1. Gleichschaltung
How the Nazi Party and Adolf Hitler established a totalitarian government in Germany

2. Hitler with Hindenburg
January 30, 1933
President Paul von Hindenburg names Adolf Hitler as Chancellor of Germany
Hitler with Hindenburg

4. February 27, 1933 – The Reichstag Fire

5. February 27, 1933 Reichstag Fire Decree
Hermann Goering called the Reichstag Fire a communist plot to over throw the state. (Communist plot or Nazi ploy? Inconclusive) Adolf Hitler convinced Pres. Hindenburg to issue the Reichstag Fire Decree This decree: suspended constitutional rights and created a state of emergency President can now issue a decree without Reichstag approval Nazis deputize the SA; SA arrests political opponents

6. March 24, 1933 – The Enabling Act The Cabinet (Hitler) may enact laws without the Reichstag

7. March 24, 1933 – The Enabling Act
This law required a vote of two-thirds of the Reichstag
The Nazis intimidated the Reichstag to ensure the law passed
After the Reichstag Fire Decree the SA arrested Nazi political opponents – Communist Party members, some Social Democrats were placed in “protective” detention camps
SS and SA members were placed around the Reichstag Chamber (now meeting in the Kroll Opera House) to intimidate non-NSDAP party members into voting for the Enabling Act

8. NSADP: Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei
Adolf Hitler
Nazi Party Leader Reich Chancellor
Joseph Goebbels
Minister of Propganda
Ernst Rohm
SA Chief of Staff
Sturmabteilung (SA) Nazi Paramilitary Org
Heinrich Himmler
Reichsführer-SS Schutzstaffel (SS)
Reinhard Heydrich
Chief of Reich Main Security Office
Sicherheitsdienst (SD)

9. Night of the Long Knives (June 30 – July 2, 1934)
Gov’t (Hindenburg) feared SA had become too powerful
Reichswehr (army) feared the SA might remove its officers
Himmler, Heydrich and Goering conspired against the SA and Rohm
June 30, Himmler orders the SS to eliminate political opponents
Ernst Rohm, Hitler’s friend, is killed on July 1
July 3 – Reich Cabinet issues a law making the murders legal
Called a “emergency” to save the nation
Joseph Goebbels launches propaganda campaign
Purge was needed to remove traitors, Rohm, and his homosexuals

10. Paul von Hindenburg dies August 2, 1934
Funeral

11. Fuhrer
Hitler and the Nazis announced the following law, dated as of August 1, 1934.
"The Reich Government has enacted the following law which is hereby promulgated. Section 1. The office of Reich President will be combined with that of Reich Chancellor. The existing authority of the Reich President will consequently be transferred to the Fuhrer and Reich Chancellor, Adolf Hitler. He will select his deputy. Section 2. This law is effective as of the time of the death of Reich President von Hindenburg."