Hitler takes political control 1933-1934 Flashcards
What actions did Hitler take to achieve his dictatorship?
- Created new laws of censorship
- Used Herman Göring and the SA
- The Reichstag fire
- Called another general election
- Enabling act
- Gleichschaltung
- Night of the long knives
- The death of Von Hidenburg
How did Hitler use censorship?
Hitler passed a new law which forbade newspapers and any public meetings from criticising the new chancellor and his administration
How did Hitler use Göring and the SA?
Göring was Minister without Portfolio (he had no specific area of responsibility in government). He ensured that the SA we included as part of the police force and were used to disrupt the opposition
How did Hitler use the Reichstag fire?
He used to exploit President Hidenburg’s fear of communism and made the Law for the protection of the people and state. It gave the government the power to suspend the civil rights of citizens. It allows them to intern opponents and disrupt the election campaigns of opponents
How much seats did the Nazis have in the 1933 Reichstag election?
288 seats (45%)
What was the enabling act?
It will allow Hitler to make laws without having to have the approval of the Reichstag. He need a 2/3 majority in the Reichstag for this. He got the support of the National Party and the Catholic Centre party
How did the Nazis do Gleichschaltung? (All aspects of German life to fit with Nazi ideals)
- State parliaments were closed down and replaced
- Jews and political opponents were dismissed from their jobs in the civil service and replaced with Nazi supporters
- All trade unions were banned and replaced with the DAF (Germany labour front)
How was Ernst Röhm and the SA becoming a threat?
- Röhm thought that the army should be replaced by the SA and industry would be placed in the hands of of the working classes.
- Hitler needed the support of the army. But they were worried about Röhm’s plans to replace them with the SA
How did Hitler use the Night of the Long Knives?
In June 1934 Röhm and other leading members of the SA were arrested and shot by members of the SS. Hitler also took this opportunity to deal with old political rivals. The Nazis claimed this was to prevent an attempt by the SA to seize power
How did the death of Von Hidenburg help Hitler?
Von Hidenburg was the only person who could stop Hitler but then in Aug 1934 he died and Hitler then combined the jobs of President and chancellor to make him the Fuhrer of Germany
How did Hitler use becoming Fuhrer to take full control?
Hitler made the army swear a personal Oath of Loyalty to Hitler. This became a law on Aug 1934. Now all soldiers and public officials had to take an oath of loyalty and allegiance to Hitler.
