1. Learning Objective: To understand how Hitler consolidated his power

2. Starter Watch the clip;
How did Hitler rise to power? (become chancellor)
How did he consolidate (secure) his power?

3. January 1933 Hitler became Chancellor in January 1933
But he still did not have complete power, in fact there were only two other Nazi’s in the cabinet
Over the next months Hitler consolidated his power through a number of measures until he declared himself dictator- the Fuhrer in August 1934

4. Your task
To complete the following table as we complete the ppt assessing the steps Hitler took to consolidate his power
Date
Event
Results
How did this help Hitler to consolidate his power?

5. The Reichstag fire
Hitler had become Chancellor in January 1933, but he didn’t have much support- he called an election to try and get more Nazi’s into power so he could have a majority
These elections were due to be held on march 5
On 27 February 1933 shortly before the elections due in the March, the Reichstag, the German Parliament was set on fire
Accident, coincidence or planned?

6. What happened in the Reichstag fire?
The German Parliament was set on fire
The building was completely devastated
A half naked man- Marinus Van der Lubbe- a Communist was arrested at the scene
Was it really Van der Lubbe? Some suggest it was started by the Nazi’s
Years later Goering himself commented that he started the fire. They certainly used it to their advantage.

7. The Results Hitler blamed the Communists for the fire
He claimed that the fire was part of a wide Communist conspiracy and claimed it was the start of a Communist uprising
He asked for emergency powers (article 48) to deal with the situation
4,000 Communists were arrested and banned from voting in the elections

8. How did it help Hitler?
It allowed him to discredit his biggest opposition the Communists
He used this incident to frighten voters and they used violence at polling stations to ensure Communists stayed away
Hitler looked like a hero and a strong leader because he had acted decisively- people thought his harsh reaction was justified
It also allowed him to get rid of other opponents.

9. The next step :The Enabling Act
In the following elections in March the Nazi’s gained a majority
They used this majority to pass a new law The Enabling Act
This allowed Hitler as Chancellor to make laws without consulting the Reichstag- it really gave him dictator powers
He now had the right to pass any law he wanted

10. The Law for the Protection of the People
Hitler didn’t stop at the enabling act
He used these powers to create another law- the law for the Protection of the people
This banned Communists, shut down newspapers and imprisoned any one he considered an enemy. He even set up a concentration camp Dachau for these political prisoners.
He even introduced the secret state police, the Gestapo

11. Controlling the Local Government
26 April 1933 Hitler and the Nazi’s took over control of local government and the police
This meant that in reality he was in control over Germany and law and order- they could arrest and imprison any one they wanted. They had become in charge of law and order.

12. Banning the Trade Unions
Hitler then on 2 May 1933 banned Trade unions
These were organisations that represented workers rights
He put the leaders in jail and confiscated their money, then made everyone join his workers organisation, the German Labour Front (DAF)
Result: Hitler had taken away workers way of complaining about hours and pay etc. it increased his control over the people

13. Banning Political Parties
14 July 1933
All political parties apart from the Nazi’s were banned in Germany and their leaders were put in prison
Germany was now a one Party state.

14. Dealing with the last of the enemies
By the end of 1933 Hitler had certainly become very powerful but there were still people who were a threat to his power
The judiciary, civil service, army and SA
One of the biggest threats to Hitler was the SA
The SA were led by Hitler’s long time friend Ernst Rohm- they were badly disciplined and loyal to Rohm. As they got powerful Hitler saw them as a threat
The army did not like the SA either, they felt threatened by them
Hitler decided to get rid of the SA and side with the army to get their loyalty

15. The night of the Long Knives
29-30 June 1934 Hitler acted against the SA
On the night of 30 June squads of SS soldiers broke into the homes of Rohm and other leading figures in the SA and arrested them
Hitler accused Rohm of plotting to over throw and murder him
Rohm and 400 other SA soldiers were executed along with other enemies like Schliecher
This purge was known as the night of the Long Knives.
Hindenburg thanked Hitler for taking swift action
Results- the SA threat was removed and Hitler earned the loyalty of the army. They now swore an oath of loyalty to Hitler.

16. What is the message of this cartoon?
They salute with both hands, now!

18. Der Fuhrer!!!!! August 1934 Hindenburg died
Hitler then combined the role of chancellor and President in one
The Fuhrer
Hitler had completed his rise to power. He was now dictator.
Hitler was now the supreme leader of Germany.

