Nazi Control and Dictatorship Flashcards
When was the Reichstag fire?
February 27th 1933 (6 days before the election)
Who was blamed for Reichstag fire?
Van der Lubbe - a Dutch communist
What percentage of votes did Hitler receive in the election following the Reichstag fire, and how many seats did he receive?
He received 44% of votes, and 288 seats
(Still not an overall majority so he had to join with the nationalists)
What party did Hitler have to join with after the February 1933 elections to gain an overall majority?
The nationalist party
How did the Reichstag fire and February Reichstag elections help Hitler to gain power?
- Hindenburg issued a decree (REICHSTAG FIRE DECREE) giving Hitler emergency
powers to deal with the supposed communist threat -
many basic right given to the German people under
the Weimar constitution e.g. freedom of speech, were
suspended - Hitler also used the powers to intimidate communist,
using the SA to round up and imprison nearly 4000
communist members. Hitler also made the communist
party illegal, giving him enough support in parliament
(By banning the communist party - with 81 seats, the
Nazis now had a 2/3 majority) - Hitler used the fire to claim that communists were a
threat, and Nazi newspapers used the event to
publish anti communist conspiracy theories - Other parties had been intimidated by the SA to pass
the enabling act
How many communist members were rounded up and imprisoned by the SA after Hindenburg issued the decree giving Hitler emergency powers?
Nearly 4000
How did Hitler justify suspending basic rights?
He claimed that it was necessary to protect the German people
What did the Enabling Act entail?
Hitler could now govern for four years without parliament
- ban of all other political parties
- ban trade unions
- important for Hitlers consolidation of power as it allowed him to bring controversial legislation into force to strengthen Nazi position
How did the Enabling Act help Hitler to gain power?
Hitler could now make laws as he pleased, removing the Reichstag as a source of oppostition
When was the Enabling Act signed?
24rd March 1933
What decrees did Hitler make using the Enabling Act?
- The government could read people’s mail, listen in on
phone calls and search their homes without notice - In April 1933, Nazi officials were put in charge of all
local government. ‘Alien elements’ (people from other
countries) in the civil service, courts and education
were removed from their positions. - In May 1933 He banned trade unions and arrested
union officials. German workers were now expected
to join the new German Labour Front (DAF) - In July 1933 all other parties were banned and
Germany became a one party state - In January 1934 all state governments were taken
over by the Nazis
Why did Hitler put all Nazi officials in charge of local government, and remove “Alien elements” from their positions?
He wanted to make sure that he wouldn’t have opposition in influential areas e.g. Judges. He also got rid of “undesirables” such as the Jews
Why did Hitler ban trade unions?
He thought that trade unions could unite workers to protest, therefore removing another source of opposition
When did Hitler ban trade unions?
2nd May 1933
When did Hitler appoint all Nazi officials in charge of local government?
7th April 1933
When did Hitler ban all other political parties?
14th July 1933
Why did Hitler pass the “Law for the Reconstruction of the Reich”?
Hitler could centralise all policy and make sure different states listened to him and did as he wished. It encouraged even more nationalism in Germany. Possible dissent (disagreement) was lessened as the state governments couldn’t lead people as they had once done.
When did Hitler pass the “Law for the Reconstruction of the Reich”?
January 1934
When was the Night of The Long Knives?
30th June 1934
Why did Hitler carry out the Night of The Long Knives?
Ernst Rohm, and many other members of the SA, were demanding that Hitler carried out his socialist agenda and let the SA take over the army. Hitler couldn’t afford to do this as he didn’t want to annoy wealthy businessmen or the army.
Hitler also wanted the support of Himmler and the SS, and general WERNER VON BLOMBERG
Who was Ernst Rohm?
The leader of the SA
Describe the events of the Night of The Long Knives
- On the 30th June 1934, the SS murdered around 400
members of the SA, including Ernst Rohm, and other
political opponents such as Von Schleicher
Around how many members of the SA were murdered on the Night of The Long Knives?
About 400, including Rohm and other opponents e.g. Von Schleicher
When did President Hindenburg die?
August 1934
What did Hitler do after Hindenburg’s death?
He combined the positions of Chancellor and President, making himself “Der Fuhrer”