Hitler Takes Political Control 1933-34 Flashcards
What date did Hitler become Chancellor?
30 January 1933
What date was the Reichstag Fire?
27 February 1933
Who received the blame for the Reichstag Fire?
A communist called Marianus Van der Lubbe
How did Hitler use the Reichstag Fire to his advantage?
He used the fire to outmanoeuvre the communists in their election campaign and suggested to President Hindenberg that this was the start of a communist rebellion, claiming that communists could not be trusted to uphold the government. This was used to persuade Hindenberg to pass the Law for the Protection of the People and the State.
What did the Law for the Protection of the People and the State do?
It removed many people’s civil rights by giving emergency powers to have anyone suspected of plotting against the government to be arrested and imprisoned without trial, this was particularly used against Communists.
How did the Nazis use the Law for the Protection of the People and the State to their advantage?
The Law for the Protection of the People and the State gave the Nazis a huge advantage over their opponents in forthcoming elections as its emergency powers of the ability to have those suspected of plotting against the government to be arrested and imprisoned without trial were used to disrupt the campaigning of rival parties. This included putting many Communist Party (KPD) and Social Democrats (SPD) leaders in prison, confiscating their literature and using the SA to breakup their meetings. It remained in place for the duration of Nazi rule.
What date was the new Reichstag election? What percentage of the vote did the Nazis attain?
5 March 1933; 45%
What date was the Enabling Act passed?
23 March 1933
Who helped the Nazis pass the Enabling Act?
As the passing of the Enabling Act required the support of 2/3 of the Reichstag, the Catholic Centre Party helped the Nazis. Furthermore, Hitler used the SA,SS and the Law for the Protection of the People and the State to ensure that many members of the Reichstag were not there to vote against the law.
What was the Enabling Act?
Arguably the most significant event of the time, the Enabling Act gave Hitler absolute power to make laws without the Reichstag’s consent for 4 years; essentially eliminating it as a source of opposition to his rule.
What does Gleichschaltung mean?
Bringing into alignment
What was the purpose of Gleichschaltung?
To coordinate all aspects of life to fit with Nazi ideas
What part of Gleichschaltung took place in March 1933.
All of Germany’s state Parliaments were closed down and re-established with Nazi majorities.
Which 2 aspects of Gleichschaltung took place in April 1933?
Jews were removed from jobs in the legal profession and civil service.
Key positions in Germany’s state parliaments were taken over by Nazis.
Which part of Gleichschaltung took place in May 1933?
All trade unions were outlawed and replaced with the German Labour Front (DAF)
What part of Gleichschaltung was enforced in July 1933?
The Law Against the Formation of New Parties which meant that Germany became a one party state.
What were put forward to try and make German people think like Nazis? Name 2 examples:
Youth clubs and initiatives, e.g. Strength Through Joy and Beauty of Labour
Who was the leader of the SA?
Ernst Rohm
Why was the SA considered a threat?
In 1933, the SA had grown to become too large and unruly with a membership of over 2 million. Moreover, their leader, Ernst Rohm, wanted to take the Nazis in a more socialist direction and even wanted a second revolution where the army would be crushed then replaced by the SA. Many within the Nazi Party questioned Rohm’s capability of holding such a position as he was a homosexual.
What date did the Night of the Long Knives take place?
30 June 1934
When were the People’s Courts in established?
In April 1934, Hitler established the Nazi People’s Courts where all judges had to swear an oath of loyalty to the Nazis.
What was the Night of the Long Knives?
A brutal massacre where the SS were sent to kill 200 SA members including their leader, Ernst Rohm. Non-SA opponents were also killed including von Kahr and von Schleicher.
How was the Night of the Long Knives justified by both the Nazis and legal means?
The Nazis claimed their actions were necessary to protect the state as they had prevented an SA putsch from taking place.
On July 3rd, the government passed a law stating that the actions taken to suppress the acts of high treason were legal.
What was the result of the Night of the Long Knives?
Hitler and the Nazis won immense favour from the army who had looked down on the SA’s indiscipline and had seen them as rivals.
When did Hitler become Furher?
2 August 1934 after the death of von Hindenberg
What allowed Hitler to combine the posts of Chancellor and President?
The army swore an oath of loyalty to him
What did Hindenberg’s death allow?
Hitler to become all powerful leader (Furher) and removed the last obstacle in turning Germany into a totalitarian state.
How did Hitler turn Weimar Germany into a dictatorship?
Hitler used mostly legal means to turn Germany from a democracy to a dictatorship through the enforcement of various new laws and amendments to the constitution.
How did the Nazis win the appeal of the public?
By capitalising on political, social & economic problems which were the legacy of WW1, the Nazis stood as a patriotic and hopeful option which was well received by particularly the middle class. The Nazis also used various forms of propaganda as well as violence to influence their popularity and authority.
