| Evidence | Significance |
|---|---|
| Enabling Act, 23 March 1933: Vote 444-94 | Legal end of democracy: Hitler could make laws by decree for 4 years |
| Dachau opened March 1933: First concentration camp | Terror began immediately |
| Night of Long Knives, 30 June 1934: At least 85 killed | SA destroyed as a rival; SS dominant; army loyalty secured |
| Nuremberg Laws, September 1935: Stripped citizenship from Jews | Pseudo-legal foundation for later persecution |
| Volksempfänger radio | Propaganda reached roughly 70% of German households by 1939 |
| Hitler Youth: around 8.7 million members by 1939 (compulsory from 1939) | Millions of young people exposed to Nazi ideology |
| Kristallnacht, 9-10 November 1938: at least 91 killed; about 30,000 arrested; around 1,400 synagogues burned or damaged | State-encouraged pogrom: a major escalation in violence against Jews |
| Wannsee Conference, 20 January 1942: "Final Solution" coordinated | Officials coordinated the murder of Europe's Jews, which was already under way |
| Holocaust: about 6 million Jews murdered by 1945 | Around two-thirds of European Jews |
This key facts covers Key Evidence: Dates and Figures within Living under Nazi Rule, 1933-1945 for GCSE History. Revise Living under Nazi Rule, 1933-1945 in Component Group 5 — World Depth Studies for GCSE History with 14 exam-style questions and 18 flashcards. This topic shows up very often in GCSE exams, so students should be able to explain it clearly, not just recognise the term. It is section 8 of 19 in this topic. Use this key facts to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
Practice questions for Living under Nazi Rule, 1933-1945
Describe two features of the Enabling Act of March 1933.
Write a clear and organised summary that analyses how the Night of the Long Knives helped Hitler consolidate his power in 1934.
Quick recall flashcards
How did Goebbels use radio as a propaganda tool?
The regime promoted the cheap Volksempfänger ('People's Receiver') radio set at 76 Reichsmarks, making radio affordable for many workers. By 1939 roughly seven in ten German households had a radio. Hitler's speeches, Nazi music, and anti-Semitic content were broadcast directly into homes. Radio was one of Goebbels' most powerful propaganda tools, creating a sense of shared national community around Nazi values.
How did Hitler become Führer in August 1934?
On 2 August 1934, President Paul von Hindenburg died. Hitler immediately combined the offices of Chancellor and President into the single role of Führer (Leader). He required the German Army to swear a personal oath of loyalty, not to Germany or its constitution, but to Adolf Hitler personally. This made military resistance a violation of a solemn oath, which helps explain why many officers hesitated to act even when they opposed Hitler.