***Establishing a dictatorship

Question 1

When did Hitler become Chancellor?

Answer 1

30 January 1933

Question 2

When was the Reichstag Fire?

Answer 2

27 February 1933

Question 3

What was the outcome of the Reichstag Fire?

Answer 3

A young Dutch communist, Marinus van de Lubbe was arrested.

Question 4

Why did the Reichstag fire benefit the Nazis?

Answer 4

• Hitler could place the blame on the Communists
• Hitler got emergency powers to arrest and detain his opposition without trial
• The Nazis closed down oppositional newspapers

Question 5

In what month does the 1933 election take place?

Answer 5

March

Question 6

What were the results of the March 1933 election for the Nazis?

Answer 6

They got 44% of the vote - got the DNVP to support Hitler

Question 7

How were the Nazis able to gain a majority in the Reichstag despite only getting 44% of the vote?

Answer 7

• Used the police and SA to put pressure on political opponents - over 50 were killed and many injured.
• Used radio to broadcast their anti communist message.

Question 8

When is the Enabling Act passed?

Answer 8

March 24, 1933

Question 9

How was Hitler able to get the Enabling Act passed?

Answer 9

The Communist party was banned from voting and the Centre Party were persuaded to vote in its favour (Hitler had promised he will protect the Catholic church).

Question 10

How did the Enabling Act change Hitler’s power as Chancellor?

Answer 10

It gave Hitler the power to pass laws without going through the Reichstag or President.

Question 11

When were trade unions abolished?

Answer 11

2 May 1934

Question 12

What was the organisation that acted as the trade union in Nazi Germany?

Answer 12

The German Labour Front (DAF)

Question 13

Who led the DAF?

Answer 13

Robert Ley

Question 14

How did the abolition of the trade unions change Hitler’s power?

Answer 14

No mass organised protest could take place in Nazi Germany.

Question 15

What law was passed in July 1933?

Answer 15

A law which banned all remaining political parties and prevented new parties from forming, making Germany a one-party state (a dictatorship).

Question 16

What law was passed in January 1934?

Answer 16

The Law for the Reconstruction of the Reich

Question 17

What did the Law for the Reconstruction of the Reich do?

Answer 17

Abolished the Länder altogether and centralised power.

Question 18

When was the Night of the Long Knives?

Answer 18

June 1934

Question 19

What happened on the Night of the Long Knives?

Answer 19

The leader of the SA, Ernest Röhm, and other senior SA officers were arrested and executed. Over the nest few days, several hundred people were murdered by the SS, including von Schleicher.

Question 20

Why did Hitler authorise the Night of the Long Knives?

Answer 20

He was concerned about the increasing power of the SA (they had over 3 million members by this point) and needed to get the army on side and under his control.

Question 21

What happened in August 1934?

Answer 21

President Hindenburg died

Question 22

What was Hitler able to doo following the death of Hindenburg?

Answer 22

Merged the role of Chancellor and President, making himself Führer.

Question 23

What did the German army do in August 1934?

Answer 23

It aligned itself behind the Nazi regime and took an oath of personal loyalty to Hitler.

Question 24

How did Hitler’s power change after the army had swore an oath to him?

Answer 24

He became Commander-in-Chief of the army. He had removed any threat to his rule which could have been posed by the army.