KQ4 - Consolidation Of Power Flashcards
Consolidation of power Steps/Points
The Reichstag Fire March Election Enabling Act Gleichschaltung/Removal of Opposition Night of the Long Knives Hitler becomes Fuhrer
When was the Reichstag fire?
27 February (1 week before March election)
Who was arrested for the Reichstag fire?
Marinus van der Lubbe - a Dutch Communist
What was the effect of the Reichstag fire?
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’
What was the Decree for the Protection of People and State?
It suspended basic civil rights and allowed the Nazis to imprison large number of their political opponents.
Communist + Socialist newspapers banned
When was the March election?
5 March 1933
How long was the Enanbling Act set for?
4 years
When was the Enabling Act passed?
23 March 1933
How many seats did the Nazis win after the March election?
The Nazi Party (NSDAP) won 288 seats (not a majority causing a coalition with the Nationalist Party)
What dubious means did the Nazis use to get the Enabling Law passed?
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
What were the terms of the Enabling Act?
Hitler could create laws without needing the approval of the Reichstag
What does Gleichschaltung mean?
To bring German society in line with Nazi philosophy
What were the points under Gleichschaltung?
Trade Unions
Political Parties
Control of State government (länder)
What happened to trade unions?
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
What happened to Political parties?
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
How did the Nazis control the state government (Länder)?
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.
When was the Night of the Long Knives
30 June 1934
What was the Night of the Long Knives?
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
Why did Hitler conduct the Night of the Long Knives?
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
When did Hindenburg die?
August 1934
What did Hitler do after the death of Hindenburg?
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.
When was the first concentration camp created
The first concentration camp was in Dachau in March 1933
