Unit 4

• The Reichstag Fire

  When Hitler was first appointed Chancellor his position did not seem strong

  • Only 2 other Nazis out of a cabinet of 12
  • In coalition with the National Party, still not the majority in the Reichstag (1/3 of seats)
  • Only chancellor due to President Hindelburg who hated him (Had power under Article 48 to make laws without the approval of the Reichstag
• The Reichstag Fire

  Hitler called a general election on 5th March 1933 hoping to gain majority

  Communists were most threatening rivals with lots of working class supporters Nazis wanted.

  On February 27th 1933, Reichstag building was set on fire. Not entirely clear who started the fire but Nazi's arrested Dutch Communist, Marinus Van der Lubbe
• The Reichstag Fire

  How did the fire increase chances of Nazi's doing well in the election?

  • New Nazi Chief of police Goerring used fire as excuse to incriminate communists
  • Said Van der Lubbe was part of a communist anti-government polt and Nazis should use it as a opportunity to destroy communist opposition
  • Used fire to attack communists and increase personal power (H)
  • Arrest 4000 communist leaders on night of fire
  • Convinced Hindelburg to pass emergency Decree for Protection of the People and state
• The Reichstag Fire

  How did the fire increase chances of Nazi's doing well in the election?

  • Gave police power to search homes and imprison those arrested without trial
  • Police also able to ban meetings, close newspapers and Goerring used it to takeover state radio station
  • Used to target communists
• How else did the Nazi's try to maximise votes

  • Thousand of members of communist and social democratic parties arrested and sent to concentration camps (cannot vote to oppose Hitler)
  • Goerring replaced police officers with Nazi supporters, recruited 50000 SA members to be police auxiliaries
  • Controls police force so opponents intimidated as SA broke up election meetings was not stopped
• The Enabling Bill

  In the election the Nazi's won 288 seats, the most but not enough for a majority. But Hitler was disappointing as coalition formed with National Party and didn't have control of 2/3 of Reichstag seats needed to change constitution.

  Therefore he suggested the Enabling Bill giving him and government full power over next 4 years with Reichstag being no more than a rubber stamp of approval.
• The Enabling Bill - How did he ensure it was passed?

  • Used emergency power to ban communist party (81 seats) from Reichstag
  • Nationalist agreed to to support him as similar beliefs to Nazis (52 seats)
  • Won support of Centre Party (74 seats) by promising to protect Catholic Church
• The Enabling Bill - Effects

  On 24 March 1933 the Enabling Bill passed marking the end of democracy and Weimar constitution.

  Allowed Hitler greater control of Germany. On 14 July 'Law against formation of parties' passed making Nazi's only legal political party. In Nov 1933 Election 95% of electorate voted and Nazi's gained nearly 40 million votes.

  Allowed Hitler to make laws and sign foreign treaties without approval pf Reichstag. Original act applied for only 4 years but Hitler renewed in 1937. After, the Reichstag only met 12 times, to listen to speeches not debate democratically.
• The Enabling Bill - Effects

  Local government

  • 31 March 1933 Closed down 18 separate state parliaments
  • Reorganised Parliaments so Nazis had majority in each one
  • January 1934 Abolished state governments altogether

  Trade Unions

  • 2 May 1933 Nazis broke into trade union offices and arrested leaders. Then created German's Workers Front and forced workers to join

  Other political parties

  • 10 May 1933 Social democrats suspended. Nazis occupied offices and took funds
  • End May Suspended communists in same way
  • July 1933 Created Law banning other parties
• The Night of the Long Knives - Causes

  The influence of SA affected Nazis relations with regular army. Due to ToV the army was only 100000 men, Despite this, army leaders were influential. Hitler had plans to rearm Germany and increase army size but SA wanted to take place of army. In 1934. SA began stopping army convoys and confiscating weapons.

  Rohm (leader) had very different views to Hitler. He wanted to take measures against big businesses and adopt socialist policies. Hitler wanted the support of big business leaders and the funding from it.
• The Night of the Long Knives - Causes

  The SA was becoming very powerful with over 2 million. Its leader Rohm was a rival

  Members continued using violence and intimidation, this behaviour was an embarrassment to Hitler. Additionally. Frequent drunken fights lost conservative support.
• The Night of the Long Knives 30 June 1934

  Hitler launched the Night of the Long Knives

  Members of SS arrested 200 SA officers who were taken to Munich, where many including Rohm were executed.

