Rise of Hitler Flashcards
1
Q
Why was Nazi Socialist German Worker’s Party unpopular during the early 20s because (6)
A
- Lack of support from the army and police.
- Most industrial workers supported left-wing parties.
- Disastrous 1932.
- Sucesses of the Weimar Republic.
- Nazi aims were irrelevant to most Germans.
- Disruption of meetings by political enemies.
2
Q
Why did the Nazis succeed in the elections (6)
A
- Hitler as a powerful speaker
- Use of propaganda: Aimed to exploit people’s fears and uncertainties
- Use of force/fear: SS and SA to terrify opposition, slowly eliminate them, or scare people into supporting them
- Negative cohesion: seemed like the best choice at the time
- Disillusionment with democracy: Politicians seemed unable to tackle the problems caused by the Great Depression
- Fear of communism
3
Q
Hitler’s theories and aims
A
- Lebensraum (living space): Territory believed to be necessary for national existence and economic self-sufficiency.
- Legalism: Doing everything to have scientific and legal theories to back up his ideologies.
- Abolish the Treaty of Versailles
4
Q
How the depression helped the Nazis
A
- Made Weimar politicians look indecisive: made the Nazis seem like the only capable ones to overcome the problem
- depression made Germany less able to pay WW1 reparations: people would hate Weimar government for raising taxes and cutting spending
- depression increased unemployment and poverty: nazis were offering jobs
- depression increased the support for communism: communists would confiscate land, so the Nazi had the support of landowners
5
Q
Nazi strengths that helped Hitler become chancellor
A
- Hitler’s speaking skills
- Propaganda campaigns
- The criticism of the Weimar system of Government
- Nazi Policies: Talked about restoring German values
- Support from big businesses: Landowners were afraid of communism
- Violent treatment of their opponents
6
Q
Opponents weaknesses that helped Hitler become chancellor
A
- Failure to deal with the Great Depression
- Failure to cooperate with one another: The SPD, the main democratic party, failed to work with other parties, particularly the communists, leaving the Nazis to exploit the division among their opponents.
- Attitudes of Germans to the Democratic Party
7
Q
Other factors that helped Hitler become chancellor
A
- Weaknesses of the Weimar Republic
- Scheming Hindenburg and von Papen: Hindenburg offered the position of chancellor to Hitler in order to gain support of conservative parties in the Reichstag and to control the Communists.
- The impact of the Great Depression: Left 6 million German’s unemployment
- The Treaty of Versailles
- Memories of the problems of 1923: Hyperinflation
8
Q
arararara
A
arararararara
9
Q
Hitler’s obstacles
A
- Hindenburg: power to remove him
- Reichstag: Nazi seats dropped in Nov 32 election. Nazi does not have majority
- Trade unions: could go on strike in protest against any measures they disagree with. Workers don’t support communists
- Army: military concerned about SA. Dislike Ernst Rohm (leader of SA) for desire to merge army into SA. Hitler needs army to impose full authority
- Ernst Rohm and the SA: Ernst wants to be more extreme while Hitler wants to reduce SA and appear to be a moderate. Ernst could potentially take over as he controls the SA
10
Q
When was the Reichstag fire
A
27 February 193
11
Q
what happened in the reichstag fire
A
- Hitler blames communists and created a narrative that it was part of a communist uprising/revolution
- Demanded emergency power to deal with this
- 28 February 1933: Hindenburg passed “Decree of the Reich President”
- Decree suspended many civil liberties from the constitution (e.g. freedom of expression) and allowed police force to carry out searches and confiscations
- Allowed Hitler + Nazis to arrest 4000 communists, break up meetings and frighten voters
- Nazi party gains 92 seats (now at 288) but still no majority
- Reichstag fire gave Hitler power to intimidate opponents after gaining emergency power and succeed in the march 1933 elections
12
Q
what happened with the enabling act
A
- Enabling act – gave Hitler power to pass laws without consulting Reichstag or president
- Law would last 4 years and could be extended by Reichstag
- SA + SS (used by Hitler) was used to intimidate people to vote for enabling act to gain full control
- Full KPD part was absent due to this; so were not present in voting
13
Q
what laws did Hitler pass with the enabling act
A
7/4/33: Jews and opponents removed from civil service
2/5/33: Trade unions were banned and replaced by a single union – German labor front (DAF)
14/7/33: law against formation of new parties. Nazi is now the only party
Jan/34: all state government were brought under central (Nazi control)
20/7/33: concordat – agreement with catholic church
14
Q
what happened with the night of long knives
A
- Hitler had to pick between army and SA
- On the 30th of June, squads of SS broke into the homes of Rohm and SA leaders and arrested them
- Hitler accused Rohm of plotting to overthrow and kill him
- Many were executed: this purge was known as the night of long knives
- Hindenburg thanked Hitler – army was happy
- SA remained a Nazi organization but very inferior to SS
- Conclusion: potential enemy (Rohm + SA) destroyed, and army is pleased
- Political murder of over 150 people
15
Q
when was the enabling act
A
march 1933
