2.4: The Nazi Dictatorship (1933-1945) Flashcards
2.4.1: Hitler’s consolidation of power 2.4.2: The 'Terror State' 2.4.3: Economic policies 2.4.4: Social policies
What 4 events gave Hitler the availability to create a One Party State
After The Reichstag Fire The KPD were exiled, then the SPD were exiled as a hostile party (22/6/33), The DNVP (27/6) and ZP (5/7) dissolved themselves then finally Hitler banned the formation of all non-Nazi parties (14/7)
What were the series of laws passed to centralise power
31st Mar 1933: Replacement of existing State Assemblies (SA) with Nazi one
7th Apr 1933: RG post created
30th Jan 1934: SA abolished RG made useless
14th Feb 1934: The Abolishment Of The Reichsrat
How did Hitler manoeuvre his way around the Civil Service
He made local officials resign with nazi replacement whist the sa replaced government officials to keep an eye on civil servants
Why was The SA a threat matrix to Hitler
Hitler needed the army on side (there was a co-existing power struggle between The SA and The Army), SA violence was out of hand, Biggest Nazi Terror Instrument (3m) and Rohm’s sexuality wasn’t a secret
What event took place between 29th-30th June 1934
Papen had a forged speech conveyed in Marburg condemning SA violence, Bomber threatened which pushed Hitler to purge the SA and its leaders (84 executed and 1000 arrested + big players killed)
What was the significance of The Night of The Long Knives
The Army now supported The Nazi Regime, Marked the emergence of The SS and Hitler had secured political supremacy
What was The Impact of the death of President Hindenburg
On 2nd Aug 1934, Hitler created Fuhrer role, soldiers took an oath to Hitler as The Commander-In-Chief, a plebiscite was held 10.1% (4.5m) voted for no change but this was irrelevant
What was the Role of The SS
Led by Himmler, Hitler’s Protection Squad of 250k men controlled the entire 3rd Reich’s police system and The Concentration Camps
What was the Role of The SD
Led by Heydrich, Hitler’s Party Security, its 50k non-committed Nazis investigated and monitored the public and Nazi enemies
What was the Role of The Gestapo
Led by Himmler, Hitler’s Secret Police, its 20k officers installed an atmosphere of fear (its reputation was exaggerated and inaccurate info was spread)
What were the 2 laws passed to control The Courts and Justice System
The Front German Law (Apr 1933) Career prospects relied of compliance with the regime (10000 lawyers have the Nazi Salute by Oct)
Special Courts (1933) & Peoples Court (1934) dealt with political crimes in 5 years 3400 were tried in the peoples court and 7000/16000 given the death penalty
How effective was The SPD resistance
The openly campaigned but by the end of 1933- 1000’s murdered or made to flee (SOPADE), although they weren’t equipped for resistance they relied of the future collapse of the regime as a way to power
How effective was The KPD resistance
They were better at establishing underground networks, but ruined by repression, 10% killed by he Nazis, they recognised they weren’t a serious threat so they had to focus on survival
How effective was The Workers resistance
They were absorbed into The DAF, they striked due to economic issues, they also used absenteeism as a way to show discontent (Gliewitz) and finally they damaged machinery enough to make sabotage a criminal offence
How effective was The Youth resistance
They hummed banned tunes and didnt parade and joined Non-Nazi organisations but that was the extent of the resistance