Consolidation of Nazi Rule in Germany Flashcards
ways Hitler consolidated his power in 1934
- the Reichstag Fire
- the Enabling Act
- Gleichschaltung (Co-ordination)
- the Night of Long Knives
- the Army and the Oath of Allegience
the Reichstag Fire
- a Dutch communist member was caught at the scene of the fire and admitted to starting the fire
- Hitler convinced President Hindenburg that the Communist Party was trying to overthrow the government and pressurised Hindenburg to pass emergency laws, which suspended civil liberties such as freedom of press and the right to public assembly
- about 4,000 communists were arrested and Hitler also took the opportunity to remove other political rivals
explanation (feelings + outcome)
this helped Hitler consolidate his power because :
- the suspension of civil liberties affected the election campaigns of political parties in preparation of the March elections
- the Reichstag Fire and its aftermath helped the Nazis to remove their biggest political rival, the communists by weakening them through arrests and by heightening poeple’s fear of communism (OUTCOME)
- it also helped the Nazis to consolidate their politcal power by eliminating other political opponents (OUTCOME)
- by eliminating his most formidable opponent, the communists, and reducing their threat and chance to win in the March elections, Hitler managed to consolidate his power
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thus, Hitler’s clever manipulation over the events surrounding the Reichstag Fire allowed him to consolidate his power
Enabling Act in March 1933 to become the legal dictator
- Hitler used bully tactics, intimidation and persuasion to secure a two-third majority in the Reichstag to pass the Enabling Act
- the Act gave Hitler the power to pass laws without the approval of the Reichstag and the President
- in addition, the Communist Party and the Social Democratic Party were banned from all future elections
explanation (feelings + outcome)
this helped Hitler consolidate his power and set up a totalitarian dictatorship because :
- the Enabling Act made Hitler the legal dictator and this greatly strengthened his political position and authority (OUTCOME)
- Hiler could use his new power to control the media and set up concentration camps
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thus, Hitler’s clever use of the Enabling Act helped him greatly to strengthen his control over the government and consolidate his power
Gleichschaltung (Co-ordination) : One Party Rule in July 1933
- he passed the law which banned the Jews from the civil service
- Trade Unions were banned
- Nazi Party was the only legal party in Germany
explanation (feelings + outcome)
this helped Hitler to consolidate his power and set up a totalitarian dictatorship because :
- he had absolute control of the state, which strengthened his political position and authority (OUTCOME)
- Hitler turned Germany into a one-party state by banning all political parties except the Nazi Party on July 1933, thus eliminating all his political oppponents from the government (OUTCOME)
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thus, Hitler’s clever use of the Enabling Act helped him greatly to strengthen his control over the government and consolidate his power
Night of Long Knives (June 1934) : using this to eliminate internal threats
- Ernst Roehm, the leader the 4-million strong SA, wanted to combine the German Army with the SA, and put them under his charge, which made Hitler perceived him as a threat
- furthermore, Roehm was disliked by army, which made a pact with Hitler to wear allegiance to Hitler if he got rid of Roehm and his leaders
- in June 1934, the SS arrested and killed Roehm and other SA leaders, along with other political opponents of Hitler
explanation (feelings + outcome)
this helped Hitler to consolidate his power because :
- when the SA was placed under the control of the SS, the SA’s power was weakened and this helped Hitler to eliminate potential threats in his party as well as some of his key rivals (OUTCOME)
- Hitler’s handling of the SA also helped him to win over support from the German army, thereby strengthening his power and position within and outside the Nazi Party (OUTCOME)
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thus, Hitler used the Night of Long Knives to consolidate his power
the army and the Oath of Allegiance
- the death of Hindenburg created the perfect opportunity for Hitler to merge the positions and powers of President and Chancellor into the position of Fuhrer (Supreme Leader)
- the entire army swore an oath of personal loyalty to Hitler
- they agreed to stay out of politics and to serve him
- in return, Hitler spent vast sums on rearmament, brought back conscription plans and made plans to make Germany a great military power again
explanation (feelings + outcome)
this helped Hitler to consolidate his power and set up a totalitarian dictatorship because :
- the creation of the Fuhrer position gave Hitler the power to invoke Article 48 of Constitution and put him above the law (OUTCOME)
- following the announcement of his new position, the German Army swore allegiance to Hitler, instead of the German Constitution, and this means that Hitler started to rule as a dictator (OUTCOME)
