Reichstag Fire Flashcards

1
Q

How long after Hitler came to power did the Reichstag Fire occur?

A

Less than a month

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2
Q

On what date did the Reichstag Fire occur?

A

27 February 1933

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3
Q

Who was found at the site of the fire?

A

Marinus van der Lubbe

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4
Q

What was Marinus van der Lubbe?

A

A Dutch Communist

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5
Q

How did Hitler exploit the Reichstag Fire?

A

He claimed there was a Communist conspiracy to overthrow the government and asked Hindenburg to give him emergency powers using Article 48.

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6
Q

What were these powers Hindenburg gave Hitler known as?

A

The Reichstag Fire Decree

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7
Q

What did the Reichstag Fire Decree allow Hitler to do?

A

Suspend the freedoms of the constitution (e.g. freedom of speech, assembly, right to fair trial). In particular, it allowed Hitler to imprison opponents of the regime - in particular Communists (KPD)

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8
Q

When was the Reichstag Fire Decree passed?

A

28 February 1933 - the morning after the Reichstag Fire

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9
Q

What key event occurred shortly after the Reichstag Fire?

A

The 5 March Elections

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10
Q

On what date did the March elections occur?

A

5 March

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11
Q

Who was allowed to campaign for the March elections?

A

Only the Nazi Party - all other parties were banned from campaigning

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12
Q

On polling day, who were present at polling stations?

A

Uniformed Nazis, watching the votes being cast

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13
Q

What percentage of the vote did the Nazi Party win in the March elections?

A

44%

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14
Q

How did Hitler manage to gain a majority after the March elections?

A

The Nazis formed a coalition with the German National People’s Party who had won 8% of vote

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15
Q

What percentage of the vote did the German National People’s Party win?

A

8%

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16
Q

What percentage of the seats did the coalition of the Nazis and German National People’s Party control?

A

52%

17
Q

The Communists won 81 seats in the March elections. Why did they not take their seats in the Reichstag?

A

Hitler refused to allow them

18
Q

Why could Hitler still not pass an Enabling Act, even in a coalition?

A

He needed a two-thirds majority in the Reichstag to alter the constitution (which the Enabling Act effectively did). With the coalition he only had 52%.