4. Nazi Consolidation of Power Flashcards
(12 cards)
Events of Hitler’s ‘legal revolution’ in 1933
**27th February: REICHSTAG FIRE
28th February: DECREE FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE PEOPLE AND THE STATE
5th March: ELECTION
23rd March: ENABLING ACT
14th July: NAZI PARTY = THE ONLY LEGAL PARTY
What was the Reichstag fire?
the parliament building in Berlin was burnt down and the communists were blamed for it, and banned from political parties
(the fire was also used to justify measures against communists)
What was the Decree for the Protection of the People and the State?
the emergency powers that Hitler was granted after the Reichstag fire.
> political/civil freedoms were suspended, and many anti-Nazis were arrested
Summarise the events of the 1933 Election
Hitler called for new elections in hopes of winning an overall majority;
results: 43.9% [only went up by 7% from july 1932 election, therefore still needed Nationalist support]
What was the 1933 Enabling Act?
An act voted for by the Reichstag to give Hitler total power (i.e. the end of democracy)
What occurred on 14th July 1933?
Hitler used his powers from the Enabling Act to ban other political parties
How successful was the Nazi consolidation of power in 1933?
SUCCESSFUL:
Nazis had political control
NOT successful:
- didn’t control the church / army / big business
- only had partial control over education / civil service
- Hitler’s power was limited because he didn’t want to lose support of important groups
- under pressure from the SA to implement further changes
When was the ’Night of the Long Knives’?
June 1934
What happened in the ’Night of the Long Knives’?
- Ernst Röhm [SA leader] wanted to merge SA with the army
- army chiefs refused due to SA not being disciplined enough
- Hitler chose to execute Röhm & the SA leaders via Night of the Long Knives
What were the consequences of the ’Night of the Long Knives’?
- removed the SA and won the support of the conservative right
- the army took an oath of loyalty to Hitler
- the SS [Hitler’s personal guard] which had been a wing of the SA, emerged as an independent organisation
- Hitler secured his dictatorship; able to get away with legally murdering opponents
When did Hindenburg die?
What was the consequence of this?
August 1934
Hitler merged the roles of chancellor and president into that of the Führer
