Germany In Transition (1919-1939) - Consolidation Of Power

Question 1

When did Hitler become Chancellor?

Answer 1

30th Jan 1933
He was leader of the Reichstag so could now hold or call elections

Question 2

What happened on 4th Feb 1933?

Answer 2

Decree for free and peaceful elections
Hopes Nazi support increases
Wants 2/3 majority

Question 3

When did the Reichstag fire happen?

Answer 3

27th Feb 1933
Able to blame Communist Nazis = saviours
Communist party banned and communist leaders imprisoned

Question 4

When was the Decree for the Protection of People and the State?

Answer 4

28th Feb 1933
Curfew, only allowed to meet up in groups of 6
Communist and Socialist Newspapers banned
Allowed Nazis to imprison political opponents

Question 5

What happened in the General Election on 5th March 1933?

Answer 5

288 Nazi seats in the Reichstag not a majority
88% electorate turn out to vote
Use atmosphere of fear and hate to appeal to German people

Question 6

When was the Enabling Act passed?

Answer 6

23rd March 1933
Full power to chancellor for 4 years
Absentees counted as present
SA surround building
Intimidate and threaten
Support of centre party false promise

Question 7

What happens on 2nd May 1933?

Answer 7

Trade Unions banned
Social Democrats party disbanded, 2nd most popular party
Supports workers, removes opposition

Question 8

What happens in June 1933?

Answer 8

All other parties disbanded “voluntarily “ = Gleichshaltung (coordination)

Question 9

When was the Law of the Formation of New Parties and Control of State Government (Lander)?

Answer 9

14th July 1933
No opposition
Can only vote Nazi Party
Ballot only gives one option but some graffiti or protest ballots (4 million)
Create and pass new laws

Question 10

What happens in the November 1933 General Election?

Answer 10

39.6 million votes for Nazi
661 seats, 331 for majority
4 million spoil ballots
95% turn out
Legitimacy and authority

Question 11

When was the Night of The Long Knives?

Answer 11

29th and 30th June 1934
Removes all threat through night of murder and justifies through a public speech

Question 12

When does Hindenburg die?

Answer 12

2 August 1934
Hitler combines roles of Chancellor and President to become Fuhrer
Army swear an oath of allegiance
Commander of the army
Followed by referendum to give Hitler legitimacy

Question 13

What happens during the Reichstag fire on 27th Feb 1933?

Answer 13

Marinus van der Lubbe was blamed for starting fire - unemployed Dutch communist bricklayer, 24
Nazis claim communist are about to stage a takeover
Decree for Protection of People and the State, suspending basic civil rights and allowed Nazis to imprison political opponents. Communist and socialist newspapers were banned
No detailed plan
No alibi
Confesses
Petrol and matches on him
No knowledge of Reichstag building
Doesn’t have support of anyone high up
Not organised and alone
SA arrests van der Lubbe as first on scene, Hitler next on scene but doesn’t live close by
Executed in January 1934, in Leizpig prison for 10 months

Question 14

What happens after the Reichstag fire?

Answer 14

4000 Communist arrested immediately
25000 in the weeks after
Nazis are ‘restoring order’
Reichstag fire decree
Communists and communism banned
88% election turnout
44% vote Nazi

Question 15

What was the Enabling Act?

Answer 15

Passes by 444 to 94 votes
Transfer full powers to Chancellor for 4 years
Success of bill depended on 2/3 majority
Communists refused entry
SA surround building
False promises in speeches to gain Centre Party support

Question 16

What was Hitler’s dilemma?

Answer 16

SA report to Ernst Rohm
2 million men
Want a revolution
Close to Hitler
Useful but by 1933 a threat
Too violent and unstable
Embarrassing

Army report to President Paul von Hindenburg
Supreme Commander of Army
Limited to 100,000 men because of TofV.

Question 17

What happened during the Night of the Long Knives?

Answer 17

Goering reported that Rohm was plotting a takeover of Germany wanted to seize power and remove Hitler
Embarrassed by SA = bad Nazi image
SA were too large to control
SA want violent revolution
German public don’t like Sa who are violent and lawless
Hitler needed Hindenburgs support
SS ordered to murder around 400 people including Rohm, von Schleicher, von Kahr and Strasser
Hitler not present
Happened at night in uniform
No trial
In July 1934 it is legalised in the Reichstag

Question 18

What were reasons to support SA?

Answer 18

Been in existence since early days of Nazi Party
SA had supported Hitler
Ernst Rohm shared Hitler’s vision of racial purity and was personally loyal
2 million members by 1934
Loyal
Fought for Hitler during Munich Putsch

Question 19

What were reasons to purge SA?

Answer 19

Rohm was a rival to Hitler
Army was organised and trained with weapons
SA leaders were demanding
If he supported the army, he would have the support of large businesses
Feared Ernst Rohm
SA were lawless
Hard to control SA

Question 20

How many people were officially execute during TNOTLK?

Answer 20

77, although the actual figure is likely to be a lot higher

Question 21

What were the consequences of TNOTLK?

Answer 21

2.4 million men in the SA disbanded
Gestapo 1,000 men
Ss 250,000 men

Question 22

What is the outcome of the referendum after Hindenburg dies?

Answer 22

38 million agree
4.4 million disagree
870,000 spoil votes