2.5 Hitler's Dictatorship -T-

• History
• Middelbare school
• havo, vwo
• Leerjaar 3

2.5: Hitler's dictatorship

In a democracy power is not in the hands of 1 person.
Power is divided into 3 equal branches.

What do we call the "separation of powers" again?

Which power does parliament hold in the Trias Politica
(or in any democratic state)?

1. judicial power
2. absolute power
3. legislative power
4. executive power

Which of the following does NOT belong to parliament?

1. 1e & 2e Kamer
2. Staten-Generaal
3. peoples' representatives
4. prime minister

What was the name of the German parliament during the Weimar Republic?

1. Bundestag
2. Reichstag
3. Freitag
4. Rekentaak

So, parliament "makes the laws".
But it has another function within the Trias Politica.

Which one?

1. execute the new laws
2. check the government
3. prosecute people who break the law
4. appoint the king

Parliament:

• in a democracy power is separated into 3 equal branches.
• parliament is the legislative power: it makes the laws.
• parliament is elected by the people. It is therefore "the people's representatives".
• The other two branches are the executive and judicial power.
• The executive power is the government.
• But what is a government?

Government:

• So:     government = cabinet =  ministers (+ prime minister)

• With a majority support in parliament a cabinet can pass its own plans / ideas as new laws.

• In Germany the prime minister is called the "chancellor" (kanselier)
• Hitler wanted his nazi party to win the Reichstag elections.
• He would then become chancellor.
• He could then start to execute his own plans.....

lesson 2.5: Hitler's dictatorship.

main question: How did Hitler seize power, then destroy democracy and strengthen his position to turn Germany into a totalitarian Nazi state?

Subjects in this lesson:

1933: -Hitler becomes chancellor.

          -Reichstag fire

          -the Enabling Act in parliament: power to rule without                        parliament

1934: -Night of the Long Knives

          -Hitler becomes FÜHRER (leader): absolute power.

lesson 2.5: Hitler's dictatorship.

Nazis start to turn Germany into a totalitarian state (nazification):

                          - nazis control of media and culture

                          - propaganda and cult of personality

                          - racial ideology, indoctrinate children /                                                     education

                          - terror: SS & Gestapo, concentration camps

After 1929: Thanks to the crisis, Hitler’s party grew.

Reichstag elections July 1932

Nazis (brown) are largest parties, but don't have an overall majority

Jan. 1933, Hitler is appointed "chancellor"....

...but the nazis don't have an overall a majority in parliament.

And that is what Hitler wants.

When the Reichstag building is set on fire by a communist,

Hitler seizes the opportunity...

Hitler declares communists state enemies and organises new elections, using propaganda and terror.

the S.A. (Sturm Abteilung) = nazis in uniforms.

They arrest communists and intimidate voters

Reichstag elections March 1933

Nazis (brown) , together with another nationalist party, have an overall majority

With a majority support in parliament Hitler proposes a new law: 

the Enabling Act

This law gives Hitler the power to rule without parliament!

Hitler now has dictatorial powers.

To strengthen his power, Hitler needed to get rid of "critical" members of his own S.A. (sturmabteilung)

Ernst Röhm

SA leaders wanted more political influence.

Hitler did not want to share any power.

Hitler turns to his elite bodyguard troops: the SS to help him 

During the "Night of the Long Knives" the SA is purged by the SS.

Hitler claims he has prevented an "SA coup".

Two months later president Hindenburg dies.

He was the last remnant of the Weimar republic.

Hitler succeeds Hindenburg, combines his office "chancellor" with 

that of "president" into a new title: FÜHRER

Hitler succeeds Hindenburg, combines his office "chancellor" with 

that of "president" into a new title: FÜHRER

NAZI RADIO

NAZI POSTERS

NAZI FILM

NAZI ART

NAZI EDUCATION

Terror and concentration camps

In 1925, the highly-trained SS personnel became Hitler’s personal bodyguards. From 1934 onwards, when Hitler got rid of the SA, the task of the SS was to defend the national-socialist state and eliminate all its opponents. In 1934, the Gestapo was founded, the Nazi secret police. At the start of Hitler’s rule, ten thousand of Communists had been arrested, many after the Reichstag Fire. Prisons soon proved to be too small and so many of the prisoners were send to abandoned areas. Here wooden barracks were set up, surrounded by barbed wire and watchtowers. The SS took command of these concentration camps. At first, political adversaries, such as critical teachers, journalists and members of different political parties were locked up. But soon Hitler also ordered people who were inferior, according to his racial doctrine, to be send to these camps: Jews, homosexuals, gypsies and disabled people were sent prison, tortured and mistreated. Most of them did not survive.

summarize

1. What were the SS and Gestapo used for?
2. Which two groups were locked up in concentration camps?

congratulations

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