An evaluation of the reasons why the Nazis were able to stay in power, 1933–39

Question 1

When did the Nazis become the largest party in the Reichstag?

Answer 1

January 1933.

Question 2

How many seats did the Nazis win in the Reichstag in January 1933?

Answer 2

196 seats.

Question 3

Did the Nazis win a majority in January 1933?

Answer 3

No, they did not win a majority.

Question 4

Who appointed Hitler as Chancellor?

Answer 4

President Paul Hindenburg.

Question 5

Why did Hindenburg appoint Hitler as Chancellor?

Answer 5

He was convinced by the political right and thought he could control Hitler.

Question 6

Was Hitler easy to control after becoming Chancellor?

Answer 6

No, he was not easily manipulated.

Question 7

What happened on 27th February 1933?

Answer 7

The Reichstag building was set on fire.

Question 8

Who was blamed for the Reichstag Fire?

Answer 8

A young Dutch Communist.

Question 9

What impact did the Reichstag Fire have on Hitler’s power?

Answer 9

It allowed Hitler to take supreme power and become a dictator.

Question 10

What period ended when Hitler took control after the Reichstag Fire?

Answer 10

The democratic Weimar years.

Question 11

What crisis did the Nazi Party exploit to gain support?

Answer 11

The Great Depression.

Question 12

What type of government was in place before Hitler took full control?

Answer 12

The democratic Weimar Government.

Question 13

What is totalitarianism?

Answer 13

A system with total control over public and private life, banning opposition.

Question 14

How did the Nazis use propaganda?

Answer 14

To shape opinion and spread Nazi ideology.

Question 15

What event happened on 27th February 1933?

Answer 15

The Reichstag Fire.

Question 16

Who was blamed for the Reichstag Fire?

Answer 16

A young Dutch Communist.

Question 17

What law was passed after the Reichstag Fire?

Answer 17

Article 48 – The Emergency Decree.

Question 18

What did Article 48 do?

Answer 18

Removed all civil liberties from German people.

Question 19

Who acted as ‘temporary’ police after the fire?

Answer 19

The SA and SS.

Question 20

What was the purpose of arrests by SA and SS?

Answer 20

To remove Communists and Socialists before the election.

Question 21

What happened on 24th March 1933?

Answer 21

The Enabling Act was passed.

Question 22

What did the Enabling Act allow Hitler to do?

Answer 22

Pass laws without Presidential approval.

Question 23

What did the Enabling Act lead to?

Answer 23

Hitler ruling as a dictator.

Question 24

What percent of the vote did Hitler win in March 1933?

Answer 24

43.9%.

Question 25

What does the 43.9% vote show?

Answer 25

There was still opposition to Hitler.

Question 26

What happened on 2nd May 1933?

Answer 26

Trade Unions were banned.

Question 27

What was set up to replace Trade Unions?

Answer 27

The Reich Labour Front.

Question 28

Who led the Reich Labour Front?

Answer 28

Robert Ley.

Question 29

What happened to Trade Union leaders?

Answer 29

They were arrested and sent to Dachau.

Question 30

What was Dachau?

Answer 30

The first concentration camp.

Question 31

When was the Socialist Party banned?

Answer 31

22nd June 1933.

Question 32

What was the last political party to dissolve?

Answer 32

The Catholic Centre Party.

Question 33

What happened on 14th July 1933?

Answer 33

A law made the Nazi Party the only legal party.

Question 34

What did the one-party law create?

Answer 34

A Nazi dictatorship.

Question 35

Why did visible suppression help the Nazis?

Answer 35

It scared opponents into obedience.

Question 36

What were working conditions like in the Reich Labour Front?

Answer 36

Poor and low-paid.

Question 37

Why did the Nazis offer rewards?

Answer 37

To keep workers loyal despite poor conditions.

Question 38

How did the Nazis use censorship?

Answer 38

To control information and silence critics.

Question 39

What was the purpose of a single-party state?

Answer 39

To eliminate political opposition.

Question 40

How did the Nazis suppress dissent?

Answer 40

By arresting and silencing critics.

Question 41

What does SS stand for?

Answer 41

Schutzstaffel.

Question 42

Who led the SS?

Answer 42

Heinrich Himmler.

Question 43

What was the role of the SS?

Answer 43

To root out opposition to Hitler.

Question 44

What type of organisation was the SS?

Answer 44

The state's internal security service.

Question 45

How did the SS maintain control?

Answer 45

Through fear, violence, and intimidation.

Question 46

Did the SS follow the law?

