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President Hindenburg pushed for the institution of the Reichstag Fire Decree in response to a Communist act toward the state building. What may have been the outcome if the Reichstag Fire Decree had not been instituted, suspending judicial process for political opponents?

Hitler would likely have won the presidency in the next German election.


The president would have been assassinated by agents from the Soviet Union.


Another political party may have survived to push back against the Nazis.


Citizens of Germany might have had their rights to a fair trial jeopardized.


Although it might give her more access to food, why would it be dangerous for a female prisoner to be employed as a domestic worker in an SS household?


The women in their company would beat them because they were disloyal.


They might be assaulted or hurt by the family they worked for.


They might be mistaken for an Aryan citizen upon their return.


There were not allowances for female prisoners to do domestic work.

1 Answer

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Final answer:

Without the Reichstag Fire Decree, opposing political parties may have survived, offering resistance to the Nazis' rise to power and preserving some judicial rights. For a female prisoner working as a domestic worker in an SS household, the main danger would be potential harm from the household members.

Step-by-step explanation:

If the Reichstag Fire Decree had not been instituted, it's possible that the political landscape of Germany could have been significantly different. Without the decree suspending judicial processes for political opponents, other political parties such as the Communists and Social Democrats might have remained active, potentially offering resistance to the Nazis' rise to power. There may have been more opportunities for political dissent and a stronger chance for opposing parties to push back against the Nazis. This could have led to a more pluralistic society, maintaining at least some semblance of democratic processes, and potentially slowing or altering Hitler's path to absolute power. Furthermore, without the decree, German citizens might have retained their judicial rights, preserving some of the democratic foundations of the Weimar Republic.

Concerning the second part of the question regarding the dangers for a female prisoner employed as a domestic worker in an SS household, the primary risk would have been personal harm from the family they were assigned to. This could have included physical or sexual assault, cruel treatment, and exploitation. Despite the potential access to more food or slightly better living conditions, these prisoners were at significant risk due to their vulnerable position in a household that was part of the oppressive regime they were imprisoned under.

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