Nazi 1.1 Flashcards
why did the Wiemar govt collapse due to the way people felt about it?
Many people hated it due to the TOV, Hindenburg was the first to come up with the ‘stab in the back’ by the November criminals theory, this contributed to the govts unpopularity
What economic problems lead to the Weimar democracy collapse?
crippling effect of Wall Street Crash, Germany’s heavy reliance on loans from the US, Rising unemployment and prices, and falling wages
How did coalition failure lead to the Weimar democracy collapse?
Parties found it hard to work together, Hindenburg fired chancellors who didn’t agree on policies, SPD refused to take part in coalitions, there were 3 elections and several chancellors to find a govt that worked
What came as a shock in the Sept 1930 elections?
Communists (KPD) and the Nazis (NSDAP) made gains
What was support for the Nazis boosted by?
SA and its attacks of political opponents
What happened in the 1932 presidential elections?
To keep Hitler out, Hindenburg was asked to run again and he won against Hitler by 19.4m votes to 13.4m votes
Who did Hindenburg appoint chancellor?
he appointed Franz Von Papen- this wasn’t a success because he didn’t get enough support from the Reichstag and also ruled by decree
why did the 1932 presidential elections nearly not happen?
Bruning who was chancellor at the time suggested a 2 year extension for Hindenburg presidency and postpone it due to political unrest. Both Hitler and Hindenburg refused.
despite the Nazis having the most seats in the Riechstag, who did Hindenburg appoint as chancellor after von papen?
Von schleicher- he said they only was to govern was by decree- Hindenburg refused.
why did Hitler refuse the place in cabinet?
Because he wanted to be chancellor
What was Von papen’s suggestion to Hindenburg?
To make Hitler chancellor and von papen vice chancellor where both Hindenburg and von papen could control Hitler.
When was Hitler appointed as chancellor?
30 Jan 1933- this set him on a path to becoming a dictator
From being appointed chancellor in 1933, what did Hitler manage to do by August 1934?
He was in complete control of the German political system and was now a fuhrer leading a one party govt
In January 1933, who was the largest party in the reichstag?
Nazi party
how many cabinet members were nazis?
2 in 12
what happened on the 27th Feb?
Reichstag was deliberately burned down. a young dutch communist was caught by the Nazis. However it is possible that the Nazis did it themselves.
How did the Nazis benefit from the events of 27th Feb?
- They got credit from catching the arsonist
- able to stir up anti- communist propaganda
- able to gain not only political but financial support- industrialists contributed to Nazis in fear of communism
What was Hitler able to persuade Hindenburg to do after the Reichstag fire?
- to declare state of emergency
what benefit did the state of emergency give Hitler?
Gave Hitler control over police and to govern without Reichstag
He could ban opposers and opposition newspapers
why did Hitler persuade Hindenburg to call an election on the 5th March?
Hitler persuaded Hindenburg for election- 5 march
To make the Nazis win 288 seats in reichstag with 17.5m votes. He banned opposers and violent campaign tactics. Banned 81 communists taking their seats
What did the rigged March elections show?
How Nazis could use the law to get what they wanted
What happened on the 21 March 1933?
Hitler and Hindenburg opened the Reichstag at Potsdam Garrison church where the army and the SA formed the military guard
What did the Reichstag opening convey about Hitler?
Under both the Nazi swastikas and flags of the old empire, it showed Hitlers acceptance of old govt and its members. Made the Nazis look respectable
What happened on the 24th March?
Enabling act was passed- this gave Hitler the right to pass laws without the Reichstag- this was ignored after Hitlers dictatorship was established.
Why was the enabling act disputed?
because it tore up the Wiemar constitution, Hindenburg couldn’t stop him because he was old and ill
How did Hitler take advantage of the Enabling act?
he used it to get rid of parties in the Reichstag until 14 July 1933 were a law banned all the remaining parties making the country a one party state
What did Hitler do when Hindenburg died?
He legally combined the roles of the chancellor and the president into that of Fuhrer. the plebiscite confirmed this
What was the night of the long knives?
a violent, illegal and ruthless elimination of opponents. SA and Rohm helped Hitler to power however they were ruining the Nazi image therefore on 30 June 1934 Rohm and other senior SA officers were arrested and several hundred people were killed.
What was the nature of the Nazi govt?
one party system solved problems with election majorities and coalition, Hitler kept much of the govt, civil service were purged, his minsters didn’t have the same amount of power, he kept people on their toes so they didn’t get too comfy
Key features of the Nazi govt?
Nazis worked on the principle of Volkgemienschaft ( working together for one goal)
- Leadership: Hitler- Fuhrer- held ultimate power
- he couldn’t make all decisions therefore made sure everyone knew the goal
- Admin: done by civil service- fuhrerprinzip- some decisions were overruled based on popular opinion
- Nazis wanted centralized state
- they had tight levels of control- eg. use of gestapo
