Nazi Politics and Government Flashcards
Why could Hilter’s consolidation of power be seen as legal?
-He used issues that were part of the constitution to his advantage.
Reichstag fire:
Feb. 1933 - supposedly burned down by Dutch communist:
-Nazis got credit for catching the arsonist.
-Anti-communist propaganda.
-Gained funding from industrialists.
-Most importantly: Hindenburg called a state of emergency so Hitler had full power over the police and to govern by decree.
-He then called for an election in march (used illegal violent tactics to persuade voters) and gained around 17.5 million votes - Nazis were largest party and communist parties were banned.
Potsdam:
Opening of new Reichstag with Hindenburg and old imperials present - all under Swastikas to show continuity between the old empire and the ‘new’.
The Enabling Act:
Passed in March by 444 to 84 votes.
-Gave Hitler the right to bypass the Reichstag (in theory for 4 years but this was essentially ignored)
-He was able to do this as nobody was willing to stop him - Hindenburg was old and ill.
-by July, all other parties were banned.
Hindenburg:
After his death, Hitler combined chancellor and president into Fuhrer - plebiscite he held made this more acceptable
Illegal parts of Hitler’s consolidation of power:
Knight of the Long Knives: Rohm and the SA were critical of Hitler and his acceptance of the army and industrialists.
-He feared Rohm would take power so ordered Gestapo and SS to kill him, SA and political opponents including Von Schleicher and his wife in 1934.
-The SA did continue but in a much reduced role - many people were glad Hitler had done this as they were fearful of their brutal tactics and the full extent of the killings was hidden.
Summary of Nazi Gov.
-Reichstag was reduced - only passed 7 laws from 34-45.
-Some members were kept to show continuity and increase acceptance.
-Created several new ministries e.g. Reich propaganda ministry ran by Goebbels.
-Only his most trusted allies were given positions of power due to Hitler’s paranoia.
-Often several ministries did the same job. Hitler avoided doing day to day tasks - caused confusion and overlap (possibly part of a scheme to create competition and infighting towards each other)
Volksgemeinschaft:
Idea of the whole nation working together for the common good.
5 main features of Nazi government:
-Fuhrerprinzip: idea that each area of life had a leader to tell you what to do - innovation was frowned upon.
-Working towards the Fuhrer: Hitler often gave positions of power to those he trusted and left them to their own decisions - he also prevented meetings and groups forming e.g. cabinet meetings became remote and would send suggestions to each other on paper.
-Administration: admin was handled by Minister of the Interior Wilhelm Frick. They often came into conflict with other agencies - laws would often be scrapped as they were not seen as working towards Fuhrerprinzip.
- One nation: against Lander - Law for Reconstruction of the Reich united Germany without Lander (this meant Frick’s government often came into clashes with regional controllers - Gauleiters.)
-Control: tight control over the people through Gestapo under Goering (and later Himmler).
Summary of government in wartime:
-Gestapo and SS took more power - everybody in a government job had to join the party.
-13 military districts formed -RVKs that ran the home front activities.
New ministries:
-Each armed forces given their own ministry all working under Wilhelm Keitel.
-Ministerial Council for Defence briefly set up in 1939 but was shut down as Hitler saw it as too many powerful people in 1 group.
Lebensraum:
-Land taken by the Reich was managed by Reichsgau e.g. Poland were they were worked for hard labour and the leaders were shot and killed. It was mostly used as a dumping ground, particularly the south.
-Other parts of land taken was germanised (turn to German culture - ‘pure blooded’ only)
-Centralised power was very hard due to the new land and Gauleiters grew massively in power (controlled all civil defence measures after 1942)
Losing control:
After Barbarossa in 1941, young boys were conscripted into the war and Germany became overstretched and rationing became tighter.
-Hitler’s censorship was increasingly ineffective as it was clear the army was failing.
-Resistance grew.
-Collapsed in the last days as many members of the government committed suicide.
