Transcript How did the Nazis destroy the Weimar Republic?

How did the Nazis destroy the Weimar
Republic?
Learning objective – to understand the
sequence of events that led to the
destruction of the Weimar Republic.
I can describe the key
events that led to the
death of the Weimar
Republic.
Grade D
I can explain the key
events that led to
the death of the
Weimar Republic.
Grade B
I can explain and
outline the importance
of the key events that
led to the death of the
Weimar Republic
Grade A and A*
Starter
This word cloud is in the
shape
of
Hitler,
Chancellor of Germany in
1933.
Choose
three
words, look out for them
in the presentation and
write why each word is
significant in this lesson.
Hitler becomes Chancellor –
30th January 1933
Hitler calls for an election for March
1933
Hitler wanted an absolute majority
so he calls for an election.
However, his
position
was
extremely powerful even with just
three Nazis in the Cabinet as even
the non-Nazi Cabinet members
shared the desire to end
parliamentary democracy and leftwing influences.
How were the opposition intimidated
during the run up to the election?
Members of the SA beat up Socialists and Communists and hauled them off to
concentration camps.
Printing presses of opponents
were smashed preventing the
distribution
of
anti-Nazi
propaganda.
A Presidential decree was passed which
demanded that all political meetings had to
give 48 hours notice to the police. This
allowed police, who sympathised with the
Nazis time to target opposition meetings and
smash them up.
Hermann Goering became
Minister of the Interior for
Prussia – the largest state
in Germany – and was,
therefore, in control of the
police in that region. This
power was used to make
Nazi violence legal. Once
such case saw 50,000
stormtroopers
on
the
rampage in one night.
The Reichstag Fire –
27th February 1933
What were the implications for the
Reichstag Fire?
Marius Van der Lubbe, a simple-minded Communist, was caught and blamed for
the fire on inconclusive evidence.
The Nazis used the Reichstag Fire,
blaming the Communists and
arguing that they were planning an
uprising.
Hitler persuaded Hindenburg to
pass an emergency decree which
suspended individual freedoms.
This gave Hitler sweeping powers
and allowed the police to arrest
anyone suspected of opposing the
government. This was in place until
1945.
The run up to the March 1933 Election
In the week between the
Reichstag Fire and the March
1933 Election, the Nazis launched
a massive propaganda and terror
campaign. This ranged from the
use of the powers from the
Emergency Decree to the SA
watching people vote.
The March 1933 Election
Despite the Nazis gaining their best ever result of 288
seats – they still did not have an overall majority.
Hitler now sought for a legal revolution which would
transfer all power to him.
The Enabling Act
Hitler proposed the Enabling Act
in the Reichstag [which now met
in Potsdam]. This Act gave Hitler
the power to make laws without
the consent of Parliament or the
President.
How did the Nazis ensure the Enabling
Act was passed?
The Nazis targeted the Communists
and using the Emergency Decree
banned them from the Reichstag.
The Catholic Centre Party was
subjected to extreme pressure in
meetings.
The heavily armed SA attending
Reichstag meetings and surrounded
opponents.
The Enabling Act is passed
Despite brave opposition from
the Social Democrats, the
Enabling Act was passed by 344
to 94 votes.
From this point under the Nazis,
there were no debates, the
Reichstag only met 12 times but
only to listen to Hitler speak.
Democracy – and the Weimar
Republic – was dead.
How was the remaining opposition
dealt with?
Trade unions were closed down
during a Bank Holiday with the SA
occupying trade union offices.
Trade Unions were replaced by
the Nazis own trade union –
German Labour Front.
An agreement was signed with
the Pope – the Concordat – both
left each other alone.
July 14th saw a law passed which
legalised the Nazi Party as the
only political party in Germany
calling their regime the Third
Reich.
Revisiting the
Starter
Which words did you
pick?
Why were they significant
in the lesson?
Continuum task
Some significance
Very significant
Where do the events of the first half of
1933 fit on this continuum?
Nazis dismantle the Weimar Republic
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Plenary – My Brain
Subheading – My Brain
Draw an outline of your brain.
Fill your drawn brain with all the things you have learnt in this lesson.
This can be in the form of key words, drawings, bullet points, lists –
anything you like so long as it summarises your learning and that others
can understand it.