Creation of a dictatorship 1933-34 Flashcards
Why was Hitler’s position as Chancellor initially weak?
There were only 2 Nazis in the cabinet of 12 and Hindenburg disliked him
What did Hitlers weak position in the Reichstag cause him to do?
Called an general election to gain clear
What was the Reichstag fire 1933?
A fire on the reichstag caused Supposedly by dutch communist Martin van der Lubbe.
Allowed Hitler to call the Emergency Decree to overrule the Weimar constitution under the claim that the Communists were about to stage a takeover
What did Hitler and the Nazi party do leading up to this election?
Used Goebells to spread Nazi message
Controlled the Media
Recieved money from large industrialists
Violence and intimidation (70 deaths leading up to the election)
What did Hitler do the following day after the fire?
Hitler persuaded President Hindenburg to sign the ‘Decree for the Protection of People and State’.
-replaced the constitutional government by a permanent state of emergency and suspended basic civil rights.
Name of the system that means that a party coalition needs over 50% of the votes to rule
Weimar System of Proportional Representation
What did Hitler do with his new power after the Decree for the Protection of People and State
Imprisoned 4000 communist party members, and their leader Thalmann.
SA killed 51 Nazi opponents and killed hundreds
Banned Communist and Socialist newspapers
What were the results of the 1933 election
43.9% of votes for nazis
DNVP - 7.9%
Nazi-DNVP made a coalition to pass the proportional system with 51.9%
Why did this result still disappoint Hitler?
He needed 2/3 of seats to change the constitution of weimar
What was the Enabling Act and when was it passed?
1933: Enabling act passed, allowing him and his government full power for the next 4 years (make laws withouit the reichstag)
How did Hitler manage to pass the Enabling act?
devious means:
- absentees counted present
- SA intimidated members to agree
- Communist members not allowed to vote
- Promised the Catholic Centre Party it would not affect their Catholic schools
Explain the End of Trade Unions
Trade union leaders sent to concentration camps for political re-education
Workers were forced to join hitlers trade union the German Labour Front (DAF)
Strikes were outlawed
Dissenters sent to Dachau concentration camp
What law was passed in 1933 to make the Nazis the only political party?
the Law against the Formation of Parties
What was the Lander and what did HItler do to it
Lander were the name given to the 18 districts which had its own parliament.
Hitler replaced all the parliaments with Reich governers, centralising Germany.
He did this because it gave him more power against opposing forces. eg
-President Ebert had to call 130 Emergency Decreess to overrule their oppositions to his decisions
What was the Night Of the Long Knives and when was it ?
1934
Hitler used the SS to purge opposition members in the SA
40 SA members killed, including Rohm (Hitlers biggest rival)
Killedd former Chancellor Von Schleicher
