Paper 2 : Germany - Consolidation of power and maintence of power

Question 1

Use of legal methods;

Answer 1

The Enabling Act - enabled Hilter make laws and policies without the approval of the Reichstag.

Coordination~political parties, state govs and cultural and professional organizations were aligned to Nazi goals.

German elections 1933-38~all other political parties were banned, in 1933. In 1933 elections only Nazi and Guests of Nazi’s were allowed on the Ballot papers. Hence Nazi winning all the seats in the Reichstag.

1938 elections were the last election of a unified Germany, Hilter won, and the elections were conducted within the rules and the constitution of Germany.

Question 2

Use of force

Answer 2

• Use of Force Against the trade Unions
• In 1933, Police units occupied all trade unions headquarters and union officials and leaders were arrested.
• All trades were banned and the German Labour Force was established.
• Strikes were banned Workers could not negotiate.

1934; Night of the Long Knives.
* Ernst Rohm founder of SA became a threat top the stability of the Nazi party~was known to be homosexual and did not align with the Nazi image.
* Hilter used the SS to eliminate the SA. About 400 people were killed.
* Generals of the Reichswehr were impressed by how Hilter dealt with opposition and supported him in becoming the Fuhrer.
* Concentration camps~were set to incarcerate individuals deemed to be a threat to Hilter. Sometimes these individuals were executed.
* Main groups were* political prisoners, homosextuals, Jews, Jehovah witnesses and the Gypsies. Were headed by the Gestapo and Criminal police.
*

Question 3

charismatic leadership;

Answer 3

• Hilter portrayed himself as a man of the people, who would restore Germany to greatness.
• Many Germans saw improvements after Hilter came to power, enhancing his reputation.
• Hilter remained outside the dirty side of politics. A myth was created to depict Hilter as a moderate and thoughtful leader, in contrast to some rough functions withing the Nazi party.
• Portrayed as a religious man, who would confront the inherent evils of the atheistic communism.
  He had
• Mein Kampf~the need for an all powerful leader Strong nationalism.
  Stress on militarism and military strength. Importance of the purity of Germany.
  Strong state~living space.

**Historiography;
In his book The Hitler Myth (1987),Kershaw claimed that the myth was created through reaction to the systemic weakness in the Weimar Republic, and German’s need for a strong government, it reinforced the German traditions of authoritarian leadership. Hitler had established himself as the sole leader of the Nazi Party.
Kershaw explains that many Germans who admired Hitler ‘might otherwise have been only marginally committed to Nazism’, which means that Hitler as Führer was ‘the focal point of basic consensus’ and that this was ‘a crucial integratory force in the Nazi system of rule.’
In book The Third Reich in Power (2006), R.J. Evans disagrees with some of Kershaw’s arguments. He states that after the first few years of Hitler being in power he was not as widely supported as is claimed.

Question 4

dissemination of propaganda

Answer 4

Books~Antisemitic children’s book “the poisonous mushroom”- superiority of the Aryan race
Nazi propaganda newspaper- ‘The Jews are our Misfortune”
Posters - red color
Photographs; Hilter portrayed as a stong leader, patriotic German millitary member and concerned politician.
Films - I accuse(1941) ; film that promoted nazi’s ideologies and anti jewish films
Press- Nazi strict control over journalist, editors and publishers
Jewish journalists and publishers fired
Radio subsisidies for affordability
Public speakers - radio programmes- speeches and propanganda
Minister of propaganda - Joseph Goebells
The 1936 Olympic Games - helped Hitler promote idea of strong Aryan man and woman.Hilter Youth participated in sporting activities.
Cult of Personality-
Hilter portrayed himself as a man who would restore Germany to greatness.
* Hitler remained outside the dirty side of politics, portrayed as a religious man who would confront the inherent evils of atheistic communism.

Question 5

Nature,extent and treatment of the opposition

Answer 5

• Use of Force Against the Trade Union~In 1933, Police units occupied all trade unions headquarters and union officials and leaders were arrested.
• All trades were banned and the German Labour Force was established. Strikes were banned. Workers could not negotiate.
• Ernst Rohm founder of SA became a threat top the stability of the Nazi party~was known to be homosexual and did not align with the Nazi image.
• Hilter used the SS to eliminate the SA. About 400 people were killed.
• Generals of the Reichswehr were impressed by how Hilter dealt with opposition and supported him in becoming the Fuhrer.
  Religious Opposition~dealt with by appointing pro-Nazi clergy to positions in the Church, reinforcing the nationalism that was already held by many church members, and by stressing the communist stance. This created a backlash and in 1933, one hundred pastors created the breakaway Confessional Church.
  **