Hitler Takes Political Control: Intro & Step 1 - Gaining Control of the Reichstag

Question 1

Head of Government (in the Weimar Republic)

2 marks

Answer 1

• Appointed by the president.

- Chancellor

Question 2

Reichstag Election results: January 1933

4 marks

Answer 2

NSDAP/Nazi party received 33% of votes.This alongside the support of the President (Hindenburg) was sufficient to make Hitler (party leader) Chancellor.

Question 3

President during January 1933 (Election)

1 mark

Answer 3

Paul Von Hindenburg

Question 4

Becoming Chancellor Made Hitler

2 marks

Answer 4

Head of the Government but did not give him complete control over Germany.

Question 5

NSDAP Party (Nazi Party)

4 marks

Answer 5

‘Nationalist Socialist German Workers Party’

• Right wing party led by Hitler.
• Received 33% of the votes in the Reichstag 1933 Elections.

Question 6

During the 18 months after the Reichstag Elections (1933 - when Hitler became Chancellor)

(1 mark)

Answer 6

Hitler eliminated nearly all sources of opposition, both within the Nazi Party and Germany.

Question 7

By August 1934

1 mark

Answer 7

Hitler declared himself Führer - the sole leader of Germany.

Question 8

Majority of seats in Reichstag belonged to Hitlers Rivals during

(3 marks)

Answer 8

January 1933 Reichstag Election - he needed to gain 2 thirds of the seats to change the constitution from a democracy to a dictatorship.

Question 9

How did Hitler react to the Reichstag Election in January 1933

(3 marks)

Answer 9

By convincing President Hindenburg to call a new Election for March 1933; setting off a series of events that resulted in Hitler becoming a dictator.

Question 10

Reichstag Fire: 27th Feb 1933

4 marks

Answer 10

• 6 days before the New Reichstag Election
• Marinus Van der Lubbe was caught in the building; giving Hitler an excuse to persuade President Hindenburg there was a communist plot to overthrow the government.
• ‘Law for the protection of People and State’ approved as a result.

Question 11

Marinus Van der Lubbe

2 marks

Answer 11

Dutch Communist executed after being caught in the burning Reichstag building.

Question 12

Had the power to issue a decree in an emergency

2 marks

Answer 12

President (Hindenburg; approved ‘Law for the protection of People and State’.)

Question 13

What was the ‘Law for the protection of People and State’?

4 marks

Answer 13

• Emergency decree approved by President Hindenburg in 1933 following the Reichstag fire.
• Step in Hitler becoming a dictator.
• Removed civil rights of many.

Question 14

‘Law for the protection of People and State’

2 marks

Answer 14

Anyone suspected of plotting against the government could be arrested and imprisoned without trial.

Question 15

How did Hitler use the decree (‘Law for the protection of People and State’) in his favour?

(5 marks)

Answer 15

Disrupted Election campaigns of his main rivals by:

• putting many KPD leaders in prison,
• confiscating their literature,
• closing their offices and using the SA to break-up their meetings.

Question 16

What does SA stand for?

1 mark

Answer 16

Sturmabteilung

Question 17

SA (‘Storm troopers’)

5 marks

Answer 17

Sturmabteilung (1921) - also known as ‘Brown Shirts’. Military style organisation of the Nazi Party formed under Hitler.

Question 18

KPD

1 mark

Answer 18

Communist Party

Question 19

Germany’s Parliament

1 mark

Answer 19

Reichstag

Question 20

Elected members of the Reichstag

1 mark

Answer 20

Deputies

Question 21

After the Reichstag fire : 5th March (1933)

3 marks

Answer 21

• 44% of the German people voted for Nazi’s aka 288 seats in the Reichstag
• Not the 2 thirds Hitler needed

Question 22

Date the Reichstag met with Hitler & secured the passing of the Enabling Act.

(1 mark)

Answer 22

23rd March 1933

Question 23

Hitler secured the passing of the Enabling Act by;

7 marks

Answer 23

• Using the decree to ban the KPD and arresting some non-nazi deputies.
• Persuading the Nationalist Party to support him.
• Obtaining the centre party’s co-operation/obedience by promising to protect the rights of Catholics + cancelling the decree.
• Arranging for the SA to intimidate rival parties.

Question 24

The Enabling Act

4 marks

Answer 24

• Passed by Reichstag: 441 votes to 94.
• Gave Hitler the right to make laws without the Reichstags approval for the next 4 years.
• Enabled Hitler to destroy all opposition to his rule.

Question 25

Gave Hitler Absolute Power & removed the Reichstag as a source of opposition to his rule.

(2 marks)

Answer 25

The Enabling Act - the Reichstags rarely met for the remainder of Hitlers time in power.

Question 26

How did Hitler obtain the Centre Party’s co-operation and obedience leading up to the New Reichstag Election?

(2 marks)

Answer 26

By promising to protect the rights of Catholics and cancelling the decree.

Question 27

What did Hitler use the decree (‘Protection of people and state’) to do?

(2 marks)

Answer 27

Using the decree to ban the KPD and arresting some Non-nazi deputies.

Question 28

What did the SA do during the run up to the New Reichstag Election?

(1 mark)

Answer 28

Intimidate rival parties.