3.4) Making of Nazi Dictatorship, January - March 1933:
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- Created by: AhsanIqbal14
- Created on: 20-03-16 14:27
Hitlers cabinet:
- 30th January 1933, Hitler appointed Chancellor. by Hindenburg.
- First cabinet meeting = 3/12 Nazi ministers.
- Van Papen = Vice-chancellor and minister-president of Prussia, Germanys largest state.
- Had the right to be present when Hitler met with Hindenburg.
- Decisions would be made by a non-Nazi majority, many of who were the old aristocratic elite.
- Papen thought Hitler wouldn't be able to control the cabinet, not being able to become a dictator.
- But Hitler was determined for dictatorship which he was achieving in late March 1933.
- Others in the cabinet consisted of Goering and Wilhelm Frick (Nazis), Blomberg (defence minister, DNVP) and Von Neurath (Conservative, aristocrat, foreign minister).
- Later on the same day, 100,000 Nazis did a torchlight march in Berlin organised by Joeseph Goebbels as Hitler watched from the balcony.
- This demonstration showed how Hitler now being chancellor wasn't going to be a normal change of government.
- Showed Nazi success and a national revolution.
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How Nazis used terror:
VIOLENCE AGAINST POLITICAL OPPONENTS:
- January 1933, SA violence helped Hitler to power.
- He used state resources to consolidate his position and expand SA.
- SA violence and terror were key to eliminate political opponents.
- Had 500,000 members.
- Hitler in power made Nazi activities legal.
- February 1933, SA and Stahlhelm merged and seen as a special police.
- Orders were given to regular police, banning them from interfering in SA activities.
- Frick - Minister of interior of the whole Reich.
- Georing - Minister of interior in Prussia.
- This allowed Nazis to control the police.
- SA = terrorised Socialist and Communist opponents.
- New powers allowed them to attack KDP/Tradeunion offices and Left Wing homes.
- Gangs of SA broke up KPD and SPD meetings.
- Nazi crimes/killings were ignored and SPD newspapers which condemned it were shut down.
- Centre Party newspaper was shut down and meetings were attacked.
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How Nazis used terror:
- Many socialist, communists and tradeunionists = put together and put in a concentration camps in old factories.
- March 1933 = first concentration camp made in Dachau.
- July 1933 = 25,000 political prisoners = imprisoned.
THE REICHSTAG FIRE:
- When in power, Hitler dissolved the Reichstag and called a new election for March.
- Thought this would be the chance for a Nazi majority.
- Campaign needed more intense Nazi terror over opponents.
- 5th March, KPD and SPD were too afraid of the terror and intimidation of Nazis.
- 27th February = Key moment in the campaign, Reichstag fire.
- Reichstag fire - Marinus Van Der Lubbe, a Dutch communist was charged for setting up a fire.
- Some say Nazis had set this up in order to take repressive measures.
- Nazis gained support from the fire as they said it was a communist plot for a revolution.
- This justified suspension of civil liberties to crush their opponents legally.
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How Nazis used legal power:
DECREE FOR PROTECTION OF PEOPLE AND THE STATE:
- Hitler = appointed Chancellor legally via constitution of Weimar.
- Weimar constitution was in force during the 3rd Reich.
- But Hitler asked Hindenburg to give him emergency powers which was the decree for protection of people and the state which removed civil and political rights the Weimar had given.
- Police = more power, arrest without trial, search private premises.
- Government = had power to cencor publications.
- These powers = used against socialist and communist, banning newspapers and meetings.
- Decree allowed central government to take over state government if refused act against Nazi opponents.
- Decree allowed full scale attack of KDP.
- Propaganda said there was going to be a German bolshevik revolution.
- Police arrest 10,000 KPD in 2 weeks, including leaders.
- KPD still not banned and able to put up member in March, but party membership was seen as treason.
- Many civil servants, judges and police were Conservatives and gave legal sanction to Nazis.
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How Nazis used legal power:
MARCH 1933 ELECTION:
- Left wing were disadvantaged, couldn't have meeting, leaders/members were locked up.
- Poster put up were brought down.
- People giving SPD/KPD leaflets were arrested.
- Nazi propaganda was rampants via radios, leaflets, rallies and parades.
- Even with opponents banned from campaigning, Nazis didn't achieve as much success as they wanted.
- Nazi votes increased from November 1932.
- Despite violence, SPD, Centre and KPD support was still common.
- In the election, 64% voted for non-Nazi parties.
- But Nazis with DNVP = a Reichstag majority.
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The end of Democracy:
ENABLING ACT: THE LAW FOR REMOVING THE DISTRESS OF THE PEOPLE AND THE REICH:
- 23rd March 1933, new Reichstag meeting was held in Kroll Opera House.
- Hitler planned to get 2/3rds majority for the Enabling Act.
- This would allow him to make laws without Reichstag/presidential approval for 4 years.
- 24th March 1933, Enabling act was passed, this law was change in the constitution it needed 2/3rds majority to be enforced.
- KPD deputies unable to take their seats, DNVP willing to talk with Nazis to pass the bill.
- Centre party were key in passing the bill as Hitler said he'd consult Hindenburg when passing new laws.
- SPD were the only parties who voted against it.
- Hitler eventully became the executive and legislative, could rule without majority and therefore the Reichstag rarelly met.
- Enabling act = key for Nazi dictatorship.
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State of Germany in March 1933:
- 2 months after Chancellorship, Hitler legally formed a Nazi dictatorship.
- Used Gleichshaltung, forcing into line and an attempt for control over all aspects of German society. Individuals would have to privacy.
- Now had one party state, banned free tradeunions, media consorship, controlled education and youth.
- KPD was banned and it's leaders left the country.
- Police were under Nazi control, SA and ** attacked opponents.
- Rule of Law and individual rights were now gone.
- Attacks on Jews had increased.
- Planned a national revolution put had to fix the economic crises.
- Army was only independent institution as Hitler wanted army as only force that could remove him.
- February 3rd 1934, Hitler met army's senior officers and outlined his plans for rearmament.
- Also said he wouldn't undermine armys role as most important institution which allowed army leaders to support Hitler's dictatorship.
- February 20th 1934, Met with industrialists for financial support and donations of 3m RM.
- Stopped Nazi attacks on big capitalists to gain business support to fix the economy.
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State of Germany in March 1933:
- Nazis wouldn't allow any opposition to stand infront of them.
- Conservative forces in the army and big businesses retained it's influence and authority.
- Hitler knew they couldn't be ignored.
- Pact of 1933, army and big businesses agreed to cooperate with Hitler.
- No written agreement, but Hitler had to make sure these institution were untouched by Gliechshaltung.
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