  It is believed around 90 died. SA leaders were not the only targets. with Hitler taking revenge on old enemies, von Kahr and Schliecher as well as a possible rival to Nazi Dictatorship, Gregor Straser

  Hitler was happy to take responsibility for the events of that night claiming he was defending Germany against a plot which was going to be led by Rohm
• Hitler becomes Fuhrer

  On 2 August 1934 President Hindelburg died aged 84. Hitler used it as an opportunity to increase his own power combining chancellor and president declaring himself Fuhrer (leader) of Germany, becoming in control of what became known as the Third Reich (Germany's third empire)

  This removed all other power, sets up a dictatorship so no one can easily overthrow him.
• Hitler become Fuhrer - effects

  Army Loyalty Oath

  • Made army loyalty oath to Hitler directly rather than Germany so they swore t obey him personally if there was a struggle for power rather than military commanders
  • Hitler's own personal army, replaces SA. His orders superseded all others

  Plebiscite

  • Hitler held a plebiscite (referendum) to get public to agree with all changes. Following a huge propaganda campaign, Hitler got 90% of the vote.
  • Proves people wanted him, public approval to show everyone else.
• Nazi Methods of Control - Police State

  A police State is one controlled by a political police force when citizens activities are supervised and controlled.

  Hitler wanted to impose Nazi philosophy on every aspect of society - Gliechsalting.

  This means that every part of a citizens life needed to be controlled and monitored by the Nazi's.
• Nazi Methods of Control - Law courts

  German law became whatever the Nazis believed was right. Germans could be arrested and imprisoned without trial. New central court called Peoples court created. No juries and judges expected to support Nazi policies. No right of appeal against sentence. Many political opponents sentenced to death and executed
• Nazi Methods of Control - Himmler

  A number of police forces but SS and Gestapo under Himmlers command in 1936. Strong believer of moral and racial purity, 1933-1935 dismissed 60000 SS members for being alcoholics or morally corrupt showing power.
• Nazi Methods of Control - The SS

  Started as Hitler's personal bodyguard,. 1932, new uniform to stand out. Under Himmler, grew to 100000 s with local branches across Germany. Could arrest anyone and execute/detain without trial. Responsible for identifying and arresting political prisoners and running concentration camps.
• Nazi Methods of Control - Gestapo

  Responsible for state security. Power to search anyone home appointed local block wardens to watch neighbours and report suspicious activity. By 1942, had around 30000 officers.
• Nazi Methods of Control - Informers

  Gestapo relied on ordinary people to inform them (around 1/2 of investigations due to this). Huge number of informers e.g. block leaders to report suspicious activity. Gestapo handed suspects to SS for torture. Lots of Germans believed benefits outweighed loss of freedoms, explaining why thousands of Germans willing.
• Nazi Methods of Control - Concentration Camps

  Originally for political prisoners. Early camps in warehouses/factories. Dachau was one of the first. Prisoners were treated harshly, often worked to death or died of disease. Run by SS who protected Reich and carried out Hitlers racial policies. 200000 Germans imprisoned for opposing Nazi rule.
• Nazi Methods of Control - Law of Malicious Gossip

  Some people arrested after a new law passed - Law of Malicious Gossip, made it illegal to even tell jokes about Hitler.
• Censorship and Propaganda

  Run by Goebells in the Ministry for Public Propaganda and Enlightenment. Important for long term future of Reich.
• Censorship and Propaganda - Radio

  All radio stations placed under Nazi control. Cheap mass produced radios were sold and sets placed in cafes and factories and loudspeakers on streets to spread Nazi message to ordinary people
• Censorship and Propaganda - Newspapers

  Non-nazi newspapers closed down. Editors told what to print. Many people bought newspapers, often showed Nazi officials in good light and praised them
• Censorship and Propaganda - Cinema

  Was very popular. 250 million audiences in 1933. All film plots show to Goebbels before production. Many love stories and thrillers given pro-Nazi slants. Every film was accompanied by 45 minute newsreel which glorified Hitler and Germany and praised Nazi achievements.
• Censorship and Propaganda - Posters

