The dead parliament

1. The dead parliament What is the message of this source?

2. How strong was Hitler’s position in 1933? Study the photo and the facts about Hitler & the Nazis in 1933. How powerful was Hitler? What would he need to do in order to survive?

3. How strong was Hitler’s position in 1933? Nazis largest single party, but didn’t have overall majority in Reichstag Hindenburg & Von Papen appointed Hitler as a ‘puppet’ chancellor Only 2 Nazis in Cabinet Study the photo and the facts about Hitler & the Nazis in 1933. How powerful was Hitler? What would he need to do in order to survive?

4. How did Hitler consolidate his power? The Reichstag fire, 27 February 1933

5. How did Hitler exploit the Reichstag fire? • Dutch Communist, van der Lubbe • Police imprisoned 4,000 Communist activists • 28 Feb, Hindenburg suspended freedom of speech & gave police emergency powers • March 1933 NSDAP gained 288 seats; won support of Nationalists & Catholic Centre party; abolished Communists Why might some historians suggest van der Lubbe was framed?

6. THE REICHSTAG FIRE, 27 FEBRUARY 1933

7. WHO WAS TO BLAME FOR THE REICHSTAG FIRE? • YOU HAVE THREE INTERPRETATIONS TO CHOOSE FROM: • THE NAZIS SET FIRE TO THE REICHSTAG THEMSELVES AND BLAMED THE COMMUNISTS • THE COMMUNIST PARTY STARTED THE FIRE • A LONE MAN (VAN DE LUBBE) STARTED THE FIRE HIMSELF.

8. THE NAZIS SET FIRE TO THE REICHSTAG THEMSELVES AND BLAMED THE COMMUNISTS/ • THE COMMUNIST PARTY STARTED THE FIRE • A LONE MAN (VAN DE LUBBE) STARTED THE FIRE HIMSELF.

9. THEORY ONE: SOME PEOPLE SAY THE NAZIS STARTED THE FIRE THEMSELVES – THEY HAD A LOT TO GAIN FROM IT.

10. WHY WOULD THE NAZIS WANT TO START THE FIRE? • THE NAZIS WOULD PROMISE TO DEAL WITH THE COMMUNISTS – PEOPLE WOULD VOTE FOR THEM. • WHEN THEY FRAMED VAN DER LUBBE AND EXECUTED HIM THEY WOULD LOOK LIKE THEY HAD ACTED – PEOPLE WOULD LIKE THIS • THE NAZIS WANTED TO PASS TOUGH LAWS AGAINST THEIR OPPONENTS (ESPECIALLY THE COMMUNISTS). THE FIRE WAS THE PERFECT EXCUSE FOR THIS.

11. THEORY TWO: SOME PEOPLE SAY THAT THE COMMUNISTS SET FIRE TO THE BUILDING AS AN ATTACK ON GERMAN DEMOCRACY.

12. WHY WOULD THE COMMUNISTS WANT TO START THE FIRE? • THE COMMUNISTS BELIEVED THE NAZIS MUST BE DEFEATED. ELECTIONS WEREN’T WORKING. A BIG EVENT WAS NEEDED TO SPUR THEIR SUPPORTERS TO ACT. • THE COMMUNISTS FELT THEY HAD TO DO SOMETHING TO MAKE SURE THEIR SUPPORTERS SAW THEY WERE ACTING AND WOULD STILL VOTE FOR THEM.

13. THEORY THREE: SOME PEOPLE SAY THAT A YOUNG MAN (VAN DER LUBBE) SET FIRE TO THE BUILDING. HE WAS ACTING ALONE

14. WHY WOULD VAN DER LUBBE ACT ALONE? • HE WAS A MEMBER OF THE COMMUNIST PARTY AND WOULD ACT BECAUSE HE FELT HE SHOULD. • HE WAS MENTALLY ILL. HE SUFFERED FROM LEARNING DISABILITIES AND HAD A FASCINATION WITH FIRE.

