Consolidation of Power, 1933-39 Essay

Question 1

Introduction

Background Sentences

Answer 1

Before Hitler rose to power, Germany was ruled by the Weimar Republic which was a democracy and this was a dramatic difference from the autocracy of the Kaiser. When Hitler became Chancellor in 1933 as the leader of the largest party in the Reichstag, the NSDAP which was more commonly known as the Nazi party. When Hitler was Chancellor he quickly managed to implement a series of political reforms that transformed Germany from a democratic nation into a police state dictatorship.

Question 2

Introduction

Factors

Answer 2

The factors I am discussing in this essay will be propaganda, the night of the long knives and the SS and Gestapo.

Question 3

Introduction

Historiography

Answer 3

Some historians such as Fischer argue the importance of the Nuremberg rallies had on the Nazis consolidation of power. Other historians such as Kershaw argue that the Night of the Long Knives was the most important reason for the consolidation of power.

Question 4

Introduction

Line of Argument

Answer 4

Overall, the SS and Gestapo were the most important reason for the Nazis maintaining their power in the years of 1933 to 1939.

Question 5

Propaganda

What did Joseph Goebbels do for propaganda?

Answer 5

Joseph Goebbles used many different methods to promote propaganda using a combination of modern media, like films and radio, as well as traditional campaigning methods with posters and newspapers. From this, it created the image of Hitler known as the Hitler Myth.

Question 6

Propaganda

What was the most notable rally?

Answer 6

The most notable large rally in Germany was Nuremberg; these rallies were held annually from 1923 to 38 in Nürnberg in Bavaria; these helped portray the Nazis’ strengths and films were made of these events to encourage other Germans to join. They attracted hundreds and thousands of party members and members of the German public. The rallies included inspiring speeches by Hitler that were often the occasion for the announcement of new Nazi directions.

Question 7

Propaganda

Analysis

Answer 7

It was through Goebbels propaganda to allow for Hitler to create the image of Hitler as a strong, stable leader that Germany would need to become a great power again, which showed to the public that Hitler is the person that they should support as they created so much positive image around the nazi party allowing them to continue to be in power in Germany and continue to gain the support of the public.

Question 8

Propaganda

Analysis +

Answer 8

However, it could be argued that posters and traditional campaigning methods were only effective in influencing opinion when put alongside events such as the Nuremberg Laws, which shows that the Nazis didn’t have any effect on the public without having Hitler or anything currently being said to have any impact on the public and maintaining their support.

Question 9

Propaganda

Historiography

Answer 9

Fischer argues that “No politician in Germany, before or since, has been able to build up such intimate emotional bonds with people” This shows that through his public speaking that he connects to the public and gains their support.

Question 10

Propaganda

Evaluation

Answer 10

Propaganda had an effect on their consolidation of power as through public speaking Hitler was able to persuade the public to support the party through his ambitions and his ability to talk to a crowd. However, it was Hitler’s private army of the SS and Gestapo which maintained his power the most as they silenced the public from speaking and sharing anything negative about Hitler and the Nazis with each other.

Question 11

Night of the Long Knives

What happened on the 11th April 1934?

Answer 11

On the 11th April 1934 Hitler struck a deal with General von Blomberg to completely destroy the SA, allowing for the SS to take over and to remove his competition from within the party.

Question 12

Night of the Long Knives

How many members were killed and who was arrested?

Answer 12

Hitler ordered the SA to be arrested on the 30th June 1934, and shot over 85 of his fellow untrustworthy party members, and by the 2nd July, the SA was completely destroyed which helped the SS gain power.

Question 13

Night of the Long Knives

Analysis

Answer 13

In order to secure his power, in June 1934, Hitler created a list of unwanted members he wanted to be assassinated by secret police and Hitler’s loyal party members, which allowed for Hitler to eliminate any potential enemies Hitler had within his party to secure his power and control over the Nazis as he had already gained the loyalty of the army.

Question 14

Night of the Long Knives

Analysis +

Answer 14

As well as removing potential enemies within the party, Hitler received a letter from the President, thanking him for his actions towards the secret assassination of the SA and the other party members, presenting Hitler as the saviour of this event, showed the public Hitler in a positive light and that he was a saviour to Germany’s society, and was not ruining Germany unlike other politicians.

