Germany Nazis politial and Governmental Flashcards
Limitations to hitlers position
Hitlers coalition government did not have a majority in government
Hindenburg was still president and was able to dismiss hitler whenever he wanted
The army and institutions were suspicious of hitler
Radicals in the Nazi movement were critical of Hitlers leadership
When was the reichstag fire
February 1933
What happened during the Reichstag fire?
On 27th February the reichstag was burned down. A young Dutch communist man Marinus was arrested near the scene
-hitler exploited the fire using it as a pretext to crush the KPD
Goebbels the nazi propagada minister claimed that Germany was under attack from the communists
What happened after the Reichstag fire?
Late night raids of communist over 4,000 people arrested
Goring and hitler persuaded the Cabinet to authorise emergency decree A48
Reichstag fire decree
What did the Reichstag fire decree enable Hitler to do?
It suspended individual rights and freedom of the press, German people lost the right to free speech and protest
It also gave the government the power to put people in prison
Gave hitlers government the right to enforce law and order in German states. This extended the power of Hitlers government and undermined the power of Germanys state government
-Goebbels propaganda justified the decisions made saying teh communist were threat and they were planning a revolution and that the suspension of rights was necessary and was only temporary however lasted till the end of the dictatorship
March elections
1933 the coalition between the Nazis and the nationalists on controlled over 40% of the seat in the Reichstag, you needed 50% or more to gain a majority in government
Hitler held an election in 1933 and manipulated the election to try win:
The SA and police terrorised the Nazis political opponents
Killed 69 people during the campaign
Goering persuaded big businesses to increase funding for the nazis election campaign 3million
Nazis used their growing power to create the image that the KPD was plotting a revolution
The nazis decided to ban the KPD until after the election
What happened after the election ?
Despite all efforts tehy still failed to gain a majority and only gained 43.9 % of the vote
As part of teh coalition with the DNVP they were able to control more than 50 seats in parliament
Winning over Hindenburg
Hindenburg was concerned with teh Nazi violence and thsi was problematic for teh Nazi leadership
Firstly on 10th of march hitler nstrcuted teh halt the violent acts
Secondly Goebbels organised a dramatic ceremony at Postdams- to emphasis the. Common ground between the Nazis and Hindenburg nationalism
It persuaded Hindenburg and other Nationalists
The enabling act
March 1933
After the failed elections Hitler needed a means to control government that was independent
He didn’t allow the KPD or SPD deputies to intervene
And Hitler promised to respect Catholic Church traditional rights
What did the enabling act allow hitler to do?
Allowed cabinet to pass laws without going through Reichstag
Didn’t need president approval
Was temporary but could be renewed it was twice
Allowed them to gain a 2/3rd majority
Killed Germanys democracy
Gleichschaltung
Process of nazification, through newspapers and important institutions such a s newspapers and the trade unions
Neutralising potential threats and coordinated aspects of German government
Gauleiters
1925 - Were responsible for coordinating the nazi party in Germany regions, were initially used for teh election campaigns and later on gained more power
Ending of federalism
Law for the reconstruction of state
Jan 1934
Removal of state government which were replaced by the Reich governors, centralised power and dismantled Germanys federal system of government
Law for the restoration of the professional civil service was passed
April 1933
Meant that people whose racial purity or political loyalty was in doubt could be dismissed
Establishing a one party state
Law against the establishment of political parties established 14 July 1933
Why did the The night of long knives happen ?
June 1934
SA were not satisfied with the fact they weren’t fully integrated into the party. There was antagonism between the SA and the army.
Rohm the leader of the SA wanted take over the aristocrats and gain more power
As had gained 2million members which was a threat to Blombergs army
What happened with the night of long knives?
SA eliminated a a political and military power once and for all
Rohm and main leaders of the SS were shot
400 people killed in total
‘Rohm purge took place between 30 June and 2 July 1934
It was a violent suppression of any existing enemies to Hitlers position
Creation of the SS
Himmler’s desire for the removal of Rohm was due to his desire to increase the power of the SS
Ss was founded 1923 as a subdivision to the SA
SS was made up of the new generation well educated and middle class tehy were more organised and disciplined
SS gained 50,000 members by 1933
Marburg speech
In June 1934 Von Papen made a speech at the Marburg uni that was highly critical of the SA and other aspects of Nazi government
In response hitler did a deal with the army, agreed to remove Rohm and other SA leaders
Consequences of rohm purge
Von schliecher killed
Von papen imprisoned and intimidated
12 Reichstag deputies killed
85 killed 100,000 members of the SA killed
Consolidation of hitlers power
Merging of president and chancellor- Furher 1934
Oath of loyalty to hitler from the army - 2nd august 1934
Civil service took an oath - 20th august
Von Papen resigns
Night of long knives effectively secure Hitlers power, Hitler political manipulation had destroyed democracy
Hitlers new government - polycratic regime
Hitler imposed his own political system and culture on the state
It often appeared orderly a nd somewhat bureaucratic:
By 1936 the government had a variety of organisations
The ministries of economics, labour, armed forces, and foreign affairs
Nazi party departments devoted to developing policies
Supreme reich authorities
These were all uncoordinated and they never had a clear aim
Polycratic meant that there was many centres of power
Prerogative state
Hitler believed he had the right to do whatever he wanted regardless of the law, according to nazi theory power in Germnay flowed from Hitlers right to rule
Meant that it was more chaotic
Hitler power was limitless
Personal rivalries
Having collaborated to conquer Rohm Himmler and Goring fought over the control of German police
Himmley created the SD and Goering the Gestapo whcih essentially had the same role
There was disputes over teh control of these adn when Hitler intervened in 1936 Himmler was able to gain more power and Gestapo took control of al of Germany
These faction fights happen during the entirety of his rule, but the were good tactic for hitler as no one could undermine Hitler as they were constantly fighting with themselves
