The Rise of Hitler and the Nazi Party

Although Hitler became the Chancellor of Germany in 1933 he was only the leader of a coalition government. So how did he manage to turn Germany into a dictatorship?

Removing Opposition Feb. 1933 – Reichstag fire Mar. 1933 – Enabling Act June 1934 – Night of the Long Knives July 1934 – President Hindenburg dies Aug. 1934 – Hitler becomes “Fuhrer”

Reichstag Fire Reichstag was the German parliament building. Elections were to be held in March 1933. On evening of Feb. 27 it burnt down. Marinus van der Lubbe, a Dutch communist, was arrested at the site. Hitler believed it was part of a communist plot to overthrow democracy. Leading communists were jailed. Ruins of Reichstag, Feb. 28,1933

The Enabling Act Passed after the March 1933 election. Gave Hitler power to make any law without needing a vote in the Reichstag. Hitler banned all political parties and trade unions and put their leaders in Dachau, the first concentration camp opened in 1933. Hitler’s speech promoting the Enabling Act

Night of the Long Knives Starting in June 1934, up to 200 people, including many members of the SA (Sturm Abteilung) were arrested, taken to Munich and shot by the SS (Schutzstaffel, Hitler’s personal bodyguard). The SA was seen as a threat to overthrowing Hitler. The German army was relieved at this and, later, swore an oath promising to be loyal to Hitler instead of the country. ‘They salute with both hands now.’ British cartoon

Fuhrer In July 1934 President Hindenburg died. He was the only one who could have dismissed the Chancellor (Hitler). Hitler combined the offices of Chancellor and President and declared himself the Fuhrer (leader). Germany was now a dictatorship.

The Police State In addition to the SS, Hitler developed a number of organizations to enforce terror : - SD “Sicherheitdienst” responsible for state security. - the Gestapo were the secret police. - the People’s Court whose judges were handpicked by the Nazis.

The Concentration Camps Set up for Hitler’s enemies, concentration camps were places of torture and extermination. In addition to Jews, Hitler persecuted political opponents, gypsies, vagrants, homosexuals, Catholic leaders, and the mentally ill. Sachsenhausen concentration camp

Propaganda and Censorship The Nazis used newspapers, radio, and the cinema to get Hitler’s message across. They also banned books and newspapers that opposed them. Nuremberg Rally

Treatment of Jews Nuremberg Laws – passed in 1935, made it illegal for Jews to marry non-Jews, deprived them of citizenship and the vote. Jews were forbidden from using swimming pools, restaurants, and other public facilities. In schools children were taught to hate Jews. ‘I am a Jew. I will never again complain about the Nazis.’ Boycotting a Jewish shop

Treatment of Jews Kristallnacht – on the night of Nov. 9, 1938 7500 Jewish businesses and synagogues were destroyed and over 30,000 Jews were sent to concentration camps.

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