Edexcel IGCSE History: Nazi Germany 1933-39

Introduction

This detailed outline covers the key events and policies of Nazi Germany from 1933-1939, focusing on the context for exam questions B and C within the broader topic of Germany 1918-45. The notes will delve deeper into the causes and consequences of each event, providing a more comprehensive understanding.

The Reichstag Fire (27th February 1933)

Effect 1: Increased Nazi Support and Consolidation of Power:

The Incident: The Reichstag (German Parliament) building was set ablaze. Dutch communist Marinus van der Lubbe was arrested and blamed, though questions surrounding the fire’s origins persist to this day. Some historians believe the Nazis may have orchestrated or at least exploited the event.
Hitler’s Response: Hitler swiftly seized the opportunity, portraying the fire as evidence of an imminent communist revolution. This narrative effectively demonized the communists, creating a climate of fear and justifying harsh measures.
Mass Arrests: Approximately 4,000 communist leaders and activists were arrested without trial under emergency powers, crippling the Communist Party (KPD) and its ability to effectively oppose the Nazis.
Propaganda Triumph: The Reichstag Fire trial was heavily manipulated for propaganda purposes, showcasing the Nazis’ decisiveness and strength against a perceived threat. This increased public support for the Nazi party, culminating in significant gains in the March 1933 elections. The NSDAP won 288 seats, becoming the largest party in the Reichstag.

Effect 2: The Reichstag Fire Decree (28th February 1933):

Suspension of Civil Liberties: This decree, passed the day after the fire, drastically curtailed fundamental rights guaranteed by the Weimar Constitution. It suspended basic freedoms including freedom of speech, press, assembly and the right to a fair trial.
Police Powers Expanded: The police were granted sweeping powers to search homes, make arrests without warrants, and detain individuals indefinitely without charge. This allowed for the systematic suppression of political opponents and the consolidation of Nazi control.
Impact on Elections: The decree ensured that the upcoming elections were conducted under conditions heavily favorable to the Nazis, severely restricting the ability of opposition parties to campaign effectively.

The Enabling Act (23rd March 1933)

Effect 1: The End of Weimar Democracy:

Legislative Power Grab: This act effectively dissolved the Reichstag’s legislative power, granting Hitler and his cabinet the authority to enact laws without the approval of parliament. It essentially ended the democratic system established by the Weimar Republic.
Constitutional Abrogation: The Weimar Constitution, with its checks and balances, was suspended, paving the way for a totalitarian regime. The Reichstag’s role was reduced to a rubber-stamp legislature.
Limited Sessions: The Reichstag met only 12 times between 1933 and 1945, demonstrating its powerlessness under Nazi rule. Local parliaments were also abolished, centralizing power under Hitler.

Effect 2: Unchallenged Dictatorial Power:

Suppression of Opposition: The KPD (Communist Party) was banned from participating in the vote on the Enabling Act. Intimidation tactics were employed by Nazi party troops to influence the outcome. The vote resulted in a majority approving the act.
Concentration of Power: Hitler’s unfettered power allowed him to enact sweeping changes in every area of German life. The suppression of trade unions prevented industrial unrest, and the establishment of a one-party state eradicated political opposition.
Appointed Governors: The dismantling of local government systems allowed Hitler to appoint loyal Nazi Gauleiters (State Governors), giving him complete control at both the national and regional levels.

Night of the Long Knives (30th June 1934)

Effect 1: Enhanced Hitler’s Image and Power:

Elimination of the SA: The Sturmabteilung (SA), a paramilitary wing of the Nazi party led by Ernst Röhm, was purged in a wave of arrests and executions. The SA’s growing power had become a threat to both Hitler and the regular army (Wehrmacht).
Army Support Secured: The army feared a potential SA-Wehrmacht merger, which Hitler avoided with the purge. This demonstrated to the army that Hitler could control his own party, enhancing his credibility with the military establishment.
Public Perception: Hitler’s ruthless action against the SA (who were seen by many as thugs) was perceived by many as decisive leadership, enhancing his popularity and securing his position as the undisputed leader.

Effect 2: Consolidation of Control within the Nazi Party:

Removal of Rivals: Ernst Röhm and other SA leaders were executed, effectively eliminating any potential challenges to Hitler’s leadership. The purge also served to further consolidate Hitler’s control over the Nazi Party as a whole.
Weakened SA: The SA was significantly weakened, its ability to act independently greatly reduced, hence removing any chance of a coup.
Elimination of Undesirables: The Night of the Long Knives was not solely aimed at Röhm; political opponents and those perceived as threats were also eliminated, further tightening Hitler’s grip on power.

The Führer Decree (2nd August 1934)

Effect 1: Hitler’s Unchallenged Power:

Presidential Powers: Following the death of President Paul von Hindenburg, Hitler combined the offices of President and Chancellor, becoming Führer (Leader) and accumulating all governmental power within himself.
End of Constitutional Checks: The remaining vestiges of the Weimar Constitution were eliminated, paving the way for a complete dictatorship. There was no longer any legal means to remove Hitler from power.

