1. Consolidation of Power Flashcards
Gleichschaltung
Forcing into line, coordinating all aspects of German Government and society
How was the army out of Hitler’s control in March 1933?
Because the army had sworn and oath to the German State/President Hindenburg and not to Hitler
How were religious groups out of Hitler’s control in March 1933?
Because they had leaders other than Hitler, such as the Pope
Example of checks and balances of the Weimar Government that were out of Hitler’s control in March 1933
The judiciary
Judiciary
Law makers and keepers such as judges and the police
Lander
The individual states of Germany
Why was the lander out of Hitler’s control in March 1933?
Because they were ran by separate governments
Who ran the lander?
The Reichstrat
How was the Reichstag out of Hitler’s control in March 1933?
Hitler couldn’t make laws at this point as he didn’t have a workable majority
How was the Weimar Constitution out of Hitler’s control in March 1933?
Hitler only had power to overall the constitution, instead of chance it
What was Hitler’s continuance in office dependent upon in early 1934?
Hindenburg and the elite (including the army)
How was the SA a problem for Hitler in early 1934?
The SA warned a complete revolution and to overthrow the Reichstag
Hitler was a part of the Reichstag, so they didn’t see him as a figure who would overthrow it
Hitler took a step-by-step slow approach to dictatorship, but they wanted a revolution
SA used street violence which didn’t make Hitler look good as a leader (showed ack of control)
How was Germany’s federal system a problem for Hitler in early 1934?
Control not yet centralised and the civil service was completely separate from his control
What hadn’t Hitler achieved at the beginning of 1934?
Gleichschaltung
2 laws that Hitler introduced in January 1934 to centralised the government
Law for co-ordination of federal states
Law for reconstruction of the Reich
What law did Hitler introduce in February 1934 to centralise the government?
Abolishment of the Reichstrat
Under the Nazi Government, what positions merged?
Position of president and chancellor merged together under one person
Under Nazi Government, what government no longer existed?
Lander government
Checks and balances
Seperation of power within a government
What structure did the Nazi Government have?
Autocratic structure
Autocratic
Ruler with absolute power
What problems of the Weimar Constitution did Hitler solve by making Germany a one-party system?
Long-term planning
Instability of coalitions
Decisions being made quickly
Führerprinzip
Nazi ideology that power over everything is vested in the leader
Volksgemeinschaft
Nazi principle of “people’s community” - German nation becoming United, individuals expected to obey Nazi government and make sacrifices for Germany
The German volk
The “people’s community”, only including ethnic Germans
Examples of groups that the German volk excluded
Homosexuals
Jehovah witnesses
Disabled people
When was the night of the long knives?
30th June 1934
Outcome of the night of the long knives
Removed problematic SA and replaced them with loyal, highly trained SS
Why did Hitler need army support when he was chancellor (spring and summer 1934)?
Because the army was the only institution with the power to remove Hitler from office as they swore loyalty to Hindenburg, not Hitler
What was regarded as a serious threat by army leaders leading up to the 30th June 1934?
The ambitions of the SA
SA behaviours towards army in summer of 1934
SA units began stopping army convoys and confiscating weapons and supplies from them
Convoy
Group of vehicles
Why did pressure on Hitler increase on the 17th June 1934?
Papen made a major speech at Marburg University where he criticised the Nazis, calling for an end to terror and for Hitler to put end to SA’s second revolution
Who wrote Papen’s Marburg University speech? Why?
Jung (Nazi speechwriter) wrote it with hopes that Hindenburg would listen to the speech and remove Hitler from Chancellorship
What did Hitler launch on the 30th June 1934?
Launched a ruthless purge of the SA, commanding SS to eliminate SA leaders and many political opponents to Nazis
How many people were excectued during the night of the long knives?
84
How many people were arrested during the night of the long knives?
Over 1000
Hitler’s action following the night of the long knives
Hitler addressed the Reichstag on 13th July 1934
What did Hitler say in his address to the Reichstag following the night of the long knives?
He accepted full responsibility
How did Hitler justify the night of the long knives?
He acted as ‘supreme judge’ of German people, saying he had been compelled to save Germany from SA coup
Impact of night of long knives on the SA
SA declined sharply after the purge and lost its political power
Impact of the night of the long knives on the SS
SS gained control of Nazi Geoff and it became used more systematically and controlled
