Creation of a Dictatorship - Nazi (1) Flashcards
1
Q
The creation of a dictatorship:
Why did Papen and Hindenburg believe Hitler could be controlled?
A
- Nazis were the most popular but they didn’t hold majority of the seats in the Reichstag - unable to make any legal changes to the Weimar Constitution to dismantle the democratic system.
- Hitler could always simply be dismissed by Hindenburg, using his presidental powers, should Hitler be troublesome.
2
Q
What was Hitler like in the first few weeks of appointment?
A
Within a couple of weeks, it had become apparent that Hitler’s popularity and political cunning meant he wouldn’t be the puppet chancellor Hindenburg had hoped for.
3
Q
How legal was Hitler’s creation of a dictatorship
The burning of the Reichstag
A
- Happened on 27th Feb 1933 with Communist van Lubbe being caught by the Nazis for ‘supposedly carrying evidence that he had set the fire’.
- Possible he did this, but also possible it was set by the Nazis and van Lubbe was the scapegoat.
4
Q
What benefits did the burning of the Reichstag bring?
A
- Nazis got the credit for catching the arsonist and stir up anti-communist propaganda.
- Nazis gained political but also financial support - German industrialists contributed generously to the Nazi funds as their fear of communism rose.
- Hitler persuaded Hindenburg to declare a state of emergency - gave H control of the police and ability to rule by decree (with Hind’s consent to measures).
5
Q
Example of Hitler ruling by decree
Decree for the Protection of the People and the State
A
Suspended the civil rights of German citizens, so he could legally arrest political opponents and ban opposition newspapers.
6
Q
Elections 1933
A
- Hitler persuaded Hindenburg to call an election - to maintain his party’s popularity, he placed his publicity officer Joseph Goebbels in charge of all of Weimar’s media equipment, radio stations and press connections to run extensive propaganda.
- With this and the violent removal of opposition, the Nazis’ 17.5 million votes won them 288 seats in the Reichstag.
- Used his emergency powers to ban the 81 communists from taking their seats (removed the main competition) and the support of the DNVP gave the Nazis a majority to pass the Enabling Act - destroyed the democratic system.
- The Nazi management of the March elections showed how they used the law to get what they wanted, alongside a violent, illegal elimination of opponents.
7
Q
What is the Enabling Act?
A
- 24th March 1933 and passed 444 to 84 (opposed by all the SPD) - now could pass laws w/o the Reichstag.
- Renewed in 1937 but afterwards ignored because Hitler’s dictatorship was clearly established.
- Removed parties in the Reichstag gradually, until on 14th July 1933, a law banned all remaining parties and the country became a one-party state.
- Tore up the Weimar Constitution - Hindenburg was able to stop him but was old and ill. Upon Hind’s death, Hitler legally could to combine the roles of president and chancellor into that of Fuhrer, and held a plebscite to confirm this made Hitler’s action more acceptable abroad.
8
Q
Nazi’s coordination policy
A
- Controlled almost all aspects of public service (schools, police and post) to ‘Nazify’ Germany, moulding national identity and party loyalty into one feeling of pro-Nazi and pro-Germany pride.
- SA were crucial for success - ran campaigns of violence and intimidation against rivals of the party.
- Hitler grew distrusting of Rohm and the SA - army considered the SA unprofessional and ill-disciplined thugs and the old Imperialist army officiers welcomed the Nazi Party to restore national pride and the traditional values of autocracy.
9
Q
The Night of the Long Knives
A
- Decided to take action upon Hindenburg’s death to gain a loyal army over the SA = hired the SS to deal with the threat posed by orchestrating the mass execution of Rohm and leading SA members.
- 30th June 1934 = over 200 SA members were assassinated.
- Wiped SA out completely as a political power within the party, winning army support and effectively legalised murder for the govt. As a result, the SS rose to a position of great prominence within the party, becoming the leading enforces of Hitler.
- Due to Hindenburg dying and the removal of the SA - nobody left to oppose Hitler’s merger of chancellor and President, acting as the Fuhrer.
10
Q
The nature of Nazi Government (1934-39)
A
- One party state solved the problem of election majorities and coalitions.
- Banned the Reichstrat but retained the Reichstag but it only passed 7 laws between 1934-45, for the Nazi Govt made and enforced the laws (kept the existing bureaucracy).
- Civil service purged of Jews and opponents in 1933 - many clerks had been Nazis even when there were other parties to choose from.
- Kept non-Nazi ministers to provide a useful level of continunity; as officials and citizens felt they understood the sys but it was illusory - no equal amount of ministry power.
- Established new ministries, or took over existing ones. Hitler left details vague - if deliberate, possibly to introduce a spirit of competition among departments (ppl don’t feel too settled and instead feel they owe their position to Hitler),
11
Q
Key features of Nazi Govt
Leadership
A
- Hitler was the leader of the nation and held ultimate power.
- Strict, hierarchical order - essential for people to work together for the nation and not make their own decisions.
12
Q
Key features of Nazi Govt
Decision-making
A
- Impossible for Hitler to make all decisions, leaving most of the paper work to others.
- But it was necessary for all to be aware of the broad principles of what Hitler wanted, as loyalists who achieved the desired results were given more power and responsibility (e.g Goebbels).
- Tried to stop groups working together to form police as it would be easier for opposition groups to form. For example, he kept the old cabinet ministers but abolished cabinet meetings - sent draft laws to e/o.
13
Q
Key features of Nazi Govt
Administration
A
- Done by the civil service - headed by Frick in the Ministry of the Interior, operating under Nazi ideology.
- ‘Technically reformed’ but it frequently came into conflict with the Reich Special agencies and other ministries and party officials - despite only intervening during gaps.
- Regularly overruled by ‘Nazi principle’.
14
Q
Key features of Nazi Govt:
One-Nation
A
- Opposed the division of Germany into Lander - wanted a centralised state.
- Stripped the Lander of many of their powers and many were terminated by the Law for the Reconstruction of the Reich on 30th Jan 1933.
- Civil service structure (had separate services for federal business) was reorganised by Frick, running regional and local govt = never entirely achieved and conflicted with Gauleiters in charge of regional party organisation.
15
Q
Key features of Nazi Govt:
Control
A
- Tight control on political matters by the Gestapo, taken over by Himmler’s SS in 1933 - still run as separate groups.
- Main goal was control of the citizens too.
- The Gestapo and the SS developed and extended their judiciary, and Gestapo-controlled concentration camps were set up to manage political prisoners.
