks.

9. List five of the political reforms of the Provisional Government.

- Outlawed capital punishment

- Reformed the judicial system

- Began to place the police force under control of the local governments

- Freedoms of speech, press, assembly, and universal suffrage

- Appealed legal restrictions on religion, class, and race

Russian Revolution 1905

1. Why was modernization needed?

Modernization was needed, first of all because Russia was almost entirely agricultural while surrounding nations were industrializing. Furthermore, it was agricultural and using outdated farming equipment. Also, the Tsar and the rest of Russia's leaders wanted it to be a powerful nation and have an important role in Europe. In order to be powerful, industrialization was required. They needed industry to manufacture things, and in order to be an important military power it needed to manufacture military supplies/equipment. Also, agriculture didn't make it enough money. Russia was very poor, and it needed modernization in order to increase its profit and income. Not only did they only have agriculture, their methods of agriculture were obsolete and its harvest was poor. Russia needed industrialization to make money and increase its power.

2. Why was modernization dangerous to the Tsar?
Modernization was dangerous to the Tsar because it endangered his position as the leader of Russia. It would be difficult to maintain his position of power over a modernized Russia. Other modernized countries had democracies and parliaments, and monarchs have little power if they even existed in the government. Also, industrialization created social tensions between the working class when they flock to the cities to work in factories, and congregating them together would only facilitate disputes between the two. It would also increase the people's ability to overthrow the government, because industrialized countries meant more educated workers, and a larger middle class that might decide to overthrow the government.

3. How did Witte try to build up industry?

Witte tried to build up industry by giving a huge investment to industry, which he hoped would lead to an upward growth, and increase the demand for industrial products, hence leading to further industrial growth. He focused on the railroads, hoping it would increase demand for supplies such as iron, steel, coal, and other railroad-related industries, as well as improve communications. To pay these investments, he planned to squeeze money out of the peasants, and he hoped the industrialization would increase the wages and make up for the money he took from them before it really hurt them.

4. How successful was Witte's economic policy?

It went well until 1902, when other nations stopped buying Russian industrial products. Thousands of workers lost their jobs and strikes broke out.

Russia, 1861-1905

1. List the general goals of the: 
a. socialists
Create a classless society that would end suffering and exploitation of the lower class peasants. This included taking the means of production from it's owners and giving them to the state.

b. liberal reformers
Believed in applying western constitutional practices and laws to solve Russia's problems and injustices.

2. List three characteristics of serfs' lives.
Serfs lives were extremely harsh and difficult. Their average life span was only 35 years, because conditions were so bad. Most lived in remote villages with no schools or communication. The head of each household was their leader, essentially, and maintained authority over the family.

3. List four reforms of Tsar Alexander II.
Tsar Alexander II's first reform was to abolish serfdom and emancipate the serfs. He also introduced jury trials and created local assemblies to vote on issues such as taxes, maintenance, etc. He also tried to increase industrialization in Russia. Finally, he expanded the railroad system.

4. Why did the populists go "to the people" in 1873-1874? 
They wanted to establish connections with the downtrodden peasants and convince the "simple folk" to join the revolutionary cause.

5. List two consequences of the famine of 1891.
As a consequence of the famine of 1891, half a million Russian peasants died, and the way the government handled it was a wake-up call to the people of Russia, and the government began to lose support.

6. Why was Karl Marx important to Russian intellectuals?
Since their "to the people" idea failed, Marx's ideas became their plans for transforming their society.

7. What were the Goals and Methods of the following political groups in early twentieth century Russia? (see page 8 of the reading)
a. Liberal Democrats
Supported evolving to a western European form of government. They went about achieving their goals through violence and terrorism

b. Socialist Revolutionaries
Wanted to socialize all the land and give it to the communes, and replace the monarchy with a democratic republic. They were the most radical and used violence and terrorism.

c. Social Democrats
Supported Marxism. Wanted to wait until Russia was ready for revolution, then overthrow the Tsar, but some didn't want to wait, like Lenin. This led to a spilt in the party. The Mensheviks and th bolsheviks.

