How Hitler became Führer in 1934

Question 1

Why, even as Chancellor, was Hitler still in a vulnerable position? (2)

Answer 1

1. At any time President Hindenburg could sack him.

2. Support for the Nazi party was FAILING

Question 2

What were the 7 steps taken by Hitler to secure his position and move from being Chancellor to dictator of Germany?

Answer 2

1933

1. The Reichstag Fire (27 Feb)
2. New Elections (5 Mar)
3. The Enabling Act (24 Mar)
4. Political Parties and Trade Unions BANNED (May-July)

1934

5. The Night of the Long Knives (29-30 Jun)
6. Death of Hindenburg (2 Aug)
7. Oath of the Army (Aug)

Question 3

What, basically, was the ‘Reichstag Fire’?

Answer 3

The burning down of the Reichstag, the German parliament building

Question 4

Who was blamed and executed for starting the fire?

Answer 4

Marinus Van Der Lubbe - a Dutch Communist

Question 5

How did Hitler use this event to his advantage?

Answer 5

Convinced President Hindenburg to grant him emergency powers

Question 6

What did Hitler’s ‘emergency powers’ allow him to do?

Answer 6

The power to arrest and detain communists and other groups who opposed the Nazis

Question 7

How did Hitler use terror and propaganda to gain a majority vote in the election held on the 5th March 1933?

Answer 7

1. Used SA to attack opponents of Nazi party

2. Nazis delivered anti-communist message through radio-broadcasts etc.

Question 8

How many seats did the Nazis gain in the election held on the 5th March 1933? How much of the vote was this?

Answer 8

288 - their best ever

52%

Question 9

What is it important to remember about the Nazi majority of the election held on the 5th March 1933?

Answer 9

That 22 million Germans did NOT vote for them

Question 10

What was the Enabling Act the end of in Germany?

Answer 10

Democracy

Question 11

Whatdid the Nazis do in the run up to the Enabling Act? (2)

Answer 11

Communists :

1 . Were expelled from the Reichstag

2. Could not vote

Question 12

How did the lack of opposition from the Communists effect the voting on the Act?

Answer 12

It was easily passed by the government

Question 13

What did the Enabling Act allow Hitler to do?

Answer 13

Pass laws without the need to get PERMISSION from the Reichstag OR President Hindenburg

Question 14

Why did Hitler ban trade unions and all other political parties ?

Answer 14

To remove any element of opposition

Question 15

With the ____ Party and ____ ____ Party already banned, Hitler had successfully created a ____-____ state in Germany

Answer 15

With the COMMUNIST Party and SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC Party already banned, Hitler had successfully created a ONE - PARTY state in Germany

Question 16

What happened during the Night of the Long Knives?

Answer 16

Ernst Röhm and 400 other SA leaders were killed on Hitler’s orders

Question 17

Why did Hitler order the deaths of many SA leaders?

Answer 17

He had been worried that their power was beginning to rival his and they were in a position to overthrow him

Question 18

What had Röhm particularly been doing that made Hitler take action?

Answer 18

Röhm had become demanding and wanted to merge the SA with the army, making them more powerful.

Army leaders did not like Röhm and demanded Hitler take action

Question 19

How did they manage to take down Röhm?

Answer 19

They surprised him; he was murdered while on holiday

Question 20

What did Hitler do following the death of Hindenburg?

Answer 20

Combined the position of Chancellor and President to make him ‘Führer’ (Supreme Leader) of Germany

Question 21

What was the ‘Army Oath’?

Answer 21

The final piece of the jigsaw:

The army swore their allegiance to Hitler and accepted them as their Supreme Leader and promised to obey him