Unit 1b: Creating the Nazi Government, 1933-34 Flashcards
What was Gleichschaltung?
The process of coordinating government by taking control of all that threatened it: the trade unions, the press, other parties and internal threats.
Why was the term ‘Gleichschaltung’ favoured?
It had no political connotations and so it was the ideal word to use to express the Nazis’ repressive measures in a way which didn’t make them seem repressive.
Associated with German high-tech industries, meaning ‘coordination’ or ‘bringing’ into line. Accordingly, the Nazis attempts to coordinate government were expressed as something efficient and organised, and this was desirable after a negative experience of Weimar democracy, of political fragmentation which allowed for instability in the form of faction failure and riots.
How did Hitler bring an end to federalism?
1925 - he introduces the Gauleiter position, responsible for arranging local NSDAP activities.
1933 - All Gauleiters are allowed allocated positions within local government, and are extremely influential as directly accountable to Hitler.
1934 - Hitler replaces Landstag (regional gov.) with regional governors (usually ex. Gauleiter). Significant also as it helped people acclimatise to individual dictatorship over a parliamentarian structure.
How did Hitler take control of the civil service?
7th April 1933 - Law for the Restoration of the Professional Civil Service - removed all that were racially unpure or whose political loyalty could be questioned.
Significant also as evidence of Hitler asserting his authority over Hindenburg. He had written to Hitler on 4th April 1933 asking him to at least exclude Jewish WWI veterans yet he refuses.
When did the KPD collapse?
Mid-July 1933, though they were ineffective in campaigning after mid-March.
When did the SPD collapse?
Mid-July 1933, as Hitler outlined that they were hostile to the state and people.
When did the DNVP collapse?
June 1933. Rejected after 23rd March 1933 as redundant to Nazi constitutional standing. Encouraged by SA repression/intimidation and negotiation with senior Nazi politicians.
When did the DDP and DVP collapse?
7th March 1933 as they gained just 2% of votes between them and were being attacked by the SA.
When did the ZP collapse?
On 6th July 1933 as a sign of national unity after Hitler promised to uphold Catholic values and protect traditional rights.
Over what time period was the one-party state established?
March-July 1933
What was the ideology of Ernst Röhm and why was it significant?
He despised Hitler’s willingness to cooperate with the traditional aristocracy as he felt that the ‘Front Generation’ ought to constitute the elite, especially as it was aristocrats that had seemingly lost Germany the war in 1918.
It was speculated he wanted a ‘second revolution’ that would establish an FG elite and set out the SA to be at least on equal par with the Reichswehr: establishing a people’s army with the spirit of 1914 renewed.
Significant because he was the 2nd most powerful Nazi in the early 1930s.
Who, specifically, opposed Röhm’s proposals and why?
Werner von Blomberg, as he was head of the Reichswehr, and this would limit his power, giving it unrightfully to the leader of an ill-disciplined, thuggish and, unorderly institution.
HIMMLER - Wanted to allow the SS that same position. Though a sub-division of the SA originally, when formed in 1923, the SS was a new generation of people who had been kids during WWI and represented the educated middle classes. It was also more organised and disciplined than the SA, composed of FG and WC/lower MC men.
GOERING - Wanted to Nazify the German Armed Forces and make himself its head.
Why did circumstances get so critical for the army in June 1933?
Hindenburg was dying of lung cancer.
The army was soon to lose its most powerful ally, that protected it against Nazi radicalism. They needed to establish some protection that was secure in place for when he died.
Why was the power of Hitler limited on 30th January 1933?
DEMOCRATIC ASPECTS OF REGIME - Articles
INTERNAL PRESSURES - More radical members of the NSDAP, e.g. Röhm and his threat of ‘second revolution’.
SUBSERVIENCE - Reliant upon support of Reichstag, army and Hindenburg.
Define Machtergreifung.
This was Hitler’s seizure to power through violent repression and political intimidation.
