From Chancellor to Dictator

Question 1

When were the next elections planned after Hitler became chancellor?

Answer 1

March 1933.

Question 2

When was the Reichstag fire?

Answer 2

27th February 1933.

Question 3

Who did Hitler blame for the Reichstag fire?

Answer 3

A former communist, Marinus van der Lubbe.

Question 4

What law was passed as a result of an apparent Communist threat? What power did it give Hitler and the SA?

Answer 4

The Decree for the Protection of the People and the State. This gave the SA police powers, the ability to lock up communists and ban communist newspapers. Hitler also had the 81 communist members of the Reichstag arrested.

Question 5

Why did businessmen back the Nazis after the Reichstag fire?

Answer 5

Because they were anti-communist and the businessmen were scared of the threat.

Question 6

How many seats did the Nazis win in the March 1933 elections? What was significant about this?

Answer 6

288. This gave him a majority (after he banned the communists).

Question 7

Why did the Catholic Centre Party support the Nazis?

Answer 7

Because the Nazis promised to protect the Catholic Church in Germany if they were in power.

Question 8

When was the Enabling Act passed?

Answer 8

23rd March 1933.

Question 9

What did the Enabling Act allow Hitler to do?

Answer 9

Pass any law he liked without going through the Reichstag.

Question 10

After the Enabling Act was passed, what did the Nazis do to all major organisations and governments in Germany?

Answer 10

‘Nazify’ them (or ‘Nazifying’ - ‘Gleichschaltung’).

Question 11

What happened to the Trade Unions after the Enabling Act? When did this happen?

Answer 11

They were all merged into one - The Nazi Labour Organisation (DAF). 2nd May 1933.

Question 12

What happened to political parties after the Enabling Act? When did this happen?

Answer 12

Political parties were banned or forced to disband. The Nazi Party became the only legal political party in Germany (14 July 1933).

Question 13

What was signed by the Catholic Church after the Enabling Act? When did this happen?

Answer 13

A Concordat (agreement) was signed with the Catholic Church stating that it would stay out of politics (8 July 1933).

Question 14

What happened to state governments after the Enabling Act?

Answer 14

State governments were abolished and replaced with Nazi state governors.

Question 15

When was the Night of the Long Knives?

Answer 15

29th June 1934.

Question 16

Why did Hitler want rid of the SA?

Answer 16

They were growing too large, they started to disagree on some political aspects with Hitler, and they were an embarrassment (the leader, Ernst Röhm, was homosexual as well as other members, which went against the Nazi ideology).

Question 17

What reason did Hitler give to the public about killing the SA leaders?

Answer 17

That he was trying to prevent a ‘second revolution’.

Question 18

After the SA was disbanded, who was the only person with more power than Hitler?

Answer 18

The President, Hindenburg.

Question 19

When did President Hindenburg die?

Answer 19

2nd August 1934.

Question 20

Why did the President’s death make Hitler have full control?

Answer 20

Because the President’s powers merged with his so he was now essentially a dictator.