Germany Chapter 4 Flashcards
(32 cards)
When was the reichstag fire an who started it?
27th feb 1933
Van der Lubbe- found on site with matches
Dutch communist
What were the consequences of the reichstag fire?
- Goering believed Lubbe had been part of an anti- gov plot + nazis should seize opportunity to end communism
- 4000 communists arrested on night of fire
- Hitler used the fire to attack communists and increase power
What was the ‘Decree for the protection of the people and state’?
Police had power to search homes and imprison people without trial
Police could ban meetings and close newspapers
What was the cause of the march 1933 election?
6 days after fire- claimed it was proof of serious communist threat
What steps did nazis take to ensure the election went well?
- Goering replaced police with nazi supporters- recruited 50,000 SA members
- secured industrialist funds who gave generously as nazis promised to destroy communism and ensure stability
- issued lots of propoganda
How did the march election turn out?
Nazis won many seats (288 out of 647)
Largest party but still didn’t have majority
Wanted 2/3 to pass laws without reichstag
What did Hitler do to ensure the enabling act was allowed?
- Used emergency powers to ban communist party members
- Nationalist party agreed to support him because of similar beliefs
- Won support form centre party by promising to protect Catholic Church
What were the consequences of the enabling act?
Hitler could make laws and treaties without Reichstag approval
Nazi revolution removed any government opposition
Weakened trade unions as they weren’t loyal to nazis
What was measure one of the removal of opposition?
- closed down Germany’s state parliaments
- reorganised them so nazis held majority
- opponents nazi governors to make laws
- jan 1934- abolished state parliaments altogether
What was measure two of the removal of opposition?
- nazis broke into trade union offices and arrested leaders
- created german workers front- forced workers to join
What was measure three of the removal of opposition?
- may 1933- SD suspended and nazis occupied offices and took funds
- end of may- suspended communist party the same way
- July 1933- new law banned all political parties except nazis
When and why was the night of the long knives?
June 30 1934
Hitler wanted to reduce SA power
Why did Hitler want to reduced SA power?
- becoming powerful with 2 mil members and Rohm was a possible rival as party leader
- behaviour embarrassed Hitler- violence, fights
- H had plans to rearm Germany but SA wanted to replace army. SA units stopped convoys and stole weapons
What happened on the light of the long knives?
SS arrested 200 SA officers- taken to Munich and executed
Also took revenge on enemies (Kahr and Scheicher)
H claimed he was defending a plot led by Rohm
When did Hitler become früher?
August 2nd 1934
What happened after Hindenburg died?
Hitler increases power- combined offices of chancellor and president and declared himself früher
Now firmly in control of the “third reich”
What were 2 features of the police state?
- German law was whatever nazis wanted. Established special courts which had no juries and the judges supported nazis. Many political opponents were sentenced to death
- Gestapo responsible for state security. Every block leader reported suspicious behaviour. Gestapo handed suspects to SS yo be tortured. However, not all Germans believed they were being oppressed so thy informed gestapo of friends and family/
What are 2 features of censorship?
- Newspapers were controlled and opposition papers shut down. Editors responsible for bad articles. All owners were members of reich press chamber. No one unacceptable could become a member
- Ministry of propaganda has a list of all unacceptable literature. Gestapo could search bookshops and students encouraged to burn books. Millions of books burned in nazi rallies. Anti nazi authors banned
What are 2 features of propaganda?
- Hitler saw radio as most important. Factories produced cheap radio sets. 1939- 70% of houses had radio. Goebbels thought it was more effective if people didn’t know it was propaganda. Issued plays including nazi messages
- Held public parades and rallies. National holidays- parades held. Citizens had to hand swastika flags. Nuremberg rallies showed power and glory of Germany under nazis
What were two effects on women in nazi Germany?
- Propaganda encouraged them to have more children. Contraception and abortion banned. Medals awarded for large families. German women’s enterprise trained in household skills
- Created economic issues- rearmament grew and men signed up. Relaxed limits on women working. 1939- 50% more women working than in 1933
What were the rules in the concordat signed with the Catholic Church in 1933?
Church didn’t geht involved in political affairs
Nazis allow Catholic Churches freedom of worship
What happened after Hitler broke the concordat?
1937- pope pius tried to take a stand- attacked nazi criticism of churches
How did Hitler react to the popes statement?
Membership of Catholic Church illegal
State funding of church cut
Catholic priests who spoke out were arrested
Who set up the confessional church?
Neimoller and benhoeffer
