NAZI GERMANY 1933-39

1. The Methods Used by Hitler (1933-34) to Create a Dictatorship

The Reichstag Fire (27th February 1933):

Event: The Reichstag building was set on fire, and a Dutch communist,
Marinus van der

Lubbe, was blamed.

Impact:

Hitler used the fire to claim that Communists were plotting against the
government.

He convinced President Hindenburg to pass the Reichstag Fire Decree, which

suspended

civil liberties (freedom of speech, press, assembly). This allowed the Nazis to
arrest

political opponents, mainly Communists, and restrict their activities.

The Enabling Act (March 1933):

Event: Hitler introduced the Enabling Act, which gave him the power to pass
laws without

the Reichstag's approval for four years.

Impact:

This marked the end of parliamentary democracy in Germany.

Hitler could now rule by decree, making him a virtual dictator. The Reichstag
became

irrelevant.

The Nazis used intimidation and the SS to ensure the vote passed, despite
opposition from

other parties like the Social Democrats (SPD).

Elimination of Political Opposition:

Banning of Other Parties:

In July 1933, Hitler made Germany a one-party state by passing a law that
banned all

political parties except the Nazi Party.

Opponents like Communists and Social Democrats were arrested or forced to

flee.

Trade Unions:

Trade unions were seen as a threat, as they represented workers who could
oppose Nazi

policies.

In May 1933, the Nazis banned trade unions and replaced them with the
German Labour

Front (DAF), controlled by the Nazis.

The Night of the Long Knives (30th June 1934):

Event: Hitler used the SS to purge the SA (Stormtroopers) leadership,

including Ernst Röhm,

in what became known as the Night of the Long Knives. Röhm was seen as a
threat

because of his growing influence and demands for a “second revolution.”

Impact:

The SA was significantly weakened, removing a potential challenge to Hitler’s

power.

The army leadership, which had feared the SA’s growing power, now fully
supported Hitler.

The SS, led by Heinrich Himmler, became the dominant force in Nazi
Germany’s security

apparatus.

Death of President Hindenburg (August 1934):

Event: After President Hindenburg’s death in August 1934, Hitler combined

the offices of

Chancellor and President, declaring himself Führer (Leader) of Germany.

Impact:

The army swore an oath of loyalty directly to Hitler, solidifying his control
over the military.

Hitler now had absolute power, and the Weimar Republic was fully
dismantled.

2. THE DIFFERENT METHODS OF NAZI CONTROL AND THE EXTENT TO

WHICH THEY WERE

Successful

Propaganda:

Key Figure: Joseph Goebbels was in charge of Nazi propaganda, controlling

the media,

radio, films, newspapers, and rallies.

Methods:

The Ministry of Propaganda ensured that only pro-Nazi messages were

spread. Anti-Nazi

material was censored.

Rallies and parades (e.g., the Nuremberg Rallies) were organized to display
Nazi power and

unity, creating a sense of excitement and national pride.

Posters and films glorified Hitler and the Nazi regime, while newspapers
spread antiSemitic and anti-communist propaganda.

The 1936 Berlin Olympics was used to showcase Nazi strength and the
supposed

superiority of the Aryan race.

Success:

Propaganda played a significant role in controlling public opinion and

instilling Nazi

ideology. Many Germans, especially the youth, were heavily influenced by

the propaganda.
However, some Germans saw through the manipulation and were skeptical,
although open

opposition was dangerous.

Terror and the Police State:

SS (Schutzstaffel):

Led by Heinrich Himmler, the SS was responsible for enforcing Nazi policies
and terrorizing

the population.

The SS controlled the Gestapo (secret police), which could arrest people
without trial and

send them to concentration camps.

Concentration Camps:

The first Nazi concentration camp was opened in Dachau in 1933. Initially,
camps were

used to imprison political opponents, but they later expanded to include

Jews,

homosexuals, Roma people, and others the Nazis deemed undesirable.

Gestapo:

The Gestapo was the secret police force that spied on and arrested anyone
suspected of

anti-Nazi activities.

