4. Why was Hitler able to Establish a Dictatorship? Flashcards
During what period did Hitler establish a dictatorship?
January 1933 to August 1934
Hitler’s power between 17th and 29th January 1933
Limited as Hindenburg was of a higher rank than him with powers to remove Hitler from Chancellorship whenever he wanted
What didn’t Hitler have responsibility of between 17th and 29th January 1933?
The army or the law
What was fundamental in the victory of the conservative elite in 17th January 1933?
The fear of Communism
How many Nazis was Hitler allowed in his cabinet in 30th January 1933?
2
Political views of Hitler’s cabinet in 30th January 1933
Very right-wing
What did Hindenburg believe would happen to Hitler’s extremist views when he was appointed Chancellor in 30th January 1933?
They would calm down and become less extreme
What had Hitler’s cabinet secured control of by the 30th January 1933?
The three most important government positions including the police
What happened on the 30th January 1933?
The Torchlight procession of 100,000 Nazis
What did the torchlight procession of 30th January 1933 signal the start of?
The ‘national revolution’
Who did Hitler meet on the 3rd February 1933?
The army’s senior officers
Why did Hitler meet the army’s senior officers on the 3rd February 1933?
To reassure them that the Nazi regime didn’t pose a threat to the army’s poison
The activites of which group were considered as legal in late February 1933?
Activities of the SA meaning that whatever they chose to do was legal
The positions of which two people allowed the Nazis to control the police?
Frick and Goering
What did the SA begin in late February 1933?
The ‘revolution from below’ where they assaulted trade unions, KPD and left-wing politicians
What was banned in late February 193s?
SPD and Centre Party newspapers
What happened to communists in late February 1933?
They were incarcerated (imprisoned) in concentration camps
What period could be argued as the point where Republic was over in Germany? Why?
Late February because the founding party of the Republic (SPD) had their way of communicating with supporters banned
What occurred on the 27th February 1933?
The Reichstag fire
In the eyes of the Nazis, who started the Reichstag fire on the 27th February 1933? Why?
Communists to signal the start of their uprising
Following the Reichstag fire on the 27th February 1933, what did Hitler claim must be given to him?
The Reichstag Fire Decree
Why did Hitler want to Reichstag Fire Decree to be given to him?
To suspend right to assembly, freedom of speech, freedom of the press and constitutional protection to suspend all democratic behaviours
What did propaganda following the Reichstag Fire of the 27th February 1933 do for Hitler?
Made many see him as the saviour against a communist uprising
What Act followed the Reichstag Fire Decree?
The enabling act
What did the Enabling Act give Hitler?
The powers of the president
What key presidential power was given to Hitler following the Enabling Act?
The power of making decisions without passing them through the Reichstag
Who was the communist arrested for starting the Reichstag Fire of the 27th February 1933?
Marius Van der Lubbe
What took place on the 5th March 1933?
Another general election
Leading up to the general election on the 5th March 1933, what happened to the offices of two political parties?
Offices of KPD and SPD had been smashed and their funds confiscated
What percentage of voters supported non-Nazi parties in the general election of the 5th March 1933?
64%
What was set up on the 8th March 1933?
First permanent concentration camp
Who was the first permanent concentration camp on the 8th March 1933 filled with?
Political prisoners that had been arrested and imprisoned by the SA
When did Goebbels take office in the new Nazi Ministry of Propaganda?
13th March 1933
What Act was given to Hitler on 23rd March 1933?
Enabling Act
Why was there little resistance to the Enabling Act being given to Hitler on 23rd March 1933?
Because most communists and socialists were imprisoned
Which party favoured the Enabling Act?
Centre Party
What power did Hindenburg still have with the Enabling Act being given to Hitler on 23rd March 1933?
Hindenburg still had power to remove Hitler from chancellorship
What did the Nazi Party carry out on the 1st April 1933?
The boycott of Jewish shops
How long did the Boycott of Jewish shops originally last?
1 day - limited to this by Hindenburg
How did Nazi propaganda treat the boycott of Jewish shops on 1st April 1933?
Nazi propaganda hailed it as a spontaneous and widespread show of patriotic feeling
Why was the boycott of Jewish shops on 1st April 1933 a failure?
Because German civilians continued to use Jewish shops and it redirected widespread defiance
What was there a huge increase in on 1st May 1933?
Nazi Party membership
What was introduced on the 2nd May 1933 for workers?
A public holiday to celebrate workers
What happened to trade unions on the 2nd May 1933?
Trade Union offices sacked and closed
Trade Unions dissolved
What did all workers become members of on 2nd May 1933?
Became members of the Nazi Labour Front
What significant propaganda stunt took place on the 10th May 1933?
Burning of the books
What books were burnt during the burning of the books?
Books written by ‘degenerate’ authors such as Albert Einstein and Helen Keller
Between 22nd June and 12th July 1933, what happened to most SPD mps?
They were imprisoned or fled
How did the SPD manage to continue after 12th July?
They continued on exile (working in another country)
What name was the SPD working under when they were in exile?
SOPADE
What did parties other than the SPD do between 22nd June and 12th July 1933?
They volunteered their own dissolution
What law was made on 14th July 1933?
A law to ban the formation of new parties, making Germany a one party state
What was signed on 20th July 1933?
A concordat with the Vatican (Pope signed approval of the Nazi Party)
Why did the Pope sign approval of the Nazi Party on 20th July 1933?
To ensure that the Catholic church retained independence in Germany
How did the Pope ensure that the Catholic Church would retain independence in Germany after 20th July 1933?
Told Nazis that they couldn’t interfere with Catholic education, Catholic youth groups and Catholic clergy
What did Hitler withdraw from on 14th October 1933?
The World Disarmament Conference
How did the allies react to Hitler seeking rearmament on 14th October 1933? How did Hitler react to this?
Allies refused to allow German rearmament but Hitler ignored this and left the League of Nations
What percentage of the vote did the Nazi Party receive in the general election of 12th November 1933?
92%
Why is it unlikely that the general election of 12th November 1933 was representative?
Because many parties had been banned and no new parties could be formed
What Law did Hitler introduce on 30th January 1934?
Law for the Reconstruction of the Reich
What did the Law for the Reconstruction of the Reich abolish?
Abolished state assemblies and restricted all forms of local government, centralising the German government
What did Papen want to bring to an end on 17th June 1934?
The ‘revolution’, directly criticising the SA
When did the night of the long knives take place?
Between 30th June and 2nd July 1934
What did Hitler do with the cooperation of the army during the night of the long knives?
Arrested and executed SA troops
Executed Rohm (SA leader)
Executed old enemies of Hitler
Example of two old enemies of Hitler killed during the night of the long knives
Schleicher and Strasser
How many people were arrested during the night of the long knives?
Over 1000
How many people were executed during the night of the long knives?
85
How did Hitler justify the execution of Rohm at the night of the long knives?
By saying that Rohm was planning a coup to overthrow the Nazi government
What happened to Hindenburg on the 2nd August 1934?
He died
What law did Hitler draw up before the death of Hindenburg?
A law that amalgamates (combines) the role of the president and chancellor. Hindenburg signed it
Hitler’s title after Hindenburg’s death
Fuhrer
Who did the army swear an oath to after Hindenburg’s death?
Hitler
Significance of army swearing oath to Hitler
Layer down foundation for future cooperation of the army at all stages of Hitler!s rule
Why did a referendum take place on the 19th August 1934?
To let the German people choose on whether Hitler should have the combined role of president and chancellor
What had Hitler gained by gaining role of president and chancellor on 19th August 1934?
Complete executive and legislative power