Answer 46

No, they operated outside the law.

Question 47

What did the SS do to political opponents?

Answer 47

Carried out brutal attacks and arrests.

Question 48

What kind of prisons did the SS run?

Answer 48

Political prisons.

Question 49

What was the purpose of SS brutality?

Answer 49

To terrify and silence opposition.

Question 50

How did fear help the Nazis stay in control?

Answer 50

It discouraged people from resisting.

Question 51

Who was the Nazi propaganda minister?

Answer 51

Joseph Goebbels.

Question 52

What was Goebbels’ main aim with propaganda?

Answer 52

To create a national community (Volksgemeinschaft).

Question 53

Name the 3 main propaganda messages.

Answer 53

1. Nazi benefits, 2. Nazi beliefs & persecution, 3. Fuhrer cult.

Question 54

What was the Fuhrer cult?

Answer 54

Hitler was shown as a god-like father of Germany.

Question 55

How were Nazi benefits promoted?

Answer 55

By showing how lucky people were, e.g. The People’s Car.

Question 56

Who were targeted in Nazi propaganda?

Answer 56

Jews, disabled people, and other minorities.

Question 57

Name three propaganda tools used.

Answer 57

Posters, cinema, rallies.

Question 58

What was the People’s Receiver?

Answer 58

A cheap radio to spread Nazi messages.

Question 59

What event was used as propaganda in 1936?

Answer 59

The Berlin Olympics.

Question 60

What were Nazi mass rallies used for?

Answer 60

To show power and promote loyalty.

Question 61

Why was propaganda hard to avoid?

Answer 61

It was everywhere and constant.

Question 62

What was the purpose of censorship?

Answer 62

To block alternative ideas and control opinion.

Question 63

How did censorship help the Nazis?

Answer 63

It stopped criticism and opposition.

Question 64

Why is it hard to know how effective propaganda was?

Answer 64

Fear stopped people from expressing true opinions.

Question 65

How did some Germans try to avoid propaganda?

Answer 65

By arriving late to films to skip propaganda reels.

Question 66

What four methods did Nazis use to reduce unemployment?

Answer 66

Forced labour, public works, rearmament, Autobahn building.

Question 67

How many were unemployed in Germany in 1933?

Answer 67

Over 6 million.

Question 68

How many were unemployed by 1939?

Answer 68

0.1 million.

Question 69

Why did the Nazis gain support from employment changes?

Answer 69

Jobs and income after the Great Depression won praise.

Question 70

What groups were forced out of jobs under Nazi rule?

Answer 70

Women and Jews.

Question 71

Why were women and Jews less likely to support Nazi economic policy?

Answer 71

They were excluded from jobs.

Question 72

What remained a problem despite more jobs?

Answer 72

Poor working conditions.

Question 73

What event in 1936 showed unrest about work conditions?

Answer 73

Strikes in Berlin.

Question 74

What was the purpose of the KDF (Strength Through Joy)?

Answer 74

To avoid worker discontent and win support.

Question 75

What did the KDF offer workers?

Answer 75

Cheap holidays, cruises, concert tickets, People’s Car savings scheme.

Question 76

How many Germans went on a KDF holiday by 1938?

Answer 76

10 million.

Question 77

Why was the KDF successful for the Nazis?

Answer 77

It won over the working class and deflected criticism.

Question 78

What was a failure of the People’s Car scheme?

Answer 78

It was never fully developed.

Question 79

Why did the People’s Car scheme fail?

Answer 79

Funds were diverted to the military.

Question 80

What does the failure of some KDF promises show?

Answer 80

Social policies were not the most important factor in Nazi control.

Question 81

What was the Nazi youth group for boys?

Answer 81

Hitler Jugend (Hitler Youth).

Question 82

What did the Hitler Youth teach boys?

Answer 82

Camping, shooting, trench digging – military prep.

Question 83

What was the Nazi youth group for girls?

Answer 83

The League of German Maidens (BDM).

Question 84

What did the BDM teach girls?

Answer 84

To be mothers and wives – focus on ‘church, children, kitchen’.

Question 85

Why were the Youth Movements important for Nazi control?

Answer 85

They won over most young people.

Question 86

By 1936, what % of youth joined Nazi youth groups voluntarily?

Answer 86

60%.

Question 87

Did all youth support Nazi groups?

Answer 87

No, some joined opposition groups.

Question 88

Name two opposition youth groups.

Answer 88

Edelweiss Pirates, White Rose.

Question 89

When did Nazi youth movements become compulsory?

Answer 89

December 1936.