Dictatorship Flashcards
Who appointed Hitler as Chancellor and when?
Hindenburg on 30th Jan 1933
How did Hindenburg have control over Hitler?
He could sack Hitler at any time.
Hindenburg and Pepen (Vice Chancellor) planned to use Hitler to get what they wanted.
When was the Reichstag Fire?
27th Feb 1933
What were the events of the Reichstag Fire?
Communist Lubbe set the building on fire and it was destroyed in 2 hours.
What happened to Lubbe?
He was caught at the scene and confessed. He was then executed on the 10th Jan 1934
How did Hitler gain support from the Reichstag Fire?
Hitler used the fire to claim that Communists were planning a violent uprising.
He used article 48 to declare a ‘state of emergency’, taking control of the police. They turned a blind eye to SA violence.
He passed a decree allowing him to send 50,000 SA to arrest Communists - they were banned from parliament so Nazis now had a majority
When was the Enabling Act?
24th March 1933
Why was the Enabling Act put in place?
It was meant to destroy democracy by:
- allowing Hitler to pass new laws even if they overrule the constitution
- allowing Hitler to propose any law for 4 years
Without Communists, only the SPD
voted against them (444 votes to 94)
What did the Enabling Act cause?
- It ended democracy, giving Hitler a law- making ability without Reichstag approval
- Hitler had power over police and tax
- Hitler banned opposition newspapers, trade unions and opposing political parties
When was the Night of the Long Knives?
30th June 1934
What happened prior to the Night of the Long Knives?
Rohan wanted the SA to become the new German army.
Hitler wasn’t happy since Rohm could directly oppose him and opposed some of Hitler’s policies (socialist)
Himmler and Hedrick didn’t like Rohm’s arrogance.
The German army weren’t happy and feared for their role.
Hitler needed to chose between the SA or the German army.
Did Hitler chose the SA or army?
The army.
What happened on the Night of the Long Knives?
Hitler arranged for Rohm and 100 SA leaders to meet at a hotel in Bad Wiessee for a conference.
The SS arrested and shot around 400 SA members including Rohm after he refused to commit suicide.
Hitler used the purge to eliminate other rivals such as:
Former Nazi leader, Strasser (shot in neck left to bleed out)
Former Chancellor, Von Schleicher (him and his wife were shot in his doorway)
Former President, Von Kahr (hacked to death with pickaxes)
What happened after the Night of the Long Knives:
Hitler now controlled the SA.
The SS became Hitler’s main tool of control.
Many were convinced the SA had plotted a revolution so Hitler looked like the hero saving Germany.
Von Papen resigned, leaving Hitler solely in charge.
When did Hitler declare himself “Fuhrer”?
2nd August 1934 when Hindenburg died of old age (86 yrs)
