| Evidence | Significance |
|---|---|
| Enabling Act, 23 March 1933: Vote 444-94 | Legal end of democracy — Hitler could rule by decree for 4 years |
| Dachau opened March 1933: First concentration camp | Terror began immediately; 25,000 imprisoned by 1939 |
| Night of Long Knives, 30 June 1934: 85+ killed | SA destroyed as power rival; SS dominant; army loyalty secured |
| Nuremberg Laws, September 1935: Stripped citizenship from Jews | Pseudo-legal foundation for all subsequent persecution |
| Volksempfänger radio: 4 million (1933) → 16 million sets (1939) | Propaganda reached 70%+ of German households |
| Hitler Youth: 8.7 million members by 1939 (compulsory from March 1939) | Entire generation indoctrinated with Nazi ideology |
| Kristallnacht, 9-10 November 1938: 7,500 businesses destroyed; 91 killed; 30,000 arrested | State-organised pogrom — turning point toward genocide |
| Wannsee Conference, January 1942: "Final Solution" coordinated | Systematic genocide of European Jews began |
| Holocaust: ~6 million Jews murdered by 1945 | Two-thirds of all European Jews — industrial-scale genocide |
This key facts covers Key Evidence: Dates and Statistics 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 7 of 18 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 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, helping explain why many officers refused to act even when they opposed Hitler.
How did Goebbels use radio as a propaganda tool?
Goebbels produced the cheap Volksempfänger ('People's Receiver') radio set at 76 Reichsmarks, making radio affordable for ordinary workers. Radio sets rose from 4 million (1933) to 16 million by 1939 — over 70% of German households. Hitler's speeches, Nazi music, and anti-Semitic content were broadcast directly into homes. Radio was Goebbels' most powerful propaganda tool, creating a sense of shared national community around Nazi values.