The events of the Reichstag fire (1933) and the night of the long knives (1934) in detailed numbered points that are easy to remember and revise from. Also included is an exercise to test your memory of the events: place each point in order.
How did Hitler become Fuhrer?
Chancellor: second most powerful person in Germany
Fuhrer: the title Hitler gives himself as leader of Germany. He combined the roles of chancellor and president.
The Reichstag fire, 1933
1. On 27th February 1933, the Reichstag (government) building was destroyed by a massive fire
2. The man who confessed to the fire was Marinus Van der Lubbe, a communist supporter who was caught
with matches and firelighters.
3. Following his confession, he was arrested and put on trial, found guilty and executed.
4. Marinus van der Lubbe’s execution was not enough for Hitler. He thought that Van der Lubbe had been a
part of a communist conspiracy plot against the government.
5. As a result of Hitlers belief in a communist conspiracy, he used the fire as an opportunity to attack the
communists and 4,000 were arrested on the night of the fire.
6. Also, Hitler used the fire to pressure Hindenburg to declare a state of emergency (article 48) which mean
Hitler could have now use decrees to govern Germany.
7. Some of these decrees and laws included: giving himself powers to imprison political opponents, banning
communist newspapers, controlling Germany’s policy force (therefore ignoring violent activities of the SA),
and encouraging important people to donate money to the Nazi campaign (e.g. 3 million marks were
donated to the Nazi party campaign in one meeting. Also, Hitler used the fire to pressure Hindenburg to
declare a state of emergency (article 48) which mean Hitler could have now use decrees to govern Germany.
8. By the time the election in March 1933 happened (which Hitler had persuaded Hindenburg to hold). Hitler
was in a very good electoral position
9. In the elections the Nazi’s increased their Reichstag members to 228 (having banned the communists from
taking up their 81 seats) and they joined with the nationalist party giving Hitler 2/3rds majority in the
Reichstag. He now had enough votes to change the constitution of the Weimar republic.
The night of the long knives, 1934
1. By the start of 1934, Hitler had made Germany a one-party state – the Nazi party, and he wanted to make
sure he was the unrivalled leader of the party.
2. Hitler believed that his biggest threat was Ernst Rohm, the leader of the SS
3. Hitler believed Rohm was a threat because the unemployed, bitter SS (of which there were 3 million
members by 1933) were loyal to Rohm first. Also, he believed that Rohm opposed some of his polices.
4. Hitler wasn’t alone – others also thought Rohm was a threat too. This included army generals whose army of
only 100,000 men was much such smaller than the SS. Also, other Nazi leaders wanted to decrease the
power of the SA and increase the status of the SS.
5. To sort the problem, Hitler arranged a meeting with Rohm and 100 other SA leaders at a hotel. When Rohm
and the other leaders arrived, they were arrested, imprisoned, and shot. This event is known as the night of
the long knives.
6. It is thought that having been arrested, an SS leader left a loaded pistol in Ernst Rohm’s cell, inviting suicide.
After 15 minutes, hearing no sound, he entered the cell and shot Rohm.
7. This violence continued, and the SS were used to round up suspects and murdering Hitlers rivals for more
power. In 4 days, about 400 hundred people, including 150 senior members of the SA were shot without
trial. Other leading politicians too, including Von Schleicher (the ex- chancellor).
8. Some Germans objected this violence, but few knew how bad it really was. Most were grateful because the
SA were known for their violence and brutality. Although the SA continued, they were now firmly under
Hitler’s control.
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