Consolidation of Power

Question 1

When was Hitler elected Chancellor?

Answer 1

30th January 1933

Question 2

What problems does Hitter face when he becomes Chancellor?

Answer 2

He is one of three Nazis in a cabinet of twelve
He needs to neutralise the left wing
He needs to earn the support of the army
Popular support of the Nazis seems to be falling (had lost seats in the Nov 1932 elections)

Question 3

When was the Reichstag Fire?

Answer 3

27th February 1933

Question 4

Who was blamed for the Reichstag Fire?

Answer 4

A young Dutch Communist Marinus van der Lubbe

Question 5

How did the Reichstag Fire benefit the Nazi party?

Answer 5

Hitler was able to portray the communists as anti-democratic (had set fire to a building that represented democracy) and claimed the fire was part of a communist plot to stage a takeover. Hence, repressive measures against the communists were needed

Hitler could use the fire as justification to get Hindenburg to sign the Decree for the Protection of the People and the State

Nazis able to portray themselves as protectors of Germany

Question 6

When was the Decree for the Protection of the People and the State passed?

Answer 6

28th February 1933

Question 7

What did the Decree for the Protection of the People and the State do?

Answer 7

Gave emergency powers to Hitler to deal with the apparent danger

Suspended many of the German public’s constitutional rights eg. free speech, freedom of press, freedom of assembly, and privacy of telephone and post communications

Allowed police to make arrests without trial - Hitler used this to eliminate political rivals (communists and socialists)

Communist leaders were arrested and communist newspapers were banned

Question 8

When were the 1933 March Elections?

Answer 8

5th March 1933

Question 9

What significance did the 1933 March elections have?

Answer 9

KPD lost 11 seats

Nazis won 788 seats and their vote increased from 33% to 44%.

BUT although this was the highest vote for a single party, they still had not won a majority - two thirds majority needed to change the constitution

This meant they had to form a coalition with the National Party (who had 52 seats) to secure a majority

Question 10

When was the Ministry for Propaganda and Enlightenment formed?

Answer 10

13th March 1933

Question 11

What was the role of the Ministry for Propaganda and Enlightenment?

Answer 11

Controlled the content of the press, literature, cinema, radio, music, and theatre

Led by Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels

Question 12

When was the Day of Potsdam and why was this date chosen?

Answer 12

21st March 1933

Anniversary of the establishment of Germany’s first Reichstag on March 21st 1871

Question 13

What happened on the Day of Potsdam and how were these things used as Nazi propaganda?

Answer 13

Both Hitler and Hindenburg made speeches and shared a handshake - publicised as representing the unity of the old and new order (Hitler famously wore civilian clothes and bowed his head to Hindenburg during the handshake - symbol of respect)

Crown prince Wilhelm, guest of honour and representative of the Hohenzollern dynasty, and his three surviving brothers Prince Eitel Friedrich, prince Oskar, and Prince August Wilhelm were invited - symbolic of unity between the Third Reich, Prussia, and the German Empire

The entire ceremony was broadcast on radio

After the ceremony parades were held, with participation of the SS, SA, and Reichswehr

Question 14

What happened on the Day of Potsdam and how were these things used as Nazi propaganda?

Answer 14

Both Hitler and Hindenburg made speeches and shared a handshake - publicised as representing the unity of the old and new order (Hitler famously wore civilian clothes and bowed his head to Hindenburg during the handshake - symbol of respect)

Crown prince Wilhelm, guest of honour and representative of the Hohenzollern dynasty, and his three surviving brothers Prince Eitel Friedrich, prince Oskar, and Prince August Wilhelm were invited - symbolic of unity between the Third Reich, Prussia, and the German Empire

The entire ceremony was broadcast on radio

After the ceremony parades were held, with participation of the SS, SA, and Reichswehr

Question 15

What was Hitler’s goal with the Day of Potsdam?

Answer 15

To earn the trust and support of old conservative Germany - especially important as the Nazis were in a coalition with the Nationalists

The conservative population were apprehensive about the more radical elements of Nazi policy - the Day of Potsdam showed Hitler to be aligning himself with the conservatives and the old forces (eg. Hindenburg, Hohenzollern dynasty, reichswehr) instead of the radicals within the Nazi party

Question 16

When was the Enabling Act passed?

Answer 16

24th March 1933

Question 17

What did the Enabling Act do?

Answer 17

Removed limitations on Hitters power by ending parliamentary procedure and legislation and giving full power to the Chancellor and his government for 4 years.

Meant that Hitler could pass laws without the support of the Reichstag - he no longer had to rely on the support of other parties and could base his dictatorship on legality

Question 18

How was Hitler able to pass the Enabling Act?

