12 - The Establishment of the Nazi Dictatorship, January - March 1933

Question 1

When did Hitler become Chancellor?

Answer 1

30th January 1933

Question 2

What advantages did Hitler face when he seized power?

Answer 2

• Hindenburg is old and vulnerable
• biggest party in the Reichstag
• support of big businesses
• SA stronger than the army

Question 3

What disadvantages did Hitler face when he seized power?

Answer 3

• not a popular leader
• loosing support
• Hindenburg still president
• constitution still exists

Question 4

Who was in Hitler’s first cabinet?

Answer 4

Von Papen
Wilhelm Frick
Hermann Goering

Question 5

How many of Hitler’s ministers were Nazis?

Answer 5

3/12

Question 6

Why did Hitler’s cabinet not contain many Nazis?

Answer 6

So they could gain power democratically

Question 7

What was Papen’s role?

Answer 7

Vice Chancellor - thought he could control Hitler

Question 8

What was Frick’s role?

Answer 8

Minister of the Interior - home secretary

Question 9

What was Goering’s role?

Answer 9

Minister without Portfolio and Minister of the Interior for Prussia

Question 10

What did SA membership grow from to from 1933-34?

Answer 10

500,000 to 3 million

Question 11

What did Hitler do in late February 1933?

Answer 11

Merged the Stalhelm and SA into an ‘auxiliary police’

Question 12

What happened on the 5th February 1933?

Answer 12

A young Nazi shot dead an SPD mayor of a small town, which was ignored by the police. When SPD papers reported this, they were banned

Question 13

Who was targeted by the SA?

Answer 13

Communists, Socialists and Trade Unionists

Question 14

How many political prisoners and camps were there by July 1933?

Answer 14

26,789 and 70

Question 15

When did Dachau concentration camp open?

Answer 15

8th March 1933

Question 16

When was the Reichstag Fire?

Answer 16

27th February 1933

Question 17

Who was blamed for the fire?

Answer 17

Marinus de Lubbe, a dutch communist

Question 18

Why is it likely the Nazis started the fire?

Answer 18

To allow the enabling act to be passed, he could now justify extreme measures

Question 19

What did the Nazis do during the March 1933 election?

Answer 19

• SPD and KPD offices smashed up
• anyone promoting the left arrested
• created a majority with DNVP

Question 20

When and why was there an election after Hitler seized power?

Answer 20

5th March 1933, he believed that the Nazis could gain even more power

Question 21

By what percentage did Nazi votes increase in March 1933?

Answer 21

33.1% to 43.9%

Question 22

What was the decree for the Protection of the People and the State?

Answer 22

Allowed central government to overthrow local, restricted freedom of speech and state

Question 23

How many communists were rounded up 2 weeks after the Reichstag fire?

Answer 23

10,000

Question 24

What was Gleichschaltung?

Answer 24

Forcing into line, controlling into Nazi way

Question 25

When was the Enabling Act passed?

Answer 25

24th March 1933

Question 26

How was the Enabling Act passed?

Answer 26

• he promised the Z party to respect the rights of the Catholic Church
• KPD refused entry by SA
• passed 444 votes to 94

Question 27

How did Hitler reassure the army?

Answer 27

• was aware they could remove him from power
• met on 3rd Feb to outline their role and promise not to undermine

Question 28

How did Hitler reassure the industrialists?

Answer 28

• 20th Feb, met to discuss financial support
• 3 million Reichsmarks given for anti-communist government
• Hitler had to stop Nazi attacks on capitalism