5. The Nazi Dictatorship Flashcards
When did the creation of the Ministry of Popular Enlightenment and propaganda under Gobbles occur?
The creation of the Ministry of Popular Enlightenment and propaganda under Gobbles occured inMarch 1933
When did Schacht get appointed as president of the Reichsbank?
Schacht was appointed as president of the Reichsbank in March 1933
When were all political opposition to the NSDAP declared illegal?
On July 14th 1933 all political opposition to the NSDAP declared illegal
When was the Night of the Long Knives?
The Night of the Long Knives was on 30th June 1934
When did president Hindenburg die?
President Hindenburg died on the 2nd August 1934
When did Hitler become Fuhrer?
Hitler became Fuhrer on the 2nd August 1934, when President Hindenburg died.he merged the posts of chancellor and president
When did the army and civil service take an oath of loyalty to Hitler?
The Civil Service and Army took and oath of loyalty on the 20th August 1934.
When was the New Plan introduced?
The New Plan was introduced in September 1934
When was did mass arrests of socialists and communists occur by the Gestapo?
Mass arrests of socialists and communists occurred by the Gestapo in 1935
When was Himmler appointed as chief of German police?
Himmler was appointed as chief of German police in June 1936
When was the Four-Year Plan established under Goring?
The Four year plan was established under Goring in October 1936
When did Schacht resign as minister of economics?
Schacht resigned as minister of economics in November 1937
When was the forced resignation of Field Marshal Blomberg and General Fritsch?
Field Marshal Blomberg and General Fritsch were forced to resign in February 1938 due to a purge of the army leadership.
When was the reich Security Office created (RSHA)?
The Reich Security office (RSHA) was created in September 1939.
Summarise Hitler’s power in Nazi Germany by 1934.
Hitler’s power was unlimited in theory. Nazi Germany was a one party state and Hitler was undisputed leader of the Nazi party. In addition, after the death of Hindenburg on the 2nd August 1934, the ‘Law of Concerning Head of State’ combined the posts of chancellor and president. Constitutionally, Hitler was also commander-in-chief of all the armed services
Which law combined the posts of chancellor and president to allow Hitler to become Fuhrer and why was this allowed?
After the death of Hindenburg on the 2nd August 1934, the ‘Law of Concerning Head of State’ combined the posts of chancellor and president. This was allowed because the Enabling Act in 1933 allowed Hitler to pass laws without consultation of the Reichstag.
Who claimed that the power of the state should be referred as ‘Fuhrer Power’ due to Hitler’s personal dictatorship?
E. Huber, a leading Nazi theorist, claimed that the power of the state should be referred as ‘Fuhrer Power’ due to Hitler’s personal dicatorship
Why should the state power not be reffered to as ‘Fuhrer Power’?
Huber’s grandiose theoretical claims for ‘Fuhrer power’ could not mask basic practical problems.
First, there was no all-embracing constitution in the Third Reich. The government and law of Nazi Germany emerged over time in a haphazards fashion.
Secondly, there was no way one individual could ever be in control of all aspects of government. Thus, Hitler was still dependent on sympathetic subordinates to put policy decisions into effect.
Thirdly, Hitler’s own personality and attitude towards government were mixed and not conducive strong and effective leadership.
How was Hitler’s character portrayed?
Hitler appeared as a charismatic and dynamic leader. His magnetic command of audience enabled him to play on mass suggestion; he portrayed himself as the ordinary man with the vision, willpower and determination to transform the country. However, this facade was perpetuated by propaganda, and once in government Hitler’s true character revealed itself.
How was Hitler’s character described in the memoirs of one of his retinue?
Hitler’s character was described as:
“He never left his room before 2pm”
“He disliked the study of documents”
“I sometimes secured decisions from him without his ever asking to see the relevant files”
“He let people tell him what he wanted to hear, everything else he rejected…Hitler refused to let himself be informed”
What was Hitler’s character like in reality?
Hitler liked to cultivate the image of himself as an artist, but really he was lazy. This was accentuated further by Hitler’s lifestyle: unusual sleeping pattern, long periods o absence from Berlin when he stayed i the Bavarian alps, tendency to become immersed in pet projects such as architectural plans. Furthermore as he got older he became more neurotic and moody, as was demonstrated by his obsession with his health and medical symptoms.
