Key words Flashcards
Consolidation
How Hitler strengthened his position and power
Enabling Act
Passed with the help of the Catholic Centre Party in 1933 - Nazis could make laws without Reichstag’s consent for 4 years. It was used to ban trade unions and bring legisaltion against Jews.
Ernst Rohm
Leader of the Storm Troopers
Fuhrer
Supreme commander, leader
Gleichschaltung
Means ‘to bring into line’ – to coordinate all aspects of life to fit in with Nazi ideals.
This included putting Nazi officials in charge of the Provinces, closing Trade Unions down, making the Nazis the only legal political party. As well as removing Jews from certain jobs and setting up organisations to make the German people think like Nazis.
Law for the Protection of People and State
Hitler was able to persuade President Hindenburg to pass emergency powers giving them a big advantage over their opponents in the forthcoming elections. It gave emergency powers to have anyone suspected of plotting against the government arrested and imprisoned without trial and in particular Communists. It gave the government the power to suspend many of the civil rights that had been guaranteed in the Weimar constitution. It would remain in place for the duration of the Nazi rule.
Night of the Long Knives
Hitler felt that the SA had grown too large and unruly. He was also susoicious of the motives of their leader, Ernst Rohm, who wanted to take the Nazis in a more socialist direction. During the Night of the Long Knives on 30 June 1934 the SS were sent to kill 200 SA members, including their leader. Non-SA opponents were killed, eg. von Kahr and von Schleicher. Helped make the Nazis more respectable - SA were damaging the Nazis’ image, were brought under control.
It also served as a warnng to potential opponents not to oppose Hitler and Nazis.
Oath of Allegiance
Officers and men of the army swore an oath of unconditional obedience to the Fuhrer, and ready as a brave soldier to stake their lives at any time for the oath.
Reichstag Fire
A week before the general elections in March 1933, the Reichstag building went up in flames. A communist, Mariaus van der Lubbe, was caught on the scene with matches and fire lighters in her pockets. Hitler said this was the start of of a Communist plot to take over the country. They were banned from the Reichstag.
Trade Unions
Hitler outlawed trade unions in May 1933 and replaced with a Nzi Union, the DAF (German Labour Front) run by Dr Robert Ley