15. ON 27 FEBRUARY 1933, JUST FOUR WEEKS AFTER HITLER CAME TO POWER THE GERMAN PARLIAMENT BUILDING BURNS.

16. THE BUILDING WAS TOTALLY DEVASTATED BY THE FIRE

17. THE FIRE AND SMOKE WERE VISIBLE FOR MILES AROUND. EVERYONE WAS WORRIED. PEOPLE WERE SCARED THAT FORCES WITHIN GERMANY WERE TRYING TO ATTACK IT.

18. THIS IS THE MAN ACCUSED OF STARTING THE FIRE. HE WAS HANGED FOR THIS CRIME. DOES HIS PICTURE SUPPORT ONE INTERPRETATION OVER ANOTHER? OTHERS SAY THE NAZI STORMTROOPERS (SA) STARTED THE FIRE.

19. THE FIRE TOOK PLACE JUST DAYS BEFORE THE NEXT ELECTION AT THE PREVIOUS ELECTION THE NAZIS HAD LOST VOTES (FALLING FROM 230 SEATS TO 196). AFTER THE FIRE THEY WON 288 SEATS

20. NAZI NEWSPAPER HEADLINE: ‘NOW WE WILL TAKE RIGOROUS STEPS’ – THIS COULD ONLY MEAN ACTION AGAINST THE NAZIS OPPONENTS.

21. A JOKE FROM THE 1930s MAKES IT CLEAR WHO SOME GERMAN BLAMED: IT IS LATE FEBRUARY 1933. ONE STORMTROOPER TURNS TO ANOTHER AND SAYS, “DID YOU HEAR? THE REICHSTAG IS ON FIRE!” THE OTHER STORMTROOPER FIERCELY SAYS, “SHHHSH THAT’S NOT ‘TILL TOMORROW”!

22. H/W task • Go to the historyblog and complete the reichstag fire source work activity.

24. Folens • Pg 34 – 37 • Complete task A. • Can you identify a turning point between 1933-34 were it is obvious Hitler is in complete control?

25. In early 1934 Hitler was faced with a choice between the SA or the army.

26. The situation in 1934 …(before Hindenburg died)

27. Has Hitler got rid of the trade unions? • Yes • No • Not sure?

28. Has Hitler got rid of opposition parties? • Yes • No • Not sure

29. Has Hitler got the support of the army? • Yes • No • Not sure

30. Has Hitler got full support from within his own party? • Yes • No • Not sure

31. Heading for a showdown • The SA wanted to take over the army • The army hated the SA Which side should Hitler chose?

32. Why should Hitlerchose the Sturmabteilung(S.A) ? Why should Hitlerchose the army?

33. Why should Hitlersupport the Sturmabteilung(S.A) ?

34. The S.A. had been in existence since the early days of The Nazi Party Why should Hitlersupport the Sturmabteilung(S.A) Reason

35. The S.A. had fought for Hitler during the Munich Putsch in 1923 The S.A. had been in existence since the early days of The Nazi Party Why should Hitlersupport the Sturmabteilung(S.A) Reason

36. The S.A. had fought for Hitler during the Munich Putsch in 1923 The S.A. had been in existence since the early days of The Nazi Party Why should Hitlersupport the Sturmabteilung(S.A) Members of the S.A. were loyal Nazis Reason

37. The S.A. had fought for Hitler during the Munich Putsch in 1923 The S.A. had been in existence since the early days of The Nazi Party Why should Hitlersupport the Sturmabteilung(S.A) The S.A. was led by one of Hitler’s earliest supporters – Ernst Rohm Members of the S.A. were loyal Nazis Reason

38. The S.A. had fought for Hitler during the Munich Putsch in 1923 The S.A. had been in existence since the early days of The Nazi Party Why should Hitlersupport the Sturmabteilung(S.A) The S.A. was led by one of Hitler’s earliest supporters – Ernst Rohm Members of the S.A. were loyal Nazis Ernst Rohm was personally loyal to Hitler Reason

