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The Nazi State: Government to Religion | ISC Class 11

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HistoryISC Class 11 · Rise of Nazism under Hitler in Germany

The Nazi State: Government, Army, Culture, Economy and Religion (ISC Class 11 History)

Updated 17 October 2026 · Fact-checked

After the Reichstag fire (27 February 1933) and the Enabling Act (23 March 1933), Hitler built a one-party state, destroyed unions, purged the SA on 30 June 1934 and became Fuhrer after Hindenburg died. The state controlled culture, education, the economy and the churches, with propaganda, terror and rearmament.

Notice how each step, from the Reichstag fire to the purge of the SA, removed a rival until Hitler held all power as Führer in August 1934.

Illustration drawn for QuestionBuddy.

Understand The Nazi State: Government, Army, Culture, Economy and Religion

Government. Reichstag fire (27 February 1933) blamed on Communists; a decree next day suspended civil rights. Election of 5 March 1933: Nazis about 44 per cent, still short of a majority. Enabling Act (23 March 1933): with Communist deputies arrested and Centre support, the Reichstag gave Hitler law-making power for four years; only the Social Democrats voted against. Gleichschaltung: states under Nazi governors; trade unions abolished (May 1933) and replaced by the German Labour Front; other parties banned and a one-party state by law (July 1933). Terror: Gestapo and SS under Himmler; Dachau (March 1933). On Hindenburg's death (2 August 1934) Hitler combined President and Chancellor as Fuhrer.

Army. The SA, over two million strong under Rohm, wanted a second revolution and to absorb the army; generals and industrialists were alarmed. On 30 June 1934 (Night of the Long Knives) the SS killed Rohm and other SA leaders and opponents such as Schleicher. The army was reassured and swore an oath of personal loyalty after Hindenburg died; the SS became the chief instrument of terror.

Culture and education. Goebbels's Ministry of Propaganda (1933) and the Reich Chamber of Culture controlled press, radio, films, books, music and art; book burnings in May 1933; modern art banned as degenerate; cheap radios, Nuremberg rallies, the 1936 Berlin Olympics. Teachers in the Nazi Teachers' League; race theory in textbooks; Hitler Youth and League of German Girls, compulsory from 1936; women urged towards children, kitchen, church.

Economy. Schacht financed public works and rearmament; autobahns; Reich Labour Service. Unemployment fell from about 6 million (1932) to very low by the late 1930s, helped by rearmament and conscription (1935). Goring's Four Year Plan (1936) for autarky. Workers lost unions and the right to strike; Strength through Joy offered cheap holidays.

Religion. Concordat with the Pope (July 1933): Church out of politics in return for freedom of worship, soon broken. Protestant churches pressed into a Reich Church; the Confessing Church under Martin Niemoller resisted and he was sent to a concentration camp. The Pope's 1937 encyclical "With Burning Concern" criticised violations.

The Nazi State: Government, Army, Culture, Economy and Religion: key facts

Key dates 1933
27 FebruaryReichstag fire
5 Marchelection, about 44%
23 MarchEnabling Act
Mayunions abolished
Julyone-party state
1934
30 June: Night of the Long Knives | 2 August: Hindenburg dies, Hitler Fuhrer
Economy
  • Unemployment about 6 million (1932) to very low
  • Conscription 1935
  • Four Year Plan 1936
Control bodies
  • Gestapo
  • SS
  • Ministry of Propaganda
  • German Labour Front
  • Hitler Youth

How to answer The Nazi State: Government, Army, Culture, Economy and Religion questions

Expect 4-mark items on the Enabling Act, the Night of the Long Knives, or a theme; 8-mark questions combine government and one other area.

  1. 1Order the steps of 1933 with dates.
  2. 2Explain why the SA purge happened.
  3. 3For each area, give the instrument of control and the effect.
  4. 4Attribute the groups' acceptance to fear, benefit or propaganda.

The Nazi State: Government, Army, Culture, Economy and Religion in real life

The idea, met in an everyday situation. Answer the question in your own words, then compare with the model answer. The one-line hook is what to remember.

Days to power

Suppose a student counts from Hitler's appointment on 30 January 1933 to the Enabling Act on 23 March 1933, and from the Reichstag fire on 27 February to that Act.

Find both gaps.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. 30 Jan to 23 March: 1 + 28 + 23 = 52 days.
  2. 27 Feb to 23 March: 1 + 23 = 24 days.

Answer: 52 days and 24 days.

Memory hook: Add days month by month.

A burnt book

Suppose students watch books by "un-German" authors being burnt in a square.

Which Nazi policy area and year does this show?

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Cultural control under Goebbels.
  2. The book burnings of May 1933.

Answer: Cultural control, May 1933.

Memory hook: Burn the books, rule the mind.

Tricks to remember The Nazi State: Government, Army, Culture, Economy and Religion

Short memory aids. Say each one aloud once, then use it on a question the same day.

  • Fire, Election, Enabling

    Fire 27 Feb, election 5 March, Enabling Act 23 March.

    Use it when: 1933 sequence.

  • Long Knives June 30

    30 June 1934 purge of the SA.

    Use it when: Army and SA.

The Nazi State: Government, Army, Culture, Economy and Religion: solved examples

Ordered from board level to HOTS. Try each one before you open the solution.

