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”
What was “Der Fuhrer”?
“The leader”
What was a Nazi Gauletier?
A Nazi official who controlled a specific area of Germany
Who were the Reichsleiters, and name two of Hitler’s Reichsleiters
Hitler’s advisors
- Goebbels was in charge of propaganda
- Himmler was in charge of the police
Describe how Hitler reorganised German government
Der Fuhrer (at the top)
Reichsleiters
Gauleiters
Other officials
What was the “Law of the Reconstruction of the Reich”?
A law allowing Hitler to take over all state governments
What law did Hitler pass in order to take over all state governments?
The “Law of the Reconstruction of the Reich”
Describe how Hitler changed the German justice system
- In 1933, the Nazis set up special courts where the
basic rights of the accused were suspended (they
couldn’t appeal or question evidence against them) - In 1934, Hitler established the “People’s court” in
Berlin, which held trials for important political crimes,
and defendants were nearly almost found guilty - Judges no longer had to be fair and unbiased, but
had to make rulings in line with Nazi policy - All lawyers had to join the Nazi Lawyers’ Association,
which meant they could be controlled
When did Hitler establish the “People’s Court”, and what was its purpose?
1934, to hold trials for important political crimes
What was the SS (Schutzstaffel)?
Initially a bodyguard for Hitler, it expanded greatly under Himmler during the 1930s. Its members were totally loyal to Hitler, and later set up concentration camps. They were the most important of Hitler’s organisations
When was the SS (Schutzstaffel) established?
4th April 1925
What was the Gestapo?
The Nazi’s “secret police force”, whose job was to listen in on regular conversations, also led by Himmler. They were greatly helped by regular citizens “snitching” on others out of fear
Which Reichsleiter led the SS and the Gestapo?
Henrich Himmler (The Reichsführer-SS)
What was the Nazi intelligence service called?
The Sicherheitsdienst (SD)
What was the purpose of the Sicherheitsdienst (SD)?
They aimed to bring every German under continual supervision, and were responsible for the security of Hitler and other top Nazis
Who was the leader of the Sicherheitsdienst(SD)?
Reinhard Heydrich
(Himmler’s right hand man)
What association did all German lawyers have to join under Hitler?
The Nazi Lawyers’ Association
What was “The Third Reich”?
A thousand year empire promised by Hitler
How did the Nazis use media as a propaganda tool?
- They sold cheap radios and controlled broadcasts
through the Reich Broadcasting Corporation, by
1939, 70% of households had a radio, giving the Nazis
a voice in most people’s homes - In 1933, the Nazis controlled 3% of daily newspapers,.
This number rose to 84% in 1944 - The Nazis produced many posters and films, an
important director was Leni Riefenstahl
Name an important Nazi director
Leni Riefenstahl
What organisation did Goebbels set up to monitor all artistic works?
The “Ministry of Public Enlightenment and
Propaganda” (1933)
What was the Ministry of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda?
An organisation with different departments for music, theatre, film etc. All artists had to get their work approved
How did the percentage of daily German newspapers controlled by the Nazi party increase from 1933 to 1944?
It increased from 3% to 84%
What organisation was established by Goebbels to control radio output?
The Reich Broadcasting Organisation
How did the Nazis use censorship?
All newspapers were controlled by the government and could only print stories favourable to the Nazi regime
How did the Nazis use sporting events to gain power?
Berlin hosted the Olympics of 1936, which the Nazis used as an opportunity to showcase the success of the regime and to demonstrate the superiority of the Aryan race
When did Berlin host the Olympics?
1936
What event annoyed Hitler during the 1936 Berlin Olympics?
The victory of the African American Jesse Owens infuriated Nazi officials
How did the Nazis control art?
The Weimar period had seen a flourishing of German art, much of which was abstract. Hitler saw this modern art as ‘degenerate’ and over 6500 works of art were removed from display across Germany. Hitler encouraged ‘Aryan art’ instead, which showed the physical and military power of Germany and the Aryan race
How many works of art were removed via Hitler’s orders?
over 6500
How did the Nazis control architecture?
Hitler was very interested in architecture and believed it could be used to project the power of the Nazi regime. The most important architect of the period was Albert Speer, who redesigned Berlin, as well as designing the stadium in Nuremberg where annual rallies were held.
Who was the most important architect of this period, and what was his significance?
Albert Speer, as he redesigned Berlin, and designed the stadium in Nuremburg where the annual rallies were held
Name a movie made by Leni Riefenstahl
“Triumph of the Will” (1935)
How was music controlled by the Nazis?
In classical music, works by Jewish composers like Mendelssohn and Mahler were banned and the works of the German composer Wagner were promoted, gaining huge popularity.
Which traditional German composer gained popularity under the Nazis?
Wagner
How did the Nazis use mass rallies to gain popularity?
These public displays of support for Nazism involved music, speeches and demonstrations of German strength. The biggest one was held each year in August at Nuremberg.
Why did Hitler suspect Ernst Rohm?
Rohm had socialist and populist views, and believed that the real revolution had not yet begun. He felt that the SA—now numbering some three million men, far dwarfing the army—should become the sole arms-bearing corps of the state, and that the army should be absorbed into the SA under his leadership.
Describe the Reichstag support for the Enabling Act
444 votes to 94 votes, with Hitler’s SA threatening opposition
Why was Hitler against trade unions?
They were potential sources of opposition - if communists were able to control the trade unions, they could be used to undermine the government’s power through organising strikes
