1. The Rise of Hitler and the Nazi Party

2. 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?

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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

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

13. REVIEW
BBC Bitesize History