Question 15

Night of the Long Knives

Historiography

Answer 15

Kershaw argues that after the events of the Night of the Long Knives as well as the passing of Hindenburg. Hitler remained unopposed and had majority support in the country, allowing for him to take control and power in Germany.

Question 16

Night of the Long Knives

Evaluation

Answer 16

Although the Night of the Long Knives allowed for Hitler to remove any political obstacles that could potentially threaten his power. However, it did not have the impact that the SS and the Gestapo had on the consolidation of power as they instilled fear and intimidation into the public which allowed for the Nazis to remain in power, whereas the Night of the Long Knives didn’t hold that much effect to the public as there wasn’t much news given to the public except from that Hitler was portray to be the hero.

Question 17

SS & Gestapo

Gestapo

Answer 17

One group which were involved with the Nazis was the Gestapo. The Gestapo relied on a network of secret informers to tell on other German citizens. This meant that normal German citizens didn’t know who was in the Gestapo so people were careful about who they talked to, which eliminated anything negative being said about the Nazis to be public.

Question 18

SS & Gestapo

SS

Answer 18

Another group which was under the leadership of the Nazis was the SS. The SS were all fiercely loyal to Hitler and their mission was to protect him and the Nazis. This resulted in them following any order from Hitler and would not question it, allowing for Hitler to have no limitations to what he could do to any of his enemies.

Question 19

SS & Gestapo

Analysis

Answer 19

The SS and the Gestapo managed to instil fear into Germany with their unlimited power to do whatever they wanted to make sure Germany was not influenced by anybody that did not support Hitler and they made sure to get rid of anybody the Nazis deemed dangerous to the Nazis policies or people who were to be removed by putting them into an SS controlled concentration camps, and through the anonymousness of the Gestapo and their informants also struck fear into the public and any other political opposition.

Question 20

SS & Gestapo

Analysis +

Answer 20

However the SS were not effective in all the actions they did as they were heavily reliant on the willingness of the German people in order to be truly effective and their methods and actions were only effective when put against the backdrop of popular appeal, and although the SS was big in numbers, the Gestapo was not as big with only 32,000 which meant that they could not cover the whole Germany with their informants.

Question 21

SS & Gestapo

Evaluation

Answer 21

The SS & Gestapo were the most important reason for the Nazis holding onto their power as the public never knew who was involved with the Gestapo and constantly faced the fear of being caught and sent to the SS where they would decide their fate, which would potentially lead to a concentration camp, which therefore silenced any negative information or views being shared in the public.

Question 22

Conclusion

Line of Argument

Answer 22

Overall, the SS and Gestapo were the most important reason for the Nazis maintaining their power in the years of 1933 to 1939.

Question 23

Conclusion

Propaganda

Answer 23

Propaganda allowed for Hitler to be portrayed in a positive light with the influence of creating a scapegoat or enemy to which the public can focus on, which they can use so the public can ignore any bad opinions the Nazis have. However, the SS and Gestapo managed to silence the public from anything negative being said and didn’t prevent Hitler from speaking their mind and having to use a scapegoat to hide anything that Hitler has said. This shows that the intimidation and fear that the SS and Gestapo had used was more important in allowing for the Nazis to hold onto their power and intimidate the public from speaking out.

Question 24

Conclusion

Night of the Long Knives

Answer 24

The Night of the Long Knives allowed for the Nazis to remove any enemies from within the party and to strike fear into any political opponents. However, the SS and Gestapo had more impact on the public as they were more involved with the groups whereas the Night of the Long Knives didn’t reach the public until Hitler was awarded for his efforts. This shows that the Night of the Long Knives wasn’t as impactful as the Nazis had hoped due to the lack of involvement with the public for it to be the most important factor for their consolidation of power over the influence and control that the SS and Gestapo had on the public.

Question 25

Conclusion

SS & Gestapo

Answer 25

The anonymousness of the Gestapo and the severity of the SS and their punishments was effective in how the Nazis were able to establish their control over the public with their effective methods. This shows that the Gestapo and the SS was the most effective method that the Nazis used to ensure they remained in power and remained in control of the public’s opinions on the Nazis.