how did hitler consolidate his power

reichstag fire- what did hitler use article 48 to do

• opposition politicians were arrested and imprisoned

• enemies of the nazi’s especially communists could be executed

• many opponents were driven into exile

how did hitler use the reichstag fire to consolidate his power

• discredited the communist party (it is said that a communist lit it on fire- he was found outside) who were the nazi’s major opposition, hitler is given an excuse to target the communist party

• hitler legallyu gained emergency powers, he used this to arrest communists and intimidate voters

• nazis won their largest share of votes in the march 1933 election 43.9% with the support of the nationalist party, hitler had the overall vote

how did hitler use the enabling act to consolidate his power

• legal dictator so could use the law to legally remove opponents

• germany became a one party state- succeeded in using democracy to dismantle democracy

• able to create laws to gain support of important groups such as the workers 

• able to create laws that restrict the power of potential opponents such as the church 

two laws passed using the enabling act

• concordat with roman catholic church- goverment protected religous freedom but in return the chruch was banned from political activity

  • removing potential political opponents- silencing the church which was a moral voice

  • lots of germans were catholics

• workers granted may day holiday

  • shows hitler recognises the workers

  • biggest part of the population