Establishing a dictatorship, 1933-34 - How 'legal' was Hitler's creation of a dictatorship?

Question 1

Nazi party position in Jan 1933?

Answer 1

strong position but only 1/3 of all Reichstag seats = not a majority
H is Chancellor but not trusted by Hin (president)
only 2/12 cabinet members = Nazis

Question 2

Who was blamed for the Reichstag fire?

Answer 2

young dutch communist - Marinus van de Lubbe (scapegoat for the Nazis???)

Question 3

What were the benefits of the Reichstag fire for the Nazis?

Answer 3

• got credit for catching the arsonist
• able to stir up anti-comm propaganda
• gained financial support (G industrialists contributed generously to Nazi funds bc of fear of comm)
• state of emergency declared by Hin
• decree for protection of the people and the state declared by Hin
• 5 March elections

Question 4

What was Hindenburg’s declaration of a state of emergency?

Answer 4

gave Hitler control of the police + the power to govern Gemrnay by decree (without the Reichstag)

Question 5

What was Hindenburg’s Decree for the Protection of the People and the State?

Answer 5

suspended the civil rights of German citizens so H could legally arrest political opponents and ban opposition newspapers

Question 6

Results of the 5th March elections?

Answer 6

17.5 million votes for the Nazis = 288 seats in the Reichstag
+ banned 81 comms from taking their seats
+ support of DNVP (52 seats) gave Nazis a majority

Question 7

Was the good results of the 5th March elections for the Nazis obtained legally?

Answer 7

legal - use of emergency powers to arrest opponents

illegal - violent campaign tactics of the Nazis