Topic 3: Nazi control and dictatorship, 1933-39 Flashcards
(33 cards)
Why was Hitler a weak chancellor?
-Hindenburg retained all the powers of the President and could dismiss Hitler at any point
-The Weimar constitution controlled what the Chancellor could do
-Trade unions could call strikes to oppose Hitler
-Out of Hitler’s cabinet only 2 of the 12 members were NSDAP
-The SA had a bad reputation
Who was blamed for the Reichstag Fire?
Marius van der Lubbe - a young dutch communist
How many communists were arrested on the night of the Reichstag Fire?
4,000 - Hitler later persuaded Hindenburg to declare a state of emergency
How many people died in the build up to the March 1933 general elections?
70 deaths
How did Hitler gain a 2/3 supermajority?
Banned the communist party and formed coalitions with other parties
What was the enabling act (1933)?
The act suspended the constitution and gave Hitler the power to make laws without the Reichstag for 4 years.
What did the Nazis do to trade unions in May 1933?
Nazis broke into trade union offices and arrested trade union officials. Hitler then used his powers to ban trade unions and made strikes illegal.
How did Hitler remove political opposition in 1933?
In May 1933, Hitler attacked the Social Democratic Party and the Communist Party and destroyed their newspapers and confiscated all their funds. Two months later, Hitler made all political parties in Germany illegal, except for the NSDAP.
How did Hitler take control of local governments?
Abolished Lander (local) parliaments and declared governors appointed by him.
In 1933, how many members were there of the SA?
3 million
Why did Hitler arrange to remove the threat of Ernst Rohm?
Leaders of the SS warned Hitler that Rohm was planning to seize power.
How many people died during the night of the long knives?
400 people over a four-day period.
Who were the Gestapo?
The Gestapo was the Nazi’s secret police force and had 30,000 members. In 1939, 160,000 people were arrested on political offences.
Who were the SD?
The SD were a security force who had a card index with everyone it suspected of opposing the Nazi Party.
Who were sent to concentration camps prior to the War?
-‘Undesirables’
-Minority groups
-Political prisoners
What did Hitler set up so he could control judges?
the National Socialist League for the Maintenance of the Law
What happened to Catholics in the 1930s?
-Catholic priests were harassed and arrested - many were sent to concentration camps
-Catholic schools were brought inline with state schools or closed
-Catholic youth activities were banned
Who was made leader of the Reich Church in 1936?
Ludwig Muller
Who was Pastor Martin Niemoller?
The founder of the Pastors’ Emergency League which opposed Nazi action.
In 1935, how many newspapers were closed down?
1,600
By 1939, what percent of Germans had a radio?
70% - more than anywhere else in Europe. A cheap radio called the ‘people’s receiver was created’.
How many people attended the 1934 Nuremberg rally?
200,000 supporters
What leading film director released two films about the Berlin Olympics?
Leni Riefenstahl - the films were used as Nazi propaganda
In 1936, how many paintings were removed from art galleries?
12,000
