The nature of the Nazi government

Question 1

How many laws did the Reichstag pass between 1934 and 1945?

Answer 1

7 laws.

Question 2

If not the Reichstag, who made and enforced laws in Nazi Germany?

Answer 2

The nazis, lmao.

Question 3

Why did Hitler keep much of the existing bureaucracy and the previous Weimar govt?

Answer 3

• Civil service already purged of jews and opponents.
• Many government clerks already nazis.
• Non-nazi ministers provided a useful level of continuity.

Question 4

Despite this, why was the power of previous Weimar ministers limited?

Answer 4

• Not all ministers had the same amount of power.

- New organisations operated along the old.

Question 5

Name a new organisation that Hitler set up.

Answer 5

The Reich Propaganda Ministry, headed by Goebbels.

Question 6

The responsibilities of ministries/departments were not clear. Why might this have benefited Hitler?

Answer 6

• It introduces a sense of competition among ministries.
• Keeps people on their toes, reminding them they shouldn’t be settled.
• May have distracted the potential opponents of Hitler.

Question 7

What was the principle of ‘people’s community’?

Answer 7

Advocated the need for a community. The german nation would work for the common good.

Question 8

How was leadership defined under the nazi regime?

Answer 8

The whole nazi state operated under the principle of fuhrerprinzip. A strict order of hierarchy.
-Hitler on the top.

Question 9

Who were the main decision makers in the Nazi government?

Answer 9

Those who were personally loyal to Hitler and achieved the results he wanted.

Question 10

How did Hitler prevent opposition groups from forming within the govt?

Answer 10

• In policy-making, Hitler aimed to prevent groups of people working together.
• Maintained the same cabinet ministers.
• Abolished cabinet meetings.

Question 11

How was the administration of the nazi govt organized?

Answer 11

Administration still largely done by the civil service, under Frick.

Question 12

How did Hitler centralise governance and administration of Nazi Germany?

Answer 12

The Nazis were against the division of Germany into Lander.

• Early as 1933, Lander were stripped of their powers.
• In 1934, law terminated them.

Question 13

How did Hitler make sure the nazis were staying in power?

Answer 13

• The use of Gestapo.
• Gestapo and SS developed their own judiciary.
• Gestapo-controlled concentration camps were set up to manage political prisoners.

Question 14

What were the main roles of the SS?

Answer 14

• Intel gathering.
• Policing.
• Military action.
• Responsible for creating ‘New Order’ in occupied territories.
• Germanisation.

Question 15

By how much in size did the SS grow in between 1933 and 1939?

Answer 15

1933, the SS numbered 52,000.

1939, the SS numbered 250,000

Question 16

What were the main roles of the Gestapo?

Answer 16

• Find opponents to the Nazis and arrest them.
• Rely on informers and blockwardens for information.
• Uphold the regime through surveillance.

Question 17

How many concentration camps were established between 1933 and 1945?

Answer 17

Approximately 20,000 camps.

Question 18

How did the Nazi Regime change the nature of the government from the Weimar republic?

Answer 18

• Power vested in Adolf Hitler as Fuhrer.
• Centralised governance and the importance of german nation.
• Bill of Rights dismantled.
• Gestapo Courts.
• Former governance were futile.

Question 19

How did the Nazi regime continue the nature of government from WR?

Answer 19

-System of governance from the Wieimar republic maintained under the nazi rule.