Hitler was not well educated and had no experience that prepared him for any role in government or administration. As cynics say, hitler’s first real job was his appointment as chancellor. He followed no real working routine, he loathed paperwork and disliked the formality of committees in which issues were discussed. he casually believed that mere willpower was the solution to most problems.
Describe Hitler’s leadership style.
Hitler was not very decisive when it came to making a choice. Although he was presented to the World as the all-powerful dictator, he seldom showed any inclination to co-ordinate the government of Nazi Germany.
For example, the role of the cabinet declined quite markedly after 1934. In 1933 the cabinet met 72 times, but only 4 times in 1936 and the last official cabinet meeting was in February 1938. Consequently, rivalry between the various factions of the party and state was rife and decision making became, more often than not, the result of Fuhrer’s whim or an informal conversation rather than rational clear-cut chains of command.
Ian Kershaw however described Hitler’s leadership as charismatic domination because of his decisive role in the development of the Third Reich. This is because:
- Hitler was crucial because he was still responsible for the overall Nazi dream
- He had no real effective opposition
- Although government structure was chaotic, Hitler did not get lost in the detail of the day-to-day government.
- He generated an environment in which his followers carried out his presumed intentions. In this way, others willingly took the responsibility ‘to work towards the fuhrer’
Define Totalitarian
Totalitarian= A system of government in which all power is centralised and does not allow any rival authorities.
Define Dualism
Dualism= A system of government forces in which two forces coexist, for example the Nazi Party and German State
What were the March Converts?
March Converts= Those who joined the NSDAP immediately after thew consolidation of power in January -March 1933.
How did Nazi totalitarian claims deceive people and why was this?
Nazi totalitarian claims, reinforced by powerful propaganda, deceived people at the time into thinking that Nazism was a clear and well ordered system of government. This was because the exact relationship between the structure of the party on the one hand and the apparatus of the German structure on the other was never clarified satisfactorily. It meant that there was much confusion between the two forces of Nazi government, giving the term dualism.
Why did the revolutionary elements of the Nazi party not take control of the civil service to removal traditional organs and create a ‘New Germany’?
The revolutionary elements within the party wanted party control of the civil service in order to smash traditional organs of government and to create a new Germany. However nazi leadership did not do this because:
- Many recognised that the bureaucracy of the German state was well established and staffed by educated and effective people. Initially, therefore there was no drastic purge of state apparatus. The ‘Law for the Restoration of Professional Civil Service’ of April 1933 only called for the removal of Jews and well recognised opponents of the regime
- During 1933 after the Nazi consolidation of power, there was a vast increase in party membership. It increased three-fold from 1933-1935. The ‘March Convert tended to dilute the influence of the earlier Nazis, further weakening the radical cutting edge of the party apparatus within the regime.
- Hitler remained unclear on the issue of the party and the state. The ‘Law to Ensure the Unity of Party and State’ issued in December 1933 proclaimed the party ‘is inseparably linked with the state’, but the explanation was vague as to be meaningless. Two months later, Hitler declared that the party’s principal responsibilities were to implement government measures and organise propaganda and indoctrination. Yet, in September 1934, he told the party congress that ‘it is not the state which commands us but rather we who command the state’, and a year later he specifically declared the party would assume responsibility for those tasks which the state failed to fulfil. Hitler’s ambiguity on this issue is partially explained by the political unrest of these years and by the need to placate numerous interest groups and it was not really ever resolved.
When was the ‘Law for the Restoration of Professional Civil Service’ established and what did it demand ?
The ‘Law for the Restoration of Professional Civil Service’ of April 1933 only called for the removal of Jews and well recognised opponents of the regime
What did the ‘Law to Ensure the Unity of Party and State’ proclaim and when was it issued?
Hitler remained unclear on the issue of the party and the state. The ‘Law to Ensure the Unity of Party and State’ issued in December 1933 proclaimed the party ‘is inseparably linked with the state’
What did Hitler tell the state in September 1934?
in September 1934, he told the party congress that ‘it is not the state which commands us but rather we who command the state’, and a year later he specifically declared the party would assume responsibility for those tasks which the state failed to fulfil.
How did the state bureaucracy act towards Weimar democracy?
Generally, the state bureaucracy was unsympathetic to Weimar democracy, but was largely committed to institutions of the state.
