4) Consolidation Of Power Flashcards
When did the Riechstag building burn down?
27th February 1933
What did the Reichstag fire give Hitler?
The perfect opportunity to remove the threat posed by the communist part.
Who did the Nazis arrest for the Reichstag fire?
Marius Van de Lubbe, a Dutch communist, although it is not known who started the fire.
How many communists did the minister of interior, Hermann Georing have arrested after the Reichstag fire?
4000 arrested and imprisoned.
What did Hitler persuade Hindenburg to pass after the Reichstag fire?
An emergency decree, suspending freedom of speech and assembly, therefore, the police could arrest without trial, ban newspapers and round up political opponents.
What had Hitler called prior to the fire?
A general election for 5 March 1933.
What had been seen in the run up to the March 1933 election?
Violence and terror- there had been about 70 deaths.
In the run up to the 1933 elections what did Hitler receive?
Large amounts of money from leading industrialists to assorts his campaign. But a week before the elections, this Reichstag fire happened.
How many seats and what percentage of the vote did the Nazis win in the March 1933 elections?
288 seats and 43.9% of vote.
Despite imprisoning a lot of their opposition and having control of the media, the Nazis did not win a majority.
What was formed because of the result of the 1933 elections?
A coalition government with the National Party, ensuring a majority in the Reichstag.
How many seats did Hitler need to change the constitution?
2/3
Which Act marked the end of the Weimar Constitution and democracy?
The enabling act - passed on 23rd March 1933.
What would the enabling act give Hitler?
Full power for the next four years.
What is the Enabling act often regarded as?
The ‘foundation stone’ of the third reich, it allowed Hitler to secure closer control of the nation.
What did the Enabling Act quickly result in?
The suspension of civil liberties, abolition of trade unions, imposition of censorship, disbanding of all parties but the Nazis.
How was the Enabling Act passed?
- The Nazis made promises to the Catholic Centre party which won their votes (e.g. no interference in Catholic schools)
- Communist party was not counted in vote
- Communist members were not allowed to vote in chambers
- Absentees were counted as present
- SA intimidated members as the entered the chamber.
What was the policy of Gleichsehaltung?
With the enabling act, Hitler was now in a position to bring society into line with Nazi philosophy.
What happened to Trade Unions on the 2nd of May 1933?
All trade unions were banned.
Why did Nazis say they had banned trade unions?
They said that a national community had been created and therefore such organisations were not needed.
What was set up to replace trade unions and Employers’ groups?
The German Labour Front (DAF)
What did the DAF decide?
Wages and workers received workers’ books to record their employment history.
How did the Nazis react to strikers?
They were outlawed and any dissenters would be sent or concentration camps for political re-education.
When was the communist party banned?
After the reichstag fire.
What happened in the 10th of May 1933?
The social Democratic Party had its headquarters seized and its newspaper banned.
