National Studies GERMANY 1918 – 1939 Consolidation of Nazi Power By S. Angelo Head Teacher History East Hills Girls Technology High School 2007 By S. Angelo Head Teacher History East Hills Girls Technology High School 2007

Step 1: Hindenburg appoints Hitler as Chancellor 30 th January Nazis in Cabinet with von Papen as Vice-Chancellor (Hitler, Goering, Frick) Hindenburg agrees to dissolve Reichstag 1 st February and hold new elections Hitler hopes to gain 2/3 majority needed to form a government What are the implications for this? Hindenburg appoints Hitler as Chancellor 30 th January Nazis in Cabinet with von Papen as Vice-Chancellor (Hitler, Goering, Frick) Hindenburg agrees to dissolve Reichstag 1 st February and hold new elections Hitler hopes to gain 2/3 majority needed to form a government What are the implications for this?

Step 2 Reichstag Fire 27 th February 1933 Probably arson committed by Dutch Communist Marinus van der Lubbe acting alone Exploited by Nazis to highlight danger posed by communist threat How would this help the Nazis gain power? Reichstag Fire 27 th February 1933 Probably arson committed by Dutch Communist Marinus van der Lubbe acting alone Exploited by Nazis to highlight danger posed by communist threat How would this help the Nazis gain power?

Step 3 Presidential Decree 28 th February 1933 Decree of the Reich President for the Protection of the Nation and State Issued by Hindenburg using Article 48 Suspended constitutional and civil rights Gave secret police power to hold people indefinitely in protective custody Used to repress KPD Remained in force throughout Third Reich Essentially forming the basic law What are the ramifications of this for the German people? Presidential Decree 28 th February 1933 Decree of the Reich President for the Protection of the Nation and State Issued by Hindenburg using Article 48 Suspended constitutional and civil rights Gave secret police power to hold people indefinitely in protective custody Used to repress KPD Remained in force throughout Third Reich Essentially forming the basic law What are the ramifications of this for the German people?

Step 4 Elections 5 th March 1933 Government uses control of radio, police, along with unofficial pressure, to intimidate opponents in election Highest ever turnout % Nazi election slogan – “The Battle Against Marxism” Nazis only get 44% of vote Nationalist allies get 8% Formation of a coalition government What do you think the reaction of Hitler and the Nazi leadership would have been? Elections 5 th March 1933 Government uses control of radio, police, along with unofficial pressure, to intimidate opponents in election Highest ever turnout % Nazi election slogan – “The Battle Against Marxism” Nazis only get 44% of vote Nationalist allies get 8% Formation of a coalition government What do you think the reaction of Hitler and the Nazi leadership would have been?

Step 5 Ministry for Public Enlightenment and Propaganda established 13 March 1933 Goebbels appointed as head Exercised control over all media Film, radio, newspapers How significant was this in the consolidation of Nazi power? Ministry for Public Enlightenment and Propaganda established 13 March 1933 Goebbels appointed as head Exercised control over all media Film, radio, newspapers How significant was this in the consolidation of Nazi power?

Step 6 Enabling Act 24 th March 1933 Law for Terminating the Suffering of the People and the Nation Passed by Reichstag as SA and SS surround Opera House and intimidate deputies Gave emergency powers to government for four years Cabinet (Hitler) could pass decrees without President’s involvement Needed 2/3 majority since it was a constitutional amendment Passed 441 votes to 94 (SPD opposed; KPD banned) Centre Party supported it with promises from Hitler Renewed in 1938 Virtual constitution of Third Reich What did this essentially mean? Enabling Act 24 th March 1933 Law for Terminating the Suffering of the People and the Nation Passed by Reichstag as SA and SS surround Opera House and intimidate deputies Gave emergency powers to government for four years Cabinet (Hitler) could pass decrees without President’s involvement Needed 2/3 majority since it was a constitutional amendment Passed 441 votes to 94 (SPD opposed; KPD banned) Centre Party supported it with promises from Hitler Renewed in 1938 Virtual constitution of Third Reich What did this essentially mean?

