Establishing a Dictatorship

The Reichstag Fire and March Elections

In February 1933 the Reichstag was burned down. The fire was blamed on communists. This was very convenient (maybe too convenient?) for Hitler as got his emergency decree.

Marinus van der Lubbe as a scapegoat

A Dutch Communist, Marinus van der Lubbe, confessed to setting fire to the Reichstag on the evening of 27 February 1933.
Hitler had the excuse he needed.
Using the fire as evidence of a communist conspiracy against Germany, Hitler got Hindenburg to issue an emergency decree suspending civil liberties.

The emergency decree

The decree allowed Secret police to hold people indefinitely in protective custody – protective because it protected the German people from its enemies.
Mass arrests of left wing activists, including KPD Reichstag deputies, followed. Hitler’s government also controlled the radio and police.
The SPD and Zentrum parties were intimidated and some issues of their newspapers banned.

Elections in March 1933

The NSDAP got 43.9% of the vote.
The DNVP got 8%.
Between them they controlled 51.9% of the Reichstag.

The Enabling Act

Hitler was able to pass the Enabling Act. Effectively, the Reichstag voted itself out of existence.

Did everyone vote for the Enabling Act?

The Enabling Act was passed by the Reichstag.
However KPD deputies were absent. Deputies were intimidated as the Kroll Opera House was surrounded by the SA and SS.

Meaning of the Enabling Act

The Act gave emergency powers to the government for four years. It allowed the cabinet (in effect Hitler) to pass decrees without the President's involvement.
As it was a Constitutional amendment it needed a two thirds majority. It was passed by 441 votes to 94.
- Only the SPD voted against it.
This meant the democracy was over.

Hitler's justification for the Enabling Act

A quote from Hitler to the Reichstag:
- ‘By its decision to carry out the public and moral cleansing of our public life, the government is creating and securing the conditions for a really deep and inner religious life.’

Historical assessment

Some historians see Hitler as a natural product of Germany’s authoritarian history and a specific set of circumstances coming out of World War One.
Others point out that there will also dictatorships in Italy, Spain, the USSR. Therefore Nazi Germany was part of a trend.
Some see Nazism as the product of Adolf Hitler’s personal drive and fanaticism. Others say it was chance events, bad luck and complacency or a massive miscalculation by the German élites.

1Political & Governmental Change, 1918-1989

1.1Creation & Collapse of Weimar, 1918-1932

1.1.1Creation of a Republic

1.1.2Strengths & Weaknesses of Weimar Constitution

1.1.3Overcoming Challenges to the Constitution

1.1.4The Great Depression

1.1.5The Collapse of Democracy

1.1.6The Collapse of Democracy 2

1.1.7Hitler Becomes Chancellor

1.2Nazi Dictatorship, 1933-1945

1.2.1Establishing a Dictatorship

1.2.2Consolidating Power

1.2.3Nature of Government

1.2.4Government in Wartime

1.2.5Top Grade AO2/3 - Political & Governmental Change

1.3Return to Democratic Government, 1945-1989

1.3.1Creation of the FRG, 1945-1949

1.3.2Consolidation Under Adenauer

1.3.3Consolidation Under Erhard

1.3.4Maintaining Stability Under Brandt

1.3.5Maintaining Stability Under Schmidt

1.3.6Maintaining Stability Under Kohl

1.3.7Top Grade AO2/3 - Return to Democratic Government

2Opposition, Control & Consent 1918-1989

2.1Opposition to Government, 1918-1989

2.1.1Impact of Versailles

2.1.2Political Extremism & Crises, 1918-1932

2.1.3Opposition & Dissent in Nazi Germany, 1933-1945

2.1.4Political Dissent from the Left, 1949-1989

2.1.5Political Dissent from the Right, 1949-1989

2.1.6Top Grade AO2/3 - Opposition to Government 1918-89

2.2Controlling the People, 1918-1989

2.2.1Attempts to Control Extremism

2.2.2Repression, 1933-1945

2.2.3Censorship & Propaganda, 1933-1945

2.2.4De-Nazification Policies of Western Allies, 1945

2.2.5Constitutional & Legal Response to Extremism, 1949

2.3Popular Support, 1918-1989

2.3.1The Nature of Support for the Weimar Government

2.3.2Support for the Nazi Regime

2.3.3The Nature of Support for Democracy, 1945-1989

2.3.4Top Grade AO2/3 - Controlling the People

3Economic Developments & Policies, 1918-1989

3.1Reacting to Economic Challenges, 1918-1932

3.1.1Economic Crises & Government Response, 1918-1923

3.1.2Economic Loans, 1924-1928

3.1.3Policies for Recovery, 1924-1929

3.1.4The Great Depression

3.1.5Change in Living Standards

3.1.6Top Grade AO2/3 - Reacting to Economic Challenges

3.2Controlling the Economy, 1933-1945

3.2.1Attempting Economic Recovery

3.2.2Creating a Command Economy

3.2.3Change in Living Standards

3.2.4Impact of War

3.2.5Impact of War 2

3.2.6Top Grade AO2/3 - Controlling the Economy

3.3Creating the Social Market Economy, 1945-1989

3.3.1Economic Recovery, 1945-1955

3.3.2The Economic Miracle, 1955-1966

3.3.3Surviving the Recession, 1960-1969

3.3.4The Oil Crisis

3.3.5Integration into the European Economy

3.3.6Change in Living Standards

3.3.7Top Grade AO2/3 - Creating Social Market Economy

4Aspects of Life, 1918-1989

4.1Attitudes Towards Women, 1918-1989

4.1.1Role & Status of Women in the Weimar Republic

4.1.2Impact of Kinder, Küche, Kirche

4.1.3Impact of WW2 on Women

4.1.4Role & Status of Women in the FRG

4.1.5Top Grade AO2/3 - Attitudes Towards Women

4.2Education & Cultural Developments, 1918-1989

4.2.1Education in Weimar

4.2.2Cultural Experimentation in Weimar

4.2.3Education Under the Nazis

4.2.4Nazi Culture

4.2.5Education in the FRG

4.2.6Generational Conflict

4.2.7Top Grade AO2/3 - Education & Cultural Development

4.3Position of Ethnic Minorities, 19189-1989

4.3.1Ethnic Minorities in the Weimar Republic

4.3.2Nazi Racial Policies, 1933-1939

4.3.3Nazi Racial Policies During the War

4.3.4Ethnic Minorities in the FRG

4.3.5Top Grade AO2/3 - Position of Ethnic Minorities

5Historical Interpretations

5.1Influence of German History

5.1.1Influence of German History

5.2Hitler & Foreign Policy

5.2.1Hitler & Foreign Policy

5.3Contribution of Other Nations to WW2

5.3.1Weak Nations

5.3.2Appeasement

5.3.3The Rise of Fascism

5.4Reasons for Invading Poland

5.4.1Reasons for Invading Poland

5.4.2Top Grade AO2/3 - Historical Interpretation

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