8. How did Bloody Sunday change people's attitudes toward the Tsar?
Bloody Sunday destroyed the people's view of the Tsar as a benevolent, protective leader.

9. List four reforms in Tsar Nicholas's October Manifesto. 
- expansion of civil liberties
- limited monarchy
- legislature elected by universal suffrage
- legalization of trade unions and political parties

What Caused WWI, and Who was to Blame?

A: Alliance System

- The alliances in Europe were not binding at all, and therefore none of them led to World War

- France never aided Russia in the war against Japan, nor did it protest Austria's annexation of Bosnia alongside Russia.

- Austria disregarded Germany's attempts to prevent French colonization of Morocco, and Germany stopped Austria from attacking Serbia during the Second Balkan War.

- Italy, although in the Triple Alliance, got along well with Britain and France, and actually entered the war against Germany in 1915.

- No power declared war because of its alliances.

B: Colonial Rivalry

- German disappointment with their imperial gains hardly helped cause the war

- There had been disputes, but they were all solved peacefully

- Although, colonial rivalry did lead to naval rivalry, which caused some dangerous friction

C: Naval Race

- The German government, influenced by an American writer who believed that naval power was the key to building a strong empire, began to expand its navy so it could challenge Britain's navy, the most powerful in the world.

- Britain was not worried because it had such a massive lead, but in 1906 launched the "Dreadnought," which revolutionized battleships and made all other battleships obsolete.

- Germany began making battleships of similar design

- The naval race meant to Britain that Germany had intentions of making war with it

- Winston Churchill was always confident that Britain "could not be overtaken as far as capital ships were concerned"

D: Economic Rivalry

- Some argue that Germany's desire to grow economically caused it to want war with Britain, who still had about half of the world's merchant ships.

- Others argue that Germany was already on its way to economic success, and war was the last thing it needed.

E: Russia Supported Serbia

- Russian support boosted Serbian confidence, and led it to be more reckless against Austria than it may have been otherwise.

- Russia feared its trade route through the Dardanelles, the outlet from the Black Sea, might end up under German and Austrian control if they gained control in the Balkans.

- Also, Russia wanted to protect its fellow slavs in Serbia to protect its slavic influence in other countries.

- Also, Austria should have realized how difficult it would have been for Russia to remain neutral in the situation.

F: Germany Backing Austria at Crucial

- Although Germany stopped Austria from declaring war on Serbia in 1913, it urged Austria to do so in 1914, and gave the "blank check," which offered its help with no conditions attached. Why did Germany change it's mind like this?

- After the war, every country laid all the blame on Germany alone, but over the years people began to admit other countries deserved to take some of the blame.

- In 1961, a German historian stated that Germany should indeed take most of the blame for the war, because it gave Austria the "blank check," deliberately planning for and provoking war with Russia, France, and Great Britain in order to become the dominant power in the war, and also to deal with domestic tensions.

- In 1912, the German Socialist Party (SPD) took over a third of the seats in the Reichstag (lower house of parliament), and began to fight the Chancellor and Kaiser in attempt to gain more power. A war would be a good way to distract people from political issues and buy the government the opportunity to suppress the SPD.

- Germany also felt encircled and threatened by Britain's naval superiority and Russia's massive military expansion, and wanted to incite a war sooner than later, to make it easier to defeat their enemies before they grew even more powerful

- Some believed that the "blank check" was a very bad miscalculation, and that Germany didn't want war at all, but it's intentions were to scare Russia into remaining neutral.

