National StudiesGERMANY 1918 – 1939

Consolidation of Nazi Power1933 - 1934

National StudiesGERMANY 1918 – 1939

Consolidation of Nazi Power1933 - 1934

ByS. AngeloHead Teacher HistoryEast Hills Girls Technology High School2007

ByS. AngeloHead Teacher HistoryEast Hills Girls Technology High School2007

Step 1:Step 1: Hindenburg appoints Hitler

as Chancellor 30th January 1933 3 Nazis in Cabinet with von

Papen as Vice-Chancellor (Hitler, Goering, Frick)

Hindenburg agrees to dissolve Reichstag 1st February and hold new elections

Hitler hopes to gain 2/3 majority needed to form a government

What are the implications for this?

Hindenburg appoints Hitler as Chancellor 30th January 1933 3 Nazis in Cabinet with von

Papen as Vice-Chancellor (Hitler, Goering, Frick)

Hindenburg agrees to dissolve Reichstag 1st February and hold new elections

Hitler hopes to gain 2/3 majority needed to form a government

What are the implications for this?

Step 2Step 2

Reichstag Fire 27th February 1933Probably arson committed by Dutch

Communist Marinus van der Lubbe acting alone

Exploited by Nazis to highlight danger posed by communist threat

How would this help the Nazis gain power?

Reichstag Fire 27th February 1933Probably arson committed by Dutch

Communist Marinus van der Lubbe acting alone

Exploited by Nazis to highlight danger posed by communist threat

How would this help the Nazis gain power?

Step 3Step 3

Presidential Decree 28th February 1933 Decree of the Reich President for the

Protection of the Nation and State Issued by Hindenburg using Article 48 Suspended constitutional and civil rights Gave secret police power to hold people

indefinitely in protective custody Used to repress KPD Remained in force throughout Third Reich

Essentially forming the basic law What are the ramifications of this for the

German people?

Presidential Decree 28th February 1933 Decree of the Reich President for the

Protection of the Nation and State Issued by Hindenburg using Article 48 Suspended constitutional and civil rights Gave secret police power to hold people

indefinitely in protective custody Used to repress KPD Remained in force throughout Third Reich

Essentially forming the basic law What are the ramifications of this for the

German people?

Step 4Step 4

Elections 5th March 1933 Government uses control of radio, police, along

with unofficial pressure, to intimidate opponents in election

Highest ever turnout - 88.8% Nazi election slogan – “The Battle Against Marxism” Nazis only get 44% of vote Nationalist allies get 8% Formation of a coalition government

What do you think the reaction of Hitler and the Nazi leadership would have been?

Elections 5th March 1933 Government uses control of radio, police, along

with unofficial pressure, to intimidate opponents in election

Highest ever turnout - 88.8% Nazi election slogan – “The Battle Against Marxism” Nazis only get 44% of vote Nationalist allies get 8% Formation of a coalition government

What do you think the reaction of Hitler and the Nazi leadership would have been?

Step 5Step 5

Ministry for Public Enlightenment and Propaganda established 13 March 1933Goebbels appointed as headExercised control over all media

Film, radio, newspapers

How significant was this in the consolidation of Nazi power?

Ministry for Public Enlightenment and Propaganda established 13 March 1933Goebbels appointed as headExercised control over all media

Film, radio, newspapers

How significant was this in the consolidation of Nazi power?

Step 6Step 6

Enabling Act 24th March 1933 Law for Terminating the Suffering of the People and

the Nation Passed by Reichstag as SA and SS surround Opera

House and intimidate deputies Gave emergency powers to government for four

years Cabinet (Hitler) could pass decrees without

President’s involvement Needed 2/3 majority since it was a constitutional

amendment Passed 441 votes to 94 (SPD opposed; KPD banned)

Centre Party supported it with promises from Hitler Renewed in 1938 Virtual constitution of Third Reich

What did this essentially mean?

Enabling Act 24th March 1933 Law for Terminating the Suffering of the People and

the Nation Passed by Reichstag as SA and SS surround Opera

House and intimidate deputies Gave emergency powers to government for four

years Cabinet (Hitler) could pass decrees without

President’s involvement Needed 2/3 majority since it was a constitutional

amendment Passed 441 votes to 94 (SPD opposed; KPD banned)

Centre Party supported it with promises from Hitler Renewed in 1938 Virtual constitution of Third Reich

What did this essentially mean?

