Political- Establishment Of Nazi Reigm Flashcards

1
Q

Long term factors that contributed to the collapse of Weimar

A
  • Too few people believed in the republic or democracy, authoritarian heritage of Wilhelmina era; many didn’t regard it as a legitimate regime
  • Damaged inheritance
  • Republic struggled to throw of myths put in place by RW opponents
  • Republic generated too few leaders of great authority and ability
  • Democratic constitution had loopholes e.g. Article 48
  • Proportional representation lead to unstable short lived governments
  • Deep rooted economic difficulties undermined republic
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2
Q

Short term factors that lead to the demise of the republic

A
  • 1929 Wall Street crash led to economic crisis

- Political betrayal by RW elites

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3
Q

What was the psychological impact of WW1 that lead to fear amount Germans that aided the fall of Weimar?

A

The collapse of the world economy brought back fears of indebtness, loss of status, loss of autonomy

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4
Q

What economic failings alienated many middle class from the republic?

A

-Loss of savings and devaluation of pension in 1923 hyperinflation

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5
Q

Why did the economic depression of the 30s hit Germany so hard?

A
  • Germany was a major exporting nation, but lost trade as world trade collapsed by a third
  • Lost American investment
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6
Q

By 1932 how many people were officially unemployed?

A

6 million

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7
Q

In 1932 what level was the output of German economy at?

A

58% of that in its best period in the 20s

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8
Q

What psychological effect did the depression have on the German public?

A
  • Sense of despair and apathy

- Juvenile suicide rates increased

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9
Q

What problems were in the Reichstag in 1930?

A

-Inter party disputes were disrupting enacting of legislation

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10
Q

Which chancellor in 1928-30 had problems in the Reichstag?

A

Muller

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11
Q

How did Muller’s government weaken faith in parliamentary institutions?

A

Constant bargaining and negotiating of ways to tackle economic crisis undermined them

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12
Q

Why did Muller resign?

A

Hindenburg refused to back his government with emergency powers

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13
Q

What was Muller’s resignation a turning point for?

A

The Reichstag- it was now increasingly marginalised - power was largely in control of Hindenburg and his advisors

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14
Q

Chancellor from 1930-32

A

Bruning

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15
Q

What did the September 1930 election show

A

A panic flight to the extremes - with the KPD making gains and the Nazis winning 107 seats

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16
Q

What did the September election 1930 mean for Bruning?

A

-Stuck in a minority government and increasingly reliant on Article 48

17
Q

What stat demonstrates the marginalisation of the Reichstag

A

1930-32

  • Reichstag passed 29 relatively minor bills
  • 109 emergency decrees ratified by the president
18
Q

1930-32 who was increasingly wielding political authority?

A

Army under von Schleicher

19
Q

What did von Schleicher do in 1932 with his political authority?

A

Used his influence to get Hindenburg to dismiss Bruning

20
Q

Who replaced Bruning in 1932?

A

Von Papen

21
Q

Why was von Schleicher interested in the Nazis?

A
  • Recognised their strength in the Reichstag and wanted to use them to further his own ambition
  • Saw them as a step to implementing authoritarian dictatorship
  • Thought the Nazis could be tamed by being brought into government
22
Q

What did von Schleicher want from Rohm?

A
  • Closer links
  • Give SA access to weapons so that they could cause havoc on streets and undermine republic/ democratic institutions as they would look unable to maintain law and order
23
Q

What did Bruning do under pressure from several German land governments in 13 April 1932?

A

Banned SA

24
Q

What did Schleicher do as a result of SA ban?

A
  • Engineered resignation of Groener who opposed Schleichers intention of SA integration into army
  • Met with secret in Hitler
  • Engineered Brunings dismissal
25
Q

Why did Schleicher nominate Von Papen?

A

He thought he could control him better

26
Q

What did Von Papen do 20 June 1932

A

Lift ban on SA

27
Q

What did Papen do July 1932 to remove the last stronghold of democracy?

A
  • Removed Prussian SPD government
  • Assumed control as Reich Commissioner of Prussia
  • Justified this by saying he needed to bring an end to the street fighting of SA and communists
28
Q

1932 election result

A

-NSDAP secures 37% of vote making it the largest party in the Reichstag

29
Q

How did Hitler worm his way into chancellorship

A
  • All or nothing approach

- Worked with Von Papen to persuade Hindenburg that Hitler should take chancellorship

30
Q

How did Hitler turn democracy into a dictatorship so quickly?

A
  • Legal revolution
  • Terror
  • Cooperation and coordination with key institutions
31
Q

Gleichschaltung

A

The period in which Hitler consolidated his power

32
Q

How did Hitler exploit his position in order to overthrow democracy?

A
  • Superior position with position as chancellor
  • Two other Nazis held important posts
  • Employed paramilitary forces SA and SS to intimidate and crush opponents
  • Von Blomberg (Defence Minister) was sympathetic to Nazis and ensured the army didn’t try to stop Nazi terror attacks
  • Successful propaganda campaign portraying Nazis actions as necessary to deal with national emergency
  • Influential RW elites threw lot in with Nazis
33
Q

What two Nazis held what cabinet positions in 1933?

A
  • Goering = Prussian Minister of Interior had direct control over Berlin and was ruthless in purging the Prussian Government and police of all potential opponents- appointing Nazi sympathisers in their place
  • Frick = Minister of Interior, key role in drawing up plans for March elections
34
Q

What did Hitler learn about taking democracy in Munich Putsch?

A

Had to be taken from within, through legal means

35
Q

Two pieces of legislation in Hitlers Legal Revolution

A
  • Decree for the Protection of the People and State 1933

- Enabling Act 1933

36
Q

What did the Decree for the Protection of the People and State allow?

A

-Suspended constitutional rights