Effect 2: Public Affirmation and Consolidation of Loyalty:

Oaths of Allegiance: The army swore oaths of personal loyalty directly to Hitler, eliminating any lingering allegiance to the state or traditional military hierarchy.
Referendum: A referendum was staged to garner public support for the merger of presidential and chancellor powers. The overwhelming majority (90%) voted in favor, despite widespread intimidation tactics during the voting process. This reinforced Hitler’s legitimacy in the eyes of many Germans.

The Police State

Effect 1: Systematic Suppression and Control:

Expansion of SS Power: The Schutzstaffel (SS), initially Hitler’s personal bodyguards, evolved into a vast and powerful organization under Heinrich Himmler. The SS controlled the Gestapo (secret police), administered concentration camps (such as Dachau), and enforced Nazi ideology with brutal efficiency.
Arbitrary Imprisonment: Citizens could be arrested and imprisoned without trial for any reason deemed to be opposition to the regime. This created a climate of terror and self-censorship.
Racial Purity: The SS promoted the idea of racial purity (Aryan superiority) and enforced it through policies of persecution against Jews, Roma (Gypsies), and other groups deemed ‘undesirable’.

Effect 2: Widespread Fear and Paranoia:

Concentration Camps: The establishment and expansion of concentration camps were instrumental in creating a climate of fear and uncertainty. Rumors of torture, starvation and murder within these camps spread widely, creating terror.
Gestapo Surveillance: The ubiquitous presence of the Gestapo, their surveillance networks, and their informants within communities, eroded trust among neighbors and friends. People were afraid to speak out against the regime, fearing betrayal.
Block Wardens: Block wardens were appointed in apartment buildings to report any suspicious activity to the authorities, further intensifying the climate of fear and mutual distrust.

Censorship

Effect 1: Control of Information and Suppression of Dissent:

Goebbels’s Role: Joseph Goebbels, Minister of Propaganda, spearheaded the censorship effort, ensuring that only pro-Nazi material was disseminated.
Media Control: Newspapers, radio broadcasts, books, and other forms of media were strictly controlled to prevent the spread of opposition viewpoints. Foreign news sources (such as the BBC) were blocked.
Book Burnings: Public book burnings of books deemed “un-German” or anti-Nazi served as dramatic displays of the regime’s power.

Effect 2: Promotion of Nazi Ideology and Aryan Values:

Cultural Control: Art, music, and literature that did not conform to Nazi aesthetics or promote Aryan ideals were suppressed. Modern art and jazz music were examples of this.
Racial Propaganda: Propaganda campaigns aimed at promoting Aryan ideals, including depictions of idealized families and strong, athletic bodies, were used extensively. These campaigns sought to foster racial pride and hatred towards other ethnic groups.
Selection of Athletes: Even sporting events were subject to Nazi control. The selection of athletes emphasized Aryan physical superiority and the supposed inferiority of other races.

Propaganda

Effect 1: Creation of a Cult of Personality Around Hitler:

Ministry of Propaganda: The Ministry of Propaganda, under Goebbels, was highly effective in shaping public opinion.
Positive Portrayal: Newspapers, radio broadcasts, and posters consistently portrayed Hitler in a positive light, emphasizing his strength, decisiveness, and patriotism.
Mass Rallies and Parades: Spectacular rallies and parades, involving massive crowds, further amplified Hitler’s image and promoted national unity and loyalty to the regime.

Effect 2: Shaping Public Opinion Subtly and Directly:

Radio Penetration: The widespread ownership of radios (70% of German households by 1939) allowed Goebbels to reach a vast audience with his propaganda messages.
Subtle Messaging: Even seemingly innocuous entertainment (films, plays, music) often contained subtle pro-Nazi messages. These messages reinforced Aryan values and Hitler’s leadership.
Nationalistic Music: Traditional German music, particularly marching songs and patriotic folk music, was used to stimulate nationalistic fervor and loyalty to the regime.

Policies Toward Different Aspects of German Society

Education and Youth

Effect 1: Indoctrination and Loyalty:

Nazi Curriculum: Schools incorporated Nazi ideology into the curriculum, teaching children about racial superiority, the glories of the Nazi party, and Hitler’s role in Germany’s resurgence.
Hitler Youth: The Hitler Youth organization played a crucial role in indoctrinating children from a young age. Membership was eventually made compulsory. The Hitler Youth instilled loyalty, obedience, and Nazi values through its activities and training programs.
Denunciations: Children were encouraged to report any perceived disloyalty to the regime from parents or other adults.

Effect 2: Preparation for Future Roles:

Military Training: Boys received military-style training in the Hitler Youth, preparing them for future service in the army. The emphasis was on physical fitness and discipline.
Domestic Science: Girls were taught domestic skills, focusing on their future roles as wives and mothers. This reinforced traditional gender roles within Nazi society.

