Nazi 1.1

Question 1

why did the Wiemar govt collapse due to the way people felt about it?

Answer 1

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

Question 2

What economic problems lead to the Weimar democracy collapse?

Answer 2

crippling effect of Wall Street Crash, Germany’s heavy reliance on loans from the US, Rising unemployment and prices, and falling wages

Question 3

How did coalition failure lead to the Weimar democracy collapse?

Answer 3

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

Question 4

What came as a shock in the Sept 1930 elections?

Answer 4

Communists (KPD) and the Nazis (NSDAP) made gains

Question 5

What was support for the Nazis boosted by?

Answer 5

SA and its attacks of political opponents

Question 6

What happened in the 1932 presidential elections?

Answer 6

To keep Hitler out, Hindenburg was asked to run again and he won against Hitler by 19.4m votes to 13.4m votes

Question 7

Who did Hindenburg appoint chancellor?

Answer 7

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

Question 8

why did the 1932 presidential elections nearly not happen?

Answer 8

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.

Question 9

despite the Nazis having the most seats in the Riechstag, who did Hindenburg appoint as chancellor after von papen?

Answer 9

Von schleicher- he said they only was to govern was by decree- Hindenburg refused.

Question 10

why did Hitler refuse the place in cabinet?

Answer 10

Because he wanted to be chancellor

Question 11

What was Von papen’s suggestion to Hindenburg?

Answer 11

To make Hitler chancellor and von papen vice chancellor where both Hindenburg and von papen could control Hitler.

Question 12

When was Hitler appointed as chancellor?

Answer 12

30 Jan 1933- this set him on a path to becoming a dictator

Question 13

From being appointed chancellor in 1933, what did Hitler manage to do by August 1934?

Answer 13

He was in complete control of the German political system and was now a fuhrer leading a one party govt

Question 14

In January 1933, who was the largest party in the reichstag?

Answer 14

Nazi party

Question 15

how many cabinet members were nazis?

Answer 15

2 in 12

Question 16

what happened on the 27th Feb?

Answer 16

Reichstag was deliberately burned down. a young dutch communist was caught by the Nazis. However it is possible that the Nazis did it themselves.

Question 17

How did the Nazis benefit from the events of 27th Feb?

Answer 17

1. They got credit from catching the arsonist
2. able to stir up anti- communist propaganda
3. able to gain not only political but financial support- industrialists contributed to Nazis in fear of communism

Question 18

What was Hitler able to persuade Hindenburg to do after the Reichstag fire?

Answer 18

• to declare state of emergency

Question 19

what benefit did the state of emergency give Hitler?

Answer 19

Gave Hitler control over police and to govern without Reichstag
He could ban opposers and opposition newspapers

Question 20

why did Hitler persuade Hindenburg to call an election on the 5th March?

Answer 20

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

Question 21

What did the rigged March elections show?

Answer 21

How Nazis could use the law to get what they wanted

Question 22

What happened on the 21 March 1933?

Answer 22

Hitler and Hindenburg opened the Reichstag at Potsdam Garrison church where the army and the SA formed the military guard

Question 23

What did the Reichstag opening convey about Hitler?

Answer 23

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

Question 24

What happened on the 24th March?

Answer 24

Enabling act was passed- this gave Hitler the right to pass laws without the Reichstag- this was ignored after Hitlers dictatorship was established.

Question 25

Why was the enabling act disputed?

Answer 25

because it tore up the Wiemar constitution, Hindenburg couldn’t stop him because he was old and ill

Question 26

How did Hitler take advantage of the Enabling act?

Answer 26

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

Question 27

What did Hitler do when Hindenburg died?

Answer 27

He legally combined the roles of the chancellor and the president into that of Fuhrer. the plebiscite confirmed this

Question 28

What was the night of the long knives?

Answer 28

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.

Question 29

What was the nature of the Nazi govt?

Answer 29

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

Question 30

Key features of the Nazi govt?

Answer 30

Nazis worked on the principle of Volkgemienschaft ( working together for one goal)

1. Leadership: Hitler- Fuhrer- held ultimate power
2. he couldn’t make all decisions therefore made sure everyone knew the goal
3. Admin: done by civil service- fuhrerprinzip- some decisions were overruled based on popular opinion
4. Nazis wanted centralized state
5. they had tight levels of control- eg. use of gestapo