However, in 1934 civil servants, the same as the army, were forced to make a new oath of loyalty to Hitler. Only five percent of civil servants dissented and were purged and, as time passed, more and more joined the party until it became compulsory in 1939.
Why did the attitude of the state bureaucracy change towards the Nazi party?
However, in 1934 civil servants, the same as the army, were forced to make a new oath of loyalty to Hitler. Only five percent of civil servants dissented and were purged and, as time passed, more and more joined the party until it became compulsory in 1939.
When did it become compulsory for the civil servants to join the Nazi party?
In 1939 it became compulsory for the civil servants to join the Nazi party in 1939.
Who was head of the Reich Chancellery and what was his role?
Henrich Lammers was head of the Reich chancellery and he played a vital role because he drew up all government legislation and became the vital link between Hitler and all the other organisations, so he in effect controlled all the flow of information.
What was the role of the Reich Chancellery?
The Reich Chancellery was responsible for co-ordinating government and, as the role of the cabinet declined from 1934, it became more important.
Despite being a very effective bureaucrat Lammers found it impossible to co-ordinate effectively the growing number of organisations.
Why did the role of the Reich Chancellery become more important?
The role of the cabinet declined from 1934, it became more important.
Why did Lammers find it difficult to co-ordinate the organisations?
Despite being a very effective bureaucrat Lammers found it impossible to co-ordinate effectively the growing number of organisations.
What is the Ribbentrop Bureau?
Ribbentrop Bureau= The office created by the Nazi Ribbentrop, who ran his own personal ‘bureau’ to oversee foreign affairs
What is High treason?
High Treason= The crime of betraying one’s country, especially by attempting to overthrow the leader of government
What was Nacht und Nebel?
Nacht und Nebel= ‘Night and fog’. Name given to a decree by hitler in December 1941 to seize any person thought to be dangerous. They should vanish into Nacht und Nebel.
How were government ministries run?
Ministries such as transport, education and economics, were run by leading civil servants. They were generally very conservative, most notably the Foreign Office. They were under pressure in the late 1930’s from growing Nazi institutions: for example,
the Economics Ministry was affected by the Four-Year-Plan and
the Foreign Office lost its position of supreme control to the Ribbentrop Bureau.
Very significantly, the aristocrat Neurath was replaced as Foreign Minister in 1938 by Nazi Ribbentrop.
Who replaced Neurath as Foreign Minster?
Very significantly, the aristocrat Neurath was replaced as Foreign Minister in 1938 by Nazi Ribbentrop.
How were the judiciary run under Nazi ruling?
In the 1920’s the judiciary was hostile to the Weimar Republic. It had been very conservative and in notourious cases it had been biased against the left and in favour of the right. Accordingly, the judiciary was reasonably content to work with the regime. Judges and lawyers were co-ordinated and join the Nazi Lawyers’ Association and wear an oath of loyalty to Hitler, as did the rest of the civil servants.
What were lawyers and judges made to do under the Nazi regime?
Judges and lawyers were co-ordinated and join the Nazi Lawyers’ Association and wear an oath of loyalty to Hitler, as did the rest of the civil servants.
How did the structure of the new courts allow Nazis to get around the established system of justice?
The new structure of courts allowed Nazis to get around the established system of justice:
1933- Special courts were set up to try political offences without a jury
1934- the People’s Court was established to try cases of high treason with a jury composed specifically of Nazi party members, 7,000 of the 16,000 cases resulted in a death sentence from 1934-1945.
1939- Anyone qualifying to become a judge had to make a ‘serious study of National Socialism and its ideological foundations.
Furthermore all legal authorities became subordinated to the arbitrary power of the SS-Police system, which increasingly behaved above the law. The decree of Nacht und Nebel of 1941 gave the SS police system the right to imprison without question any person thought to be dangerous. Accordingly, the traditional role of the judiciary in the state continued to function, it was severely subverted
Overall, summarise the change in the judiciary.q
the traditional role of the judiciary in the state continued to function, it was severely subverted
What change/ to the judiciary occurred in 1933?
1933- Special courts were set up to try political offences without a jury
What change/ to the judiciary occurred in 1934?
1934- the People’s Court was established to try cases of high treason with a jury composed specifically of Nazi party members, 7,000 of the 16,000 cases resulted in a death sentence from 1934-1945.
