To what extent did Hitler's rule benefit Germany?

Question 1

Political impact: How did Hitler use the Reichstag Fire to his advantage?

Answer 1

Reichstag set on fire by Dutch Communist->opportunity to consolidate his power->accused communists of doing it and wanting a revolution-> declared a state of emergency and passed Reichstag Fire Decree->power to suspend civil liberties->arrested rivals+communists, ban meetings and shut down their newspapers->harder for them to campaign->Nazis won the majority vote

Question 2

Political impact: How did Hitler use the Enabling Act(Feb-March 1933) to his advantage?

Answer 2

needed 2/3 support from parliament->stormtroopers only allowed members and supporters to vote->banned Communist Party+Social Democratic Party from elections->Act gave him great power to consolidate his authority and power of his Party->banned all other parties

Question 3

Political Impact: How did Hitler become a dictator through the Night of the Long Knives(June 1934)?

Answer 3

aware of importance of army, needed their support as they could overthrow Nazi party->pact with them->they swore allegiance to Hitler if he removed Ernst Rohm and other leaders->removed powerful rival in the Party, gain the support of the army

Question 4

Political Impact: How did the creation of the Fuhrer Position(August 1934) help Hitler become a dictator?

Answer 4

when President Hindenburg died, it was an opportunity for Hitler to consolidate his power further->combined posts of President and Chancellor into Fuhrer->could invoke Article 48 and rule Germany->controlled armed forces and became commander in chief->all powers centralized in hands of Hitler

Question 5

Economic Impact: How did Hitler improve the economy?

Answer 5

Re-employment->created jobs by reorganizing state finances and introducing public works programmes->built roads, motorways and public buildings, Remilitarisation->introduced conscription in 1935->production of war materials(link back to re-employment), Big businesses developed close relationship with Nazis->imports barred and subsidies given to important industries->businesses produced weapons and war materials(link to Remilitarisation)->boost business income

Question 6

Economic impact: How did the Nazis control the economy? (Trade Unions)

Answer 6

abolished trade unions to destroy the power base of Communists->workers only allowed to join DAF(German work front) and Nazi trade union->strictly controlled workers->not allowed to strike, bargain for wages/working conditions or change jobs->wage frozen and worked longer hours->no improvement from Weimar era

Question 7

Economic impact: How did the Nazis control the economy? (Organization of Worker’s leisure time)

Answer 7

provided wide range of activities for workers to participate during leisure time->provided benefits, a way of controlling them->? “Strength of Joy” controlled free time, “Beauty of Labour” kept workers at their workplaces

Question 8

Social Impact: How was propaganda used to control the people?

Answer 8

appealed to nationalistic feelings of the people and stirred up hatred->public displays to show strength and discipline of Nazi Party, roused nationalistic pride of audience, increased support->films tightly controlled and carried Nazi messages->radios had Hitler’s speeches repeated

Question 9

Social Impact: How did censorship control the people?

Answer 9

Goebbels removed any information unfavourable to Nazi Party->controlled what they could watch, read or listen to->book burning->shut down Anti-Nazi papers->not allowed to listen to foreign stations, punishable by death

Question 10

Social Impact: How did the rise of secret police impact the people?

Answer 10

Hitler’s personal bodyguards destroyed his enemies and carried out the racial policies, they also ran the concentration camps. Gespato spied and arrested those they suspected of opposing Nazi rule, encouraged people to inform on family and friends->arrested them without trial, used torture+murder+arrest+blackmail to stifle opposition

Question 11

Social Impact: How were women and the youths conformed to Nazi ideology?

Answer 11

Women were confined to domestic roles, excluded from politics and academics, underwent training in domestic tasks and had limited political education. Children were ensured to be fiercely loyal to the Nazis, and could not enter university or get a job if they didn’t enter youth organizations. Boys were indoctrinated with propaganda and went through physical training. Girls were encouraged to be fit so they could become healthy mothers and have children.