Consolidation Of Nazi Power 1933-34

Question 1

How did the Reichstag fire help them to create the Nazi dictatorship? (5)

Answer 1

• the first steps in the ‘Legal Revolution’ were taken after the Reichstag Fire, which occurred on 27th February 1933. A Dutch Communist (Martinus van der Lübbe) was blamed
• The Nazis made sure the fire was blamed on the Communists and Hitler exploited von Hindenburg’s fear of a communist takeover, persuading him to pass the Decree For The Protection of People and State on 28th February. This law gave the Nazis even more power to restrict the activities of their opponents in the elections and the government gained sweeping powers to suspend civil rights under the Weimar Constitution
• Communists lost Public sympathy as a result. 4,000 communists were arrested, making them unable to contest the elections on 5th March.
• In the elections, Nazis secured 44% of the vote (288 seats) and this gave them a slim majority but failed to win two thirds majority of votes required to secure the power to make laws.
• Therefore he made a promise to cancel the Law for the Protection of People and State to the ZP in return for their votes. He was now in a position to pass the Enabling Act in March.

Question 2

How did the Legal Revolution help them consolidate their power? (2)

Answer 2

• Their consolidation of power is referred to as the Legal Revolution because all actions taken by the Nazis during the consolidation of power were legal. Due to the Protection of People and State, Nazis could ban the KPD and ensure the Communists couldn’t contest the election in March. All across Germany, Nazis were appointed as local police chiefs, which made it easier to arrest enemies and put them in ‘protective custody’.
• Most significantly, since their ban was lifted, the Nazis could use the SA and SS to intimidate opponents. Due to this, other parties’ meetings were banned or disrupted and SA intimidation prevented many from voting against the Enabling Act.

Question 3

How was Gleichschaltung responsible for Hitler coming to power? (6)

Answer 3

• In April 1933, all Jews were removed from government jobs by the Law for the Restoration of the Professional Civil Service
• In May 1933, trade unions were banned. They were replaced with the DAF
• By July 1933, the Law Against the Formation of New Parties banned all other parties.
• in January 1934 he took control of State governments and the Reichstrat by the Law for the Reconstruction of the Reich, and thousands of political prisoners were put in concentration camps.
• All actions were legal due to the Enabling Act allowing Hitler to begin the policy of Gleichschaltung
• On 14th July, Germany was declared a one-party State

Question 4

How did the Defeat of the ‘Second Revolution’ help Hitler to consolidate power ? (4)

Answer 4

• Hitler needed to make himself president to hold full power in Germany, and the army’s support would be crucial in this. Therefore von Hindenburg, the army and SA posed a threat to Hitler while they were not under his control.
• SA leader Röhm insisted that once Hitler secured power, they needed to destroy capitalism and the SA needed to replace the German army. This was to be Germany’s ‘Second Revolution’
• Hitler needed to support of industrialists and the army and was embarrassed by these exploits of the SA. He then struck a deal with the minister of defence (von Blomberg) to eliminate the SA danger in return for the presidency. Therefore in June 1934, almost 200 SA leaders and others were murdered by the SS, including Röhm, Strasser, von Schleicher and von Kahr.
• On 2nd August 1934, Hindenburg died. Hitler combined the jobs of chancellor and president to make himself Führer of Germany. This was the Law Concerning the Head of State of the German Reich.