Women

Effect 1: Encouragement of Motherhood:

Marriage Incentives: Financial incentives, including low-interest loans, were offered to young couples to encourage marriage and family formation.
Mother’s Cross: This award system rewarded women for bearing large numbers of children (the gold cross was awarded for eight or more). This actively promoted population growth.
Lebensborn Program: The Lebensborn program encouraged unmarried women, especially those deemed racially pure, to bear children with SS members. These children were often adopted into families to ensure their upbringing within Nazi ideology.

Effect 2: Reinstatement of Traditional Gender Roles:

Return to Domesticity: Women were actively encouraged to leave the workforce and return to their traditional roles as homemakers and mothers. This reversed some of the gains made by women in the workforce during the Weimar Republic.
Social Restrictions: Women were encouraged to adopt a more conservative lifestyle, avoiding smoking, drinking, and excessive makeup. Contraception was outlawed.

Churches

Effect 1: Initial Cooperation and Legitimization:

Concordat: The Concordat of 1933 was an agreement between the Nazi regime and the Catholic Church. This initially gave the impression of religious tolerance and legitimized the Nazi regime in the eyes of many Catholics. Church leaders swore allegiance to the regime, hoping for peaceful coexistence.

Effect 2: Growing Conflict and Suppression:

Shifting Policies: Hitler’s attitude towards the Church changed over time. He gradually increased pressure on both the Catholic Church and Protestant denominations.
Church Persecution: The regime eventually began to persecute both Catholic and Protestant churches. Funds were cut, properties seized, and church organizations were spied upon. The Confessional Church, a Protestant movement opposing Nazi ideology, was suppressed and its leaders executed.
Displacement of Faith: Hitler’s aim was to ultimately replace religious faith with loyalty to himself and the Nazi state.

Racial Policies

Effect 1: Legal Discrimination and Persecution:

Sterilization Laws: Laws were enacted that allowed for the forced sterilization of individuals deemed “unfit,” including those with mental or physical disabilities.
Nuremberg Laws: These laws stripped Jews of their German citizenship, prohibiting marriage and sexual relations between Jews and non-Jews, and creating a system of legal discrimination.
Concentration Camps: Jews and others deemed “undesirable” were increasingly targeted for imprisonment and persecution in concentration camps.

Effect 2: Incitement of Public Hatred and Violence:

Propaganda: A relentless propaganda campaign was used to demonize Jews, portraying them as enemies of the state, responsible for Germany’s problems, and a threat to the Aryan race.
Boycotts and Violence: Public boycotts of Jewish businesses (like the one on April 1st, 1933) were organized, and increasingly violent attacks against Jews became commonplace.
Kristallnacht: Kristallnacht (“Night of Broken Glass”) in November 1938 marked a significant escalation in anti-Semitic violence, with synagogues and Jewish-owned businesses systematically destroyed. This event shattered any remaining illusion of peaceful coexistence between Jews and the Nazi regime.

Unemployment

Effect 1: Apparent Economic Success:

Reduction in Unemployment: Unemployment figures dropped dramatically between 1933 and 1938. This seemingly successful economic policy was used as propaganda to showcase the effectiveness of Nazi rule.
Artificial Figures: This decline was, however, partly artificial, due to women being removed from the workforce and Jews being expelled from their jobs. Furthermore, many of the new jobs created were directly related to rearmament, creating an unsustainable economic model.

Effect 2: Preparation for War:

Military Expansion: The size of the German army was greatly increased (from 100,000 to 900,000 by 1939), which created jobs. This directly fueled demands for weapons and equipment, resulting in further job creation in related industries.
Autarky: The policy of autarky (economic self-sufficiency) aimed at making Germany independent from foreign imports and resources, so as to avoid blockages during the anticipated war. This involved substantial investments in domestic industries, further boosting employment.
Autobahn Construction: The construction of the Autobahn (highway system) provided many jobs and improved infrastructure.

Employment Regimes: (Brief Overview)

The German Labour Front (DAF): Replaced trade unions, controlling wages, working conditions, and eliminating strikes.
Strength Through Joy (KdF): Offered subsidized leisure activities (theater, travel) to motivate workers and promote loyalty.
Reich Labour Service (RAD): Forced unemployed men into government work projects (often involving infrastructure construction). This provided employment while promoting discipline and Nazi ideology.

Conclusion

The period from 1933 to 1939 witnessed the rapid transformation of Germany under Nazi rule. Through a combination of political maneuvering, violence, propaganda, and carefully implemented policies, Hitler and the Nazi party consolidated power, suppressed opposition, and implemented a totalitarian regime. The events and policies outlined here are critical for understanding the context of Questions B and C in your Edexcel IGCSE History examination.

Nazi Germany 1933-39 Overview