Hitlers consolidation of power March 1933 - August 1934 Flashcards
How was a one party state created
KPD were banned after the Reichstag Fire
The SPD continued to voice its opposition after the Enabling Act until it was outlawed as a ‘ party hostile to the nation and the state’.
Centre Party and the DNVP disbanded themselves
14th July the Law against the formation of parties was outlawed.
Threat of Civil Service ?
Nazis did not like the fact the rules and regulations that civil servants were bound to follow so they were a threat to dictatorial power.
How did the Nazis stop the threat of Civil Service
Many local officials weer enforced to resign and replaced by Nazi party appointees.
SA began to place party officials in government offices to ensure civil servants were carrying out the roles of the regime.
Why was the Weimar Republic being a federal state a problem ?
A large numbers of powers were devolved to state governments such as control of police force.
What did the Nazis do to centralise power ?
The Nazis passed laws like the law for the coordination of the federal state. This law created the new post of Reich governor which oversaw the government of each state
Role of Reich governor
Oversaw the government of each state
Who took these roles as Reich Governor
Nazi leaders at state level, known as ‘ Gauleiters ‘ , took the roles of Reich Governor
What did the centralisation of power do ?
Reinforced /tightened the control of the central government
When was Ernst Rohm murdered ?
- On 30 June 1934
How was Ernst Rohm murdered ?
- executed by two 2 officers at the Stadelheim prison in Munich
Who was Ernst Rohm ?
- leader of the Nazi SA
Why was the SA disbanded by the Hitler ?
- had outlived its usefulness
- became an embarrassment
Who limited Hitler’s powers despite Germany being a dictatorship ?
- President Hindenburg
What powers did President Hindenburg ?
- had final say on its constitutional matters and the army was loyal to Hindenburg, not Hitler
Did Nazis have control over German states ?
- had control of the state government in Prussia
- elected governments in most other German states were under the control of other parties ?
Nazi ideology of political parties ?
- In the Nazi Volksgemeinschaft, there could be no other parties
What party stood up to Hitler in the Reichstag debate on the Enabling Act ?
- the SPD
How was the SPD removed ?
- outlawed as a ‘party hostile to the nation and the state’ on 22 June 1933
What law effectively made Germany a one party state ?
- the Law against the Formation of all Parties
What was the Law against the Formation of all Parties ?
- outlawed all non Nazi political parties
When was the Law against the Formation of New Parties ?
- 14 July 1933
What type of state was the Weimar Republic
- a federal state
Impact of a federal state ?
- a large number of powers were devolved to state governments
Example of state powers ?
- controlled its own police force
How was the Prussian state government removed ?
- In July 1932, the Prussian state government had been removed by Papen
- Reich Commissioner had been appointed to run the state ?
Issue / Problem with Prussian state government ?
- compromised 60% of territory and 50% of the population
- It was so large that its state government could operate largely independent of the central government
Laws passed to centralise power ?
- First Law for the Coordination of the Federal States
- Second Law for the Coordination of the Federal states
- The Law for the Reconstruction of the Reich
What was the First Law for the Coordination of the Federal States ?
- dissolved the existing state assemblies and replaced them with Nazi - dominated assemblies
What was the Second Law for the Coordination of the Federal States ?
- created the post of the Reich Governor to oversee the government of each state
role / impact of the Reich Governors ?
- responsible for ensuring that the state governments followed the policies laid down by the central government
Who took the roles of Reich Governors ?
- Nazi leaders at state level ( Gauleiters ) many took over the roles of Reich Governor
What were Nazi leaders at state level called ?
- Gauleiters
What was the Law for the Reconstruction of the Reich ?
- took centralisation process a stage further
- State assemblies were abolished and the governments of the states were formally subordinated to the government of the Reich
What did the Nazis do to get rid of political opponents from important local positions ?
- instituted violent campaigns
Why did many civil servants welcome Hitler’s arrival ?
- they were conservative minded who would not embrace the democratic values of the Weimar Republic.
What misunderstanding was civil servants support on Hitler based on ?
- They believed that the conservative ministers in Hitler’s cabinets would restrain the Nazis and allow the Civil Service to continue serving the state in the same way.
Why did the Nazis consider thew Civil Service as a threat ?
- did not like the fact that rules had regulations that civil servants were bound to follow
- regarded them as an obstacle to dictatorial power
What did Hitler and Ernst Rohm disagree on ?
- that the Nazi revolution was over
How did Ernst Rohm see the Nazi revolution ?
- saw it as not over
- SA determined to continue with their violence until they achieved Second Revolution
Why did the SA’s influence reduce ?
- there was only one party, hence no need for SA violence and intimidation
How was the SA’s influence reduced ?
- In August 1933, they had lost their ‘ auxiliary police ‘ status
- subject to stricter regulations over power of arrest
Why was the matter of Hindenburg’s succession a matter of urgency for hitler ?
- Hindenburg himself had drawn up a political will in which he expressed his preferences for a restoration of the monarchy ?
What did Hitler aim to do after the death of Hindenburg ?
- aimed to merge the offices of Chancellor and President after Hindenburg’s death.
Why was Hitler’s powers limited and not absolute as long as Hindenburg lived ?
- Army owed allegiance to the President, not Chancellor.
Why did Hitler not have support of the army ?
- Hindenburg, army commanders and Papen had become so concerned by the excesses of the SA
Why did the army leaders start to support Hitler ?
- With the threat of the SA removed, Bloomberg and army leaders had no objection to Hitler succeeding Hindenburg as President.
What happened the day of Hindenburg’s death ?
- Announcement that the office of President would be merged with that off Chancellor was made hours within his death.
- On the same day, officers and soldiers of the army took an oath of allegiance to Hitler.