Gleichschaltung
Why were all political parties banned?
14th July 1933, a new law banned people from forming new political parties so that no parties could challenge the Nazis
What happened when the trade unions were taken over?
2 May 1933, Union officers + leaders were arrested. All trade unions were merged into one, the new German Labour Front, which was controlled by the Nazis
What was the enabling act?
23rd March 1933, enabled Hitler to rule without the Reichstag. He won the votes of the Reichstag to enable this by: Banning the communist party from voting Promised to protect the Catholic Church for the center Parties votes
What factors enabled Hitler to secure power in 1933-1934?
27 February Reichstag Fire 5 March New Election 24 March The Enabling Act 2 May Trade Unions taken over July All political parties banned 29 June Night of the Long Knives 2 August Death of Hindenburg August Army Oath
What was the Reichstag fire?
27th Febuary 1933 Van Der Lubbe, a dutch communist, was caught at the scene + arrested for the crime of burning down the Reichstag's building.
What happened because Hindenburg dies?
2nd August 1934, Hindenburg dies. Hitler made himself president as well as chancellor + took the tile the Fuhre (supreme leader)
What did the army oath mean?
2nd August 1934, the army took a new oath of personal loyalty to Hitler. All German soldiers swore to obey Hitler + to risk their lives for him at any time until death
What was the Night of the long knives?
30th June 1934, Hitler had become concerned by the increasing power of the SA, which had 73 million members + wanted control of the army. On this night, 400 SA leaders were taken to Nazi headquarters + shot dead. The SA leader Rohm as arrested + shot dead in prison. This sent a warning to the rest of Germany + won over the army, by taking away their opponents
What happened when the states were brought into line?
7th April 1933, Hitler took control + power away from the Lander parliaments
What was the concordat?
8th July 1933, Catholic Church stayed out of politics + in return, the Nazis stayed out of the church
What were Hitlers key aims during this period?
A Germany with Nazis in control A racially pure Germany - only Aryans A Germany with traditional roles for men + women: -Women to wear simple clothes, no make up, domesticated, cook + produce babies -Men to work + fight -Children to be prepared through education system
What was the outcome to Hitlers control of Germany at the end of 1934?
Hitler Fuhrer Nazis only party Hitler in charge
How much control over Germany did Hitler have at the start of 1933?
Hitler as Chancellor, 3 Nazis in cabinet, President Hindenburg still in charge
What was the Nazis retaliation to the Reichstag fire + how did this help Hitler retain power?
Nazis claimed that this was the start of a communist plot to take over Germany. In retaliation, 4000 communist leaders were arrested + Hitler persuaded Hindenburg to grant him with emergency powers. This led to: Thousands of people who opposed the Nazi party to be arrested without cause + for unlimited time Nazis banned meetings held by their political opponents + closed down their meetings Law for the Protection of People + State on 27th February meaning people loss freedoms e.g. speech + trial
What was the outcome of the election of 5th March 1933 and why?
Nazis win 45% of votes Nazis used police + SA to put pressure on their political opponents, 50 of which were killed + many more died The Nazis sent a radio broadcast of their ant-communist message
What was Gleichschaltung?
The process of Nazification by which Nazi Germany successively established a system of totalitarian control and coordination over all aspects of society
What is the Weimar Republic?
Weimar Republic is an unofficial designation for the German state between 1919 and 1933. The name derives from the city of Weimar, where its constitutional assembly first took place