Answer 18

Banned communists from attending the vote
Stationed members of the SA outside the Kroll Opera House (temporary home of the Reichstag) to stop some representatives from entering and voting
Gained the support of the Centre Party by promising to protect the needs of the Roman Catholic Church
Act was passed by 444 to 94 votes

Question 19

What did Hitler use the Enabling Act to do?

Answer 19

April: Remove Jews from public office - professions such as university lecturers, teachers, and civil servants
May: Ban trade unions and arrest their leaders
July: Pass the Law Against the Formation of New Parties
October: Pass the Reich Press Laws - led to strict control and censorship of the press. Any newspaper which criticised the Nazis was shut down

Question 20

When was the Law for the Restoration of the Civil Service passed?

Answer 20

7th April 1933

Question 21

What did the Law for the Restoration of the Civil Service do?

Answer 21

Removed certain people from their positions in order to establish a “professional” civil service

Non-Aryans and Jews were strongly encouraged to retire while communists were terminated

Forbade Jews, non-Aryans, and political opponents from holding positions as teachers, professors, judges, or government positions

Question 22

When was the Law Against the Formation of New Parties passed?

Answer 22

14th July 1933

Question 23

What did the Law Against the Formation of New Parties do?

Answer 23

Made the Nazi party the only legal party in Germany

Final measure taken to eliminate other political parties

Question 24

What measures were taken before the Law Against the Formation of New Parties to eliminate all other parties?

Answer 24

Social Democratic Party (SPD) saw their assets seized on May 10th 1933 and all SPD publications and meetings were banned on June 22nd

Most other parties were intimidated into disbandment by late June/early July

Question 25

When was the Concordat signed?

Answer 25

20th July 1933

Question 26

What did Hitler and the Pope agree to in the Concordat?

Answer 26

In return for the Church not interfering with politics, Hitler guaranteed the safety of the Catholic church in Germany

Question 27

Why did Hitler see the Catholic church as a threat to Nazism?

Answer 27

Catholics were loyal to the Pope over Hitler
Catholic schools and youth groups pushed different ideals to those of the Nazi party
Catholics supported the Centre party

Question 28

Why was the Concordat significant for German Catholics?

Answer 28

Many Catholics felt persecuted as Germany was a predominantly Protestant country - Mitter guaranteeing the Safety of the Catholic Church in Germany gave them a sense of security

Question 29

How did Hitler break the terms of the Concordat shortly after it was signed?

Answer 29

Priests were harassed and arrested, many ended up in concentration camps for questioning Nazi ideals
Catholic schools were interfered with and eventually abolished
Catholic youth movements were closed down
Monasteries were closed down

Question 30

What was Hitler’s goal of Gleichschaltung?

Answer 30

The ‘Nazifiction’ of German society - merging German society with Nazi institutions and associations so that the Nazi Party could control all aspects of social, political, educational, and cultural activity within the state.

Question 31

Why did federal states pose a threat to Nazi Gleichschaltung?

Answer 31

Germany had strong regional traditions which were a direct challenge to the Nazi belief in a centralised State.

Question 32

How was federal government abolished?

Answer 32

Regional parliaments were dissolved on March 31st 1933 and replaced by Nazi-dominated state governments

Reich governors (representatives of the Nazi government in the states), who were usually local party Gauleiters, were created

In January 1934, regional parliaments were abolished and federal government and governors were subordinated to central government

Question 33

Why were trade unions seen as a threat to Nazism?

Answer 33

The trade union movement in Germany was strong and had connections with communism and socialism

Question 34

How did the Nazis deal with trade unions?

Answer 34

Initially the unions were tricked into believing a working relationship could be established when May Ist (Labour Day) was declared a national holiday BUT the next day union premises were occupied, funds were seized, and leaders were sent to concentration camps

This was followed by the banning of independent unions, which were replaced by the German Labour Front (DAF)

Question 35

When was the Night of the Long Knives?

Answer 35

30th June 1934

Question 36

Why was the SA a problem for Hitler by 1934?

Answer 36

SA members were radical and had socialist beliefs. They wanted a ‘second revolution’ and to remove the conservative elite and the army from power. They believed that they had helped to win the battles on the streets and should now be rewarded with greater influence.

