The Reichstag Fire and the Enabling Act
I can explain how the Reichstag Fire and the Enabling Act allowed Hitler to establish a Nazi dictatorship.
The Reichstag Fire and the Enabling Act
I can explain how the Reichstag Fire and the Enabling Act allowed Hitler to establish a Nazi dictatorship.
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Lesson details
Key learning points
- Hitler gained power legally but lacked full control and planned new elections to secure a majority.
- The Reichstag Fire was exploited by Nazis to justify emergency powers and crush political opposition.
- With communist members banned and others intimidated by the SA, the Reichstag passed the Enabling Act.
- The Act gave Hitler legal authority to rule by decree, marking his transformation of Germany into a dictatorship.
- Gleichschaltung made Germany a one-party state, bringing all areas of life under Nazi control.
Keywords
Dictatorship - a type of government where absolute power is concentrated in the hands of a single ruler or small group
Gleichschaltung - a Nazi term meaning 'coordination'; the process of bringing all aspects of German life under Nazi control - this meant synchronising all state and social institutions with Nazi ideology
Common misconception
The Enabling Act was passed fairly.
The vote was deeply manipulated: communist Reichstag members were banned, others intimidated.
To help you plan your year 11 history lesson on: The Reichstag Fire and the Enabling Act, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 11 history lesson on: The Reichstag Fire and the Enabling Act, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
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Explore more key stage 4 history lessons from the Weimar and Nazi Germany, 1918–39 unit, dive into the full secondary history curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Why was Chancellor Brüning removed from office in 1932?
Q2.Match the word with its correct definition
a type of rule where power is held by a single leader or small group
a temporary alliance between political parties to form a government
when no progress can be made due to disagreement or stalemate