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HISTORY-GERMANY K2 > Consolidation of power > Flashcards

Consolidation of power Flashcards

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1
Q

What is Gleichschaltung?

A

Co-ordination

The process by which Hitler gained control of Germany

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2
Q

Why was Hitler in a weak position in January 1933?

A

Only 2 other Nazis had positions in the new gov
He could be sacked by the president at any time
Nazi support had fallen from 37% to 33% during 1932, needed at least 50% of the vote to control Reichstag
Hindenburg and Franz Von Papen planned to use Hitler like a puppet from ‘behind the scenes’

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3
Q

Why had Hitler’s position changed by Aug 1934?

A 
The army had taken an oath of personal loyalty to Hitler
Von Papen had resigned
Hindenburg was dead
Hitler was president + chancellor
The Nazis were the ONLY political party
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4
Q

How did Hitler consolidate power?

A

Within 18 months he turned himself into a dictator, had power to issue decrees + no legal way to replace him
His conservative, liberal + socialist opponents were divided, demoralised + weakened by repression
Political opponents intimidated by violence ‘from below’ and terror ‘from above’
By the end of 1933, over 100,000 potential opponents had been arrested
Only potential threat came from army, they had committed to the new gov
Regime developed organisations

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5
Q

What was the violence ‘from below’ ?

A

The SA

They had murdered around 500 people in 1933

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6
Q

Why was there terror ‘from above’ ?

A

Nazis could now use the power of the gov

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7
Q

What organisations did the regime develop?

A

Germans had to join them e.g. German Labour Front (DAF) and Hitler Youth

Ensured the regime’s control + that the members would work to fulfil the government’s aims

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8
Q

When was the Reichstag fire?

A

February 1933

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9
Q

When was the Reichstag fire?

A

February 1933

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10
Q

What was the Reichstag?

A

A building that represented democracy

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11
Q

What was the Reichstag fire?

A

Dutch anarchist, van der Lubbe set fire to the Reichstag
Hitler said he was a communist and used this to portray the communists as anti-democratic (setting fire to democratic building)
Also claimed the fire was part of a communist plot to stage a takeover so repressive measures were needed

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12
Q

What were the impacts of the Reichstag fire?

A

Repressive measures taken against Communists
A ‘Decree for the Protection of the People and the State’ signed by President using his emergency powers the next day
Hitler granted emergency powers due to apparent threat
Nazis seen to be acting quickly + decisively in contrast to old republic
Used apparent threat to justify arresting large numbers of Nazi opponents-limited opposition in forthcoming election

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13
Q

How did the Reichstag fire benefit the Nazis + help Hitler consolidate his power?

A

Within 24 hours of his appointment, Hitler persuaded Hindenburg to call fresh elections
Communist party still major threat
Reichstag fire got rid of lots of this Communist threat, limited opposition for election. Nazis more likely to get majority in Reichstag
Viewed positively due to their quick + decisive action against communist threat

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14
Q

Why did Hitler want fresh elections?

A

Because Nazis didn’t have majority despite being largest party in Reichstag

Thought the elections would increase Nazi vote + his status

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15
Q

When were the elections?

A

March 1933

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16
Q

What was the atmosphere like at the March elections?

A

Fear (created by the fire)

Election took place against a background of terror and intimidation towards Nazi opponents by Hitler’s private army, the SA

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17
Q

What happened in the March elections?

A

Very high turnout of 88% despite fear
Nazis unable to secure overall majority despite being largest single party
Nazi vote increased from 33% to 44% winning 288 seats
Meant they need Nationalist support with their 52 seats to secure overall majority
This limited Hitler’s freedom of action, in order to change constitution + increase power he needed 2/3 majority in Reichstag

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18
Q

When was the Enabling Act passed?

A

23rd March 1933

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19
Q

What was the Enabling Act?

A

Gave Hitler the right to make laws for 4 years with out the consent of the Reichstag

Gave him power to make one-party state

Dismantled the Weimar constitution

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20
Q

Who voted against the enabling act?

A

Only social democrats voted against measure

Passed by 444 to 94 votes

Only achieved because of promises he made to Catholic Centre Party-wouldn’t have won majority with out their support

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21
Q

What promises did Hitler make to the Catholic Centre Party to get them to vote for the enabling act?

A

Promised to respect the rights of the Catholic church + uphold religious and moral values

22
Q

What was the impact of the enabling act?

A

The only thing thing stopping Hitler from becoming a dictator was President Hindenburg

23
Q

What were the Nazis’ idea to establish Gleichschaltung?

A

Idea was to merge German society with Nazi institutions and associations.
This would allow the Nazi party to control all aspects of social, cultural + educational activity

24
Q

What were the Nazis’ concerns when creating the one-party state?

A

Political

Needed to secure political supremacy over the federal states, trade unions + other political parties

25
Q

Why were the Nazis concerned about federal states?

A

Because they were a direct challenge to the Nazi belief in a centralised state

26
Q

What did the Nazis do about federal states?

A

Dissolved regional parliaments on 31st March 1933 and replaced them with Nazi-dominated state governments

Created Reich governors who were usually local party gauleiters

Jan 1934, regional parliaments were abolished, federal government + governors subordinated to central gov

These actions meant federal gov virtually disappeared

27
Q

Why were the Nazis concerned about trade unions?

