Pearson Edexcel · A-Level · History
Course version: 9HI0 · Version from Sept 2015
Germany, 1871–1990: united, divided and reunited - 3 A new Reich, 1933–35:…
Full specification wording
Paper 3, Option 37.2: Germany, 1871–1990: united, divided and reunited - 3 A new Reich, 1933–35: Hitler’s role as Führer, including his approach to government, decline of cabinet meetings, relations with the army; the extent of his power by 1935.
Hitler’s Führer role fused party and state leadership.
Checked against the Pearson Edexcel 9HI0 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 2 of 3
- 3 key terms
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
Hitler’s Führer role fused party and state leadership. His governing style was charismatic and personal: he set broad ideological directions, delegated detail, and encouraged rival agencies to compete for his favour. Cabinet meetings, frequent in 1933, became rare after 1934 and ceased by 1938; legislation was increasingly issued by decree or through Reich ministries and party offices. Relations with the army were tense: the SA’s ambitions alarmed generals, so in June 1934 the Night of the Long Knives removed Röhm and other SA leaders, buying army loyalty. After Hindenburg died in August 1934, Hitler combined chancellor and president as Führer, and the army swore a personal oath. By 1935 his power was extensive: he controlled the party, state apparatus, and armed forces, though internal rivalries and the army’s separate ethos remained limits.
What earns the marks
- Explains Hitler’s approach to government as charismatic and personal, with broad ideological direction and delegated detail.
- Describes the decline of cabinet meetings: frequent in 1933, rare after 1934, and effectively ended by 1938, with decisions increasingly made by decree or through individual ministries and party agencies.
- Analyses relations with the army, including the SA threat, the Night of the Long Knives in June 1934, and the army oath after Hindenburg’s death in August 1934.
- Assesses the extent of Hitler’s power by 1935, noting the fusion of chancellor and president as Führer, control over party and state, and remaining limits such as internal rivalries and the army’s separate ethos.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Claiming that Hitler was a weak dictator with no control over policy.
Put it right: 1935 he held ultimate authority as Führer, set broad directions, and could remove rivals, even if day-to-day administration was chaotic.
Stating that the Night of the Long Knives was solely about the SA’s radicalism.
Put it right: It also secured army support by eliminating the SA leadership, which the army saw as a rival.
Saying that the army oath was to the constitution or the state.
Put it right: After August 1934 the oath was sworn personally to Hitler as Führer.
Exam tips
- Use precise dates and terms: 30 June 1934, 2 August 1934, Führer, Reichswehr, SA.
- Link each example back to the question of Hitler’s power: explain how the event increased or limited his control.
- Compare interpretations: some historians stress Hitler as a strong dictator, others emphasise polycratic chaos; use evidence to support your judgement.
Try the lesson
The start of the Paper 3, Option 37.2: Germany, 1871–1990: united, divided and reunited - 3 A new Reich, 1933–35: Hitler’s role as Führer, including his approach to government, decline of cabinet meetings, relations with the army; the extent of his power by 1935. lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
Which development best describes how Hitler's style of government changed during 1933–34?
Listen
Hitler’s Führer role fused party and state leadership. His governing style was charismatic and personal: he set broad ideological directions, delegated detail, and encouraged rival agencies to compete for his favour. Cabinet meetings, frequent in 1933, became rare after 1934 and ceased by 1938; legislation was increasingly issued by decree or through Reich ministries and party offices. Relations with the army were tense: the SA’s ambitions alarmed generals, so in June 1934 the Night of the Long Knives removed Röhm and other SA leaders, buying army loyalty. After Hindenburg died in August 1934, Hitler combined chancellor and president as Führer, and the army swore a personal oath. By 1935 his power was extensive: he controlled the party, state apparatus, and armed forces, though internal rivalries and the army’s separate ethos remained limits. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Explains Hitler’s approach to government as charismatic and personal, with broad ideological direction and delegated detail. Describes the decline of cabinet meetings: frequent in 1933, rare after 1934, and effectively ended by 1938, with decisions increasingly made by decree or through individual ministries and party agencies. Analyses relations with the army, including the SA threat, the Night of the Long Knives in June 1934, and the army oath after Hindenburg’s death in August 1934. Assesses the extent of Hitler’s power by 1935, noting the fusion of chancellor and president as Führer, control over party and state, and remaining limits such as internal rivalries and the army’s separate ethos. A common slip: claiming that Hitler was a weak dictator with no control over policy. Instead, 1935 he held ultimate authority as Führer, set broad directions, and could remove rivals, even if day-to-day administration was chaotic. Exam tip: Use precise dates and terms: 30 June 1934, 2 August 1934, Führer, Reichswehr, SA.
Put the events in order
Put these events in the order they happened, earliest first.
- 1. Cabinet meetings were frequent
- 2. Cabinet meetings effectively ended
- 3. Night of the Long Knives removed Röhm and other SA leaders
Key words
Say what each word means before you turn the card.
Charismatic authority and personal rule
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
Night of the Long Knives
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
Führer
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
See every definition
- Charismatic authority and personal rule
- A governing style in which broad ideological directions are set, detail is delegated, and rival agencies compete for favour.
- Night of the Long Knives
- In June 1934 the SA's ambitions alarmed generals, so Röhm and other SA leaders were removed, buying army loyalty.
- Führer
- The combined role of chancellor and president that Hitler took after Hindenburg died in August 1934.
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Test your understanding of Paper 3, Option 37.2: Germany, 1871–1990: united, divided and reunited - 3 A new Reich, 1933–35: Hitler’s role as Führer, including his approach to government, decline of cabinet meetings, relations with the army; the extent of his power by 1935.
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