How did Hitler become the dictator of Germany 1933-34

The Reichstag Fire February 1933
1. The Nazis did not have a majority in the Reichstag when Hitler became Chancellor
  1. A decree was passed in February 1933 to ensure free and peaceful elections
    1. Gave the Nazis the power to intimidate and bully their political opponents
      1. 27th February, the Reichstag was burned down
        The communist Van der Lubbe was caught at the scene
        Hitler declared that the communists were attacking Germany
        Emergency powers were granted that were used to attack the communist party
The Enabling Act March 1933
1. Elections were held in the aftermath of the Reichstag Fire
  1. The SA was used to intimidate opponents and voters
    1. The Nazis won the mot seats BUT did not have a 2/3rds majority
      1. This was needed to change the constitution
        Hitler used the emergency powers as a result of the Reichstag Fire to ban the communists
        This enabled the Nazis to pass the Enabling Act in March 1933
        This gave the Nazis the power to pass laws without approval from the Reichstag
        These laws could deviate from the constitution
Gleichschaltung 1933
1. Control of State Parliaments
  1. All state parliaments were closed down in March 1933
    1. State governors were appointed by the Nazis
      1. They had the power to control each part of Germany
2. Control of Trade Unions
  1. Potential opponents and close allies of the communists
    1. May 1933 - many Trade union officials were arrested
      1. All unions were merged into the German Labour Front
3. Control of other political parties
  1. Hitler wanted a one-party state
    1. May 1933 - they attacked the Social Democrats and the Communists
      1. They destroyed their newspapers and confiscated their funds
        June 1933 - a law was passed stating that only the Nazi party was allowed to exist
The Night of the Long Knives 1934
1. Rohm and the SA were potential rivals to Hitler
  1. By 1934 it had 2 million members
    1. Rohm was an embarrassment to the Nazis
      1. Homosexual and an alcoholic
  2. Rohm wanted to merge the SA with the army
    1. He was arguing for more socialist policies
      1. Himmler and Goering said Hitler needed to act against Rohm
        A meeting was organised for 30th June 1934
        The SS was used to arrest and execute over 100 leaders of the SA
        Rohm was executed
        The result was the SA was now firmly under the control of Hitler
        The SS was a distinct organisation, becoming more powerful
        Other potential opponents such as Von Schleicher and Strasser were executed
Hitler becomes Der Fuhrer
1. President Hindenburg died in August 1934
  1. He was the last remaining obstacle to complete power for Hitker
    1. Hitler combined the role of Chancellor and President - Der Fuhrer
      1. The army swore an oath allegiance to Hitler (not Germany)

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How did Hitler become the dictator of Germany 1933-34

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	Created by Dan Bacon over 7 years ago