From Chancellor to Dictator

Reichstag Fire
27th Feb 1933
Reichstag building destroyed by fire
Nazis claim it is a communist plot to take over Germany (Marinus van der Lubbe at the scene - Dutch communist)
Persuades Hindenberg to grant emergency powers to arrest and hold people for as long as they want

New Elections
5th March
Use police and SA to put pressure on political opponents
Radios broadcast anti-communist message
Best result - 44% of vote

Enabling Law
24th March
Power to pass laws without going through the Reichstag or President
Communists banned from voting
Centre Party convinced by promise to protect church
Law passed 444 votes to 94 (Social Democrats against)

Trade Unions taken over
2nd May
Offices taken over and union leaders arrested
All trade unions merged into German Labour Front (DAF)
DAF controlled by Nazis

Political Parties Banned
July
Law introduced banning new political parties
Social Democrats and Communists already banned
Others have broken up
Now only one party in Germany

Night of the Long Knives
29th - 30th June 1934
Concerned by increasing power of SA - it had 3 million members and wanted to control army
Leader is Ernst Rohm, close friend and potential rival
Needs to reassure army - only organisation with power to take on Hitler
SA leaders are dragged from their beds and shot dead in Nazi HQ
Rohm refused to commit suicide so was shot in prison
Sent message that Hitler is ruthless - Killed opponents within the party

Death of Hindenberg
2nd August
Hindenberg dies, Hitler makes himself Fuhrer (Chancellor + President)
Unchallengeable

Army Oath
August
Army took oath of personal loyalty to Hitler
He is Supreme Commander of the armed forces
All German soldiers swore to obey Hitler and risk life for him
Creates elite controllers who are fanatical Nazis - The SS

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Hitler 1933-34