How the Nazis Came to Power Flashcards
How did the use of technology help Hitler come to power?
Use of radio for the first time in propaganda
Use of aeroplanes allowed Hitler to see 4 or 5 rallies a day.
Election posters, parades and marches encouraged support.
Gave them a wider audience.
Seemed modern and like a new way of life.
How did Hitler’s leadership skills help him come to power?
Speeches represented strong and decisive leadership.
Strong personality and powerful ideas seemed like what Germany needed.
Hitler’s appearance was adapted on posters to make him seem strong.
He was someone to look up to and was very popular.
How did fear of communism help Hitler come to power?
Nazis caused more fear and hatred of communism.
As votes for Nazis rose, votes for communists fell.
Earned support from industrialists.
Opposition were therefore less popular.
How did the use of propaganda help Hitler come to power?
Anti-communism was used to get the message across.
Appealed to unemployed and poor because it showed a way out of poverty.
Showed mothers that it would save their families.
How did the broad appeal of the Nazis help Hitler come to power?
Working class: traditional family values and strong Germany.
Women: best for country and families.
Young: attracted by speeches and rallies.
Classes wouldn’t be recognised and they would work together.
United Germany.
Something was offered for everyone.
Middle Class: badly affected by Depression and disliked communists.
Big businesses: disliked communists.
Farmers: scared of communists confiscating land.
How did Article 48 contribute to Hitler becoming chancellor?
Easier for him to become a dictator.
Was being used more and more and became the normal way of doing things.
How did Proportional representation contribute to Hitler becoming chancellor?
Nazis had not yet been given chance
No single party ever gained control and the government was ruled by coalitions so the current government was weak.
Hindenburg chose Hitler.
Caused Germany’s problems to get worse.
Sequence of events which led to Hitler becoming chancellor?
Depression: 12 to 230 seats in July 1932
Presidential elections: Hitler, with 11 million votes, was beaten by Hindenburg with 18 million votes.
Reichstag elections: Brüning fired, Von Papen made chancellor.
Von Papen resigned, von Schleicher made chancellor but was fired when continuously failed to get majority in Reichstag.
Von Papen thought he could support Hitler as a chancellor and be vice-chancellor and control Hitler. So Hitler was appointed chancellor.
How did the Reichstag Fire help Hitler consolidate his power?
Reichstag building destroyed in fire one week before the election.
Van Der Lubbe, a communist was found with matches.
He was found guilty and executed.
Increased fear of communism.
Hitler said that Van Der Lubbe was part of a communist conspiracy against the government.
It proved that Hitler was right about communists.
How did the Enabling Act help Hitler consolidate his power?
Hitler persuaded Hindenburg to sign it.
It allowed him to make laws for four years without the consent of the Reichstag.
It suspended basic civil rights.
Meant that Nazis could imprison political opponents.
End of Weimar constitution and democracy.
Hitler now had closer control of Germany.
How did trade unions and other parties help to consolidate Hitler’s power?
Trade unions were banned.
Strikes were made illegal.
Revolutions were less likely.
Nazis were the only party.
How did local government help to consolidate Hitler’s power?
Abolished local government Governors would run every region of Germany Gave Hitler more power Strengthened central government Hitler was dictator of whole country
How did the Night of the Long Knives help Hitler consolidate his power?
Saw Ernst Röhm as a threat
Wanted to reduce power of SA
Röhm and several other senior SA officers would be imprisoned and shot
400 people (150 SA members) were shot without trial
No competition from SA
No opposition from army who feared being merged with SA
When was the Reichstag fire?
27th February 1933
When was the Enabling Act?
24th March 1933
