Nazi Germany 1933-34 - How did Hitler come to power?

Question 1

What happened on January 30th 1933

Answer 1

Adolf Hitler is appointed Chancellor of Germany

Question 2

What were the limitations
of Hitler’s power as Chancellor in 1933?

Answer 2

The Nazis didn’t control the Reichstag

Question 3

What happened on February 27th 1933

Answer 3

• A fire destroyed the Reichstag
• A young Dutch communist, Marinus van de Lubbe, was arrested for the crime
• Hitler and the NSDAP used these vents to their advantage

Question 4

Why did the Reichstag fire benefit the Nazis

Answer 4

• they framed it like a communist plot to take over Germany,
• which enabled Hitler to persuade Hindenburg to grant him emergency powers

Question 5

What did the Reichstag fire enable the Nazis to do

Answer 5

• this gave the police the power to arrest people & hold them for as long as they wanted,
• so the Nazis arrested people who opposed them, banned opposition meetings & closed down their newspapers

Question 6

What was the result of the March 5th election

Answer 6

The Nazis got their best result ever, of 44%, gaining majority in the Reichstag

Question 7

Why were the Nazis able to gain majority in the Reichstag

Answer 7

used the police & the SA to put pressure on political opponents, broadcasting anti-communist messages

Question 8

When was the Enabling act passed

Answer 8

March 24th 1933

Question 9

How did the Enabling act change Hitler’s power as chancellor

Answer 9

would give Hitler the power to pass laws, without going through the Reichstag or the President

Question 10

The enabling act was a ….. moment in Hitler’s movement

Answer 10

key

Question 11

What happened on May 2 1933

Answer 11

• Trade union offices were taken over by the SA and SS,
• many union leaders were arrested and sent to the early concentration camps
• All trade unions were merged into the new German Labour Front (DAF),
• controlled by the Nazis and led by Robert Ley

Question 12

How did the abolition of the trade unions change Hitler’s power

Answer 12

the Nazis collectively controlled all of the trade unions

Question 13

What happened on July 14th 1933

Answer 13

• A law was passed which banned all remaining political parties
• and prevented new parties from forming

Question 14

How did the law passed on July 14th 1933 change the political nature of Germany

Answer 14

• no new parties could be set up to challenge the Nazis
• Germany became a single party state

Question 15

What law was passed on January 30th 1934

Answer 15

• The Law for the Reconstruction of the Reich was passed
• which abolished the Länder (local governments) altogether and brought them under central control.

Question 16

How did the law passed on January 30th 1934 change the political nature of Germany

Answer 16

-power had now become centralised under Hitler

Question 17

What event happened on June 29-30, 1934

Answer 17

The Night of the Long Knives

Question 18

Why did Hitler authorise the Night of the Long Knives

Answer 18

• to reassure the army - feared being overtaken by the SA & had over 3 milliion members
• he had been increasingly threatened by the power of the SA - wanted to take over Germany

Question 19

What was the Night of the Long Knives

Answer 19

• The leader of the SA, Emst Röhm, a potential rival,
• & other senior SA officers were arrested and executed
• Over the next few days, several hundred people were murdered by the SS,
• inc General von Schleicher (ex-chancellor)

Question 20

The Night of the long Knives sent a…

Answer 20

warning to the rest of Germany about how ruthless Hitler was in his pursuit of power

Question 21

It is estimated up to ……. people died in the Night of the long Knives.

Answer 21

5,000

Question 22

Who died on August 2nd 1934

Answer 22

Hindenburg

Question 23

What was Hitler able to do following the death of Hindenburg

Answer 23

Hitler made himself president as well as chancellor, the undisputed head of government

Question 24

What happened in August 1934

Answer 24

The Amy oath - German army aligned itself behind the Nazi regime and took an oath of personal loyalty to Hitler, to risk their life for him at any time

Question 25

How did the German army aligning itself behind the Nazi regime change Hitler’s power

Answer 25

In becoming Commander in Chief of the army, they were on his side, hence, he removed any threat which could be posed by the army to his power

Question 26

What are the direct consequences of problems inherent in the Weimar Constitution which facilitated Hitler’s rise to becoming a dictator

Answer 26

• proportional representation —>
• led to unstable & fragmented minority governments —>
• Von Papen & Hindenburg place Hitler as Chancellor & to resolve Reichstag’s issues (& they think they can control him)

Question 27

What are the direct consequences of economic crises and the Great Depression (1929-33) which facilitated Hitler’s rise to becoming a dictator

Answer 27

• allows Hitler to appear strong: ‘Hitler myth saviour’- how they get majority in the government

Question 28

What are the direct consequences of the Reichstag fire which facilitated Hitler’s rise to becoming a dictator

Answer 28

• allow Nazis to ban opposition & police can arrest people now

Question 29

What are the direct consequences of the passing of the enabling act which facilitated Hitler’s rise to becoming a dictator

Answer 29

gets rid of the Weimar constitution (no more protection of minorities/human rights)—> Hitler & cabinet can make all the important decisions

Question 30

What are the direct consequences of the Night of the Long Knives which facilitated Hitler’s rise to becoming a dictator

Answer 30

• gets rid of any internal corruption
• shows power & terror —> eliminates future opposition

Question 31

What are the direct consequences of the death of Hindenburg which facilitated Hitler’s rise to becoming a dictator

Answer 31

-nobody can challenge him now