Consolidation of Nazi Power 1933 - 1934 Flashcards
Events that played a role in Hitlers consolidation of power?
A. The Nazis ability to take advantage of fortuitous events, e.g. Reichstag Fire of February 1933
B. Hitlers ability to convince Hindenburg of the real danger of communism
C. The Nazis willingness to be utterly ruthless
D. The use of legal procedure to bring about the creation of a nazi state - manipulate legal procedures to destroy democratic system
E. The lack of will on the part of the Nazis opponents
F. Goebbels skilful use of propaganda
G. Hitlers willingness to turn on his trusted colleagues
The Nazis ability to take advantage of fortuitous events? - examples
- The Reichstag Fire (27th feb) - Hitler blames communist coup attempt
- Reichstag Fire Decree (28 Feb) - suspension of constitutional freedoms, 4000 people arrested.
Hitlers ability to convince Hindenburg of the real danger of communism? - Examples
- “Law for the protection of German People” ( 4 feb) - Bans placed on left wing parties, destroying “communsit threat”
- Reichstag Fire - KPD not banned, contuined existance allowed the Nazis to play up the fear of commusit threat
- Establishment of first concentration camps (March 1933) - remove politcal oppoennts
The Nazis willingness to be utterly ruthless? - Examples
- Establishment of the Gestapo (March 1933) - Secret police
- Anti Jewish measures (April 1933) - Jewish buinssenes boycotted, dismmised from civil service and limits on education
- Burning of the books (10 May 1933)
- law for seizure of commuist assests (26th may) - KPD destroyed
The Use of Legal Procedure? - Examples
- Hindenburg dissolves Reichstag (1 Feb) - Nazis full resources of the state
- Reichstag Fire decree (28 Feb) - nazis play up communist threat, suspicion of constitutional freedoms
- Establishment of special courts (21 March) - Deal with political opponents
- Reichstag elections (5 March) - Nazis win 44% of the vote join with 7% nationalists to gain majority
- Trade unions banned (2 May)
- Enabling act (23 March) - Hitler given total power for four years
- Concordat (20 July) - Deal with the catholic church
- Reichstag election (12 Nov) - 93% of Vote
- Abolition of state parliaments (Jan 34 ) - Ensured central Nazi control
- Establishment of peoples court ( April 34) - crimes against state
The Lack of will on the part of Nazis opponents? - Examples
- Fulda Declaration (28 March) - Catholic Bishops urge support for Nazi govt
- Trade unions banned (2 May)
- SPD dissolved (22 June)
- DVP and DDP (28 June)
- BVP and Centre dissolves themselves (5 July)
- Hugenberg resigns from cabinet (28 June) - Nazi control over cabinet
Goebbels skilful use of Propaganda? - Examples
- Goebbels joins cabinet (13 March) - Forms ministry of Propaganda and enlightenment
- Postdam ceremony (21 March 1933) - Opening of new Reichstag, linked Nazis to Germanys historic past
- Reich chamber of Culture is formed (22 Sept) - Nazi control of German culture
- Plebiscite on Germanys exit from LON (12 Nov) - 95% of German people approve Hitlers action
- Editorial Law (4 Oct) - All media under Nazi control
Willingness to turn on trusted colleagues? - Examples
- Night of the Long Knives (June 30th 1934)
- Political Concentration Camps (March 1933) - Dachau
Hitlers Goals?
- Long term goals - undo Treaty of Versailles, restore Germanys position in Europe and gain “lebensraum” living space in eastern Europe and Soviet union
- To achieve this needed army on his side - needed expanded military capability
- Needed professional army who would make use of Hitler rearmament plans
- Needed business and industry on his side - needed to produce new planes, tanks, submarines and weaponry
Ernest Röhm?
- Leader of the SA
- Rohm sought a “second revolution” - thought their should be thorough change in Germanys socio - economic set up (full Nazi state)
- Rohm wanted to establish nationals people milita - wanted to absorb army into SA
- Harboured visions of becoming the new leader
- Rohms SA getting out of hand
Why did Hitler get rid of Röhm?
- Violence of SA getting out of hand
- Hindenburg, army leaders and businesses leaders demanded Hitler get SA under control
- Warned Hitler he would impose Martial law - army takeover country (end of Nazi power)
- Rohm and SA’s behaviour threatened his continued existence of his regime
- Von papens “Marburg speech” (17 June 1934) - gave rise to Nazi Opp
The Night of Long Knives?
- June 30th 1934
- “Operation Hummingbird” - SA leadership be destroyed in secret operation
- Himlers growing SS used to execute plan
- SS rounded up a lot of SA officials and Hitler arrested Röhm
- SA men murderd
- Röhm shot after rufusal to commit suicide
- Goering and Himler used opportunity to get rid of other political opps - Chancellor von Schleicher, Gregor Strasser
Luck playing a part of consildation?
- Reichstag Fire (27th Feb 1933) - lead to Reichstag fire decree
- German Left remained divided - The KPD refused to forgive the SPD for January 1919 - Only a united left could have stopped Hitler
- Able to manipulate legal procedures to destroy democratic system
- Hindenburg died within two months of destruction of SA - Hitler absorbed his powers of president which the army accepted by swearing oath of loyalty
