Hitler's Consolidation of Power Flashcards
When did Hitler Become Chancellor?
30/01/1933
When was the Reichstag Fire?
27/02/1933
What was Believed to Have Happened on the Night of the 27/02/1933?
- Before election
- Young communist, Van Der Lubbe (Dutch), was blamed
What were the Effects of the Reichstag Fire?
- Nazi used it to prove that the communists were radical + planning a revolution
- Justified Nazi’s use of violence against the left wing
- Gave Communists a bad reputation
- Nazis persuaded Hindenburg to pass the Emergency Act
- Strengthened Nazi Party
When was the Emergency Act Passed?
28/02/1933
What was the Emergency Act?
- ‘Act to defend the people + the republic’
- Act Prevented political + civil liberties for the people
What were the Effects of the Emergency Act?
- Central government power was strengthened over local authorities
- Step towards Dictatorship
- Freedom of press ended
- Protection form communist crime
- Imprisonment without cause was allowed
- Oppoaition Weakened
What was Germany like Before the March 5th Election?
- SA + SS members placed n the police force
- Socialist + communist meetings broken up
- 69 people died in a 5 day campaign
What was the Results of the Election?
- Nazi increased their vote from 33.1% to 43.9% (288 seats)
- Did not win a clear majority (needed 66%) - needed 52 seats from the Nationalists (under Hindenburg) to win majority
When was the Enabling Law Passed?
23/03/1933
What was the Enabling Law?
- Gives all power to Chancellor + his government for 4 years
- Dispose of parliament’s work
Explain the Process of Passing the Enabling Act?
- Needed 2/3 majority
- Communists banned
- Hitler promised to respect the Catholic church (concordat) - win their votes
- Only social democrats voted against Hitler
- Passed with 444 votes in favor (94 against) - legal revolution (from democracy to dictator)
What was the Effect of the Enabling Act?
- Didn’t have to depend upon the Reichstag
- Succeeded to get rid of the Weimar Constitution
- Path open for Hitler to gain dictatorship
- Shirer = “formed basis for Hitler’s dictatorship”
Why was 23/03/1933 Significant for Hitler?
- Potsdam Day (reopening of Reichstag)
- Hitler wanted to make a good impression on Hindenburg/Conservatives/Protestants
What is Gleishschaltung?
- To coordinate the people/Nazify the nation
What Sections of Society did Hitler Wish to Nazify with Gleishschaltung?
- Local State Government
- Trade Union
- Political Parties
What was the Problem with Local Sate Government?
- Threatened central government
- Every state has some power
- Too much independence
What Had Frick Planned to do about the Local State Government?
- Central government can make laws without discussion with landtage governments
- Landtage governments would be subordinate
- Frick put Reich governors into landtage governments
What were the Purpose of Frick’s Local State Government Laws?
- Attempting to centralise power
- Attempting to control local governments
- Control more of German life
How were the Federal Republicans a Threat to the Nazi Party?
- Not totalitarianism
- Decentralises power
- Held independence
- Represented other political parties
- Contradicted Nazi ideology
Why did Hitler Want to Get Rid of the Trade Unions?
- Against Nazi ideology
- Very strong power (big)
What were the Implications of the Trade Union Act?
- Trade Union power Weakened
- Political influence of trade union reduced
- Lost Right to discuss wages + conditions of the work place
- Established DAF
What were the Effects of the German Labour Front?
- Influence of workers was reduced
- Freedom of individuals reduced
- Trade unions were banned
- Workers obedience secured
- 1935 - 20000 members
When was the Trade Union Act Passed?
02/05/1933