A

Because its close connection with communism + socialism meant the Nazis viewed it as a threat

28
Q

What did the Nazis do about trade unions?

A

Initially tricked them into thinking a working relationship could be established when 1st May was declared a national holiday

The next day, union premises were occupied, funds seized + leaders sent to concentration camps

Banned independent unions, replaced them with DAF

This, as well as controlling workers + them losing right to negotiate wages + working conditions meant the power of the labour movement was broken within a year

29
Q

How did the Nazis tackle the existence of the other political parties?

A

Communist party already banned following Reichstag fire
22nd June 1933, Social Democrats banned
Most of the remaining political parties agreed to dissolve themselves to avoid being abolished
Centre Party accepted situation in July and was dissolved
14th July ‘The Law against the Establishment of Parties’ declared that Nazis were the only political party

30
Q

What areas did the Nazis not control by the end of 1933 ?(Gleichschaltung not yet complete)

A

Church still retained its influence

Army + big businesses still independent

Civil service + education had only been partially co-ordinated

31
Q

Despite some success, why was Nazi control still not complete?

A

Hitler didn’t want to antagonise powerful groups eg the army

He needed the support of big business for rearmament

Needed support of civil service

Needed to maintain MC support, achieved this by reassuring them traditional elements of state were being maintained

32
Q

What does the DAF stand for?

A

German Labour Front

33
Q

Who were the SA?

A

Storm troopers
Brown shirts because of their uniform
Many supported a more radicalism Nazism

34
Q

Who were the SS?

A

Known as black shirts because of their uniform
Established in 1925 as an elite bodyguard for Hitler
Under control of Himmler
Developed a reputation for obedience + loyalty

35
Q

Who was Ernst Röhm?

A

Chief of the SA

36
Q

What caused The Night of the Long Knives?

A

The SA (particularly chief Röhm) wanted to merge with the army + wanted to take co-ordination further

Hitler believed policy of co-ordination had gone far enough + was concerned the army would be alienated by Röhm’s plans so didn’t support his call for ‘second revolution’

Army didn’t want to merge with SA, Hitler backed army

37
Q

Why did the army not want to merge with the SA?

A

Viewed them as undisciplined and too politicised

38
Q

Why did Hitler back the army instead of the SA?

A

He was aware they were the one institution that could remove him + much of its leadership was suspicious of him

They had the military skills he would need to implement his foreign policy

39
Q

When was The Night of Long Knives?

A

30th June 1934

40
Q

What happened on The Night of Long Knives?

A

Himmler’s SS and Goering’s special police arrested and executed the leaders of the SA and other people against whom Hitler had a score to settle

41
Q

What are some key examples of the people killed on The Night of Long Knives?

A

Not just the SA

Ernst Röhm was shot after refusing to commit suicide.

Kurt von Schleicher (former Chancellor) shot

Gregor Strasser (Nazi member with socialist views) also shot

42
Q

What were the impacts of The Night of the Long Knives?

A

400 people killed
Ended the SA as a military + political force
Hitler destroyed the left wing of his party + the old conservative right wing
Hitler won the support of the army, with soldiers taking a personal oath of loyalty to Hitler
SA’s role limited. SS emerged as potent force
Hitler secured his dictatorship, actions accepted, got away with murder of opponents. Clear indication of powers the new regime possessed, not really a ‘legal’ dictatorship
Many Germans saw Hitler as a man who could bring order to Germany, as he got rid of ‘lawless’ SA leaders

43
Q

What did Hitler hope would happen by taking action against the SA?

A

Hoped he won win the backing of the army
Also wanted this as it was close to Hindenburg’s death
Wanted to assume office of president + avoid election, didn’t want army to lead attempt to replace him with a monarchy
Therefore their support was vital

44
Q

When did Hindenburg die?

A

2nd August 1934

45
Q

Why wasn’t there a political crisis when Hindenburg died?

A

The Night of the Long Knives + oath taken by army meant there was no opposition to challenge Hitler, so Hitler was able to merge the role of president with chancellor and took new title führer
Any challenge to his position + threat of revolution had ended

46
Q

Why was Hitler able to establish his dictatorship?

A

The weakness of the opposition

Legality

Terror

Propaganda

Deception

47
Q

Why did the weakness of the opposition contribute to Hitler establishing his dictatorship?

A

The left wing was destroyed with relative ease, while the right wing had never really supported the Weimar republic and sympathised with the new regime

48
Q

Why did legality contribute to Hitler establishing his dictatorship?

A

The partial use of law justified Nazi actions + made it more difficult to resist

49
Q

Why did terror contribute to Hitler establishing his dictatorship?

A

This also discouraged resistance + those who did oppose were arrested and even killed

50
Q

Why did propaganda contribute to Hitler establishing his dictatorship?

A

This was used to justify the actions and to portray Hitler as acting to save Germany

51
Q

Why did deception contribute to Hitler establishing his dictatorship?

A

Hitler misled powerful groups to win them over or to destroy them

HISTORY-GERMANY K2 (8 decks)

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