Hitler's Consolidation of Power 1933-34

Question 1

On the evening of 30th January 1933 what had happened?

Answer 1

Torchlight parades were held by Nazis to celebrate and intimidate rivals

Question 2

What were the weaknesses of Hitler becoming chancellor, however?

Answer 2

He didn’t have complete power
Nazis were losing support and money
They were in coalition with the Nationalists and only had 3 out of 12 seats

Question 3

Nevertheless, what were the advantages of Hitler becoming chancellor?

Answer 3

Hindenburg became increasingly senile.

Immediately called new elections

Question 4

What is the significance of Hitler and Hindenburg’s relationship?

Answer 4

Hitler used the media to portray himself as a friend of Hindenburg

Question 5

What does Gleichschaltung mean?

Answer 5

Coordination

Question 6

Why did Hitler adopt Gleichschaltung, what did it eliminate?

Answer 6

It eliminated individualism by forcing everybody to adhere to a specific doctrine

Question 7

Give evidence of Gleichschaltung

Answer 7

The April 1933 law which purged the civil service of Jews

Question 8

What were Individual state governments replaced with? What was now in action?

Answer 8

Replaced by “Reich commissioners” who were either Nazis or Nazi sympathisers. The Fuhrerprinzip was now in action

Question 9

Support and Opposition:

When was the Appeal of German people?

Answer 9

31st January 1933

Question 10

Support and Opposition:
Famous quote (Appeal of German people speech)

Answer 10

“We have no desire to fight for ourselves; only for Germany”

Question 11

Support and Opposition:

Why did people SUPPORT him because of the Appeal of German speech?

Answer 11

1. He promised a stronger economy and nation
2. Put emphasis on traditional ideas and how great the 2nd reich was - being Kaiser lead
3. Promised futures for civil servants. “within 4 years, the German farmer will be saved from pauperism”

Question 12

Support and Opposition:

Why did people OPPOSE him because of the Appeal of German speech (left wing)?

Answer 12

Left wing were apprehensive - the day after taking over Germany he was already accusing the Left wing for making the country a “heap of ruins”

Question 13

Support and Opposition:

When was the Reichstag Fire?

Answer 13

27th February 1933

Question 14

Support and Opposition:

Why did the Reichstag Fire lead to SUPPORT?

Answer 14

1. It showed him take control of an emergency - painted the idea that he was a strong leader
2. It lead to the formation of the Enabling Act on 23rd March - right winged/nostalgic people wanted this

Question 15

Support and Opposition:

Why did the Reichstag Fire lead to OPPOSITION?

Answer 15

Communists were blamed immediately

Question 16

When was the Reichstag election and what were the results?

Answer 16

5th March 1933

Nazi votes increased from 33% to 44%

Question 17

Support and Opposition:

When was the Enabling Act passed?

Answer 17

March 23rd 1933

Question 18

Support and Opposition:

Why did Hitler adopt the Enabling Act, what did he have no intention of acting within?

Answer 18

He had no intention of acting within a participatory democracy

Question 19

Support and Opposition:

What did the Enabling Act mean?

Answer 19

It meant the abolition of other political parties, with all political powers put in his hands

Question 20

Support and Opposition:

What was the final vote for the Enabling Act?

Answer 20

444 for’ vs 94 who were ‘against’

Those who voted against were all socialists

Question 21

Support and Opposition:

What did the Enabling Act allow the cabinet to do?

Answer 21

Introduce legislation without it going through the Reichstag or have presidential power

Question 22

Support and Opposition:

Why did the Enabling Act lead to support? However why was this not an “groundbreaking” change?

Answer 22

Reflected authoritarian rule and traditional German values

However, he wasn’t the first to do this, Bruning used Article 48

Question 23

Support and Opposition:

Why did the Enabling Act lead to opposition?

Answer 23

Social Democrats were the only ones to vote against it

Question 24

Support and Opposition:

When was the Day of Potsdam?

Answer 24

21st March 1933

Question 25

Support and Opposition: | Why did the Day of Potsdam lead to support?

Answer 25

Hitler showed reverence to Hindenburg, people who liked Hindenburg now liked Hitler - e.g. of propaganda

Question 26

Support and Opposition: | Why did the Day of Potsdam lead to opposition?

Answer 26

Some people could see what his intentions were, and many people who loved Hindenburg knew he wasn't fond of Hitler - people saw it as a pretence

Question 27

Support and Opposition: | When was the Night of Long Knives?

Answer 27

30th June 1934

Question 28

Support and Opposition: | Who was the head of SA?

Answer 28

``` SA = Ernst Rohm SS = Himmler ```

Question 29

Support and Opposition: | Why did Hitler feel threatened and who convinced him?

Answer 29

The SA were going beyond his orders and he felt like he was losing his control. He was convinced by Himmler, Goering and Goebbels

Question 30

Support and Opposition: | What happened on the NoLK?

Answer 30

He got the SS to arrest SA leaders and political opponents and charged them with treason and executed them. (Rohm was shot)

Question 31

Support and Opposition: | How many died on the NoLK?

Answer 31

77

Question 32

Support and Opposition: | Why did the Night of Long Knives lead to support?

Answer 32

People who disliked SA approved | Right winged people believed Hitler was fearless and a strong leader for purging his own party.

Question 33

Support and Opposition: | Why did the Night of Long Knives lead to opposition?

Answer 33

This was a red flag to many. If he did this to his own party, what would he be willing to do to citizens of Germany?

Question 34

Support and Opposition: | When did Hindenburg die?

Answer 34

2nd August 1934, aged 87

Question 35

Support and Opposition: | Within an hour of Hindenburg's death, what did Hitler do?

Answer 35

He announced the roles of President and Chancellor would be merged and he would take the title Fuhrer

Question 36

Support and Opposition: | What did officers and men take an oath of?

Answer 36

They took an oath of allegiance to Hitler personally

Question 37

Support and Opposition: | On the 19th August, what were Germans asked to take part in?

Answer 37

A plebiscite; to indicate their approval of Hitler being called 'Fuhrer'

Question 38

Support and Opposition: | What were the results of the plebiscite?

Answer 38

90% yes, 10% yes

Question 39

Support and Opposition: | Why did the death of Hindenburg lead to support?

Answer 39

He spoke about the formation of the Fuhrer an hour after Hindenburg's death, he discussed the formation of the Fuhrer, this reminded nostalgic Germans of the Kaiser

Question 40

Support and Opposition: | Why did the death of Hindenburg lead to opposition?

Answer 40

Many disliked the idea of a single party state | Anybody who had links to democracy opposed this