19. Hitler the rise of evil
Hitler becomes Chancellor Hitler consolidates his power

20. What is the message of this cartoon? (8)
They salute with both hands, now!

21. Mark Scheme Level 1- uses surface features of the cartoon only (1-2)
Its shows people saluting to Hitler
Level 2-interprets aspects of the cartoon (3)
Hitler has control of the SA
Level 2- main message of the cartoon identified (4)
The message of the cartoon is that Hitler has used terror and violence to deal with the SA by murdering key leading members and they are no longer a threat to him.
Level four- main message supported by details of the cartoon OR message supported by contextual knowledge (5-6)
Level five- main message supported by details of the cartoon and contextual knowledge (7-8) (Refers to the Night of the Long Knives June , killing of Rohm because he was a threat- accused of plotting to overthrow Hitler, SA had become too powerful, Hitler couldn’t be sure of their loyalty, 400 other soldiers killed, other people seen as a threat killed like Schleicher, won the army’s loyalty)

22. Practise questions What happened in the Reichstag fire? (4)
Why was Hitler able to become Chancellor in January 1933? (6)
‘The most important reason why Hitler was able to consolidate his control over Germany during was the ‘Night of the Long Knives’. Do you agree with this statement. Explain your answer. (10)

23. Mark scheme What happened at the Reichstag fire? (4)
4 accurate facts= 4 marks
Why did Hitler become Chancellor in 1933? (6)
3 reasons explained
Political manoeuvring/intrigue (Papen and Schliecher)
Depression and Weimar inability to deal with it- people turn to Nazi’s- disillusioned
Appeal of Nazi’s- they became the largest party in the Reichstag- couldn’t ignore them
Weakness of Weimar-they didn’t solve the crisis or create strong leadership- this made people disillusioned and seek alternatives

24. Mark scheme for 6 mark Q
Level 1- (1) general comment The Nazi’s had become popular Level 2 (2-3) identifies OR describes reasons (1 reason =2 marks, two or more reasons= 3 marks) Level 3 (4-6) explains reasons (1 reason explained = 4 marks 2 or more reasons= 5-6 marks) One reason why Hitler became Chancellor was that the Nazi’s had become the largest party in the reichstag. This meant that the Nazi’s had control in the Reichstag and the leaders had to account of their views. They had to be included in the government A further reason is that Weimar leaders like Papen were willing to make deals and conspiracies with Hitler. Papen tried to outdo his enemy Schliecher by making a deal with Hitler, he would persuade Hindenburg to make Hitler Chancellor and him vice Chancellor. A last reason is the appeal of Hitler as a strong and focal leader and a organised and popular party, they had considerable support across Germany by Hitler’s strength and message appealed to people after Weimar had failed to solve the crisis

25. 10 mark Q Level 1 (1) General comment
Other reasons were more important
Level 2 (2-3) identifies or describes other factors
Enabling Act, Reichstag fire, Law for the Protection of the state, banning the trade unions
Level 3 (3-5) explains one factor i.e Night of the Long Knives
Level 4 (6-8) explains more than one factor- other factors from knowledge
Level 5 (9-10) constructs an explanation which considers the inter relationship between range of factors and makes a judgements on comparative importance

26. What is a level 5 response like?
A complex chain of factors helped Hitler to strengthen his control over Germany. The Reichstag fire helped the Nazi’s to gain control over the Reichstag. This was necessary to get approval for the legal revolution. It allowed them to blame the Communists and ban them from the Reichstag which meant that in the following March elections the Nazi’s got the majority they needed. With this majority they now passed the Enabling Act. This allowed Hitler to make laws without the Reichstag’s approval, which meant that he was literally a dictator. This helped him to gain control over the government and then he could consolidate his grip over the Party by eliminating internal opponents like Rohm and the SA who were seen as a threat, this was done in the Night of the Long Knives in July Hitler ordered the execution of Rohm and 400 other SA officials as well as other opponents like Schleicher which gave him control of the Party but also gain the support and loyalty of the army. Therefore although the Knight of the Long Knives was important in helping Hitler to consolidate his power and rid himself of his final threat, it was not as important as acts like the Enabling Act which actually gave Hitler dictatorial powers. Overall the Enabling Act was the most important factor rather than the Night of the Long Knives.