Lesson Five

Question 1

In 1932 what were the Nazi’s angered about?

Answer 1

The Nazis were left at an impasse, immensely popular and yet politically powerless, frozen out of government by Article 48.

Question 2

On 30th January 1933, why did Hindenburg agree to form a coalition with the Nazis?

Answer 2

He assumed Hitler would be restrained because:

1. The Nazis did not hold the majority of seats in the Reichstag and so could not make any legal changes to the Weimar Constitution to dismantle the democratic system.
2. Hitler could always simply be dismissed by Hindenburg (using his presidential powers) should he prove to be troublesome.

Question 3

Immediately after becoming Chancellor what did Hitler do?

Answer 3

Hitler had immediately declared another Reichstag elections. To ensure the party maintained their strong
support, Hitler placed his publicity officer Joseph Goebbels in charge of propaganda.

Question 4

How did the Nazis manage to gain a significant percentage of the votes?

Answer 4

Largely because of this barrage of propaganda, and also because of the street violence of the SA against the opposition (69 people were killed during the election)

Question 5

What was the Enabling Act on the 23rd March?

Answer 5

An act that gave Chancellor Adolf Hitler the power to enact laws without the involvement of the Reichstag.

Question 6

What was the impact of the Enabling Act?

Answer 6

By passing the act Hitler had effectively dismantled the democratic system of the Weimar Republic.

Question 7

How did the Nazi party establish themselves as the only legal political party in Germany after power?

Answer 7

By forcibly disbanding or assimilating any remaining political forces that had not yet been destroyed or had disbanded themselves.

Question 8

How did Hitler deal with the threat posed by the paramilitary SA and its incompetent leader Rohm?

Answer 8

Hitler hired the SS, another smaller Nazi paramilitary group, to orchestrate the mass execution of Röhm and the leading members of the SA. On the night of the 30th
June 1934 over 200 members of the SA were assassinated by the SS, completely wiping them out as a
political power within the party

Question 9

What was the impact of The Night of the Long Knives?

Answer 9

1. This brutal measure had won Hitler the support of the army
2. Hitler had effectively legalised murder for the government, illustrating quite clearly that the new regime
   would be very different from the comparatively safe German Empire.