1. Germany 1933-34: From Democracy to Dictatorship
By the end of this lesson you should…
Be able to describe the events that enabled Hitler to consolidate his power by the summer of 1934…

2. What do “democracy” and “dictatorship” mean?
This period is also known as Hitler’s consolidation of power – what does this mean?
Add to your worksheets 40 39 41 43 44 38 42 37 33 32 34 35 36 45 46 56 55 57 58 60 59 54 53 48 47 49 50 52 51 31 29 9 8 10 11 13 12 7 6 1
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3. Hitler’s position in January 1933…
… Hitler was in a precarious position…
Few thought he would hold on to power for long…
… Hindenburg and Von Papen had made him Chancellor but were determined to keep him under control…

4. Von Papen
In two months we’ll have pushed Hitler into a corner so hard that he’ll be squeaking…

5. BUT… by 2 Aug 1934, Hitler was Führer of Germany
In August 1934 President Hindenburg died…
… Hitler took over the office of President and as Führer – Supreme Leader of Germany
… all soldiers swore on oath of readiness to die for Adolf Hitler personally
…the Nazis were the only political party in the country…

6. How did this happen?
A good way of remembering how Hitler changed Germany from a democracy to a dictatorship is through 8 steps…
… some of his methods were legal; others were more dubious (i.e. illegal or of dubious legality)…

7. Group work instructions
You have 10 mins to research your topic and prepare to present to the class.
Max 2 presenters, one of whom should write 3-4 key points (no more) on the board while your group is presenting. Max 3-4 mins per group.
Start with the headline question for your topic – e.g. for topic 1 on the Reichstag fire, start with “How did the Nazis use the Reichstag fire?”
Also cover what briefly what happened + any other important points.
Once you have researched your topic research 1, 3 or 7 also.

8. Whiteboard Daniel Sueban Nathan Harry B Shoaib Enzo Josh Adam Craig
Callum C
Harry C
Ethan
Samee
Callum H
Vedant
Haroon
Arsh
Kieran
Troy
Sahib
Matthew
Tom
Ben

9. Whiteboard Daniel Sueban Nathan Harry B Shoaib Enzo Josh 1 8 2 5 7
Adam
Craig
Callum C
Harry C
Ethan
Samee
Callum H
Vedant 1 3
Haroon
Arsh
Kieran
Troy
Sahib
Matthew
Tom
Ben

12. Step 1 – The Reichstag Fire (27 Feb 1933)
A Dutch Communist named Marius van der Lubbe was caught with matches and fire-lighting materials. He was quickly tried and executed.
How did the Nazis use the Reichstag Fire?
28th Feb – The Decree for the Protection of People and State. Made it possible to arrest anyone suspected of actions against the state without evidence.

13. Step 2 – The General Election Mar 1933
Hitler held a general election.
Only 44% of the people voted Nazi, which did not give him a majority in the Reichstag, so Hitler arrested the 81 Communist deputies (which did give him a majority)
How did he increase the Nazi vote and could he arrest the Communists?

14. Step 3 – The Enabling Act – 23 Mar 1933
With his majority he intimidated the Reichstag into voting on an Enabling Act.
Gave him the power to make laws without consulting the Reichstag.
Nazi stormtroopers stopped opposition members going in, and beat up anyone who dared to speak against it.
The Communists had been banned.
The Catholic Centre Party co-operated in exchange for keeping control of Catholic schools.
Only the Social Democrats (SPD) voted against him.
Why was this so important?     

15. Was Hitler totally secure?
Not totally, why?
He had seen how the army and other important groups like the justice system had undermined the Weimar Republic…
He needed to win over or remove certain sections of society.

16. Step 4 - Local Government – April 1933
The Nazis took over local government and the police.  
The Nazis started to replace anti-Nazi teachers and University professors.  
Hitler set up the Gestapo (the secret police) and encouraged Germans to report opponents and 'grumblers'.  
Tens of thousands of Jews, Communists, Protestants, Jehovah's Witnesses, gypsies, homosexuals, alcoholics and prostitutes were arrested and sent to concentration camps for 'crimes' as small as writing anti-Nazi graffiti, possessing a banned book, or saying that business was bad.  

17. Step 5 - Trade Unions banned (2 May 1933)
The Trade Unions offices were closed, their money confiscated, and their leaders put in prison.  
In their place, Hitler put the German Labour Front (DAF). He also set up a public works programme (road building – autobahn) to create jobs.
Why attack the Trade Unions and what was the DAF and public works programme intended to do?

18. Step 6 - Political Parties banned (14 July 1933)
The Law against the Formation of Parties declared the Nazi Party the only political party in Germany
All other parties were banned, and their leaders were put in prison 

19. Step 7- Night of the Long Knives (30 June 1934)
The SA were the thugs who Hitler had used to help him come to power.  
By 1934 the SA had become an embarassment and danger for Hitler.
Rohm, the leader of the SA, was talking about a Socialist revolution and about taking over the army.  
On the night of 30 June 1934 – codeword 'Hummingbird” – Hitler ordered the SS to kill more than 400 SA men.
Why do you think Hitler turned on the SA?

21. Step 8 – Fuhrer – 2 Aug 1934
When Hindenburg died, Hitler took over the office of President and leader of the army (the soldiers had to swear to die for Adolf Hitler personally).  
The army agreed to stay out of politics and serve the Fuhrer.
In return Hitler spent large sums of money on rearmament and introduced conscription.  
Why choose the army over the SA?

22. Video
(9 minutes: if time – whole thing; if not start at 4.05 (election results))
Alt: How Hitler Rose to Power BBC

23. “Nazis rise from Reichstag’s ashes to win 288 seats in the election”
Your task is to write the newspaper article that explains this headline
Include: the Reichstag Fire; the emergency decree; the election campaign; the election result
You can write as a Nazi paper, an anti-Nazi paper (SPD or Communist), neutral paper