Hitler Takes Political Control 1933-1934 Flashcards
What was the date of the Reichstag fire?
27th February 1933
Who did the Nazis blame for the Reichstag Fire?
Marinus Van Der Lubbe (Dutch Communist) and the communist party (exploited fear of a communist rebellion)
What Law did Hitler persuade to pass after the Reichstag Fire?
Decree for the Protection of People and State
What did the Decree for the Protection of People and State do?
Took away rights guaranteed in the Weimar Constitution. Eg. Freedom of speech, privacy of post and phone conversations, to print opinions in newspapers, and to form groups for meetings.
When Germany’s law courts found some communists not guilty of starting the Reichstag Fire, what did Hitler do?
Set up the People’s Courts in 1934
What year was the Law for the Protection of People and State passed?
1933
When was the large Reichstag elections where the Nazis gained over 50% of the seats?
March 1933
What was the Enabling Law and when was it passed?
This allowed Hitler to introduce laws without the Reichstag’s or President’s approval for four years
23 March 1933
What did Hitler have to do to get the Enabling Act passed?
Support from the catholic centre party. He said he would ca cel the Decree for the Protection of People and State and protect the rights of the Catholic Church. With their help, he received the required 66% and passed the law.
He got support from the NSDAP, the National Party and the Catholic Centre Party. The KPD were silenced and not allowed to vote.
What is Gleichshaltung?
Coordinating all aspects of life to fit in with Nazi Ideals.
What happened in March 1933 with regard to Gleichshaltung?
State Parliaments closed
New Parliaments had Nazi majorities so that only Nazi plans would be introduced.
What happened in April 1933 with regard to Gleichshaltung?
Jews and ‘political enemies’ removed from jobs.
Government positions taken up by Nazis.
Jews etc. couldn’t make a living and were therefore weakened, governments now full of Nazi influence.
What happened in May 1933 with regard to Gleichshaltung?
Trade Unions outlawed and replaced with a Nazi Union (DAF)
All trade workers were under Nazi control and Trade Unions could no longer protect worker’s rights.
What happened in July 1933 with regard to Gleichshaltung?
Germany becomes a One-party state (although some parties remain)
What happened in December 1933 with regard to Gleichshaltung?
More Reichstag Elections take place, Nazis win 92% of the votes. NSDAP now has large majority and therefore more power
What happened in January 1934 with regard to Gleichshaltung?
Hitler introduces the Law for the Reconstruction of the State - abolishes nearly all of Germany’s state governments. Nazis have power over almost all of Germany (exception being Prussia)
How many Germans were unemployed in January 1933?
6 million
How many Germans were unemployed in January 1936?
2.5 million
How many Germans were unemployed in January 1939?
302,000
who was Ernst Röhm?
one of Hitler’s longest serving coworkers
under his leadership. the SA expanded to over 2 million members
What was the Second Revolution?
The authority of Germany’s economic old guard and the arm would be crushed and the SA would become the new army.
what did the army think of the SA?
thought they were thugs
How could army anger at the SA weaken Hitler?
Hitler needed the army to implement his foreign policy
Hitler feared the army. They were the only people that could stop his achievement of dictatorship.
why was Röhm opposed by leading Nazis, and which leading Nazis?
Himmler and Göring thought he was’too big for his boots’, tried to convince Hitler that he was disloyal and thought that his open homosexuality was ‘inappropriate’ for a leading Nazi.
What date was the Night of the Long Knives?
30th June 1934
What was the Night of the Long Knives?
Hitler executed anyone he suspected of preventing his achievement of dictatorship - about 100 people, including SA leaders, Röhm, Gustav von Kahr and General Schleicher were killed.
Army leaders and Von Hindenburg approved. Nazis justified it by claiming they were preventing an SA putsch (revolution).
What happened on 1st August 1934?
Government passes a law that abolishes the title of president and merges it with chancellor. Hitler is now to be known as Führer and Reich Chancellor.
What date did President von Hindenburg die?
2nd August 1934
what is the army oath of loyalty?
every soldier had to ‘render unconditional obedience’ to Hitler
What were the results of the German Plebiscite on the Office of the Führer?
90% of people voted that they agreed with Hitler’s new position.
