Hitler's Consolidation of Power

Question 1

March 1933 elections

Answer 1

NSDAP - 43.9%
DNVP - 8%
- they controlled 51.9% of the Reichstag between them

Question 2

Reichstag fire

Answer 2

27th February 1933

• Marinus van der Lubbe, a Dutch Communist, confessed to setting the fire
• This gave hitler the excuse he needed to gain more power for the right wing and bring down the left wing
• he used the fire as evidence of a communist conspiracy against Germany
• Hitler got Hindenburg to issue an emergency decree which suspended civil liberties and suspended the KPD out of the Reichstag

Question 3

The emergency decree 1933

Answer 3

• allowed Secret police to hold people in protective custody indefinitely
• it was protective since in theory it protected the German people from their enemies
• led to mass arrests of left wing activists, such as KPD reichstag deputies
• the SPD and Zentrum were intimidated by the NSDAP and some of they newspaper issues were banned
• Hitler also controlled the radio and police

Question 4

What the Enabling Act did

Answer 4

• gave emergency powers to the government for 4 years

- allowed cabinet/Hitler to pass decrees with the involvement of the President

Question 5

How was the Enabling Act passed

Answer 5

• needed 2/3 majority since it was Constitutional amendment
• KPD deputies were absent due to emergency decree
• SA and SS surrounded the Kroll Opera House (replaced the burnt down Reichstag building) which intimidated the other deputies into voting for the act
• passed by 441 to 94 votes, with only the SPD voted against it
• democracy was over

Question 6

Justification for the Enabling Act

Answer 6

Hitler states that it was a public and moral cleansing of public life, allowing the government to create and secure conditions for a really deep and inner religious life