Hitlers consolidation of power Flashcards
(12 cards)
When was Hitler appointed Chancellor?
30 January 1933, by President Paul von Hindenburg.
What was the significance of the Reichstag Fire?
It was blamed on a communist (Marinus van der Lubbe), giving Hitler the pretext to crack down on communists and increase emergency powers.
What was the Reichstag Fire Decree (28 February 1933)?
A presidential decree suspending civil liberties, allowing arrest without trial, and silencing political opposition.
What was the Enabling Act and when was it passed?
Passed on 23 March 1933, it gave Hitler the power to make laws without Reichstag consent, effectively ending parliamentary democracy.
How did Hitler secure enough support to pass the Enabling Act?
Through deals with the Centre Party, banning of communists, and intimidation by the SA inside the Reichstag.
What was Gleichschaltung?
The process of Nazifying all aspects of German society (e.g. banning trade unions, controlling education, purging civil service).
When was the Nazi Party made the only legal party in Germany?
14 July 1933, with the Law Against the Formation of New Parties.
What happened during the Night of the Long Knives (June 1934)?
Hitler purged the SA leadership and other political opponents, securing the loyalty of the army and increasing the power of the SS.
What happened after President Hindenburg died in August 1934?
Hitler combined the roles of President and Chancellor, becoming Führer, and the army swore a personal oath of loyalty to him.
Why was the Army Oath of 1934 important?
It ensured military loyalty to Hitler personally, removing the last institution that could potentially challenge his authority.
How did propaganda aid Hitler’s consolidation of power?
Goebbels’ propaganda machine glorified Hitler, spread Nazi ideology, and shaped public opinion to support the regime.
How did Hitler use terror to consolidate power?
Through the SS, Gestapo, and concentration camps, the regime silenced opposition and controlled the population through fear.
