Nazi Politics and government

Question 1

When was Hitler sworn in as chancellor?

Answer 1

30th January 1933 Hitler was sworn in as chancellor of a conservative government not a Nazi one.

Question 2

Name 5 limitations of Hitler’s position as chancellor?

Answer 2

.Subject to the whim of Hindenburg
.Only two other Nazi’s in the cabinet.
.Strong opposition parties like SPD opposed them
.Media was not under Nazi control
.Radicals in Nazi movement like Rohm might challenge Hitler for leadership.

Question 3

How was Hitler able to seize control?

Answer 3

Conservatives didn’t want a civil war, or the communists getting in so they allowed Hitler in a conservative government.

Question 4

What was the reichstag fire?

Answer 4

Young communist boy burnt down reichstag

Question 5

What was the impact of the reichstag fire?

Answer 5

Hitler was given decree and used the power to arrest and disband the KPD.

Question 6

What was the enabling act?

Answer 6

March 1933, enabling act meant cabinet decisions didn’t need to go through reichstag or have presidential approval.

Question 7

What was the Night of the long knives?

Answer 7

.After fearing Rohm taking over, Hitler ordered the Murder of Rohm and the SA leaders, by the ss, then the army swore to fight for them.

Question 8

What was the law for reconstruction of the state?

Answer 8

Removal of state government and centralisation of power in Berlin.

Question 9

Name three Nazi ideas?

Answer 9

.National socialism
.Superiority of the Aryan race
.Authoritarian government and a strong leader.

Question 10

Name three ways they retained power by change of the constitution and political system?

Answer 10

.Role of Chancellor and Fuhrer were merged.
.Reichstag dissolved itself.
.Only referendums on popular issues.

Question 11

How did the institutions change?

Answer 11

.No change to actual institutions

.New institutions built on top like Hitler Youth.

Question 12

Name the four main ways the nazis used to consolidate their power?

Answer 12

.Hitler was appointed chancellor and was approved by the conservatives who wanted to use Hitler,
Instead of causing a civil war or a communist group getting in.
.February 1933 Hitler used reichstag fire to gain the ability to rule by decree from
president Hindenburg
.While this was happening there was another election and Hitler almost gained a majority
.March 1933 Reichstag signed enabling act giving all power to Hitler as he did not have to go through the reichstag
..Knight of long knives, killed Rome and the SA leaders who were considered the radical part of the party,
Then the army swore allegiance to Hitler giving him more power as Furrier with
Full control of the army.

Question 13

what are the key constitutional changes introduced by the Nazis?

Answer 13

.No longer a federal system now there was a centralised power
.less forewent elections and plebiscites only voted on popular matters.
.Only Nazi’s could run in elections
.Ballot rigging was common

Question 14

Name the ways the institutions of Germany were / were not changed

Answer 14

.Institutions were not changed no institution was destroyed or defunded
.New institutions were built on top of the old ones
.e.g. Nazi peoples courage was created and the Hitler youth

Question 15

what was the nature of Nazi rule?

Answer 15

.One party rule no opposition
.media controlled by Nazi’s and institutions
.Policy making was based of Hitlers speeches and ideas, and left to his deputies to pass
.Responsibilities were also given to several people causing chaos but appealing to Hitlers Darwinian idea that
The strong will win and therefore the competition is good.

Question 16

What was the role of police, gestapo and repression in the Nazi state?

Answer 16

.Used to keep over and rule
.People court had the same power and often killed people for not committing to the regime
And stepping out of line, even for something such as a joke.

Question 17

What was the development like in the war years?

Answer 17

.Rules got stricter and punishments were more enforced

.Hitler became less outspoken and Nazi order was a failing

Question 18

When Hitler was appointed Chancellor in January 1933, there were only two other Nazis in his cabinet. Can you name one of them?

Answer 18

Frick or Goering

Question 19

Which law was passed in March 1933, giving Hitler the power to pass laws without having to get the approval of the Reichstag?

Answer 19

Enabling Act

Question 20

Which former chancellor was killed in the Night of the Long Knives in June 1934?

Answer 20

Von Schleicher

Question 21

What did the passing of the “Law for the Reconstruction of the State” in January 1934 do? What precedent was used to do this?

Answer 21

Remove the state governments (lander) and replace with Reich ministers.

Von Papen’s “Prussian coup d’etat”

Question 22

What is the name for the Nazi concept of a ‘people’s community’, suggesting people put the needs of the nation first ?

Answer 22

Volksgemeinschaft

accept recognisable spellings

Question 23

Which organisation was targeted in the “Night of the Long Knives”? Why did Hitler do this?

Answer 23

SA, appease the army, remove those critical of his policies

Question 24

What was the term for the process of “co-ordination” and Nazification of German society?

Answer 24

Gleichschaltung

Question 25

Which organisation became increasingly important in the Nazi state, eventually developing its own military branches?

Answer 25

The SS

Question 26

Name the four leading Nazi’s that Hitler left to run Germany’s domestic affairs during the war?

Answer 26

Goering, Goebbels, Himmler, Bormann

Question 27

Elections were still held in Nazi Germany during peacetime - however what made them essentially meaningless?

Answer 27

Only candidates endorsed by the Nazis could stand.

Reichstag rarely sat.

Question 28

Why happened in the March 1933 election?

Answer 28

.Nazi’s won 43% + 7% from DNVP. (nationalists)
.Terrorised political opponents.
.Used big business funding.