Example 1: Enabling Act · 1 mark · MCQBoard level

The Enabling Act gave Hitler power to make laws without the Reichstag for:
(a) one year
(b) four years
(c) ten years
(d) life

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. 23 March 1933.

Answer: (b) Four years.

Example 2: Night of the Long Knives · 3 marks · Short answerBoard level

State the date, the SA leader killed and one consequence of the Night of the Long Knives.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. 30 June 1934.
  2. Ernst Rohm.
  3. The army was reassured and swore an oath of loyalty to Hitler after Hindenburg died.

Answer: 30 June 1934; Rohm; the army's loyalty.

Example 3: Steps to a one-party state · 4 marks · Long answerHarder board level

Explain four steps by which Hitler built a one-party state in 1933.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. The Reichstag fire decree suspended civil rights.
  2. The Enabling Act gave him law-making power.
  3. State governments were coordinated and unions abolished.
  4. Other parties were banned in July 1933.

Answer: Fire decree, Enabling Act, coordination and banning of parties.

Example 4: Economy · 4 marks · Long answerHarder board level

Explain how the Nazi economy reduced unemployment and what it cost workers.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Schacht financed public works and rearmament; autobahns and the Labour Service gave jobs.
  2. Conscription from 1935 absorbed men.
  3. Unemployment fell from about 6 million in 1932 to very low levels.
  4. Workers lost unions and the right to strike; Strength through Joy offered holidays.

Answer: Public works, rearmament and conscription cut unemployment, but workers lost unions and strikes.

Example 5: Religion and culture · 5 marks · Case-basedHOTS / competency

Case: A student compares the fates of books, schools and churches under Nazi rule. (a) Name the minister controlling culture. (b) Name the church group that resisted and its leader. (c) State the year of the Concordat and its fate.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. (a) Joseph Goebbels.
  2. (b) The Confessing Church, led by Martin Niemoller.
  3. (c) July 1933; the Nazis soon broke it.

Answer: (a) Goebbels (b) Confessing Church, Niemoller (c) 1933; broken.

Where students lose marks in The Nazi State: Government, Army, Culture, Economy and Religion

The slips examiners see most often, and what to write instead.

  • Mistake: Saying the Enabling Act was passed by force alone

    Votes ignored.

    Do this: It passed with Communists arrested and Centre Party support; only the SPD opposed.

    Usually costs: 1 to 2 marks.

  • Mistake: Mixing the SA and SS

    Roles swapped.

    Do this: The SA was purged; the SS became the chief instrument of terror.

    Usually costs: 1 mark.

  • Mistake: Ignoring the cost to workers

    Only jobs are mentioned.

    Do this: Add the loss of unions and strikes.

    Usually costs: 1 mark.

Exam tips

  • Use dates from February 1933 to August 1934.
  • Explain consent and coercion both.
  • Use factual, non-glorifying language.
  • Name the instrument of control for each area.

Practice questions on The Nazi State: Government, Army, Culture, Economy and Religion

Write each answer on paper first. Open the hint only if you are stuck, and the answer only when you have finished.

  1. Q1 · 1 mark · MCQBoard level

    The first concentration camp, opened in March 1933, was at:
    (a) Auschwitz
    (b) Dachau
    (c) Treblinka
    (d) Warsaw

    Hint

    Near Munich.

    Answer

    (b) Dachau.

  2. Q2 · 3 marks · Short answerHarder board level

    Explain the Reichstag Fire Decree and its effects.

    Hint

    Civil rights suspended.

    Answer

    The decree of 28 February 1933 suspended civil rights such as freedom of speech, press and assembly, allowing arrests of opponents.

  3. Q3 · 2 marks · Short answerHarder board level

    Work out the days from the Night of the Long Knives (30 June 1934) to Hindenburg's death (2 August 1934).

    Hint

    Count days.

    Answer

    1 July to 31 July = 31 days, plus 2 days in August: 30 June to 2 August is 33 days.

  4. Q4 · 4 marks · Long answerHarder board level

    Describe how education and youth were used to spread Nazi ideas.

    Hint

    Teachers, textbooks, Hitler Youth.

    Answer

    Teachers joined the Nazi Teachers' League; textbooks stressed race theory and fitness; the Hitler Youth and League of German Girls became compulsory from 1936; girls were prepared as mothers.

  5. Q5 · 3 marks · Assertion-reasonHOTS / competency

    Assertion (A): The Night of the Long Knives reassured the army.
    Reason (R): The SA leadership under Rohm, which wanted to absorb the army, was killed.
    (a) Both true and R explains A
    (b) Both true but R does not explain A
    (c) A true, R false
    (d) A false, R true

    Hint

    Rohm.

    Answer

    (a) Both A and R are true and R explains A.

Test your recall

Answer in your head or on paper first, then open the card. Pulling an answer out of memory makes it stick far better than re-reading.

  1. 1.Fire date?Show answer

    27 February 1933.

  2. 2.SA leader?Show answer

    Ernst Rohm.

  3. 3.Propaganda minister?Show answer

    Goebbels.

  4. 4.Four Year Plan year?Show answer

    1936.

  5. 5.Concordat month?Show answer

    July 1933.

The Nazi State: Government, Army, Culture, Economy and Religion: frequently asked questions

Did the Nazis win a majority in March 1933?

No, about 44 per cent.

Who resisted in the church?

The Confessing Church under Niemoller.

What was Gleichschaltung?

Coordination of institutions under Nazi control.