Nazis in power

Nazis in power

Hitler's rise to power (i.e. what we already know)

• Nazis' popularity $\rightarrow$  Hitler Chancellor 1933 Jan

• Reichstag Fire, Reichstag Fire Decree (emergency)  $\rightarrow$  opposition parties banned

• general election, 1933 March

• Enabling Act (legislative powers to the government)

• Hindenburg dies 1934 Aug $\rightarrow$  Hitler 

• Führer: president and chancellor combined

Consolidation of power

i.e. getting rid of opponents

Nazi (para)military groups

• At first: SA: Sturmabteilung (stormtroopers)

• and?

SS: Schutzstaffel (protection squad; personal bodyguard)

Difference: personal loyalty to Hitler

Multiple Select

Select all groups who were considered to be enemies of the Nazi system.

• Jews

• Communists

• Socialists

• leaders of the Weimar era

• Gypsies

Getting rid of opponents

• military power!

• the first concentration camps open

• trade unions banned: German Labour Front

• + the Night of the Long Knives

The Night of the Long Knives

outside opponents were got rid of... what's left, then?

Multiple Choice

Why was Ernst Roehm, head of the SA, killed along with many SA-members?

• Because he was a Communist in disguise.

• Because Hitler feared that he would endanger his total power.

• Because the SA became too popular.

• Because he was plotting to take over power.

The Night of the Long Knives, 1934 (June-July)

• eliminate all party members who might be dangerous to Hitler's power

• + ideological explanation

Hooray, all opponents are eliminated! (almost....)

• SS

• Gestapo (secret police)

• terror

•  $\rightarrow$  TOTALITARIAN state

Nazi propaganda poster

Text: work and bread

What did the Nazis promise? (i.e. what did the masses expect from the Nazi regime?)

Open Ended

What did the Nazis promise?

Economy

Public expectation:

- reduce unemployment

- restore prosperity, ensure sufficient provision

Party objectives:

- reduce unemployment, ensure popularity

- economic independence (AUTARKY)

Reduce unemployment

- sack Jews

- encourage women to stay at home

- public work schemes, e.g. the Autobahn

- + rearmament!

How successful were these measures?

Multiple Choice

How successful was the Nazi regime in reducing unemployment?

• Very successful

• Not much difference

• Rather unsuccessful

How successfully was the aim at economic independence met?

Multiple Choice

How successfully was the aim at economic independence met?

• Germany became independent

• Not much changes in the import-export ratio

• Significantly more exports were needed

Economic performance of Nazi Germany

What can we say about state income (receipts)? What about expenditure? How do they relate to each other?

Multiple Choice

How do income and expense relate to each other?

• Both were rising, but there was more income.

• Both were rising, but there was more expense.

• Both were falling, but there was more expenditure.

• Both were falling, but there was more income.

Why?

• Because of 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭.

• So far, then, we know 2 things about rearmament:

• a) due to the capital it needed, autarky could not be reached

• b) it helped reduce unemployment

Multiple Choice

Which Nazi aim can you connect the rearmament to?

• nationalism

• racism

• expansionism

• anti-semitism

• authoritarianism