Unit 3: The creation of a dictatorship 1933-1939 Flashcards
What was the gestapo
Hitlers non uniformed secret police force set up in 1933 however in 1934 it was put under SS control. It was to identify anyone who criticised or opposed the nazi government
What did the gestapo do
They spied on people who were seen as a threat
Tapped telephone lines
Opened mail
Identify anyone who criticised or opposed the nazi government
How did goebbels and Nazis solve the newspaper problem
Took over most of the publishers and put limits on what they can write, non nazi papers were closed
How did goebbels and the Nazis fix the film problem
Nazis started making films for cinemas with messages of Aryan race anti semitian and evils of communism
How strong was hitler In January 1933?
When he became chancellor he was in a weak position because support had fallen and he needed it to be over 50% of the reichstag to control it. Only two other nazis were in the new government. Hindenburg and papen planned to use hitler as a puppet. However hitler could only be sacked by Hindenburg
How strong was hitler at the end of 1934?
18 months after hitler became chancellor he was president aswell, papen had resigned and hindenburg was dead. The army had an oath to hitler and nazis were the only political party. All threats to hitler had been removed and he could introduce any law he wanted
What was the reichstag fire?
On the 27th February 1933, the reichstag building was set on fire, this was one week before the election. The nazis arrested a Dutch communist called Marinus van der lubbe because he was found at the scene. The nazis claimed that the communists were about to stage a take over and 4000 communists were arrested that night
What was the Decree for the protection of people and state?
Hitler persuaded Hindenburg to sign this, it meant that it was now allowed to restrict the rights of personal freedom, freedom of opinion and expression. Including the freedom of press, meet who you want, the privacy of postal, telegraphic and telephonic communications.
How did hitler use the fire to his advantage?
The Nazis claimed that this was a part of a communist terrorist plot. Hitler persuaded president Hindenburg to sign ‘the decree for the protection of people and state’ which suspended basic civil rights. He also banned communist and socialist newspapers.
What was the difference when Hitler was chancellor and when he was dictator?
-chancellor, the elected leader of Germany answerable to the Reichstag and the German president
-dictator, he can pass any law without the permission of the Reichstag
What was the enabling act?
This would give Hitler and his government full powers for the next four years and would mean that the Reichstag would become a rubber stamp for nazi activities. The communist party couldn’t prevent the passing of the act because the members were in jail and the centre party decided to support the act because Hitler promised to respect the Catholic Church.
How did Hitler achieve the necessary two third majority to pass the enabling act of 24th march 1933
Everyone that didn’t show up to vote was recorded as voting yes
What was the difference between the oath of allegiance before August and the army oath after August?
The oath of allegiance is about protecting and serving the community, the army oath is about being obedient to Adolf Hitler
How did the Nazis change the federal structure of Germany?
They made it against the law to make a new party and made it impossible to be an existing party
What were some crimes in 1936-43?
-having a sexual relationship with a Jew
-telling an anti nazi joke
-listening to a foreign radio station
-publishing anti government leaflets
What did the Nazis do on the 2nd of may 1933?
Banned all trade unions they did for his because they didn’t want workers listening to the trade unions
How did Hitler justify the night of the long knives?
He said he was trying to save Germany
What did Nazis start banning?
Started banning political parties
Why were the SA becoming a threat?
The SA now numbered 3 million and Rohm was now in a postition to challenge Hitler, the SS warmed Hitler that rohm was playing to sieze power
What were the aims of the nazi state?
-create a strong Germany that could overturn the treaty of Versailles
-to create a racially pure Germany
-all Germans to feel part of the volk or ‘the peoples community’ where people saw their own live as less important than their contribution to Germany itself
What was the night of the long knives?
This was the night that Hitler removed the SA, they had been a key part in hitlers rise but he was aware they were more loyal to rohm, there was an arranged meeting where the SS arrested sa leaders and where shot. Hitler also used this as a opportunity to kill oppositions to the Nazis
What is a police state?
A totalitarian state controlled by a police force, law and punishment is applied at the will of the police and government without due process
What did the Gestapo have the power to do?
Power to arrest, imprison without trial, and torture.
What were the SD?
Formed in 1932 by Heinrich himmler the head of the SS.
What were informers?
Informers were ordinary people who spied for the Nazis and would tell the gestapo if anyone did anything against the Nazis. Even children reported to their parents or teachers if they moaned or made an anti Hitler joke
What were the SS?
It was Hitlers private army they were originally set up in 1925 as Hitlers personal bodyguards and were only 240 members. They were distinguished from the browshirts with black uniform and it was the ss who murdered the sa in the night of the long knives
What were concentration camps?
They were large prisons where any enemy of the German state could be held for any length of time. By 1939 150,000 people were ‘under protective arrest’ in prisons, this meant they hadn’t committed any crimes but done something the Nazis didn’t approve of.
Who were the main majority’s in concentration camps?
-‘Undesirables’ such as prostitutes it homosexuals
-minority groups such as Jews
-political prisoners- people whom the Nazis feared would undermine their control of Germany including intellectuals communists or political writers
What was the national socialist league for maintenance of the law?
This was set up by Hitler, he insisted all judges must be members. If a judge displeased the Nazis they were refused membership and couldn’t be a judge. They were told if there were any conflicts between the law and nazi ideas the nazi ideas were more important
