Germany Part 2.3

What happened on 27 February 1933?

• The Reichstag building was set on fire

• Hitler became President

• The Night of the Long Knives

• The Enabling Act was passed

Answer explanation

On 27 February 1933, the Reichstag building was set on fire, an event that the Nazis used to justify the suspension of civil liberties and consolidate their power, leading to the establishment of a totalitarian regime.

Who was blamed for starting the Reichstag Fire?

• The Nazis

• A Dutch Communist named Marinus van der Lubbe

• Franz von Papen

• German army officers

Answer explanation

Marinus van der Lubbe, a Dutch Communist, was arrested at the scene of the Reichstag Fire and blamed for starting it. The Nazis used this incident to justify their crackdown on communists and consolidate power.

How did Hitler use the Reichstag Fire to his advantage?

• He stepped down

• He invited Communists into his government

• He used it to ban Communists and increase Nazi power

• He apologised publicly

Answer explanation

Hitler exploited the Reichstag Fire to justify the arrest of Communists, portraying them as a threat. This allowed him to pass the Reichstag Fire Decree, banning Communist activities and consolidating Nazi power.

What was the Reichstag Fire Decree?

• A new tax policy

• An emergency law suspending civil liberties

• A law to rebuild the Reichstag

• A trade agreement

Answer explanation

The Reichstag Fire Decree was an emergency law enacted by the Nazis in 1933 that suspended civil liberties, allowing for the arrest of political opponents and curtailing freedoms, thus consolidating their power.

What was the purpose of the Enabling Act?

• It gave Hitler the power to make laws without the Reichstag

• It created more jobs

• It reintroduced democracy

• It limited Hitler’s powers

Answer explanation

The Enabling Act allowed Hitler to enact laws without the Reichstag's approval, effectively giving him dictatorial powers and bypassing democratic processes. This was a crucial step in consolidating his control over Germany.

When was the Enabling Act passed?

• January 1933

• February 1933

• March 1933

• August 1934

Answer explanation

The Enabling Act was passed in March 1933, allowing the German government to enact laws without the involvement of the Reichstag, effectively consolidating power for the Nazi regime.

How did Hitler ensure the Enabling Act passed?

• He won a public vote

• He used intimidation and banned Communist deputies

• He promised to resign

• The President forced it through

Answer explanation

Hitler ensured the Enabling Act passed by using intimidation tactics, including the banning of Communist deputies, which weakened opposition and facilitated the Act's approval in the Reichstag.

What effect did the Enabling Act have on the Weimar Constitution?

• It protected it

• It strengthened democracy

• It effectively destroyed it

• It gave more power to the Reichstag

Answer explanation

The Enabling Act allowed the government to enact laws without the Reichstag's approval, undermining the Weimar Constitution and effectively destroying its democratic framework.

What happened to other political parties after the Enabling Act?

• They joined the Nazis

• They were banned or forced to disband

• They became more powerful

• They formed a new government

Answer explanation

After the Enabling Act, other political parties were banned or forced to disband, consolidating the Nazis' power and eliminating political opposition.

By July 1933, what was Germany?

• A one-party state

• A republic

• A constitutional monarchy

• A coalition government

Answer explanation

By July 1933, the Nazi Party had consolidated power, eliminating political opposition and establishing a totalitarian regime, thus transforming Germany into a one-party state under Adolf Hitler.