8 - How Hitler secured control of Germany

Question 1

What three things did Hitler use to create a dictatorship?

Answer 1

1 - The Reichstag Fire, February 1933
2 - The Enabling Act, March 1933
3 - The removal of opposition

Question 2

The Reichstag Fire, February 1933

Answer 2

• one week before election, Reichstag burned down
• young communist named Marinus van der Lubbe was accused
• Hitler used this to drum up further fear of communism as people believed a communist revolution was imminent
• meant that Hitler could pressure Hindenburg into signing the ‘Decree for the Protection of People and State’ which declared a state of emergency = Hitler could govern by decree and basic civil rights were suspended
• gave him the power to imprison political opponents and ban communist papers = breaks power of the communist party

Question 3

The Enabling Act, March 1933

Answer 3

• intended to destroy the power of the Reichstag = transferred power from the Reichstag to the Chancellor, giving Hitler unlimited power to pass laws
• Hitler executed opposition and used the SA to intimidate members of the Reichstag
• communist party already banned
• made deal with Catholic Centre Party that he would guarantee religious freedom if they supported him
• Act transferred all power to Hitler, ending democratic rule and the Weimar Constitution

Question 4

The removal of opposition

Answer 4

• banned all trade unions and strikes, all striking workers would be sent to concentration camps
• July 1933 = ‘Law Against the Formation of Parties’ which made the Nazis the only legal party in Germany
• Dachau opened in March 1933 - concentration camps built to house political prisoners

Question 5

What percentage of votes did the Nazi Party get in the November 1933 election?

Answer 5

95.2%

Question 6

How did Hitler make sure that he was the unrivalled leader of the Nazi Party?

Answer 6

The Night of Long Knives, 30th June 1934

Question 7

Why was Ernst Rohm a threat to Hitler, and why was Hitler worried about him?

Answer 7

• leader of the SA
• 3 million SA members, 60% unemployed, all loyal to Rohm = powerful to challenge Hitler
• Rohm wanted more socialist policies = disagreed with Hitler
• SA much bigger than the army (100,000 men) so could easily replace the army = Hitler’s army generals worried
• Hitler worried about his reputation after many illegal and violent acts

Question 8

What happened at the Night of Long Knives?

Answer 8

• 1934, leaders of the SS and army warned Hitler Rohm was planning to seize power
• arranged a meeting with Rohm and 100 other SA leaders
• when arrived, arrested, imprisoned, and shot
• enabled Hitler to strengthen his power as SA were loyal to him and no longer rivalled the army

Question 9

What happened when Hindenburg died in August 1934?

Answer 9

Hitler took supreme power. He declared himself Fuhrer and decreed that he would have all of the President’s powers on top of those he already had as Chancellor.
He forced an oath of loyalty from every soldier in the army.
Public vote held in August 1934 to confirm Hitler as Fuhrer - 90% of voters voted in favour

Question 10

Why was Hitler able to create a dictatorship in the period 1933 to 1934? (3 points)

Answer 10

1 - the climate of fear created by the Reichstag Fire, which gave Hitler power to remove key political opponents
2 - the Enabling Act, which gave Hitler all legislative power in the country
3 - the removal of remaining opposition (e.g. political opponents/trade unions/the SA)