The Nazi Dictatorship, 1933-39 Flashcards Preview

GCSE History - Germany 1918-39 (Edexcel) > The Nazi Dictatorship, 1933-39 > Flashcards

Flashcards in The Nazi Dictatorship, 1933-39 Deck (23)
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1
Q

When was the Reichstag fire? Who was accused of starting it? Why was this significant?

A

The Reichstag building was destroyed by a massive fire on the evening of 27 February 1933. Marinus van der Lubbe was accused of starting the fire - this was significant, as he was a communist. As a result, Hitler was able to blame communists for the fire.

2
Q

Describe the immediate political consequences of the Reichstag Fire.

A

Hitler and Goerring used the fire as evidence for a wider communist conspiracy against the German government. As a result, Hitler managed to convince Hindenburg to declare a state of emergency that:
- Allowed Hitler, via Hindenburg, to pass laws by decree.

Decree the Protection of the People and the State:

  • Hitler took control of the police forces.
  • He suspended civil rights and banned communist newspapers.
3
Q

Running up to the 1933 election, how did the Nazi Party improve its campaign finances?

A

They convinced Krupp and other industrialists to donate 3 million marks toward the Nazi Campaign.

4
Q

What was the outcome of the 1933 election?

A
  • The Nazis increased their majority to 288.
  • Hitler had a two-thirds majority in the Reichstag.
  • This allowed Hitler to pass any legislation he wanted.
5
Q

How was the Enabling Act passed through the Reichstag?

A

Hitler forced the act through the Reichstag in March 1933.

SS soldiers were used to intermediate elected members to vote for the bill.

6
Q

What was the Enabling Act?

A
  • Passed by a huge majority (444 votes).

- Allowed Hitler to make laws without consent of the Reichstag for 4 years.

7
Q

How did Hitler eliminate the opposition to his rule?

A
  • He banned trade unions, a potential source of communist organisation.
  • In 1933, Hitler banned all political parties apart from the NSDAP.
  • Hitler replaced local Lander governments with governors appointed directly by him.
8
Q

Describe key events during the Night of The Long Knives.

A

In June 1934, Hitler planned to eliminate key figures within the Nazi Party to cement his control.

The SA was thuggish and growing very large, Hitler feared it owed its loyalty entirely to Ernst Rohm - a potential challenger to Hitler.

Rohm favoured taxes on the rich, and was very much part of the working class populist wing of the Nazi Party. Hitler feared his potential opposition.

Rohm and six others SA leaders will arrested and killed.

Von Schleicher was later gunned down along with his wife.

9
Q

Describe the consequences of Hindenburg’s death.

A
  • Hindenburg died in August 1934
  • Hitler declared himself Germany’s Fuhrer by combining the powers of president and chancellor.
  • He forced the army to swear an oath to Hitler.

A plebiscite was held to confirm Hitler as Fuhrer, but Nazi intimidation and propaganda had a heavy influence on the result.

10
Q

Describe key features of the Gestapo.

A

They were the non-uniformed secret police force and created an atmosphere of fear and intimidation. People who held anti-Nazi views were arrested, often without charge, and then imprisoned without trial.

The Gestapo were not held to account by the judicial system.

11
Q

By 1939, how many people had been put ‘under protective arrest’ in prisons for non-criminal acts?

A

150,000 people

12
Q

By 1939, how many people were held in concentration camps?

A

20,000 people

13
Q

How did Hitler maintain control over the law courts?

A

He setup a National Socialist League for the Maintenance of the Law that guaranteed the loyalty of judges toward Nazi ideology.

Hitler gave judges freedom to punish people that had not broken the law.

Furthermore, Hitler setup a People’s Court to punish people accused of treason with harsh punishments.

14
Q

When did Hitler reach an agreement with the Pope over German Catholicism? What was agreed?

A

In July 1933, Hitler reached a concordat with the pope that guaranteed:

  • Freedom of worship for Catholics
  • Freedom for Catholic schools to operate in Germany
  • Priests would not intefere in politics.
  • Bishops would swear loyalty to the Nazi regime.
15
Q

Why did Hitler’s concordat with the Pope break down?

A
  • He imprisoned 400 priests in concentration camps.
  • He banned put restrictions on Catholic schools.
  • Catholic youth activities were banned.

By 1937, the Pope warned people about Hitler and his regime.

16
Q

What was the Reich Church?

A
  • Led by Ludwig Muller
  • Loyal to Nazi Party
  • Given peace/protection by the state.
17
Q

What was the Confessional Church? How were its leaders dealt with?

A
  • Led by Martin Niemoller
  • Opposed interference from government in Church life.
  • Niemoller and confessional minsters sent to concentration camps in response.
18
Q

How was the press censored and use a Nazi propaganda vehicle?

A
  • Newspapers forced to give news commissioned by the Nazis in special briefings.
  • No freedom of the press.
19
Q

How were universities put in line with Nazi propaganda?

A
  • Nazis disliked intellectualism
  • Research directed by the Nazi government
  • Research expected to support eugenics/Nazi ideology
20
Q

How did Goebbels censor the arts to advance Nazi propaganda interests?

A
  • All writers, musicians and artists have to join the Reich Chamber of Culture. This chamber is directed by Nazi Party.
  • Hundreds of thousands of books burnt with opposing viewpoints or books with Jewish authors.
  • Jazz music banned.
  • Modern art disapproved of.
  • Art about German heroism, depicting traditional family values, e.c.t. was favoured.
  • Theatre was encouraged to write plays around German heroism and Nazi ideology.
21
Q

How was radio used to distribute Nazi propaganda?

A
  • All radio stations put under Nazi control.
  • Hitler made frequent radio broadcasts.
  • Mass production of cheap radios; more radios in Germany than anywhere else in Europe during 1930s.
22
Q

How was cinema used to push Nazi messages?

A
  • Films shown alongside 45-minute newsreel publicising German achievements.
  • Film-makers forced to send plot to Goebbels for approval.
  • Hitlerjunge, film with overly political message, about a young Nazi who is killed by communists.
23
Q

How did the Nazis use sport to advance their propaganda interests?

A
  • In preparation for the 1936 Olympic Games, they built the world’s largest stadium capable of holding 110,000 people.
  • The Olympic events were hosted with efficiency and organisation to show off German strength and organisation.
  • Germany won more medals in the 1936 Olympics than any other nation, used by the Nazis as proof for Aryan superiority.