3.1 The creation of a dictatorship, 1933-34 Flashcards
Why was Hitler’s power limited when he became Chancellor?
Weimar Constitution controlled what he could do
Hindenberg retained Presidential powers
Only 2 cabinet members were Nazis
Reichstag = 1/3 Nazis
When was the Reichstag Fire?
27th February 1933
Why was van der Lubbe arrested and what happened to him?
Found at the site with matches and firelighters
Confessed
Found guilty and executed
How did Hitler and Goering turn the Reichstag Fire into an attack against Communists?
Claimed van der Lubbe was part of Communist conspiracy
4,000 Communists arrested that night
Made Hindenburg declare a state of emergency - Artcile 48
What was the Reichstag Fire Decree?
Decree for the Protection of the People and State - could imprison political opponents and ban Communist papers
What else did Hitler do before the March election?
Ensure police turned a blind eye to SA violence
Persuaded Krupp and other industrialists to bankroll Nazi campaign
What were the results of the March 5th election?
288 Reichstag seats for Nazis
How did Hitler divide the left vote?
Allowed KDP to stand in election, splitting left vote between KDP and SDP
Banned KDP from taking up seats after election
Why did Hitler divide the left vote?
It gave him a 2/3 majority in the Reichstag which mean’t he could now change the constitution
What did the Enabling Act (The Law for the Removal of the Distress of the People and Reich) say?
Reich Cabinet could pass new laws
Laws would overrule Weimar constitution
Laws would be proposed by Hitler
When was the vote for the Enabling Act?
24th March 1933
What were the circumstances for the Enabling Act vote?
Vote passed 444 - 94
Supported by Nazis, Zentrum and DNVP
No KDP members present
SDP members voted branzenly despite intimidation
What did Hitler do to trade unions in May 1933?
Broke into trade union offices and arrested officials all over Germans
Banned trade unions and made strikes illegal
Why were trade unions a threat to Hitler?
Believed Communist working men could use them to control their trade unions
Could then use these to undermine government e.g. strikes
What did Hitler set up to replace trade unions?
DAF - German Labour Front
Protected workers’ rights and regulated what employers could do
Also represented employers
What did Hitler do to other political parties?
May 1933 - SA entered KDP and SDP offices, destroyed newspapers and confiscated funds
July 1933 - decree making all political parties illegal, except Nazis
What did Hitler do to local Lander and when?
January 1934 - abolished Lander parliaments
Said governors, appointed by him, would run regions
Why did Hitler believe that Rohm (GAY) was a threat?
SA numbers = 3 million
SA were resentful towards Hitler - risked their lives for him but 60% were still unemployed - and loyal to Rohm
Rohm opposed Hitler’s policies - criticised links with industrialists and army
Wanted more socialist policies - tax rich, help working class
Why did others see Rohm as a threat?
SA was bigger than army due to ToV so German army officers worried
Thought Rohm wanted SA to replace army
Leaders of SS resented Rohm - wanted to reduce SA power to increase SS power and status
What did SS and army leaders tell Hitler in 1934?
That Rohm was planning to seize power
What happened on 30th June 1934?
The Night of the Long Knives
Arranged to meet Rohm and 100 SA leaders
When they arrived, they were arrested, imprisoned and shot
What happened to von Papen?
Was told to go home for safety by Goering
Group of SS arrested his staff and shot his press secretary
Home was surrounded, telephone cut off
How did Goering justify The Night in July 1934?
Said that they were watching Rohm for months
He was planning to replace Hitler so killings were in Germany’s best interests
What was the SA like after this?
Limited to giving muscle to Nazi party
No longer rivalled army
Firmly under Hitler’s control
When did Hindenburg die?
2nd August 1934
What did Hitler do when Hindenburg died?
Took over supreme power
Declared himself Fuhrer and added Presidential power to his Chancellor powers
Forced an oath of loyalty to him from every soldier in the army
What was the result of the plebiscite on 19th August 1934?
90% voters in favour of Hitler becoming Fuhrer
Weimar = over