They relied on a network of informers, and fear of the Gestapo prevented

open opposition

to the Nazis.

Success:

The Nazi police state was highly effective in silencing opposition. The
combination of fear,

terror, and surveillance made it nearly impossible for resistance groups to

operate openly.
However, there were small underground resistance movements, like the
Edelweiss Pirates

and White Rose group, but they were brutally crushed.

Control of Education and Youth:

Education:

Nazi ideology was embedded in the school curriculum. Subjects like history,
biology, and

physical education were used to promote Nazi beliefs, particularly anti-

Semitism, Aryan

superiority, and loyalty to Hitler.

Teachers had to join the Nazi Teachers’ League and promote Nazi values in
the classroom.

Hitler Youth:

Young people were targeted for indoctrination. Boys joined the Hitler Youth,
where they

were trained for military service and taught loyalty to Hitler. Girls joined the
League of

German Maidens, where they were trained in domestic roles and Nazi ideals
of

motherhood.

Success:

These programs were successful in molding the younger generation into

loyal Nazis,

particularly those who grew up entirely under Nazi rule.

However, some youth groups, such as the Swing Youth, rejected Nazi control
and

embraced American jazz and culture as a form of rebellion.

3. HOW NAZI POLICIES AFFECTED LIFE IN GERMANY

Economic Policies:

Unemployment:
Hitler implemented public works programs like the construction of the
Autobahns

(highways) to reduce unemployment.

The rearmament program also created jobs, as Germany rebuilt its military in
violation of

the Treaty of Versailles.

By 1939, unemployment had fallen to almost zero, making Hitler popular

among many

Germans.

Strength Through Joy (Kraft durch Freude):

This organization provided leisure activities for workers, such as holidays and
cultural

events, aiming to keep workers happy and supportive of the regime.

German Labour Front (DAF):

Replaced trade unions, which were banned. The DAF controlled workers and
prevented

strikes, ensuring the regime’s control over the workforce.

Social Policies:

Women:

Nazi policies aimed to encourage women to focus on motherhood and

domestic roles.

They were discouraged from working and were offered rewards, like the
Mother’s Cross, for

having large families.

Marriage loans were provided to couples who agreed to have children,

encouraging a rise in

birth rates.

However, during the war years, women were called back to work to support
the war effort.

Jews and Minorities:

Anti-Semitic policies escalated over the years. In 1935, the Nuremberg Laws
were

introduced, stripping Jews of their citizenship and banning marriages

between Jews and

non-Jews.

Jewish businesses were boycotted, and Jewish professionals were removed

from public

life.

The Kristallnacht pogrom in 1938 marked a violent turning point, with Jewish
homes,

businesses, and synagogues attacked across Germany.

Eventually, the Nazis moved towards the Final Solution, which aimed to
exterminate Jews

through systematic genocide during the Holocaust.

Cultural Control:

Censorship:

Books, music, and art that did not align with Nazi ideals were banned.
Modern art was

labeled “degenerate”, and many artists fled Germany.

Only Aryan-approved literature, art, and music were allowed, with a focus on
promoting

traditional German values and nationalism.

Success of Nazi Policies:

Popularity: Many Germans benefited from Nazi economic policies, particularly

in the early

years, when unemployment dropped and living standards improved for

some.

Opposition: However, not all groups supported the Nazis. Jews, communists,
socialists,
and some sections of the Christian Church opposed Nazi policies, though
open opposition

was dangerous.

Fear and Terror: The success of Nazi control methods relied heavily on the
fear generated

by the Gestapo and the SS, which discouraged dissent and kept the
population in line.

Summary:

Hitler used the Reichstag Fire, Enabling Act, and the Night of the Long Knives
to consolidate

his dictatorship.

Nazi control was maintained through propaganda, terror (SS and Gestapo),
and

indoctrination (education and youth programs).

Nazi policies, particularly their economic and social policies, had widespread
effects on

life in Germany, with some benefiting from the regime, while others,
especially Jews and

political opponents, faced persecution and death.