13 - Hitler's Consolidation of Power March 1933 - August 1934

Question 1

Who was Ernst Rohm?

Answer 1

• a Captain during WW1, later joined the Freikorps
• met Hitler in 1919 and encouraged him to infiltrate the German Worker’s Party
• joined Nazis and helped set up the SA
• jailed after Munich Putsch

Question 2

How much of a threat was Hindenburg to Hitler in March 1933?

Answer 2

• President so held democratic power
• could enforce constitutional and political power

Question 3

How did Hitler form a one party state?

Answer 3

• enabling act
• 14th July 1933, Law against formation of New Parties
• DNVP dissolves on 27th June
• Centre Party dissolve 5th July

Question 4

What was Prussia like prior to 1932?

Answer 4

• federal state with 60% territory and 50% population
• but then Papen dismissed this, enabling centralisation

Question 4

31st March 1933

Answer 4

First Law for Coordination of Federal States
- dissolved existing state assemblies
- replaced with Nazi dominated assemblies

Question 5

7th April 1933

Answer 5

Second Law for Coordination of Federal States
- Reich Governor to oversee each state, accountable for minister of the interior

Question 6

30th January 1934

Answer 6

Law for Reconstruction of the Reich
- assemblies abolished and governments subordinated to Reich government
- RGs redundant but not abolished

Question 7

14th February 1934

Answer 7

Reichsrat abolished

Question 8

What were gauleiters?

Answer 8

• Nazi leader at regional or state level
• took over RG roles

Question 9

What was the civil service like under Kaiser?

Answer 9

• almost on status with the army, recruited from aristocracy
• welcomed the Nazis, did not like democracy
• thought conservative ministers would restrain Hitler

Question 10

What was the civil service like under Hitler?

Answer 10

• no intention to keep
• an obstacle to dictatorial power
• local offices forced to resign

Question 11

What were the benefits of the SA?

Answer 11

• SA had fought for Hitler during Munich Putsch
• SA had been valuable political support
• more than 3 million January 1934
• had merged with Stalhelm in Feb 1933 to form auxiliary police, had legal authority

Question 12

What were the drawbacks of the SA?

Answer 12

• SA were becoming lawless
• generals began to feel threatened
• Rohm was popular and could be a rival

Question 13

What did Hitler say about his policies?

Answer 13

6th July 1933
‘the stream of revolution must be guided into the safe channel of evolution’

Question 14

What was the Second Revolution?

Answer 14

The aims of Rohm and the SA
- social and economic change
- ‘people’s army’ of SA and army

Question 15

What was Hitler’s attitude to Hindenburg?

Answer 15

• April 1934, clearly he is nearing death
• wanted to become president without election
• short term needed the army’s backing

Question 16

What was the significance of the night of the Long Knives?

Answer 16

• overcame the radicals and neutralised conservatives
• SA had little purpose
• army publicly thank Hitler 1st July

Question 17

What happened on the Night of the Long Knives?

Answer 17

• 84 officially but estimated 1000
• Schleicher and Strasser
• Papen on house arrest

Question 18

What existing bodies had to be Nazified?

Answer 18

• regional states
• trade unions
• the civil service

Question 19

What was Gleichshaltung?

Answer 19

Coordination into Hitler’s aims

Question 20

What were Hitler’s aims?

Answer 20

1. acquire dictatorial power
2. eliminate non nazi parties
3. control local and national institutions

Question 21

How were trade unions changed?

Answer 21

1st May - national holiday
2nd May - funds collected
- many leaders put in concentration camps
- DAF formed, led by Robert Ley
- 2 mil members but could not strike