L1: consolidation of power and establishment of a nazi dictatorship

when was the reichstag fire?

27th february 1933

who allegedly burnt down the reichstag?

Marinus van der lubbe - a dutch, jewish communist

how did the reichstag fire contribute to an increase in support for the nazis?

• catalysed consolidation of power

• reinforced image of nazis as saviors of germany in the presence of an ‘imminent’ communist threat

• gave hindenburg reason to grant hitler emergency powers

• 28th feb - decree for the protection of the people and the state

• banned communist newspapers

• arrested 10,000 communists

• 3rd march → detained ernst thälmann in ‘protective custody’

• communists imprisoned in new dachau concentration camp

• used for propaganda purposes, incites fear of communist revolution and encourage public to oppose communism

when was the decree for the protection of the people and the state given?

28th february 1933

what did the decree for the protection of the people and the state give hitler means to do?

• given emergency powers

• able to suspend civil liberties enshrined in the weimar constitution

• gave opportunity to remove political enemies before 5th march

in which election were the communists heavily affected by the decree for the protection of the people and the state?

5th march 1933

how many communists were arrested as a consequence of the DFTPOTPATS?

10,000 communists

how did hitler attack the KPD using the DFTPOTPATS?

• 10,000 communists arrested → sent to dachau concentration camp

• banned socialists & communist newspapers

• KPD were able to stand for election but party members were imprisoned for membership

  • e.g. ernst thälmann placed under ‘protective’ custody

what did hitler convince hindenburg to call an election in march 1933?

to expand the nazi vote after the effects of the propaganda from the reichstag fire had impacted the public.

wanted to gain majority of reichstag OR 2/3 majority required to make constitutional changes

what was the outcome of the 5th march 1933 general election?

nazis won 44% → significantly less than expected considering extent of violent election campaign, still largest amount of seats gained in reichstag history, even before 37.9% gained by SPD in first election

when was the enabling act passed?

23rd march 1933

what effects did the enabling act have?

• hitler now had the power to temporarily make his own laws without consulting the reichstag or president

  • had unchecked authority

• made hitler the effective dictator of germany

when was the gestapo established?

26th april 1933

what was the initial role of the gestapo?

• nazi controlled police force → secret police

• encouraged germans to report opponents to the regime & ‘grumblers’ → imposed state of self-surveillance

• created atmosphere of terror and suspicion

when were trade unions banned?

2nd may 1933

consequences of closing trade unions (2nd may 1933)

• trade union offices were closed

• their money confiscated

• leaders of unions imprisoned

• hitler established the german labour front → DAF

• reduced workers pay and relinquished their right to strike

when did the policy of gleichschaltung begin?

july 1933 (mainly, had already been enforced previously but to a lesser extent)

when was the spd banned?

june 1933

how did hitler begin the policy of gleichschaltung?

• removed remaining political opposition to nazis → banned SPD june 1933

• DNVP and Centre party dissolved voluntarily july 1933

• law passed forbidding the creation of new political parties

  • germany was now OFFICIALLY a one party state

• anti-nazi civil servants, teachers ad university professors now being replaced

when was the law passed that forbade the formation of new political parties? name?

• 14th july 1933

• law against the formation of parties

when was the night of the long knives?

30th june 1934

when did president hindenburg die?

2nd august 1934

when did hitler establish his role as ‘fürhrer’?

19th august 1934 → combined role of chancellor and president, as well as supreme leader of the army

when did people have to swear the oath of allegiance? purpose?

• 20th august 1934

• oath of allegiance now sworn to hitler personally rather than to the ‘people and the fatherland’

what was gleichschaltung?

• ‘forcing into line’

• the nazification and centralisation of germany

• process where the nazis attempted to coordinate or control all aspects of german politics, administration and society

4 simultaneous aspects of gleichschaltung

1. creation of a one party state

2. centralisation of power and control of local government

3. control over the civil service

4. elimination of independent organisations

how was the creation of a one party state achieved? → requires removal of all other parties

• 27th feb - repression of KPD after reichstag fire → leaders arrested/fled abroad

• june 1933 - spd outlawed

• july 1933 - dnvp and centre voluntarily dissolved

• 14th july 1933 - law against the formation of parties

• 2nd may 1933 - banned trade unions

how did hitler achieve centralisation of power and control of local government ‘33-34?

• 11th april 1933 - goering appointed minister of the interior for prussia

• 1933 laws for the coordination of the federal states

• jan 1934 - law for the reconstruction of the reich

• feb 1934 - reichsrat was abolished

• nazi intimidation an campaigns against other local leaders to replace them with nazis

purpose of the 1933 laws for the coordination of the federal states

state assemblies replaced with new nazi controlled assemblies and regions placed under nazi control

purpose of the jan 1934 laws for the reconstruction of the reich

abolished state assemblies entirely

purpose of the feb 1934 abolishment of the reichsrat

local delegates no longer sent to parliament

what were gauleiters? impact?

• leaders of the nazi party at state (gau) level

• often reich governors

• nazis didn’t create clear definitions for the different roles of party and state officials

• created constant rivalry and tension between gauleiters and other local officials

how did the nazis gain control of the civil service?

• nazis resented independence of civil service in the weimar years

• forced many to resign

• april 1933 - law for the restoration of a professional civil service

purpose of the april 1933 law for the restoration of a professional civil service

replaced civil service with loyal nazi members who ensured party orders were executed

how did the nazis eliminate independent organisations?

• local and national organisations dissolved and replaced with nazi organisations

  • e.g. trade unions replace with DAF, youth groups and women’s associations

• restrictions and repression of churches and related groups

what was the main and greatest reason for the consolidation of power for the nazis?

• enabling act 23rd march 1933

• established the dictatorship wholly, allowing hitler to rule with unchecked authority and complete legal power

why couldn’t hindenburg remove hitler from power after the reichstag fire?

• needed stability he provided within government and society, majority of population held great respect for him

  • hoped for sufficient mass support to form a stable coalition government

• requires SA to fight communist threat and appease worries of the public

  • provided military support and safety, larger than army and 50,000 served as temporary auxiliary police force

why did hitler still need hindenburg to temporarily remain in power?

• hindenburg remained supreme leader of armed forces

• has widespread popularity from veterans and the respect of the people

  • majority of veterans now served in paramilitary groups like the SA

  • army had been reduced to 100,000 in TOV

• hindenburg had potential power to stage a military coup

  • didn’t want to cause a civil war