G: Mobilization Plans

- According to some German historians, the Shlieffen Plan, devised in 1905-6 by Count von Shlieffen, was very risky and inflexible and showed that Germany was led by unscrupulous militarists

- When Russia first began to mobilize, Germany ordered the immediate mobilization and prepared to carry out the Shlieffen plan as quickly as possible. Almost at the last moment the Kaiser attempted to negotiate peace with Austria, and suggested a partial mobilization against Russia only, hoping that Britain would remain neutral if Germany didn't attack France. Regardless, General von Moltke insisted on the full Shlieffen plan, which in the end was carried out, even though Germany had no particular dispute with France at the time.

- American military expert and historian, Terence Zuber, however, denies this theory. He says that the Shlieffen plan was only one of five alternatives being considered in the years after 1900. He also says that Shlieffen never actually included the six week invasion and destruction of France, but Germany tried to blame their defeat on their so-called "Shlieffen Plan," which was truthfully not at all what they made it out to be.

H: A "Tragedy of Miscalculation"

- Australian Historian L.C.F. Turner suggested a theory that Germany never deliberately provoked war, but it was all brought about by a "tragedy of miscalculation." Most of the leaders in Europe seemed to be incompetent and frequently made bad decisions.

- Austrians thought that Russia would not back Serbia

- Germany made the huge mistake of giving Austria the "blank check"

- Germany and Russia miscalculated by assuming that mobilization would not necessarily mean war

- Generals miscalculated by sticking to their plans believing it would bring quick victory

Churchill Criticizes the German Fleet

1. Explain in your own words what Churchill sees as the difference between the significance of the German and the British fleets.

To Churchill, Britain's navy is purely for defense. It is necessary for them to have a powerful navy in order to protect themselves and Britain's existence. Britain has no aims of aggression or offensiveness with their super-powerful navy. Germany's navy "is to them more in the nature of a luxury." Germany built up its navy so it could contend with Britain's. Its aims are indeed offensive and unnecessary. It is not for defense, but for the sake of being as powerful as Germany can be.

2. Look carefully at the language Churchill uses in describing the German fleet. What impression of the German fleet does his choice of language give?
Churchill's language in describing the German army gives the impression that Germany is aggressive and selfish. At one point, he states that Britain's navy is what makes it a Great Power, and is its only source of superiority. Germany, on the other hand, was respected as a Great Power before it had any ships. It didn't need a navy to be a superior Great Power, it just wanted more and more power so it built up its navy as well.

3. What does Churchill mean by "the ratio which our naval strength will have to bear to other great naval Powers"?
When Churchill says "the ratio which our naval strength will have to bear to other great naval powers," he is talking about its famous immense naval superiority. Germany, with superior power plus a formidable navy, will largely decrease the margin by which Britain has superiority due to its navy alone. The navy was Britain's power, and by coming close to equal power, Germany was reducing Britain's power and superiority, and threatening its safety.

4. How exactly is Churchill threatening Germany in this speech?
Churchill threatens Germany in this speech by saying that Britain will build up its navy even larger and more powerful, so that not only will it's margin of superiority still be there, but it will be an even greater superiority than before. It will be an even greater power, and Germany will face the consequence of being left in the dust in a naval arms race.

5. This speech was studied very carefully by the German government (as Churchill knew it would be). Which parts of it might give the German government grounds to complain to the British government? What do you think was the effect Churchill intended this speech to have in Germany?

The German government could complain about this speech for numerous reasons. First of all, Britain criticizes Germany for expanding his army, and accuses them of being selfish in a quest for excessive power. Britain also accuses them of upsetting the balance of the Great Powers, and forcing Britain to expand its nave further, as well, in order to remain at its position of naval superiority, and it says that it intends to do so, launching a naval arms race between the nations. Churchill's intentions were probably to frighten Germany, and make them stop the expansion of their navy for fear that Britain's navy will become even more powerful than it already is. Also, it was also probably intended to hurt Germany's reputation and get the other nations angry at Germany for excessively expanding its power. Churchill states that Britain's navy is entirely defensive, but the speech in which he states it is highly offensive against Germany.