13 - Hitler’s Consolidation Of Power Flashcards
What control did hitler have by the end of March 1933?
Established the legal foundations for his dictatorship
He still did not have total control over Germany
What were the obstacles to his establishment of a complete dictatorship
The existence of political parties, the independence of the civil service and the democratic control over local government
What period removed these obstacles
March 1933 to August 1934
Process referred to as ‘Gleichschaltung’ meaning coordination or ‘bringing into line’
What was the one party state
From July 1933 the NSDAP Was the only legal political party in Germany
What happened to socialists from July 1933
We’re persecuted and imprisoned or fled into exile
What happened to the SPD from June 1933
Had voted against the enabling act and continued to oppose the Nazi government but were banned as a ‘party hostile to the nation and state’
What law made the Nazis the only legal party
14th July 1933
‘Law against the Formation of New Parties’
Made forming a non-Nazi political party illegal
What did the DNVP do following the creation of one party state
Voluntarily disbanded on 27th June
What happened to centre party from July 1933
Voluntarily disbanded on 5 July
The centre party had been appeased by the signing of the Concordat between the Nazi regime and the Roman Catholic Church
Laws controlling local government
31st March 1933 - the ‘first law for the coordination of the federal states’ dissolved elected assemblies in the federal states and replaced them with Nazi- dominated assemblies
7 April 1933 - the second law created the post of Reich governer to rule over federal states
30th Jan 1934 - the ‘law for the reconstruction of the Reich’ abolished state assemblies
14th Feb 1934 - The Reichstrat was abolished
What was the opinion of many civil servants
Many civil servants were conservative and supportive of Hitlers appointment
What control over civil servants did hitler create
Where their loyalties were in doubt, local officials were forced to resign and were replaced by Nazi party members, many of whom had no experience of government
The Nazis placed party officials in government offices to watch over civil servants
What role did the SA have in the rise of the Nazis
Made a major rise of the Nazi party and to the reign of terror which was unleashed against the Nazis opponents thereafter.
What happened to the SA after July 1933
When Hitler declared the revolution was over, the violence of the SA increasingly became an embarrassment to Hitler.
What increase in violence did the SA demonstrate
Pressed for a ‘second revolution’ including the SA as a basis for a national militia to replace the regular army.
Many members became disillusioned and restless as they lost their auxiliary police status and lacked any clear role
Their violence and political pressure threatened to undermine Hitlers relationship with Hindenburg and the army
Why did the army threaten Hitler
Only institution with the power to remove Hitler from power
The primary loyalty of its commanders were to a Hindenburg, not Hitler
Why did the problem of the army come to head in the summer of 1934
SA units began to attack army convoys and stole weapons
Papen with Hindenburgs approval made a speech attacking Nazi excesses and SA violence
The defence minister, Blomberg threatened to give the army the power to crush the SA
Impact of the night of the long knives
SA neutralised as a threat
84 executed
c1000 arrested
purged Rohm and SA
Significant individuals killed in night of long knives
ROHM
Sleicher
What happened to Papen?
Put under arrest
Did Hitler have support for the purge? Why?
Yes got public support
He presented the massacre as necessary to prevent a SA coup
Why was the night of long knives important for Hitler when hindeburg died
Meant the army did not object to him making himself the fuhrer
When did Hindeburg die
August 1934
What happened after Hindeburgs death
Final obstacle in Hitler becoming leader
He moved quickly to merge the offices of chancellor and president, thereby making him the undisputed leader in Germany, the fuhrer
What gave Hitler more control over the army when he became fuhrer
Soldiers had to swear an oath of allegiance to Hitler as their commander in chief