  Posters cleverly used to show Nazi message with young particularly targeted
• Censorship and Propaganda - Books

  Careful censored and controlled for Nazi messaged. Students in Berlin encouraged to burn books by Goebbels in May 1933. Many writers persuaded or forced to write books which praised Hitler and his achievements
• Censorship and Propaganda - Rallies

  Annual mass rally held at Numberg to advertise power of Nazi state and spectacular parades held on other occasions. Local rallies and marches were led by SA and Hitler Youth.
• Censorship and Propaganda - The Arts

  All writers, actors and musicians had to join Reich Chamber of Commerce. If they were considered unsuitable they were left out and could not work. Some music types such as American music and Jazz were considered unsuitable. Art showing Nazi values was encouraged with Hitler in having particular hate for modern art and prefering classical.
• Woman In Nazi Germany

  The Nazi's had strong beliefs about the roles of women in German society.

  • Make them leave work - to be stay at home wives
  • Marry - encourage them to act and behave in a certain way (traditional), less freedom
  • Have children - big families, need to increase birthrate to be a great power - large population

  Effects of policies on women

  Less women worked - encouraged to be housewives

  Large families - encouraged to have children

  Less freedom - encouraged to be ladylike
• Woman in Nazi Germany - Policies

  Launched huge propaganda campaign to encourage women to have more children

  Contraception and abortion banned and joys of a large family emphasised

  In 1933, Law of Encouragement of Marriage provided loans to help young couples marry - but only if women gave up work

  Medals awarded to women with large families, bronze - 4, silver - 6, gold - 8.

  Loan repayments reduced every time a child was born

  German Women's Enterprise Organisation trained women in household skills
• Women in Nazi German - Policies

  Encouraged health to produce lots of children

  Smoking and drinking was seen as unladylike

  Lebensborn - another policy to encourage childbirth in 1935 by Himmler. Encouraged women to give birth to children by SS men who were 'racially pure' for adoption. Provided nurseries and and financial aid
• Control through Education

  Everyone in Germany had to go to school until 14, after it was optional. Girls and boys went to different schools
• Control through Education

  Nazi curriculum

  • Changed to prepare students for future roles
  • Hitler wanted healthy fit men and women (for military childbirth) so 15% of time devoted to physical education
  • Boys - emphasis on preparation for military
  • Girls - mothers and homemakers, took needlework and home crafts, especially cookery

  Racial studies were introduced to teach population control; taught to measure skills and classify racial types. Taught Aryans superior and should not marry inferior races such as Jews.
• Control through Education

  Textbooks and lessons

  • lessons began and ended with students saluting and saying Heil Hitler

  Nazi themes present in every subject

  • Maths - social issues
  • Geography - hostile neighbours
  • History - communism evils and ToV
  • textbooks rewritten to fit Nazi view of History and racial purity
  • Mien Kampf was a standard text

  Teachers

  • had to swear Oath of Loyalty to Hitler and join Nazi teacher's league
  • promote Nazi ideas in the classroom
• Hitler Youth

  Nazis set up Hitler Youth, where young people spent evenings and weekends discussing political pamphlets. They were taught to report parents who were not loyal to the Nazi state. there were summer camps and physical activities to make it fun

  In 1936, Youth law passed where all eligible young people had to belong to the Nazi Youth Organisation, no penalty for non membership.

  In 1939 law became stricter and membership compulsory

  By 1936 5.4 million voluntary members

  82% of teens belonged to Hitler Youth
• Hitler Youth - boys

  Age 10-14 Young Folk

  Age 14-18 Hitler Youth

  Encourage discipline, obedience, courage + physical fitness

  Military style activities; hiking, camping, map reading, mock battles

  Competitive sports encouraged e.g. boxing

  Regular propaganda talks and Hitler's speeches carefully studied
• Hitler Youth - Girls

  Age 10-14 Young Maidens

  Age 14-18 League of German Maidens

  Encouraged physical fitness for motherhood, focus on domestic life - childcare, nutrition, crafts and housework

  Propaganda talks
• Control of the Church

  Germany was a Christian country with 2/3 Catholic and 1/3 Protestant