Zusammenfassung der Ressource
Creation of the Nazi State
- Von Papen and Hindenburg
- Von Papen failed to win enough support in the
Reichstag, called for 2 elections and support
decreases. Encourages Hindenburg to rule by
decree (by himself), believes Hitler can be
controlled, persuades Hindenburg to make
Hitler Chancellor with himself as deputy,
frightens Hindenburg by warning him of a civil
war if Hitler is not made Chancellor.
- Hindenburg was scared that if he didn't appoint Hitler as Chancellor there
would be a civil war, Hitler received a lot of votes when running for President
against Hindenburg (13.4 million), believed Hitler could be controlled, he
appoints the Chancellors, makes bad choices - Von Papen and Von Schleider,
easily persuaded, knows Hitler is dangerous but under estimates him.
- Hindenburg was a former army
leader and hates Hitler. Von
Papen was a rich Catholic
nobleman, a favourite of
Hindenburg and distrusts Hitler.
- KEY EVENTS 1933-4
- 1) THE REICHSTAG FIRE - FEB 27TH 1933 - 1 month after Hitler became Chancellor. Dutch
communist Van Der Lubbe is arrested along with 4000 other communists arrested that night.
Van Der Lubbe is found guilty and exectuted. Nazis did well in the March elections. Nazis
could've framed Van Der Lubbe adn used fire to crush communists and got rid of opposition.
- 2) EMERGENCY DECREE - Hitler persuades Hindenburg to give him extra
powers, The emergency decree allows Hitler to: 1) Get the police to search any
house, 2) Confiscate property eg newspapers, 3) arrest anyone without a trial.
- 3) THE ENABLING ACT - Nazis needed 2/3 of votes in
the Reichstag for Hitler to become a dictator, would
change the constitution, but this didn't happen. Then Hitler
bans Communists from Parliament, intimidates moderate
parties (The Centre Party and Social Democrats) with the
Brownshirts. The act is passed that he can make any law
he wants - Democracy ends and a dictatorship begins.
- 4) THE REMOVAL OF OPPOSITION GROUPS - Hitler gets rid of
state parliaments, Trade Unions are closed down, leaders are
arrested and replaced by the 'German Labour Front' -> No more
strikes, all political parties are shut down eg the social democrats
and the communists (Newspapers closed and leaders arrested.
- 5) NIGHT OF THE LONG KNIVES - Hitler had to choose between the SA and
the army. He could've kept the SA because they were committed Nazis, Rohm
was an old friend of Hitlers, SA was bigger than the army, SA had fought for
Hitler before. He would get rid of the SA because the SA disagreed with
some policies and disapproved of some Nazi leaders and they were
beginning to get out of hand. He could keep the army because they were well
trained and organised, they had support of big business and he could only get
lost land back with the army. He could get rid of the army because some
generals disliked Hitler, army was small, only organisation that could remove
Hitler from power and it was unknown how loyal the army would be.
- HITLERS DECISION - THE NIGHT OF THE LONG KNIVES - Hitler invites the
leaders of the SA to a hotel. They were arrested and quickly shot.
Reasons included: 1) The SA were a threat under Rohms control, 2) Too
violent and 3) Most of the SA would join the professional army or the SS.
- 6) AUGUST 1934 - PRESIDENT
HINDENBURG DIES AND HITLER DECLARES
HIMSELF PRESIDENT WITH NO ELECTION.
7) HITLERS ROLE AS FUHRER - He was
Chancellor, President and Supreme
commander of the army.He made very
member swear their loyalty to Hitler and
risk their life to save his. He wanted to
make all important decisions but leadership
is a mess - Hitler has insomnia, unable to
make many decisions. He is seen as man
of the people, powerful, fatherly, former
soldier, loyal to Germany (unmarried).
Nazis wanted a strong Germany, a racial
Germany and The Volk or The peoples
community.