FEB 1933 - AUG 1934

Question 1

When was the Reichstag Fire?

Answer 1

27th February 1933.

Question 2

Who was responsible for the Reichstag Fire?

Answer 2

Dutch communist, van der Lubbe.

Question 3

How was Hitler able to use the Reichstag Fire to the Nazis advantage?

Answer 3

Portrayed the communists as anti-democratic through their setting fire to the building that represented democracy.
Claimed the fire was part of a communist plot to take over.

Question 4

What was signed the day after the Reichstag Fire?

Answer 4

A ‘Decree for the Protection of People and the State’, signed by the President using Article 48.

Question 5

How did the Reichstag fire limit opposition to the Nazis?

Answer 5

The apparent threat was used to justify the arrest of large numbers of Nazi opponents, limiting opposition in the upcoming elections.

Question 6

How many seats did the Nazis secure in the March 33 elections?

Answer 6

288.

Question 7

How many seats did the Nationalists secure in the March 33 elections?

Answer 7

52.

Question 8

Why did the Nazis need the Nationalists 52 seats also? What was the downside of this for the Nazis?

Answer 8

To secure a majority.

Limited Hitler’s freedom of action.

Question 9

What does the term ‘Gleichschaltung’ refer to?

Answer 9

Co-ordination. Nazification of German society.

Question 10

How was Gleichschaltung both a ‘revolution from below’ and a ‘revolution from above’?

Answer 10

At a local level - ‘revolution from below’.

Freedom given to the SA at a national level - ‘revolution from above’.

Question 11

What was the main idea of Gleichschaltung?

Answer 11

Merge German society with Nazi institutions and associations.

Question 12

What would Gleichschaltung allow the Nazis to do?

Answer 12

Control all aspects of social, cultural and educational activity.

Question 13

What was the first concern of the Nazis in their process of Gleichschaltung?

Answer 13

Federal states, as it was a direct challenge to the Nazis idea of a centralised state.

Question 14

How were trade unions demolished? Why were they seen as a threat to the Nazi Party? (Gleichschaltung)

Answer 14

Told Labour Day was a national holiday, but the next day union premises were occupied, funds seized and leaders sent to CC.
Links to communism and socialism.

Question 15

What were trade unions replaced with? (Gleichschaltung)

Answer 15

German Labour Front (DAF)

Question 16

When were the SPD abolished?

Answer 16

22nd June 1933.

Question 17

How did most of the remaining political parties leave the Reichstag?

Answer 17

Agreed to dissolve themselves to avoid being abolished. Even the nationalists who were in a coalition with the Nazis.

Question 18

What law was passed in July 1933, that declared the Nazis as the only legal political party?

Answer 18

‘The Law against the Establishment of Parties’.

Question 19

Which areas still remained prevalent in German society, which meant Gleichschaltung was not complete?

Answer 19

• The Church still retained its influence.

- The army and big businesses were still independent.

Question 20

Why was Gleichschaltung not complete by the end of 1933?

Answer 20

• Hitler did not want to antagonise the army.
• Needed big business support for rearmament.
• Needed support of civil service.
• Maintain support from middle classes.

Question 21

Why was there conflict between Hitler and the SA?

Answer 21

The SA wanted to take the process of co-ordination a step further.

Question 22

What did Ernest Röhm want to merge?

Answer 22

Wanted to merge the SA with the army.

Question 23

What was Hitler’s concern about Röhm’s suggestion to merge the SA and the army?

Answer 23

That the army would be alienated by Röhm’s plans and did not support his call for a ‘second revolution’.

Question 24

Why did Hitler back the army?

Answer 24

As they were the one institution who could remove him, and much of its leadership were suspicious of Hitler.

Question 25

What did Hitler’s decision to back the army result in?

Answer 25

The Night of the Long Knives.

Question 26

When was the Night of the Long Knives?

Answer 26

30th June 1934.

Question 27

What did the Night of the Long Knives end?

Answer 27

The SA as a military and political force.

Question 28

What happened to Röhm and other leading members of the SA on the Night of the Long Knives?

Answer 28

Shot by members of the SS, a wing of the SA.

Question 29

How many were killed on the Night of the Long Knives? Including whom?

Answer 29

200. Including former chancellor, Schleicher, and leader of the radical socialist wing of the Nazi Party, Strasser.

Question 30

What was the result of the NOLK for Hitler?

Answer 30

Won him the support of the army, with soldiers talking a personal oath of loyalty to Hitler.

Question 31

What happened initially when Hindenburg died?

Answer 31

No opposition nor challenge to Hitler. Therefore, there was no political crisis.

Question 32

When did Hindenburg die?

Answer 32

2nd August 1934.

Question 33

What were the five main reasons that Hitler was able to establish his dictatorship?

Answer 33

1. Weakness of opposition.
2. Legality.
3. Terror.
4. Propaganda.
5. Deception.

Question 34

What act was passed in March 1933?

Answer 34

The Enabling Act.

Question 35

What was the Enabling Act?

Answer 35

The act allowed Hitler to enact laws, including ones that violated the Weimar Constitution