Nazi Control and Dictatorship, 1933-39

• When did Hitler become Chancellor of Germany?

  January 1933
• Why did Hitler need to increase the Nazi Party's seats in the Reichstag?

  To gain a majority and pass laws
• What was the outcome of the March 1933 elections for the Nazis?

  288 seats won, no overall majority
• What tactics did the Nazis use in the March 1933 elections?

  • Controlled news media
  • Banned opposition meetings
  • Used SA to intimidate opponents
• How did the Reichstag fire benefit Hitler politically?

  It allowed him to blame communists and gain emergency powers
• What decree did President Hindenburg issue after the Reichstag fire?

  Emergency powers for Hitler
• What rights were suspended due to Hitler's emergency powers?

  Basic rights under the Weimar constitution
• What was the purpose of the Enabling Act passed in March 1933?

  To allow Hitler to govern without parliament
• How many seats did the Communist Party have in the Reichstag before it was made illegal?

  81 seats
• What was the significance of the Night of the Long Knives?

  It eliminated potential opposition within the Nazi Party
• Who was the leader of the SA that posed a threat to Hitler?

  Ernst Röhm
• What justification did Hitler use for the murders during the Night of the Long Knives?

  Claimed they were plotting to overthrow the government
• What title did Hitler adopt after combining the roles of Chancellor and President?

  Der Führer
• How did Hitler reorganize local government in 1936?

  • Created branches called Gaue
  • Appointed Gauleiters to oversee them
  • Established a hierarchical structure
• What was the role of the Sicherheitsdienst (SD)?

  Nazi intelligence service
• What did the Enabling Act allow the Nazis to do regarding people's privacy?

  Read mail, listen to calls, search homes
• What was the purpose of the People’s Court established in 1934?

  To hold trials for political crimes
• What methods did the Nazis use to enforce loyalty among the German people?

  • Employed local wardens
  • Encouraged public reporting of disloyalty
  • Used the Gestapo for intimidation
• What was the role of the SS under Himmler?

  Bodyguard for Hitler, expanded into a police force
• How did the Nazis use propaganda to influence the German people?

  Spread information to control thoughts and behaviors
• Who was in charge of the Nazi propaganda machine?

  1. Joseph Goebbels
• What were the main themes of Nazi propaganda?

  • Unity and strength of Germany
  • Anti-communism and anti-Semitism
  • Cult of the Führer
• How did the Nazis use public rallies for propaganda?

  To showcase Nazi power and unity
• What was the impact of the 1936 Berlin Olympics on Nazi propaganda?

  Showcased German power but undermined by Owens' success
• How did Nazi propaganda change culture and society?

  • Banned modern art
  • Promoted traditional values
  • Rewrote school textbooks
• What was the effectiveness of Nazi propaganda according to historians?

  Better at reinforcing existing attitudes than changing them
• What economic condition made Nazi promises appealing to Germans?

  The Great Depression and poverty
• What was the role of censorship in Nazi propaganda?

  • Prevented alternative viewpoints
  • Controlled media and information
  • Ensured only Nazi messages were heard