KQ4 - Consolidation Of Power

Question 1

Consolidation of power Steps/Points

Answer 1

The Reichstag Fire
March Election
Enabling Act
Gleichschaltung/Removal of Opposition
Night of the Long Knives
Hitler becomes Fuhrer

Question 3

When was the Reichstag fire?

Answer 3

27 February (1 week before March election)

Question 4

Who was arrested for the Reichstag fire?

Answer 4

Marinus van der Lubbe - a Dutch Communist

Question 5

What was the effect of the Reichstag fire?

Answer 5

Hitler and Goebbels exploited it to claim that the communists were about to stage a takeover.

Hitler persuaded Hindenburg to sign the ‘Decree for the Protection of the People and the State’

Question 6

What was the Decree for the Protection of People and State?

Answer 6

It suspended basic civil rights and allowed the Nazis to imprison large number of their political opponents.

Communist + Socialist newspapers banned

Question 7

When was the March election?

Answer 7

5 March 1933

Question 8

How long was the Enanbling Act set for?

Answer 8

4 years

Question 9

When was the Enabling Act passed?

Answer 9

23 March 1933

Question 10

How many seats did the Nazis win after the March election?

Answer 10

The Nazi Party (NSDAP) won 288 seats (not a majority causing a coalition with the Nationalist Party)

Question 11

What dubious means did the Nazis use to get the Enabling Law passed?

Answer 11

SA intimidated members as they entered the chamber.

Communist members not allowed to vote.

Communist party not counted, reducing the overall total and number of votes needed to pass Act.

Promises to the Catholic Centre Party (e.g no interference in catholic schools)

Absentees counted as present

Question 12

What were the terms of the Enabling Act?

Answer 12

Hitler could create laws without needing the approval of the Reichstag

Question 13

What does Gleichschaltung mean?

Answer 13

To bring German society in line with Nazi philosophy

Question 14

What were the points under Gleichschaltung?

Answer 14

Trade Unions
Political Parties
Control of State government (länder)

Question 15

What happened to trade unions?

Answer 15

On 2 May 1933, all trade unions banned. Nazis said a national community had been created so such organisation no longer needed.

DAF - Wages set. Strikes outlawed.

Those who wouldn’t conform would be sent to concentration camps. Some union leaders sent immediately to

Question 16

What happened to Political parties?

Answer 16

KPD banned after Reichstag Fire

On 10 May, Social Dems had HQ, property and newspapers seized. Remaining political parties disbanded voluntary at the end of June.

On 14 July 1933, the Law Against the Formation of Parties was passed, which made the Nazi Party the sole legal party.

November 1933 general election, Nazis won 39 638 000 votes but 3 million ballot papers spoilt

Question 17

How did the Nazis control the state government (Länder)?

Answer 17

There were 18 länder each which had own parliament. They had refused to accept decision by the Reichstag occasionally as their political make-up differed. President Ebert had to issue 130 emergency decrees to overrule some of the länder.

Länder to be run by Reich governors and their parliaments were abolished in January 1914.

Question 18

When was the Night of the Long Knives

Answer 18

30 June 1934

Question 19

What was the Night of the Long Knives?

Answer 19

The purging of Hitler’s political and military rivals in the SA. 400 leading SA members were killed including Ernst Röhm, Gregor Strasser (a key figure among socialist Nazis) and Von Schleicher’s

Question 20

Why did Hitler conduct the Night of the Long Knives?

Answer 20

Hitler needed to win over the army who disliked the SA due to Röhm’s ambitions to merge the SA and army.

Röhm wanted more government interference m in the running of the country in order to help the ordinary citizens. He wanted a socialist revolution.

Heinrich Himmler wanted the SS to break away from the SA. Goering (head of Gestapo) was wanted to lead the armed forces and hence saw an opponent in Röhm

Question 21

When did Hindenburg die?

Answer 21

August 1934

Question 22

What did Hitler do after the death of Hindenburg?

Answer 22

Combined roles of Chancellor and President becoming the Fuhrer.

Called a referendum to get German people to approve this. On 19 August, more than 90% of voters agreed with his action.

Got the army to swear allegiance to Hitler.

Question 23

When was the first concentration camp created

Answer 23

The first concentration camp was in Dachau in March 1933