Loading subject…
Article 48
emergency powers that allowed rule by decree
Enabling Act (1933)
The law passed on 23 March 1933 that allowed Hitler's government to enact laws without Reichstag approval for four years. It effectively ended democratic governance in Germany and provided the legal foundation for Nazi dictatorship.
Gleichschaltung
The Nazi process of 'coordination' or 'bringing into line', through which all aspects of German political, social, and cultural life were brought under Nazi Party control after 1933.
Great Depression (1929)
A worldwide economic collapse that began with the U.S. stock market crash, leading to mass unemployment, bank failures, and a severe decline in global trade throughout the 1930s.
Hyperinflation
extremely rapid loss of a currency’s value
Lebensraum
A German concept meaning 'living space,' used by Hitler to argue that Germany needed to expand eastward to acquire territory for its growing population. It became a central justification for Nazi foreign policy and territorial aggression.
NSDAP
The Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei (National Socialist German Workers' Party), commonly known as the Nazi Party. Founded in 1920 and led by Adolf Hitler from 1921, it combined extreme nationalism, antisemitism, and anti-communism to become Germany's largest party by 1932.
Proportional representation
parliamentary seats awarded based on vote share
Reichstag
the elected German parliament
Reparations
payments made for war damage
Reparations
Payments made for war damage
Sturmabteilung (SA)
The paramilitary wing of the Nazi Party, also known as the Brownshirts. Founded in 1921, the SA intimidated political opponents, disrupted rival meetings, and projected an image of strength and discipline. By 1932, it numbered over 400,000 members.
Treaty of Versailles (1919)
Peace treaty ending World War I that imposed territorial losses, military restrictions, war guilt, and financial reparations on the defeated Central Powers. Its terms reshaped the post-war political map and generated lasting resentment, particularly in Germany.
Weimar Republic
The democratic government of Germany from 1919 to 1933, established after the abdication of Kaiser Wilhelm II. Named after the city of Weimar where its constitution was drafted, it was marked by political instability, economic crises, and ultimately replaced by the Nazi dictatorship.