1. From Chancellor to Dictator
Focus 2: How did Hitler become the dictator of
Germany by 1934?
HITLER
BECAME
CHANCELLOR
THE
REICHSTAG
FIRE
THE
ENABLING
ACT
DEATH OF
PRESIDENT
HINDENBURG
THE NIGHT
OF THE
LONG
KNIVES
Der Fuhrer

2. From Chancellor to Dictator
Great Depression  economic crisis  more people voted for the Nazis
In 1933 President Hindenburg appointed Hitler as Chancellor

3. From Chancellor to Dictator
The Reichstag Fire
The Reichstag building was burnt down  the Communists were blamed
Hitler convinced President Hindenburg to give him emergency powers  could suspend all rights and imprison people without trial
Hitler arrested the Communists and other political opponents

5. From Chancellor to Dictator
The Enabling Act
Aim: To make laws without the consent of the Reichstag for 4 years  become dictator
Needed 2/3 majority to pass the Act
Got support of the Nationalists and Catholic Centre Party
Banned the Communists from the Reichstag using emergency powers
Put SA troops in the Reichstag building to pressure members to vote for the Act

6. From Chancellor to Dictator
Result: Used the Enabling Act to
– remove members of other political
parties from government positions
– ban other political parties
– ban trade unions
– imprison opponents
– impose censorship

7. From Chancellor to Dictator
SPD
KPD
DDP
Zentrum

8. From Chancellor to Dictator
The Night of the Long Knives
Aim: To get rid of the SA leaders, e.g. Ernst Rohm
Rohm wanted SA to be a second Germany Army
Opposed by the Army Generals
Rohm wanted large firms to be nationalised (under state control)
Opposed by rich businessmen and industrialists
Rohm was a serious rival to Hitler's powers
SA was becoming too powerful (4m members)
Used the SS to murder Rohm and other SA leaders (about 400 people) on 30 June 1934  gained support of Army

9. From Chancellor to Dictator
The Death of President Hindenburg
What Hitler did:
Took over the powers of the President
Combined the role of Chancellor and President
Became the commander-in-chief of armed forces
Declared himself as ‘der Fuhrer’ (the supreme leader)

10. So, how did I become the dictator of Germany?

11. From Chancellor to Dictator
HITLER
BECAME
CHANCELLOR
THE
REICHSTAG
FIRE
THE
ENABLING
ACT
DEATH OF
PRESIDENT
HINDENBURG
THE NIGHT
OF THE
LONG
KNIVES
Der Fuhrer