The Nazi Dictatorship 1933-39

Question 1

Why was Hitler dissatisfied with the title of chancellor?

Answer 1

The Weimar constitution restricts what he could do, Hindenburg as president had all the power and could overrule him

Question 2

What was the Reichstag fire? (1933)

Answer 2

The Reichstag building was destroyed by a massive fire. A young communist was found on the scene and confessed to acting alone

Question 3

How did the Reichstag fire benefit Hitler? (1933)

Answer 3

It was an opportunity to attack communism. Goering (now chief of police) claimed it was a communist conspiracy involving all communists. Hitler declared this a state of emergency

Question 4

What did the state of emergency mean? (1933)

Answer 4

As long as Hindenburg agreed, Hitler could now use decrees to govern Germany
He persuaded Hindenburg to call an election in March so he could gain more power, nothing was unconstitutional

Question 5

What did Hitler do before the election took place? (1933)

Violent election (70deaths)

Answer 5

He decreed for the protection of people of the state (could suspend peoples civil rights) - imprison those that opposed him
Controlling the police force, he ignored the SA’s misbehaviour
Persuaded industrialist business men to finance his campaign

Question 6

How did Hitler win a majority? (1933)

Answer 6

After winning 288 seats, he banned the communists from their 81 seats using his emergency powers and the support of other parties, giving him a two third majority

Question 7

After the Nazi’s had a majority what was the first law he introduced! (1933)

Answer 7

The enabling act, aloud Hitler to make laws without the Reichstag for four years, he had to force it through the Reichstag with intimidation

Question 8

What did Hitler do to trade unions? (1933)

Answer 8

He banned trade unions and made striking illegal to solve their threat

Question 9

What did Hitler do to Political parties? (1933)

Answer 9

Similar to trade unions, they were banned and made illegal except for the Nazi party

Question 10

How did the Nazi party strengthen the central government even further? (1934)

Answer 10

Hitler banned local governments so he could control all the countries activity by appointing governors from the Nazi party instead

Question 11

What caused the night of the long knives? (1934)

Answer 11

Hitler felt threatened by the head of the SA (Rohm) who’s army was 3million in number and he disagreed with his politics (wanted to be more socialist). When Hitlers associates Himmler and Heydrich warned Hitler of Rohms ‘plans’ to overthrow him, Hitler had to act

Question 12

What was the night of the long knives? (1934)

Answer 12

The arresting, imprisoning and shooting of Rohm and other SA senior officers

Question 13

What happened to Rohm after the night of the long knives? (1934)

Answer 13

Was taken to Stadelheim Gaol where he was shot after being pushed to commit suicide

Question 14

What happened to Von Papen (still vice chancellor) in the night of the long knives? (1934)

Answer 14

After protesting, his offices were raided, staff were shot and arrested. His house was surrounded and he was threatened

Question 15

Who else was killed at the night of the long knives? (1934)

Answer 15

Over four days, more than 400 people that threatened Hitler were killed, including Von Schleicher and Strasser (similar to Rohm)
Many of these were covered up as the victims fault

Question 16

How did citizens react to the night of the long knives? (1934)

Answer 16

Some saw how this was clearly wrong and illeagal, most kept their disgust to themselves, most were grateful the SA were restrained, they did not know the magnitude of it

Question 17

How did the death of Hindenburg help Hitler? (1934)

Answer 17

Hitler could now move in to take supreme power, he declared himself the Fuhrer, added presidential powers and forced an oath from every member of the military to him
A vote was organised to confirm Hitler as the Fuher, 90% in favour

Question 18

How did Hitler suppress views against him? (1934->)

Answer 18

Making Germany a police state controlled by the SS (now a private police force) and the Gestapo (secret police - under Goering’s control)

They could act outside the law, by 1939 150,000 people had been arrested but not committed an actual crime

Question 19

Describe concentration camps?

Answer 19

Started off for political prisoners (first in 1933 (Dachau), located secretly and acted outside the rules of normal prisons. Undesirables were then added to these camps and it escalated to the mass killing of minority groups

Question 20

How did the Nazi’s control the courts? (1934->)

Answer 20

Judges had to be members of a group supported by the Nazi’s, they could be sacked if they displeased the Nazi’s. Hitler gave supportive judges freedom to punish without proof. Hitler could decide a punishment himself

Question 21

What did Hitler do in terms of Christianity?

Answer 21

Firstly he tried to control the church by reassuring them of cooperation, however he quickly turned to aggressive tactics to control religion

Question 22

What was Hitlers agreement (concordat) with the pope? (1933)

Answer 22

Hitler confirmed freedom of worship for Catholics
Hitler promised not to interfere with German catholic schools
The pope agreed priests would not interfere with politics
The pope ordered German bishops to swear loyalty to the Nazi party

Question 23

What were Hitlers actions after concordat towards the Catholic Church? (1933 onwards)

Answer 23

Arrested and harassed catholic priests (sent to concentration camps)
Catholic schools were either closed or turned to Naziism
Catholic youth activities were banned

Hitler broke his promises to the pope, the pope publicly criticised this

Question 24

What was the Reich church?

Answer 24

Protestants grateful of Hitler (protecting them from communism) allowed Nazi symbols inside their church, this quickly became known as the Reich church, only Nazi supporting priests were allowed to carry on with their practices

Question 25

Who was the leader of the Reich church? (1933)

Answer 25

Ludwig Muller, the Reich bishop

Question 26

What was the confessional church? (1934)

Answer 26

Set up by Niemoller, it opposed the interference of the Nazi party in religion. This was swiftly taken care of by Hitler and Niemoller and all his ministers were sent to concentration camps

Question 27

Why was Hitlers control on religion significant?

Answer 27

It was now clear Germany was a totalitarian state in which the Nazi’s controlled every aspect

Question 28

What was Joseph Goebbels role in the Nazi party? (1933)

Answer 28

Was made the minister of people’s enlightenment and propaganda, meaning he controlled the countries censorship and propaganda so he could manipulate public opinion at will

Question 29

How was the press controlled?

Answer 29

If something was printed which conflicted with the Nazi party, there would be extreme consequences. Journalists were given regular briefings so it was clear what was acceptable to publish

Question 30

What were the Nazi’s views on academic research?

Answer 30

Did not agree with it: the education minister said - ‘a road sweeper sweeps 1000 microbes with one stroke, a scientist preens himself on discovering a single microbe.’
Research was expected and censored appropriately to support Nazi views, scientists were forced to publish nonsense for the Nazi’s

Question 31

What was the Reich Chamber of Culture?

Answer 31

Set up by Goebbels, artists of any sort had to be a member of this group so their work could be shown publicly, many artists were banned. Book burnings of Jewish and communist work was common, Jazz music was banned (seen to be black), modern art was suppressed and traditional German art was encouraged (Beethoven)
The nazis also got their views across through plays