Step 7Step 7

Boycott of Jewish shops 1st April 1933 One day SA enforced boycott by standing outside

stores with placards ‘kauft nicht bie Juden” “don’t buy from Jews”

Associated with mass dismissal of Jews from civil service

Law for Restoration of Professional Civil Service 8th April 1933

How do you think the German people would have reacted to this?

Boycott of Jewish shops 1st April 1933 One day SA enforced boycott by standing outside

stores with placards ‘kauft nicht bie Juden” “don’t buy from Jews”

Associated with mass dismissal of Jews from civil service

Law for Restoration of Professional Civil Service 8th April 1933

How do you think the German people would have reacted to this?

Step 8Step 8

Destruction of Trade UnionsMay Day holiday 1st May 1933 turned

into a Day of National LabourTrade Union offices siezed 2nd May

1933All unions incorporated into new

German Labour Front - DAF

Destruction of Trade UnionsMay Day holiday 1st May 1933 turned

into a Day of National LabourTrade Union offices siezed 2nd May

1933All unions incorporated into new

German Labour Front - DAF

Step 9Step 9

One Party policy 14th July 1933 KPD and SPD already

banned Other parties had to

dissolve themselves No new parties

allowed Germany becomes a

one party state

One Party policy 14th July 1933 KPD and SPD already

banned Other parties had to

dissolve themselves No new parties

allowed Germany becomes a

one party state

Step 10Step 10

Reduction in power of local government 30th January 1934 Law for

the Reconstruction of the State

From March 1933 many state (local) governments were overthrown by the SA using violence

Third Reich government appoints commissioners

New laws formalise this Elected State Assemblies

dissolved Reich Governors created

to run states

Reduction in power of local government 30th January 1934 Law for

the Reconstruction of the State

From March 1933 many state (local) governments were overthrown by the SA using violence

Third Reich government appoints commissioners

New laws formalise this Elected State Assemblies

dissolved Reich Governors created

to run states

Step 11Step 11

Night of the Long Knives 30th June 1934 Advised by Mussolini to get rid of SA SS shoot many SA and other people seen as a

threat Removed the left wing threat Won support of Reichswehr who resented SA Reduced conservative opposition Justified as a removal of Rohm – SA leader Gustav von Kahr and Gregor Strasser also removed As many as 1,000 died – including about 50 SA

leaders

Night of the Long Knives 30th June 1934 Advised by Mussolini to get rid of SA SS shoot many SA and other people seen as a

threat Removed the left wing threat Won support of Reichswehr who resented SA Reduced conservative opposition Justified as a removal of Rohm – SA leader Gustav von Kahr and Gregor Strasser also removed As many as 1,000 died – including about 50 SA

leaders

Step 12Step 12

Death of Hindenburg 2nd August 1934 Hitler becomes undisputed head of

government – the Fuhrer – leader 1st August Law Concerning the Head of

State of the German Reich merged office of President and Chancellor – the position was called “The Fuhrer and Reich Chancellor”

Confirmed by Plebicite Army takes an oath of personal obedience

to Hitler “I swear by God this sacred oath: I will render

unconditional obedience to Adolf Hitler, the Fuhrer of the German nation and people, Supreme Commander of the armed forces, and will be ready as a true soldier to risk my life at any time for this oath.”

Death of Hindenburg 2nd August 1934 Hitler becomes undisputed head of

government – the Fuhrer – leader 1st August Law Concerning the Head of

State of the German Reich merged office of President and Chancellor – the position was called “The Fuhrer and Reich Chancellor”

Confirmed by Plebicite Army takes an oath of personal obedience

to Hitler “I swear by God this sacred oath: I will render

unconditional obedience to Adolf Hitler, the Fuhrer of the German nation and people, Supreme Commander of the armed forces, and will be ready as a true soldier to risk my life at any time for this oath.”

HITLER’S STRATEGYHITLER’S STRATEGY

TERRORINTIMIDATION

TERRORINTIMIDATION

AIR OFRESPECTIBILITY

AIR OFRESPECTIBILITY

CO-ORDINATIONGleichshaltung

CO-ORDINATIONGleichshaltung PROPAGANDAPROPAGANDA

WIDE APPEALWIDE APPEAL

CONCESSIONSCONCESSIONS

USE OF LAWUSE OF LAW

METHODSOF

CONSOLIDATINGPOWER

METHODSOF

CONSOLIDATINGPOWER

END OF THIS SECTIONEND OF THIS SECTION