SA membership was growing rapidly and had reached 3,000,000 by 1934

Hitler suspected Ernst Rohm, leader of the SA, was trying to take over and was a threat to Hitler’s leadership. Rohm openly criticised Hitler for cooperating with industrialists and army generals

Rohm also wanted to merge the SA with the army and create a people’s military, of which he would be commander. Hiller was worried that Rohms plans would alienate the army as they did not want to merge with the SA

SA was unpopular (see next card)

The behaviour of the SA, excessive and uncontrolled violence as well as a reputation for drinking and brawling, was an embarrassment to Hitler and destroyed his reputation and the image of leadership he wanted to convey

SA was no longer needed as an auxiliary police force after August 1933

Question 37

Who disliked the SA?

Answer 37

Middle classes were frightened by SA violence

Businessmen were frightened by the left wing views of the SA

Important figures disliked the SA
- Von Papen made a major speech on June 17th approved by Hindenburg attacking Nazi excesses and SA violence
- Defence minister Blomberg threatened to resign

Other Nazis including Goebbels and Goering who wanted to consolidate power rather than transform the country and also wanted to increase their own power, seeing Rohm as a rival

The army and Hindenburg saw the SA as undisciplined and too politicised

Question 38

Why was gaining the support of the army important to Hitler?

Answer 38

The army was the only remaining organisation with the power to overthrow him - threat

Although the SA was larger than the army, they did not match the discipline and military expertise of the army. Hence, Hitler needed the army’s military skills to implement his foreign policy in the future.

By 1934 Hindenburg was dying and Hitler wanted to assume the role of president without an election in order to avoid the possibility of a monarchical restoration. To do this he would need the support of the army but first the amy commanders demanded the elimination of the SA and the possibility of a second revolution

Question 39

What happened on the Night of the Long Knives?

Answer 39

Rohm and other leading members of the SA were shot by the SS. An estimated 400 members of the SA were murdered as well as some of Hitler’s other rivals eg. Schleicher (former Chancellor) and Gregor Strasser (leader of the radical socialist wing of the party)

Question 40

What did the Night of the Long Knives achieve?

Answer 40

Neutralised the SA as a threat and membership declined to 1.6 million. They would play no further political role in the state and were limited to propaganda rallies.

Hitler gained the support of the army. After Hindenburg’s death they swore on oath of allegiance to Hitler.

Hitler won support as he presented the massacre as him saving Germany from a threatened coup by the SA.

Hitter had complete control over the party as his rivals Strasser and Rohm had been killed.

The threat from the conservative elite was reduced. Papen had been placed under house arrest (following his speech) and other politicians such as Schleicher had been murdered

Question 41

What were the 4 aspects of Gleichschaltung?

Answer 41

1. Creation of a one-party state
2. Centralisation of power and control of local government
3. Control over civil service
4. Elimination of independent organisations

Question 42

How did the Nazis achieve the creation of a one-party state?

Answer 42

Repression of KPD following Reichstag Fire

SPD outlawed in June 1933

DVP and Centre Party voluntarily dissolved in July 1933

Law Against the Formation of New Parties in July 1933

Trade unions banned May 1933

Question 43

How did the Nazis achieve centralisation of power and control over local government?

Answer 43

Goering appointed Minister of the Interior (head of police force) of Prussia in Jan 1933

Laws for the coordination of the Federal states - state assemblies replaced by new Nazi-controlled assemblies and regions were put under Nazi control

Jan 1934 Law for the Reconstruction of the Reich abolished state assemblies

Feb 1934 Reichsrat was abolished - legal delegates no longer sent to parliament

Question 44

How did the Nazis achieve control over the civil service?

Answer 44

Civil service had always remained under the control of the conservatives during the WR. The Nazis did not like the independence of the service and forced many to resign, issuing the Law for the Restoration of the Civil Service in April 1933. They were replaced by loyal Nazi members.

Question 45

How did the Nazis achieve the elimination of independent organisations?

Answer 45

Local and national organisations dissolved and replaced with Nazi organisations eg. TUs, women’s organisations, and youth groups

Restrictions and repression of churches and related groups

Question 46

When did Hindenburg die?

Answer 46

2nd August 1934

Question 47

How was Hitler able to profit from Hindenburg’s death?

Answer 47

As Hitler had eliminated opposition by the time of Hindenburg’s death, there was no political crisis.

Hiker was able to merge the role of President with that of Chancellor and take on the new official title of Fuhrer

Question 48

Why was Hitler able to easily establish his dictatorship by the time of Hindenburg’s death?

Answer 48

Weakness of the opposition: left wing was destroyed and the right wing had never really supported the Weimar Republic and sympathised with the new regime

Legality: the partial use of the law justified Nazi actions and made them difficult to resist

Terror: discouraged resistance and those who did oppose were killed

Propaganda: was used to justify Nazi actions and portray Hitler as acting to save Germany

Deception: Hitler misled powerful groups to gain their support or destroy them