Question 1 · Matching Terms (AO1)
4 marksMatch each word to the correct description and write your answer in the space provided. The first one has been done for you.
Words: Gestapo, Enabling Act, Gleichschaltung, Sturm-Abteilung (SA)
Descriptions:
(i) The Nazi secret police, responsible for identifying and arresting political and other opponents of the regime. Answer: Gestapo (example given)
(ii) The law passed in March 1933 that allowed Hitler's government to make laws without the approval of the Reichstag, for four years.
(iii) The process by which the Nazis brought all aspects of German political, social and cultural life under their control.
(iv) Hitler's paramilitary 'brownshirts', led by Ernst Röhm, whose growing power and demands led Hitler to move against them in June 1934.
Words: Gestapo, Enabling Act, Gleichschaltung, Sturm-Abteilung (SA)
Descriptions:
(i) The Nazi secret police, responsible for identifying and arresting political and other opponents of the regime. Answer: Gestapo (example given)
(ii) The law passed in March 1933 that allowed Hitler's government to make laws without the approval of the Reichstag, for four years.
(iii) The process by which the Nazis brought all aspects of German political, social and cultural life under their control.
(iv) Hitler's paramilitary 'brownshirts', led by Ernst Röhm, whose growing power and demands led Hitler to move against them in June 1934.
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Worked solution
(ii) The Enabling Act, passed in March 1933 following the March 1933 election and with the help of the arrest/exclusion of Communist deputies, gave Hitler's government the power to pass laws without needing the Reichstag's approval, for a period of four years — a crucial legal step in establishing his dictatorship. (iii) Gleichschaltung ('coordination') describes the process, following the Enabling Act, by which the Nazis systematically brought every aspect of German life — political parties, trade unions, local government, culture and youth organisations — under Nazi control, eliminating independent institutions. (iv) The Sturm-Abteilung (SA), Hitler's large paramilitary organisation led by Ernst Röhm, had helped bring the Nazis to power through intimidation and violence, but by 1934 its huge size and Röhm's ambitions (including for the SA to absorb the regular army) were seen as a threat to Hitler's control, particularly by the army leadership; this led to the Night of the Long Knives in June 1934, in which Röhm and other SA leaders were killed.
Final answer: (ii) Enabling Act; (iii) Gleichschaltung; (iv) Sturm-Abteilung (SA).
Final answer: (ii) Enabling Act; (iii) Gleichschaltung; (iv) Sturm-Abteilung (SA).
Marking scheme
1 mark for each correct match — max 4 (1 mark already credited for the given example, so 3 further marks available for (ii)–(iv); award all 4 if all four, including the example, are shown correctly). The detail given in the mark scheme is for examiner guidance and candidates are not expected to cover every point suggested.