Hitler's consolidation of power

When was the Reichstag fire?

28th February 1933

What happened in the Reichstag fire?

• A young dutchman set fire to the Reichstag as a protest of the repression of the working class.

• Hitler and the Nazis ignored the evidence that he acted alone and concluded it was communist backlash.

• This gave them the opportunity to crush the communists and suspend parts of the constitution.

• They used legal means to begin the seizure.

• Hindenburg allowed them to pass the Decree for the people and protection of the state.

• The rights of freedom of speech, press and assembly were suspended.

• The police were given full power to detain indefinitely without reference to the courts.

• The cabinet was now able to interfere with the lander which was previously the role of the president.

• This was welcomed by the public due anti-communist propaganda that suggested the decree with defeat it.

• There were 25,000 political prisoners in Prussia by the end of April.

When was Potsdam Day?

21st March 1933

What was Potsdam Day?

• The opening of a new Reichstag in Potsdam.

• Hitler was keen to impress Hindenburg and other right-wing elites(e.g. the army).

• He gave a moderate speech emphasising his commitment to traditional German values and culture.

• Goebbels seized the propaganda opportunity and suggested that Hitler wore a mourning dress.

• Within hours of his speech, Hitler had convened the Reichstag and passed the Malicious Practices Law which banned any criticism of the regime or its policies.

• This was meant to reasure, but was clearly a sign of a ‘nationalist revolution’.

When was the Enabling Law made?

24th March 1933

What was the Enabling Law?

• It gave power to the cabinet, allowing the government to alter the constitution as it saw fit.

• It gave Hitler 4 more years as a dictator.

• It required a 2/3 majority vote in the Reichstag and a 2/3 attendance.

• Communist deputies were illegally barred from the Reichstag.

• Goring reduced the number of votes needed.

• They still required the full support of the Centre Party.

• Therefore, Hitler promised a Catholic influence on education.

• The Catholic deputies were also threatened by the SA.

• The only party that opposed was the SPD.

• This showed that democracy and the Weimar Constitution was dead.

What events show gleichschaltung (coordination)?

• This was the coordination of all aspects of German political and social life under Nazi control.

• Law for the Restoration of the Civil Service - banned all Jews and political opponents from civil service positions.

• The ADGB (trade unions) was ransacked after May Day; their organisation was disbanded and assets seized.

• The German Labour Front was set up as an alternative to trade unions.

• The SPD was banned and their assets seized, about 3000 were arrested and many murdered.

• The Nazi Party was declared to be the only legal party (although at this point all other parties had voluntarily disbanded).

• Law to ensure the Unity of the Party and the State.

• The Reichsrat was abolished - shows the completion of the centralisation of the state as local government were made completely subordinate to the central government.

When was the Night of the Long Knives?

30th June 1934

What was the Night of the Long Knives?

• Directed mainly at the SA leadership.

• Prevented the conservative leadership from stopping Hitler from succeeding Hindenburg.

• Rumours of a SA plot had been fed to Hitler.

• Hitler and the SS travelled to Tergensee (near Munich) where Rhom (the leader of the SA) and his entourage were staying.

• Rohm was arrested, named as an enemy and then killed.

• ALong with others such as von Schleicher.

• Around 200 were killed.

• This was made legal by the Law Concerning Measure for the Defence of the State.

• This claimed that it was in self defence.

• The SA was disbanded.

When did Hindenburg die and Hitler become Fuhrer?

2nd August 1934

What was significant about Hindenburg’s death?

• In the end it seemed Hitler was able to manipulate the ageing president, convincing him to support the enabling law among other things.

• On the same day Hitler combined the role of chancellor and president and declared himself the Fuhrer.

• This was a significant step in the creation of the Hitler myth and the utilisation of the Fuhrerprinzip.

• Hitler had now got rid of all his opposition.

When was the army oath of allegiance?

2nd August 1934

What was the army oath of allegiance?

• The army had remained loyal to the president - he was the monarchical figurehead of the German state, and their traditional values and beliefs ensured their loyalty.

• On Hindenburg’s death and following the declaration of Hitler as Fuhrer the army swore an oath of allegiance to Hitler.

• This oath claimed loyalty to Hitler but not the party or Germany.

• The removal of the threat of the SA was also a significant factor in securing the loyalty of the army.