The Nazi Consolidation
of Power
1933-1934
Lesson objectives
By the end of this lesson you should:
• Have an opinion about whether the Nazi
consolidation of power can be called a
‘revolution’
• Be prepared to answer an AS exam question
about the consolidation of power
Did Germany undergo a
‘political revolution’ between
1933-4?
Consolidation of Power has been
termed as a:
• ‘national revolution’, ‘legal
revolution’, ‘revolution from above
and below’, ‘cultural revolution’.
• How appropriate is such terminology
to describe the events between 19334?
• What is a revolution?
arguments for…
• Change (p.23/4 Layton):
• Situation by 1934 (authoritarian) totally
opposite to that of the Weimar Republic.
• Intolerance shown to any kind of political
opposition.
• Dissolution of the Reichstag (14th Oct 1933).
• Federal states were now under tight Nazi
control (Gleichschaltung – bringing into line/coordination).
arguments against…
• Continuity (p.24 Layton):
• Major forces continued to operate independent of the
Nazi regime (army, big business, Protestant and
Catholic Churches).
• Night of the Long Knives was an attempt to enter into
political partnership with these representatives of old
Germany.
• No real fundamental social or economic change.
Your opinion
Did Germany undergo a ‘political revolution’ between
1933-4?
Write a brief answer to this question explaining your own
view. Explain your answer using the evidence you
gathered for homework
Exam technique
AS Unit 2: Periods of Change
HIS2M Life in Nazi Germany, 1933 – 1945 (1hr
30mins written paper)
Q1 – compulsory source based questions (12 and
24 marks) – 50mins
Q2 or Q3 – choose one (12 and 24 marks) –
40mins
12 mark question
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10-12mins
About 3/400 words, 1/1.5 sides of hand written A4
No introduction needed but could explain in a couple of sentences that
you know what you’re being asked. This shows the examiner that you are
aware of what the question is all about
3 paragraphs with 3 reasons explaining why (a bit like the 6 mark question
at GCSE but in more detail), and evidence to support your points. If
appropriate, could choose a short, medium and long term
reason/prioritise
Short conclusion and judgement (argue what the most important reason
is). It’s good to leave this until the end and not try to work it out at the
start as you can then leave making your decision until you have looked at
all the evidence
12 mark question - tips
L3:
Answers will demonstrate good understanding of the demands of the question
providing relevant explanations backed by appropriately selected
information, although this may not be full or comprehensive. Answers
will, for the most part, be clearly expressed and show some organisation in
the presentation of material
L4:
Answers will be well-focused, identifying a range of specific explanations, backed
by precise evidence and demonstrating good understanding of the
connections and links between events/issues. Answers will, for the most
part, be well-written and organised
12 Mark Plan
• Intro sentences: The Enabling Act was…it was passed in…it
allowed Hitler to…. There are many reasons why Hitler would
want these kind of powers…
• Reason 1: enabled him to destroy the WR and gain total
power for himself (the Enabling Act gives a legal sheen to
Nazi activities and credibility to Hitler’s actions). He was trying
to appease certain groups and make his actions look
acceptable to the groups who still had influence over him
(army, big business)
• Reason 2: allowed him to co-ordinate and ‘Nazify’ German
society (banned other political parties, takeover of media
institutions, purge of the civil service, disbanded TU,
dismantled TofV). Mention some of the laws he passed to
achieve this
• Reason 3: allowed him to organise and co-ordinate his own
party (Night of the Long Knives, suppress the momentum that
had built up in lower ranks for revolution etc, army oath).
Under the Enabling Act, he could carry this out and make it
look like he was doing it for the state
• Conclusion: what was the most important reason and why?
Why the others weren’t as important
24 mark question
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30-35mins
About 800 words, 2.5 sides of hand written A4
Short introduction in which you set up the debate. This shows the
examiner that you know what the debate is about so give some
background knowledge
Section 1 – agree with the statement and why – give evidence and
examples (don’t need more than one well developed argument). Break
this section up – a paragraph on the most important events and then
another paragraph about the others that were less important
Section 2 – disagree with the statement and why – give evidence and
examples (don’t need more than one well developed argument). Break
this section up – a paragraph on the most important events and then
another paragraph about the others that were less important
Conclusion – remember to explicitly answer the question and try to lift
your answer a bit here. Don’t just repeat what you’ve said, add a summary
and weigh up the arguments you have made
24 mark question - tips
L4:
Answers will show explicit understanding of the demands of the question. They will
develop a balanced argument backed by a good range of appropriately selected
evidence and a good understanding of historical interpretations. Answers will, for
the most part, show organisation and good skills of written communication
So don’t just pick one legal example and one terror example, you need more depth and a
range of examples
L5:
Answers will be well-focused and closely argued. The arguments will be supported by
precisely selected evidence leading to a relevant conclusion/judgement,
incorporating well-developed understanding of historical interpretations and
debate. Answers will, for the most part, be carefully organised and fluently written,
using appropriate vocabulary
It is the quality of your conclusion that will get you up into L5 of the mark scheme
24 mark plan
• Introduction: Hitler had become Chancellor by 1933 and by August
1934 had consolidated his power; Germany was effectively a oneparty state. All the power rested with Hitler and the army had sworn
an oath of personal loyalty to him and he had become Fuhrer. The
question is whether he achieved this through legal means or did he
rely more on fear, terror and intimidation?
• Section 1 agree: 1). Enabling Act – gave him total control to pass
laws without the Reichstag, his word become the law of the state.
Laws passed using this act – disbanded trade unions, banned other
political parties, civil service laws. 2). Decree for the Protection of
People and State – circumstances it was passed in and allowed
Hitler to round up opponents. Hitler as shrewd/compromising in
order to neutralise opponents e.g. Concordat
• Section 2 disagree: 1). Night of the Long Knives – eliminated threats
to his power within his own party, used it to create a reputation of
fear and terror. 2). Gestapo – secret police to hunt down opposition.
Intimidation – always present and even though elections were legal,
people were intimidated into doing as Hitler wished. Exploited
peoples fears e.g. over the communist threat after the Reichstag
Fire.
• Conclusion: you could argue
• 1). Although a number of important stages of the
consolidation and the establishment of a dictatorship lay
within the law, actually all this did was give a gloss of
legality to actions and made violence and intimidation
legal. Gave credibility and a framework to the violence,
legalised violent acts.
• 2). Hitler was shrewd and manipulative so he made his
actions legal which was key to consolidating his position.
Yes there may have been violence and intimidation but
ultimately it is this legal framework which helped Hitler
establish a dictatorship by 1934.
General tips
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Do not exceed the recommended word limits as this is unnecessary and
will waste time you could spend on answering other questions
Be smart in choosing your questions – some may set out a very specific
time frame in which to frame your answer while others may more
generally say ‘the 1930s’ for example. These ones are tougher as you are
expected to cover a range of years
You do not need to attribute any views to particular historians – be aware
of the different views but no need to mention any by name
These questions are not hard in themselves – the challenge is going to be
the timing in exam conditions e.g. the last question of the exam is 24
marks so need to have time to answer this. Also you’ll have learnt the
whole course and end up having to just choose one topic
homework
Answer Q2, parts 03 (12 marks) and 04 (24 marks)
These essays will determine your tracker grade for this
half term
Any problems come and find me/email me
Due: 15/10