Nazi Dictatorship 1933-39 (chp 13-14) Flashcards
1
Q
How did Hitler create a one-party state?
A
- Claimed the Nazis were the ‘racial core’ of the state and was made up of the superior citizens, therefore, in the Volksgemeinschaft there could be no other party
- KPD was banned after Reichstag fire in Feb, communists either fled or imprisoned
- SPD continued to voice opposition until it was outlawed in June 1933
- DNVP and Centre party dissolved themselves as outnumbered
- July 1933 Law against Formation of New Parties
2
Q
What laws were passed to centralise power?
A
- March 1933 - First Law for the coordination of the Federal states - replaced state assemblies with Nazi-dominated assemblies
- April 1933 - Second Law for the Coordination of the Federal States - creates new post of Reich Governor
- Jan 1934 - Law for Reconstruction of the Reich - state assemblies abolished
- Feb 1934 - Reichsrat abolished
3
Q
Who was the leader of the SA and what were his aims? Membership?
A
- Ernst Rohm
- Aimed to eventually absorb and replace existing army
- Combined SA and Stahlhelm membership was 4.5 million in Jan 1934, outnumbered army
4
Q
What was the Night of the Long Knives June 1934?
A
- Army was only remaining institution with power to remove Hitler / was loyal to Hindenburg
- Regarded as a threat by SA/Rohm so began stopping army convoys and confiscating weapons/supplies
- Papen gave speech calling an end to terror and to stop SA, was reported in press and had Hindenburg’s support
- Hitler knew he had to take decisive action against SA so ordered a purge on 30th June 1934 where SS eliminated leadership of SA/other political opponents
- Hitler accepted full responsibility for executions and secured army’s support
- SA membership declined to 1.6 million
5
Q
What was the impact of Hindenburg’s death in August 1934?
A
- Hitler aimed to merge positions of Chancellor and President but as long as Hindenburg lived, he couldn’t have absolute power
- Hindenburg considered handing power to army and dismissing Hitler, lead to Hitler needing army support (led to TKOLK)
- With SA threat removed, there were no other objections for Hitler to succeed as President
- Position merged within an hour of his death, army took oath of allegiance to Hitler
- Vote held to get approval for title of Fuhrer - 89% approved, surprising that 11% (4.5 mil) had courage to refuse
- This was final act of Nazi consolidation of power
6
Q
How did the law change under Nazis?
A
- Hitler’s word was the law
- Forced justice system to adapt to his will
- No longer were citizens treated as equal before the law
- Individuals could be arrested and imprisoned without trial
7
Q
What was the police system like in the Third Reich?
A
- SS controlled by Himmler
- SD (offshoot of SS) controlled by Heydrich
- SA controlled by Rohm
- Gestapo (secret state police) controlled by Himmler
8
Q
What was the SS?
A
- Hitler’s bodyguard, after TNOLK was main organisation for arresting political prisoners
- !936 - Himmler appointed chief, in charge of police system and concentration camps
- Were strictly disciplines, racially pure, obedient and loyal
- Concentration camp guards were brutalised to remove feelings of humanity towards prisoners
9
Q
What was the SD?
A
- Established in 1931 as internal security service of Nazis
- Offshoot of SS led by Heydrich to identify those who voted no for Hitler to become Fuhrer and monitor public opinion
- Not staffed by professional police officers but by committed Nazi amateurs
10
Q
What was the Gestapo?
A
- Originally set up in Prussia alone but extended to whole country
- Reputation for being all-knowing - believed they had agents in every workplace, pub… but was actually small organisation
- Made up of professional police officers who served the state, not Nazis
- Depended on information supplied by informers, ‘block leaders’ would report any suspicious activity, many motivated by personal grudges rather than political
- Successful in instilling atmosphere of fear and suspicion
11
Q
What political resistance was there to the regime?
A
- SPD continued to campaign openly for election campaign in March 1933 but suffered SA violence, had defied intimidation for voting against Enabling act but once regime had power Nazis began to crush SPD, propaganda pamphlets smuggled across border by fear of arrest by Gestapo limited this
- KPD better prepared for underground activity but was first party to be banned and Thalmann was arrested, 10% of membership killed by Nazis, set up underground network in Berlin and Hamburg but broken up by Gestapo
12
Q
How did workers show resisance to the regime?
A
- Working class was largest and most unionised workforce, linked to SPD and opposed Nazis but after Jan 1933, resistance crumbled quickly
- Nazi propaganda emphasised importance of national opposed to class solidarity
- 1937 - 250 strikes recorded due to poor working conditions or low wages, absenteeism common and deliberate damage to machinery but penalties for ‘slackers’ were laid out
13
Q
How did the Protestant church resist?
A
- Refused to be part of ‘coordinated’ Reich church as they wanted to protect their independence from the Nazi regime, resist imposing Aryanism and trying to defend Lutheran theology (based on the Bible)
- Many refused to display swastika flags
- Nazis responded by stopping pastors salaries, banning them from teaching in schools and arresting them
- 1937, 700 pastors arrested
14
Q
How did the Catholic Church resist?
A
- More united, traditional and independent than Prot church
- Tried to come to term with Nazi regime but pope issued papal encyclical against pressure on CC, was read in every church by 1937
- Regime increased repression, charges against priests became regular, clergy began to show ‘cautious restraint’
- Overall, resistance was partial and ineffective
15
Q
How did young people resist?
A
- Growing disillusionment by mid-1930s
- Members of Hitler Youth and League of German Girls opted out of activities or did not attend parades
- Some formed cliques of gangs to show independence
