Weimar - key topic 3 Flashcards
What was the Reichstag Fire?
An arson attack on the Reichstag building on 27 February 1933 by a Dutch communist.
How did the Nazis use the Reichstag fire?
Hitler accused the Communist Party of a conspiracy against the government. 4000 communists were arrested. It gave Hitler an excuse to issue a Decree for the Protection of the People and the State; which gave him powers to imprison political opponents and ban opposition newspapers.
What did Hitler do after using the Reichstag Fire?
Persuade Hindenburg to call an election in March 1933. Nazis party secured two thirds of the seats. Hitler was now able to change the constitution.
What was the Enabling Act?
1933 - A law that would allow Hitler to pass laws without the approval of the Reichstag or the President. These could even overrule the constitution!
What effect did the Enabling Act have?
Local government was completely destroyed by 1934. Trade unions were replaced with German Labour Front. 1933 - other political parties were banned.
When did Hitler declare himself Fuhrer?
19th August 1934
Why was Rohm and the SA a threat to Hitler?
- Rohm didn’t like Hitler’s policies. 2. The SA was bigger than the army so the army feared that Rohm would replace them. 3. SA felt unappreciated as they were still unemployed.
Who were the SS?
1925 - Hitler wanted body guards who appeared menacing and they wore black uniform.
What was the Night of the Long Knives?
Hitler starts to fear the SA in 1934, ordered the arrest of Rohm and the SA. SS arrested 400 SA leaders, some imprisoned, and others executed. Hitler agreed to murder keep his powers.
Why was the death of Hindenburg significant?
Hindenburg was the only person who had more power than Hitler so when he died in august 1934; Hitler merged the titles President and Chancellor to Fuhrer.
What was the army oath of allegiance?
The day that Hindenburg; Hitler announced that the army should swear an oath to him not Germany.
What is a police state?
When a government uses the police to control everyone’s lives.
Give me some info about the SS. (5)
- It was set up in 1925. 2. They wore black uniforms. 3. They controlled all Germany’s police and security forces. 4. They acted outside the law. 5. They ran the concentration camps.
Give me some info about the Gestapo. (4)
- Secret state police. 2. They wore plain clothes and spied on people. 3. They prosecuted people for speaking out against the Nazis. 4. Sent people to concentration camps and used torture.
Give me some info about concentration camps up until 1939. (4)
- The first was built in 1933. 2. Inmates were made up of: political prisoners and undesirables e.g. prostitutes and homosexuals. 3. They were built in isolated areas. 4. Inmates were treated very badly and forced to do hard labour.
How did Hitler control the legal system?
He controlled the judges by: ensuring they belonged to the National Socialist League for the Maintenance of the Law and they had to favour the Nazi party in any decision. H controlled the courts by abolishing trial by jury.
What was the Concordat?
July 1933 - Hitler agreed with the Pope that Catholics were free to worship and run their own schools, in return for staying out of politics.
How did Hitler break the Concordat? (3)
- Priests who opposed the Nazis were harassed or sent to concentration camps. 2. Catholic schools removed Christian schools and were later closed. 3. Catholic youth organisations were banned.
What was the Reich Church?
- Founded in 1933. 2. Supported the Nazis. 3. Some members were Nazis and called themselves German Christians 4. 2000 protestant churches
What was the Confessing Church?
- Founded in 1934. 2. 6000 protestant churches. 3. Opposed to Nazis but were repressed by the Nazis.
Who was Goebbels?
Nazi minister of enlightenment and propaganda. He was a master at spreading Nazi ideas in a subtle way. He used newspapers; the radio; film and the arts.
What were some methods of censorship? (4)
- Public burning of books by Jewish authors. 2. Radio producers; playwrights and filmmakers were told what to say. 3. Newspapers opposing the Nazis were closed. 4. Only radios who couldn’t receive foreign stations were made.
What was the Reich Chamber of Culture?
1933 - grand and classical architecture overseen by Goebbels.
What were some methods of propaganda?
- Posters. 2. Huge rallies and parades. 3. Cinemas showing Nazi messages. 4. Radio speeches. 5. Nazis encouraged art to highlight Nazi ideas. 6. Olympic games in berlin in 1936.
How was Pastor Martin Niemöller pro - Nazi earlier on?
- He voted for them in the 1924 and 1933 elections because Germany needed a strong leader. 2. Wanted to be let out of prison to fight on the side of the Nazis in WW2.
How was Martin Niemöller against the Nazis?
- He set up the Confessing Church in 1934 because he didn’t like Nazi interference with the Protestant Church.. 2. He was arrested many times. 3. He was sent to a concentration camp from 38 to 45.
How did pastors and priests oppose the Nazis?
6000 pastors joined Niemoller’s Confessing Church whereas only 2000 in Nazi church. 2800 pastors arrested.
Who were the Edelweiss Pirates?
Boys who copied American styled clothing. 2000 members but Nazis were not threatened by them. They read and listened to banned music and literature. They went hiking and camping to get away from restrictions.
Who were the Swing Youth?
Liked American clothes; music and films. Drank alcohol; smoked and danced. They organised illegal dances attended by thousands.
