TOPIC 4

Question 1

When was the Reichstag Fire?

Answer 1

27th February 1933

Question 2

Who was blamed for starting the fire and what party did he support?

Answer 2

Marinus van de Lubbe- a Dutch Communist

Question 3

How was the Reichstag Fire a benefit for Hitler?

Answer 3

He got Hindenburg to sign the DECREE FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE PEOPLE AND STATE

Question 4

How did the DPPS affect the country?

Answer 4

It suspended basic rights and allowed the Nazis to imprison large numbers political opponents- specifically communists. Communists and socialist newspapers were banned

Question 5

How did van de Lubbe being communist help Hitler?

Answer 5

It painted a bad face for the party. Additionally, it gave Hitler a more ‘heroic’ look and allowed him to get more popular.

Question 6

How many Communists were arrested after the first week the DPPS were made?

Answer 6

3000 Communists

Question 7

Hitler had insisted on a new election. When was the date?

Answer 7

5th March

Question 8

What were the results of the March 5th election?

Answer 8

Nazis= 17.3 million votes (288 votes)- 324 seats were needed for majority, so Hitler was 36 seats off
Communists= 4.8 million votes (81 seats)
SDP= 7.2 million votes (120 seats)
Centre Party= 5.5 million votes (92 seats)

Question 9

What would the Enabling Act do and what was needed for it to be passed?

Answer 9

The law would TRANSFER FULL POWERS TO THE CHANCELLOR AND HIS GOVERNMENT FOR 4 YEARS
However, Hitler would need a majority- which he didn’t have.

Question 10

How did Hitler get the Enabling Act signed?

Answer 10

Communist members weren’t allowed to vote in the chamber
The SA intimidated members as they entered the chamber
The Communist party weren’t counted, so the overall number of votes needed were reduced
Hitler made promises to the Catholic Centre Party, so there wasn’t any interference from catholic schools and also got their vote
Those absent were counted as present

Question 11

Name at least 4 of the benefits from the Enabling Act to Hitler

Answer 11

1.) Suspension of civil liberties
2.) Allowed Hitler to secure closer control of the nation
3.) Imposition of censorship
4.) Control of the press
5.) Abolition of trade unions
6.) Disbanding all political parties (apart from the Nazis)
7.) Could pass decree after decree
8.) Power of a dictator, just without the title

Question 12

When were trade unions banned?

Answer 12

2nd May 1933

Question 13

When were the formations of new parties were banned?

Answer 13

14th July 1934

Question 14

When did Hindenburg die?

Answer 14

August 2nd 1934

Question 15

When did Hitler hold his plebiscite to be able to become Fuhrer of Germany and what were the results?

Answer 15

August 19th- 38 million people approved

Question 16

When was the Night of Long Knives?

Answer 16

June 29th-30th 1934

Question 17

Why did Hitler kill off the SA/ Ernst Rohm?

Answer 17

The SA thought that Rohm would do a better job and that he was the ‘True Nazi Leader’
Rohm was a threat because he could gain power and (hypothetically) overtake Hitler in power
Rohm was calling for a revolution and to merge the SA into the army, which humiliated Hitler

Question 18

What happened during the Night of the Long Knives?

Answer 18

There was a list of names for the Gestapo to kill
200 SA leaders were killed and Rohm was shot

Question 19

What did Hindenburg do after the Night of the Long Knives?

Answer 19

He seemed to trust Hitler more, even sending him a letter of gratitude

Question 20

How did the people react to the Night of the Long Knives?

Answer 20

Hitler covered it up- he reduced the 200-800 deaths to 80
The people didn’t seem to think much about it

Question 21

What did Hitler do after Hindenburg died?

Answer 21

He used the Enabling Act to stop democracy and got the army to swear an oath to be ready to sacrifice themselves for the country