KQ1 – How effectively did Hitler establish and consolidate Nazi authority 1933-45?

KQ1
Pages
Aims of the Nazi’s
1-2
Admission to power in 1933
2
Consolidation of power
2-8
Hitler and Government
8-10
The Police State
10-13
Resistance up to 1945
13-19

Aims of the Nazi’s

Nazi ideology

Social Darwinism – “Survival of the fittest” theory, Hitler adapted this to racial purity of the Aryan race

Mein kampf - Hitler’s book, my struggle, that outlined his own and Nazi ideology

Herrenvolk - Master race – Aryan and northern Europeans

Volksgemeinschaft - Peoples community/national identity

‘November criminals’ - Socialist and Democratic leaders who signed the Armistice in 1918 accepting the terms making Germany a republic – seen as betrayers to the German army

Furherprinzip - A leadership principle of a one-party state led by one leader. Public’s needs sacrificed for the greater good.

Lebensraum - Living space – expansion into Poland, Ukraine and Russia to obtain the raw materials needed for continental supremacy

Greater Germany – A superpower to compete with the USA and British Empire

Grossdeutsche - Big Germany including Austria, Prussia, and the Sudetenland etc. there was already a large number of Germans living outside Germany

National Socialist German Workers Party

Socialism – Left Wing
Nationalism – Right Wing
Supranational outlook – spread socialism to other countries
Nationalised industry –
State control of industry
State support for vulnerable –
Money and allowances e.g. benefits for the disabled
Interests of nation are most important –
The country must come first
May involve racism –
National identity. Nothing else.
Militarism –
Must have strong army

After WW1 – Germany was in Chaos, lots of attempted revolutions e.g. Communist

Nazi Party’s Main Objectives

The twenty five point programme – 22 nationalist ideas, 3 socialist

The Weimar Constitution

Aspects
British system
Second Reich 1871-1918
Weimar 1918-1933
Head of state and how chosen
Monarch – birth right
Kaiser – emperor – birthright
President – elected every 7 years
Head of Govt.
PM
Chancellor
Chancellor and Minister
How Head of Govt. is chosen
Via elections – Maj. Party
Appointed by Kaiser
Elected by over 20’s ever 4 years
Law-making body
Parliament – HoC and HoL
Reichstrat – 26 state governors
Reichstrat and Reichstag
How assembly is chosen
Elected by people
Elected by men over 25
Elected by men over 20
Power of assembly over Govt.
Parl. Must pass laws before Govt. can make them official
Reichstrat before Reichstag can make official
Couldn’t pass laws without full Reichstrat support
Written constitution
None
Yes
Yes
Constitutional statement of rights
None
None
Yes

Admission to power in 1933

Increasing Support

1928 – Over 97% of Germans voted against the Nazi party

After the Wall Street crash and the complete decline of the German economy the Nazi vote increased

This was due to circumstances in Germany, not an increase in support for Nazi ideology

The great depression created the prefect circumstances for Nazi’s to up their campaign

1932 – Nazi achieve 37% of the German vote

Von Papen though if Hitler was chancellor he should “be made vice chancellor along with two other cabinet members” thinking this would tame him

Jan 30th 1933
President – Hindenburg
Chancellor – Hitler

Consolidation of power

The process of strengthening/securing Hitler’s power and position as Chancellor

How the Enabling Act was passed and why was it so important

30th Jan 1933 Hitler became Chancellor
However, his power was still limited because…
There were only 2 other Nazi’s in the cabinet
He didn’t have a majority in the Reichstag
He was dependant on president Hindenburg’s support

Despite this, Hitler persuaded cabinet to hold a general election. With a two thirds majority Hitler could make the changes to the