39. The S.A. had fought for Hitler during the Munich Putsch in 1923 The S.A. had been in existence since the early days of The Nazi Party Why should Hitlersupport the Sturmabteilung(S.A) The S.A. was led by one of Hitler’s earliest supporters – Ernst Rohm Members of the S.A. were loyal Nazis Ernst Rohm was personally loyal to Hitler The S.A. had supported Hitler and the Nazis by putting up posters, handing out leaflets and intimidating political opponents throughout the 1920’s and early 1930’s. Reason

40. The S.A. had fought for Hitler during the Munich Putsch in 1923 The S.A. had been in existence since the early days of The Nazi Party Why should Hitlersupport the Sturmabteilung(S.A) The S.A. was led by one of Hitler’s earliest supporters – Ernst Rohm Members of the S.A. were loyal Nazis Ernst Rohm was personally loyal to Hitler Ernst Rohm shared Hitler’s vision of a racially pure society The S.A. had supported Hitler and the Nazis by putting up posters, handing out leaflets and intimidating political opponents throughout the 1920’s and early 1930’s. Reason

41. The S.A. had fought for Hitler during the Munich Putsch in 1923 The S.A. had been in existence since the early days of The Nazi Party. Why should Hitlersupport the Sturmabteilung(S.A) The S.A. was led by one of Hitler’s earliest supporters – Ernst Rohm Members of the S.A. were loyal Nazis Ernst Rohm was personally loyal to Hitler Ernst Rohm shared Hitler’s vision of a racially pure society The S.A. had supported Hitler and the Nazis by putting up posters, handing out leaflets and intimidating political opponents throughout the 1920’s and early 1930’s. The S.A. had c 2.5 million members by 1934.

42. Should Hitler side with the SA? • Yes • No • Not sure

43. BUT……

44. Why should Hitlerpurge the Sturmabteilung(S.A) ? Reason

45. If the S.A. were not brought under control Hitler may lose the support of Hindenburg (the President) and powerful conservatives Why should Hitlerpurge the Sturmabteilung(S.A) Reason

46. If the S.A. were not brought under control Hitler may lose the support of Hindenburg (the President) and powerful conservatives The S.A. were becoming lawless by the early 1930’s and were causing some Germans to turn against the Nazis Why should Hitlerpurge the Sturmabteilung(S.A) Reason

47. If the S.A. were not brought under control Hitler may lose the support of Hindenburg (the President) and powerful conservatives The S.A. were becoming lawless by the early 1930’s and were causing some Germans to turn against the Nazis Why should Hitlerpurge the Sturmabteilung(S.A) As S.A. membership grew, they were becoming harder to control Reason

48. If the S.A. were not brought under control Hitler may lose the support of Hindenburg (the President) and powerful conservatives The S.A. were becoming lawless by the early 1930’s and were causing some Germans to turn against the Nazis Why should Hitlerpurge the Sturmabteilung(S.A) As S.A. membership grew, they were becoming harder to control S.A. leaders were demanding rewards for their loyal service. They were angry that new Party Members were receiving more recognition than they were Reason

49. If the S.A. were not brought under control Hitler may lose the support of Hindenburg (the President) and powerful conservatives The S.A. were becoming lawless by the early 1930’s and were causing some Germans to turn against the Nazis Why should Hitlerpurge the Sturmabteilung(S.A) As S.A. membership grew, they were becoming harder to control S.A. leaders were demanding rewards for their loyal service. They were angry that new Party Members were receiving more recognition than they were The S.A. were good at breaking up opponents political meetings, but they were not a professional army. Reason

50. If the S.A. were not brought under control Hitler may lose the support of Hindenburg (the President) and powerful conservatives Ernst Rohm wanted to merge the regular German Army with the S.A The S.A. were becoming lawless by the early 1930’s and were causing some Germans to turn against the Nazis Why should Hitlerpurge the Sturmabteilung(S.A) As S.A. membership grew, they were becoming harder to control S.A. leaders were demanding rewards for their loyal service. They were angry that new Party Members were receiving more recognition than they were The S.A. were good at breaking up opponents political meetings, but they were not a professional army. Reason