Booklet 5: Political And Government Change 1933-1945

Question 1

Limitations to Hitlers position as chancellor

Answer 1

There were only 2 other Nazis in cabinet
Hitlers coalition didn’t have a majority, difficult to pass legislation
Unions were strong and could hold strikes

Question 2

Conservatives reaction to Hitler

Answer 2

Conservatives were willing to work with Hitler
They thought he posed less of a threat than communist or civil war
Hitler called an election in 24hrs

Question 3

Reichstag fire

Answer 3

27th February 1933
Dutch communist found near the scene
Arrested and executed

Question 4

Results of Reichstag fire

Answer 4

Declared state of emergency
Hitler convinced Hindenburg to suppress communism
Goebbles exaggerated threat, public agreed with emergency powers

Question 5

How the Reichstag fire strengthened Hitlers position

Answer 5

Hitler won 44% of the vote after fire
Enabling act was passed

Question 6

Enabling act

Answer 6

March 1933
Allowed Hitler to pass laws by decree without cabinet (he won 2/3 majority)
Would last 4 years

Question 7

Night of the long knives 1934

Answer 7

Hitler feared his authority was threatened by SA and Rohm
Rohm and main leader were killed
At least 85 people killed

Question 8

How did night of the long knives help Hitler

Answer 8

Army now had to swear an oath to Hitler
Popular with German people
Gained Hindenburg and army support

Question 9

Law for reconstruction of the state

Answer 9

Law against formation of new parties
SPD and KPD already banned, made Germany one party state

Question 10

Force and intimidation to consolidate power

Answer 10

Closure of trade unions
Night of long knives
Intimidation at election

Question 11

Compromise with the church

Answer 11

Concordat with Catholics
Catholics churches agreed to not oppose social and political aims of nazis

Question 12

Key Nazi ideology

Answer 12

National socialism
Hitler as an all powerful leader
Racism and white superiority
Traditional values for women

Question 13

Change to government

Answer 13

Became a central government
Presidential decree and Reichstag phased out

Question 14

Power of parliament change

Answer 14

Reichstag dissolved in 1942
However cabinet was retained with some non Nazis (however not used by Hitler)
Hitler didn’t replace existing legal code

Question 15

Election changes

Answer 15

Less frequent only, Nazis could stand
Plebiscites with questions held to reinforce support
German constituencies and rules on sufferage didn’t change (but voting was meaningless)

Question 16

Changes to political parties and their roles

Answer 16

One party state
Gaulighters became increasingly powerful

Question 17

Changes to institutions

Answer 17

Judiciary- peoples court tries political crimes
Civil service- purged of Jews
Education ministry- undermined by Hitler youth organisations

Question 18

Lack of order

Answer 18

New chancellory built to symbolise order
Rivals with ildefined jobs fought for Hitlers favour

Question 19

Prerogative state

Answer 19

State without the rule of law

Question 20

Polycratic regime

Answer 20

Many centres of power

Question 21

Cumulative radicalisation

Answer 21

People tried to please Hitler by coming up with radical ideas

Question 22

Gaulighters

Answer 22

Regional leader who helped govern germany

Question 23

Federal state

Answer 23

Political authority divided between divisions of government

Question 24

Centralisation of power

Answer 24

All power derived from one party led by one leader

Question 25

Martin Bormann

Answer 25

Hitlers private secretary in 1935, gained control of reich chancellory in 1941

Question 26

Heinrich Himmler

Answer 26

Head of the SS Assistant chief of gestapo

Question 27

Herman Goering

Answer 27

In charge of the airforce Responsible for 4 year plan

Question 28

Joseph Goebbles

Answer 28

Gaulighter of Berlin Control over media

Question 29

Gaulighters

Answer 29

Regional leaders in control of regional government

Question 30

Federal state

Answer 30

State where government power is divided between two sets of governmnet

Question 31

Centralisation of power

Answer 31

All power derived from one leader

Question 32

Martin Bormann

Answer 32

Hitlers private secretary, in control of reich chancellory in the war

Question 33

Himmler

Answer 33

Head of the SS Head of the Munich police

Question 34

Goering

Answer 34

Head of the airforce In charge of the 4 year plan

Question 35

Goebbles

Answer 35

Gaulighter of Berlin In control of all media

Question 36

How was it a polycratic regime?

Answer 36

Lots of conflict and chaos different organisations overlapped

Question 37

What role did Hitler play in policies

Answer 37

Cumulative radicalisation meant advisers suggested very radical ideas and Hitler approved

Question 38

What happened to the old structures of the Weimar system

Answer 38

Hitler didn’t replace the existing legal code, just put Nazi ideology on top of it

Question 39

Changes in party and institutions in war years

Answer 39

Important Gaulighters were made commissioners for the defence The regime became more bureaucratic Older party members were sidelined for younger ones

Question 40

The army in the war years

Answer 40

After night of the long knives, Hitler promised army would be the only military force in Germany After army bomb plot 1943, army officials were purged

Question 41

Himmler and the SS during the war

Answer 41

SS became one of the most powerful organisations in Europe 900,000 men in 1944 SS took over administration of Nazi-occupied territories

Question 42

Faction fighting in the war

Answer 42

Fighting continued Bormann used his power to deny Goebbles and goering access to Hitler

Question 43

Lawlessness in the war

Answer 43

Racial policies radicalised The final solution was decided