Reichstag fire
How long after Hitler came to power did the Reichstag Fire occur?
a
Less than a month
2
q
On what date did the Reichstag Fire occur?
a
27 February 1933
3
q
Who was found at the site of the fire?
a
Marinus van der Lubbe
4
q
What was Marinus van der Lubbe?
a
A Dutch Communist
5
q
How did Hitler exploit the Reichstag Fire?
a
He claimed there was a Communist conspiracy to overthrow the government and asked Hindenburg to give him emergency powers using Article 48.
6
q
What were these powers Hindenburg gave Hitler known as?
a
The Reichstag Fire Decree
7
q
What did the Reichstag Fire Decree allow Hitler to do?
a
Suspend the freedoms of the constitution (e.g. freedom of speech, assembly, right to fair trial). In particular, it allowed Hitler to imprison opponents of the regime - in particular Communists (KPD)
8
q
When was the Reichstag Fire Decree passed?
a
28 February 1933 - the morning after the Reichstag Fire
9
q
What key event occurred shortly after the Reichstag Fire?
a
The 5 March Elections
10
q
On what date did the March elections occur?
a
5 March
11
q
Who was allowed to campaign for the March elections?
a
Only the Nazi Party - all other parties were banned from campaigning
12
q
On polling day, who were present at polling stations?
a
Uniformed Nazis, watching the votes being cast
13
q
What percentage of the vote did the Nazi Party win in the March elections?
a
44%
14
q
How did Hitler manage to gain a majority after the March elections?
a
The Nazis formed a coalition with the German National People’s Party who had won 8% of vote
15
q
What percentage of the vote did the German National People’s Party win?
a
8%
16
q
What percentage of the seats did the coalition of the Nazis and German National People’s Party control?
a
52%
17
q
The Communists won 81 seats in the March elections. Why did they not take their seats in the Reichstag?
a
Hitler refused to allow them
18
q
Why could Hitler still not pass an Enabling Act, even in a coalition?
a
He needed a two-thirds majority in the Reichstag to alter the constitution (which the Enabling Act effectively did). With the coalition he only had 52%.