Steps to dictator

Reichstag fire - communist caught red handed

- decree for the protection of the nation and the state passes

• secret police could hold people without trial

• civil liberties suspended

• Communists arrested in large numbers

• Communist newspapers banned

Elections

• 288 nazi seats in Reichstag

• 81 seats taken from communists

Enabling act

• allowed Hitler to govern without the Reichstag for four years

• SA and SS troops intimidated all Reichstag members to vote accordingly

Local government - nazi officials put in charge of all local branches

Trade unions banned - DAF set up to replace unions

Political parties banned - leaders imprisoned all parties removed from ballots

Night of the long knives

• SA became powerful and was seen as a threat by Hitler

• Rohms views differed drastically - including homosexuality

• SA effected nazi relations with regular army

• SS arrested 200 SA officers - most of whom were executed

• Also killed old enemies like von schleicher and von kahr

• Later legalized by Reichstag

Death of Hindenburg

• Hitler created position of Fuhrer

• Army swore personal oath to Hitler