Step 7 Boycott of Jewish shops 1 st April 1933 One day SA enforced boycott by standing outside stores with placards ‘kauft nicht bie Juden” “don’t buy from Jews” Associated with mass dismissal of Jews from civil service Law for Restoration of Professional Civil Service 8 th April 1933 How do you think the German people would have reacted to this? Boycott of Jewish shops 1 st April 1933 One day SA enforced boycott by standing outside stores with placards ‘kauft nicht bie Juden” “don’t buy from Jews” Associated with mass dismissal of Jews from civil service Law for Restoration of Professional Civil Service 8 th April 1933 How do you think the German people would have reacted to this?

Step 8 Destruction of Trade Unions May Day holiday 1 st May 1933 turned into a Day of National Labour Trade Union offices siezed 2 nd May 1933 All unions incorporated into new German Labour Front - DAF Destruction of Trade Unions May Day holiday 1 st May 1933 turned into a Day of National Labour Trade Union offices siezed 2 nd May 1933 All unions incorporated into new German Labour Front - DAF

Step 9 One Party policy 14 th July 1933 KPD and SPD already banned Other parties had to dissolve themselves No new parties allowed Germany becomes a one party state One Party policy 14 th July 1933 KPD and SPD already banned Other parties had to dissolve themselves No new parties allowed Germany becomes a one party state

Step 10 Reduction in power of local government 30 th January 1934 Law for the Reconstruction of the State From March 1933 many state (local) governments were overthrown by the SA using violence Third Reich government appoints commissioners New laws formalise this Elected State Assemblies dissolved Reich Governors created to run states Reduction in power of local government 30 th January 1934 Law for the Reconstruction of the State From March 1933 many state (local) governments were overthrown by the SA using violence Third Reich government appoints commissioners New laws formalise this Elected State Assemblies dissolved Reich Governors created to run states

Step 11 Night of the Long Knives 30 th June 1934 Advised by Mussolini to get rid of SA SS shoot many SA and other people seen as a threat Removed the left wing threat Won support of Reichswehr who resented SA Reduced conservative opposition Justified as a removal of Rohm – SA leader Gustav von Kahr and Gregor Strasser also removed As many as 1,000 died – including about 50 SA leaders Night of the Long Knives 30 th June 1934 Advised by Mussolini to get rid of SA SS shoot many SA and other people seen as a threat Removed the left wing threat Won support of Reichswehr who resented SA Reduced conservative opposition Justified as a removal of Rohm – SA leader Gustav von Kahr and Gregor Strasser also removed As many as 1,000 died – including about 50 SA leaders

Step 12 Death of Hindenburg 2 nd August 1934 Hitler becomes undisputed head of government – the Fuhrer – leader 1 st August Law Concerning the Head of State of the German Reich merged office of President and Chancellor – the position was called “The Fuhrer and Reich Chancellor” Confirmed by Plebicite Army takes an oath of personal obedience to Hitler “I swear by God this sacred oath: I will render unconditional obedience to Adolf Hitler, the Fuhrer of the German nation and people, Supreme Commander of the armed forces, and will be ready as a true soldier to risk my life at any time for this oath.” Death of Hindenburg 2 nd August 1934 Hitler becomes undisputed head of government – the Fuhrer – leader 1 st August Law Concerning the Head of State of the German Reich merged office of President and Chancellor – the position was called “The Fuhrer and Reich Chancellor” Confirmed by Plebicite Army takes an oath of personal obedience to Hitler “I swear by God this sacred oath: I will render unconditional obedience to Adolf Hitler, the Fuhrer of the German nation and people, Supreme Commander of the armed forces, and will be ready as a true soldier to risk my life at any time for this oath.”

HITLER’S STRATEGY METHODS OF CONSOLIDATING POWER USE OF LAWCONCESSIONSWIDE APPEALPROPAGANDA CO-ORDINATION Gleichshaltung AIR OF RESPECTIBILITY TERROR INTIMIDATION

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