Summary 6 - The end of democracy - The Enabling Act

Question 1

When was the first meeting of the new Reichstag after the March 1933 election and what was Hitler’s sole objective?

Answer 1

The first meeting of the new Reichstag was held on 23rd March 1933.
Hitlers sole objective was to pass the Enabling Act.

Question 2

In order for the Enabling Act to be passed, what percentage of deputies needed to support it?

Answer 2

66%

Question 3

Why did 66% of Reichstag deputies need to support the Enabling Act in order for it to be passed?

Answer 3

The Enabling Act changed the constitution therefore a majority was not enough for it to be passed.

Question 4

How many deputies was there usually in the Reichstag?

Answer 4

647

Question 5

Give the result of the vote on the Enabling Act?

Answer 5

The vote passed 444 votes to 94

Question 5

What percentage of the deputies present voted in favour of the Enabling Act?

Answer 5

83%

Question 6

How many deputies were present for the vote on the Enabling Act?

Answer 6

Only 538 deputies were present for the vote.

Question 7

How many deputies did the KPD have after the 1933 election?

Answer 7

Around 70 deputies

Question 8

Why were the KPD deputies not at the Opera House for the first meeting of the new Reichstag and the Enabling Act Vote?

Answer 8

They were not able to be present due to The Decree for the Protection of the People and the State .

Question 9

How many deputies did the SPD have after the 1933 election?

Answer 9

They had over 100 deputies.

Question 10

How many SPD deputies were in hiding and therefore they were not present to vote against the Enabling Act?

Answer 10

26 SPD deputies were in hiding and therefore were not present to vote against the Enabling Act.

Question 11

All of the 96 votes against the Enabling Act were made from deputies of which party?

Answer 11

The SPD

Question 12

How many deputies did the Nazis have after the March 1933 election?
How many deputies did the DNVP have?

Answer 12

• The Nazis had 284 deputies
• The DNVP had 51 deputies

Question 13

How many deputies did the Centre Party have after the March 1933 election?

Answer 13

They had 71 deputies

Question 14

Why was Hitler confident that the Enabling Act would be passed?

Answer 14

• The combined number of deputies of the Nazi Party, the DNVP and the Centre Party was 406.
• Hitler already knew that he had 75% of the vote from just these three parties
• Deputies of smaller parties were also likely to vote in favour of the Act

Question 15

Why were the SPD unable to stop the passage of the Enabling Act?

Answer 15

The SPD could not have stopped the passage of the Act because Hitler had too much support.

Question 16

Give two reasons why deputies of the Centre Party voted in favour of the Enabling Act?

Answer 16

• Hitler did a deal with the Centre Party, he promised that he would only act with Hindenburg’s permission if the Act was passed (Hitler had no intention of keeping this promise)
• The Centre Party wanted maintain positive relations with Hitler because they were the main party that represented the Catholic faith and they thought that if they worked with the Nazis they could influence them and make sure the Catholic faith was protected.

Question 17

What power did the Enabling Act give Hitler?

Answer 17

Hitler was able to make laws without reference to the Reichstag or the President for the next 4 years
Hitler was able to make agreements with foreign states without Reichstag approval

Question 18

What was the impact of the Enabling Act?

Answer 18

After March 1933, the Reichstag rarely met and became irrelevant to the government of Germany. The Enabling Act opened the door for Hitler to establish a dictatorship.