How did Hitler turn the Chancellorship into a dictatorship by 1934?

Der Fuhrer HITLER BECAME CHANCELLOR THE REICHSTAG FIRE THE ENABLING ACT Der Fuhrer OATH OF LOYALTY TO HITLER THE NIGHT OF THE LONG KNIVES DEATH OF PRESIDENT HINDENBURG

Hitler became Chancellor January 1933 The depression after the Wall Street Crash made many more people vote for the Nazis. In 1933 Von Papen convinced Hindenburg that Hitler should become Chancellor. Hitler became Chancellor January 1933

The Reichstag Fire February 1933

The Reichstag Fire The Reichstag building burnt down. A communist was found inside the building. He admitted responsibility. Chancellor Hitler was able to convince people that the Communists were trying to take power by terrorism. He was able to have the Communists banned from the Reichstag. February 1933

The Enabling Act With the Communists banned from the Reichstag Hitler was able to pass: HITLER CAN RULE ALONE FOR FOUR YEARS. THERE IS NO NEED TO CONSULT THE REICHSTAG. March 1933

THE ENABLING ACT GAVE HITLER THE POWER TO MAKE HIS OWN LAWS THE ENABLING ACT GAVE HITLER THE POWER TO MAKE HIS OWN LAWS. SO, HE BANNED ALL OTHER POLITICAL PARTIES! KPD SPD SPD- Social Democrats KPD- Communists DDP- German Democratic Zentrum- German Centre Party (Catholic) DDP Zentrum

Political prisoners were put in concentration camps run by the S.S.

The Night of the Long Knives Now I have got rid of opposition political groups, I can now deal with opposition in my party. Ernst Rohm (an old friend), head of the S.A. is very unpopular with the German army leaders. They have the power to overthrow me.I’ve been worried about Rohm for a while, so this is a good excuse. June 1934

The Night of the Long Knives Hitler had to get rid of Rohm. He was too much of a threat. On the night of 30th June 1934 Hitler’s S.S. killed over 1000 SA members including Rohm. The army were pleased. Hitler had gained the support of the army.

The death of President Hindenburg A final note PRESIDENT HINDENBURG’S DEATH GAVE HITLER THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMBINE THE ROLE OF CHANCELLOR AND PRESIDENT. HE CALLED HIMSELF ‘DER FUHRER’. August 1934

Oath of loyalty to Adolf Hitler Every soldier swore a personal oath of loyalty to ADOLF HITLER.

So, how did he become a dictator legally?

Der Fuhrer HITLER BECAME CHANCELLOR THE REICHSTAG FIRE THE ENABLING ACT Der Fuhrer OATH OF LOYALTY TO HITLER THE NIGHT OF THE LONG KNIVES DEATH OF PRESIDENT HINDENBURG

Background (do not write down) Germany’s Economic Problems The Treaty of Versailles ended World War I. The punishing terms of the treaty were designed to ensure that Germany could not impose a threat to other countries for decades. After the war, every country in Europe was in terrible shape, economically, socially, and politically. With the added burden of the Treaty of Versailles, Germany was in ruins. It was exhausted by the effort of fighting the war and now it also had a huge debt to its enemies. Germany was given a new constitution in 1919. It was known as the Weimar constitution. Everyone hoped that it would create a stable and democratic country but it did not. There were 12 major political parties elected to German Parliament which made it difficult for all of the political groups to agree on a plan to rebuild Germany’s economy.

A series of weak government followed A series of weak government followed. They tried to pay the reparations that the Treaty of Versailles had imposed. When they did not have enough money to make the payments they did two things that made life very difficult in Germany. They borrowed money, mainly from the United States, with a promise to pay back the loans in the future. They printed more German marks and used them to buy U.S. dollars to pay off the loans and the reparations. As more marks went into circulation, each one became worth less. Business demanded more marks for their products. Workers demanded more marks for their labour. Prices rose, slowly at first, then at an alarming rate. As the value of the mark went down, Germans could no longer afford to buy imported goods. Many companies went bankrupt and laid off all of their workers. The situation became so bad that people needed shopping bags full of marks to buy basic groceries. Prices’ rising out of control like this is called hyperinflation. Although a new version of the mark was introduced in 1924, and prices stabilized, the damage had been done. People had no confidence in German money or the German economy. Unemployment rose to very high levels.

