Nazi Control

Reichstag Fire (4)

February 1933

The Reichstag was set on fire

Dutch communist Van der Lubbe was caught red-handed in the burning building

He was tried and executed

Reichstag Fire: How it helped Hitler (4)

4,000 communists arrested and imprisoned

Opposition newspapers banned

44% of Germans vote for the Nazis in March

Hitler could now pass the Enabling Act

The Enabling Act: When was it?

March 1933

The Enabling Act: Background (3)

Communist politicians banned from voting

SA intimidated non-Nazi politicians

⅔ of the Reichstag voted to pass the Enabling Act

The Enabling Act: What happened

Hitler now had power to pass laws by himself, like a dictator

The Enabling Act: Impact (3)

Nazis took over local governments all over Germany

German Labour Front (DAF) replaced trade unions

All other political parties banned in July 1933

The Night of the Long Knives: Threat of the SA (4)

Rohm (SA leader) didn’t like Hitler’s right-wing policies

The SS wanted more power and influence

The army felt the SA was too powerful

Many SA were still unemployed and left frustrated

The Night of the Long Knives: Events (4)

1934

Hitler invited Rohm and 100 SA leaders to a meeting

When the SA arrived, they were arrested by the SS

They were taken to Munich and shot

Hitler becomes Fuhrer: Hindenburg dies (3)

August 1934

President Hindenburg was very ill in 1934 → later died

Hitler merged the Chancellor and President positions into the Office of Fuhrer (supreme leader)

Hitler becomes Fuhrer: Army oath of allegiance (2)

1934

On the day Hindenburg died, Hitler made the army swear loyalty to him personally, rather than Germany

The Police State: The SS (2)

Hitler’s private army - controlled SD and Gestapo

Ran concentration camps

The Police State: The SD

Security services - Spied on Nazi opponents

The Police State: The Gestapo

Secret police - plain clothes, relied on informants

The Police State: Courts (2)

All judges had to be in the Nazi Party

People’s Court - heard treason cases, held in secret

The Police State: Concentration camps (2)

Political opponents and Jews sent there

Prisoners forced to work

Controlling the churches: Christian threat (2)

⅓ Germans were Catholic, ⅔ were Protestants

Christians beliefs were often opposite to Nazis ideas

Controlling the Churches: Concordat (2)

1933

Agreement between Hitler and the Pope to leave Catholics alone as long as they didn’t criticise Nazis

Controlling the Churches: Pope’s letter

Hitler broke his promise - Pope Pius wrote ‘With Burning Anxiety’ calling Hitler a ‘mad prophet’

Controlling the Churches: The Reich Church (2)

Nazi-style church - 2000 Protestant churches joined

Members wore Nazi uniforms and used Nazi symbols

Propaganda and Censorship: Goebbels

Minister of Enlightenment and Propaganda

Propaganda and Censorship: Censorship (2)

Public burning of books the Nazis didn’t like

Radio broadcasters, filmmakers, and newspapers told what to say

Propaganda and Censorship: Propaganda (5)

Posters of Hitler and Nazi ideas were everywhere

Rallies and parades were held to show Nazi strength

People’s Receivers (radios) sold cheaply - people could listen to Hitler’s speeches in their homes

Reich Chamber of Culture - helped spread Nazi ideas

Berlin Olympics (1936) - used to promote Nazi ideas

Church Opposition: Martin Niemoller (2)

An influential Protestant church leader who spoke out against the Nazis

He was sent to a concentration camp in 1938

Church Opposition: The Confessing Church (3)

Set up by Niemoller in 1933

Made up of 6000 Protestant churches

Spoke out against the Nazis in church sermons

Church Opposition: Arrests (2)

800 Protestant pastors sent to concentration camps

400 Catholic priests sent to concentration camps

Youth Opposition: The Edelweiss Pirates (5)

Made up of mainly working class boys

Had 2000 members by 1939

Went on trips in the countryside away from Nazis

Bullied and beat up Hitler Youth kids

Wrote anti-Nazi grafitti

Youth Opposition: The Swing Youth (4)

Made up of middle and upper class children

Influenced by American culture - clothing, music, film

Listened to jazz music which was banned

Held illegal parties that thousands attended - drank alcohol, smoked, and danced