Hitler's Consolidation of Power

Question 1

When did Hitler Become Chancellor?

Answer 1

30/01/1933

Question 2

When was the Reichstag Fire?

Answer 2

27/02/1933

Question 3

What was Believed to Have Happened on the Night of the 27/02/1933?

Answer 3

• Before election

- Young communist, Van Der Lubbe (Dutch), was blamed

Question 4

What were the Effects of the Reichstag Fire?

Answer 4

• 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

Question 5

When was the Emergency Act Passed?

Answer 5

28/02/1933

Question 6

What was the Emergency Act?

Answer 6

• ‘Act to defend the people + the republic’

- Act Prevented political + civil liberties for the people

Question 7

What were the Effects of the Emergency Act?

Answer 7

• 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

Question 8

What was Germany like Before the March 5th Election?

Answer 8

• SA + SS members placed n the police force
• Socialist + communist meetings broken up
• 69 people died in a 5 day campaign

Question 9

What was the Results of the Election?

Answer 9

• 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

Question 10

When was the Enabling Law Passed?

Answer 10

23/03/1933

Question 11

What was the Enabling Law?

Answer 11

• Gives all power to Chancellor + his government for 4 years

- Dispose of parliament’s work

Question 12

Explain the Process of Passing the Enabling Act?

Answer 12

• 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)

Question 13

What was the Effect of the Enabling Act?

Answer 13

• 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”

Question 14

Why was 23/03/1933 Significant for Hitler?

Answer 14

• Potsdam Day (reopening of Reichstag)

- Hitler wanted to make a good impression on Hindenburg/Conservatives/Protestants

Question 15

What is Gleishschaltung?

Answer 15

• To coordinate the people/Nazify the nation

Question 16

What Sections of Society did Hitler Wish to Nazify with Gleishschaltung?

Answer 16

• Local State Government
• Trade Union
• Political Parties

Question 17

What was the Problem with Local Sate Government?

Answer 17

• Threatened central government
• Every state has some power
• Too much independence

Question 18

What Had Frick Planned to do about the Local State Government?

Answer 18

• Central government can make laws without discussion with landtage governments
• Landtage governments would be subordinate
• Frick put Reich governors into landtage governments

Question 19

What were the Purpose of Frick’s Local State Government Laws?

Answer 19

• Attempting to centralise power
• Attempting to control local governments
• Control more of German life

Question 20

How were the Federal Republicans a Threat to the Nazi Party?

Answer 20

• Not totalitarianism
• Decentralises power
• Held independence
• Represented other political parties
• Contradicted Nazi ideology

Question 21

Why did Hitler Want to Get Rid of the Trade Unions?

Answer 21

• Against Nazi ideology

- Very strong power (big)

Question 22

What were the Implications of the Trade Union Act?

Answer 22

• Trade Union power Weakened
• Political influence of trade union reduced
• Lost Right to discuss wages + conditions of the work place
• Established DAF

Question 23

What were the Effects of the German Labour Front?

Answer 23

• Influence of workers was reduced
• Freedom of individuals reduced
• Trade unions were banned
• Workers obedience secured
• 1935 - 20000 members

Question 24

When was the Trade Union Act Passed?

Answer 24

02/05/1933

Question 25

How were the Trade Unions a Threat to the Nazi Party?

Answer 25

• Opposed Nazi ideology
• Nazis were in collation with the right wing - opposed their left wing ideology
• Huge influence over the working class
• Everything they represented was left wing
• Revolt against right wing ended - Kapp Putsh

Question 26

Why was Getting Rid of the Other Political Parties Relativity Easy?

Answer 26

• Enabling Act
• Social Democrats banned
• Communists Banned
• Other political parties started to dissolve themselves

Question 27

How were the Other Political Parties Able to Threaten the Nazis?

Answer 27

• Stood for different ideology
• Symbolised democracy
• Threatened dictatorship
• Persuaded people against Hitler - opposed Nazis

Question 28

By Spring 1934 Hitler’s Dictatorship was Evident. Why?

Answer 28

• Communists banned/disposed of
• Democracy had ended in Germany
• 3rd Reich had begun
• National Socialist Party was the only party