The Rise of the Nazi Party In this atmosphere, extreme parties began to gain popularity. They seemed to be the only ones offering a clear message and strong leadership. The Communists wanted to make Germany more like Russia. The fascists, or Nazis, on the other hand, supported dictatorship and an economy that was controlled by large corporations. They were also racists, and admired certain so-called “pure” races. Their leader was Adolf Hitler. Hitler exploited people’s bitterness over unemployment, poverty, and the Treaty of Versailles. He told the German people he had a plan to make Germany a great nation again. His plan included the following terms: He would stop paying reparations to other nations. He would invest in Germany’s industries to create growth. He would build up Germany’s military forces. He would end unemployment.

It was a powerful message It was a powerful message. Just before the election of 1933, the German Parliament Buildings burned down. Many historians believe that the Nazis themselves set the fire, but Hitler blamed the Communists – a tactic designed to scare people into voting for the Nazis. Hitler also enlisted his supporters in the Storm Troopers to threaten voters with violence if they did not openly support the Nazi Party. Not surprisingly, the Nazis won the most seats in the German Parliament, and Adolf Hitler became Chancellor. Once in office, Hitler asked Parliament for special powers to deal with “the enemies of Germany” who he claimed were trying to destroy government. He pointed to the burning of the Parliament Buildings to prove that the threat was real. As soon as Parliament had granted him these powers, he abolished the Parliament. Hitler would now rule as a dictator. He called himself “the Fuhrer” or leader and his word was the law. Anyone who opposed Hitler was imprisoned, tortured, or murdered.

Hitler’s Economic and Social Policies 1933 to 1938 At first, Hitler focused on building up Germany’s economy and reducing unemployment. Like other Western nations, Germany began a huge program of public works – projects paid for by the government such as road building and the installation of water and sewer pipes. Hitler also authorized the production of an affordable Volkswagen or “people’s car” for ordinary working families. Hitler created hundreds of thousands more jobs when he began to build up the military. The buildup was above the levels of the Treaty of Versailles but Hitler claimed that Germany had to protect itself against Communists and especially the Soviet Union if it should attack. At the same time, Hitler began to reduce people’s civil liberties. (Civil liberties are the rights of people to do, say, and act as they please in society as long as they are not hurting anyone or breaking any laws.) Trade unions were banned, newspapers had to support Nazi policies, and the teachers were expected to tell their classes about how wonderful Hitler was. Books that did not conform to Nazi views were burned in huge bonfires.

Ok time to write some more stuff down….

Weimar Republic The Weimar Republic is the nickname given to the German state from 1919 to 1933. It was dubbed the "Weimar Republic" by historians in honour of the city of Weimar, where a national assembly convened to write and adopt a new constitution (which became effective on August 11, 1919) for the German Reich, following the nation's defeat in World War I.

Economic Depression in Weimar Germany during the 1920’s The Big 3 who created the Treaty of Versailles asked for £6.6 million in reparations from Germany. (don’t write) Germany was unable to pay this amount of money because of the cost of WWI. To make up for their lack of money they had to print off more paper money than the gold their country had. (don’t write)

This caused hyperinflation which made their money worthless and sent Germany into a depression during the 1920’s. Many German’s starved to death and were miserable. Germans were looking for two things: 1.) A strong leader to lead them through these tough times. 2.) Revenge on the countries who made their lives so miserable.

Hyperinflation (Copy me ) In economics, hyperinflation is inflation that is "out of control," a condition in which prices increase rapidly as a currency loses its value. (Don’t copy ) The main cause of hyperinflation is a massive and rapid increase in the amount of money, which is not supported by growth in the output of goods and services. (Copy Me ) To make a long story short, its when you print more paper money than you have gold or goods to back it up. Thus the paper money is worthless!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AnpTWKKWQ1o http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QtG7Wa188dg power of the will Hitler