Nazi Consolidation Of Power

Question 1

Nazi Consolidation of Power
Background fact

Answer 1

After their rise to power, the Nazis had to find ways to consolidate it, keep their influence of Germany and thrive.

Question 2

Nazi Consolidation of Power
The Reichstag Fire - Date

Answer 2

• On the 27th of February 1933 the Reichstag building was burnt down and Dutch communist Van der Lubbe was found on the scene.

✓ This made the communists easy to frame as the perpetrators of the fire, giving the public a specific group to blame.

Question 3

Nazi Consilidation of Power
The Reichstag Fire - Communists

Answer 3

• Van der Lubbe was found guilty and arrested along with thousands of other presumed communists

✓ This eliminated Nazi opposition and discouraged communists from openly being against the Nazis

x

Question 4

Nazi Consolidation of Power
The Night of Long Knives - Allegiance

Answer 4

• Having control of the police an all armed forces, many feared to oppose Hitler in case they were punished for doing so. Despite his power, Hitler still feared that members of his own party would turn against him.

✓ This worry was undermined after the army’s Oath of Allegiance, demanding that the army would fight personally for Hitler, rather than Germany as a whole.

x However, the SA had 2 million members and could easily turn against Hitler collectively, undermining his consolidation of power.

Question 5

Nazi Consolidation of Power
The Night of Long Knives - 100

Answer 5

• On the 29th of June 1934, the SS where sent to murder anyone who Hitler worried would oppose him. 100 people were killed that night, including a number of political leaders like Ernst Rohm.

✓ This sent out a clear message of intimidation, warning those who apposed Hitler to keep their thoughts to themselves if they didn’t want to face consequences. This minimised open opposition from the public.

x However, many were forced into supporting Hitler using fear-mongering and did not truly back Nazi ideology.

Question 6

Nazi Consolidation of Power
The Death of Hindenburg - Death

Answer 6

• On the 2nd of August 1934, a month after the Night of Long Knives, Germany’s national hero President Hindenburg died.

✓ This left Hitler with limitless power, having no one higher than him against him.

Question 7

Nazi Consolidation of Power
The Death of Hindenburg - Chancellor x President

Answer 7

• A day before his death, The Cabinet passed a law merging the role of the Chancellor and President. Through this, Hitler became head of state and government.

✓ No one challenged him due to fear of opposition and his power.

x This violated the Enabling Act which prevented Hitler from intervening with the role of presidency.

Question 8

Nazi Consolidation of Power
Historians - mass murder

Answer 8

Michael Burleigh - The purge showed Hitler’s contempt for the law in retrospectively legalising mass murder.

Question 9

Nazi Consolidation of Power
Historians - good stead

Answer 9

Dick Geary - The 30th June purge stood Hitler “in good stead with both the elites and the public”. It showed that the Nazi state “would brook no opposition”