Reichstag Fire and Enabling Act 1933

• A lone Dutch communist was executed for starting the fire but Hitler seized the opportunity to accuse the Communist Party of a conspiracy against the government.
• After the Reichstag fire, 4000 communists were arrested
• The Reichstag Fire gave Hitler an excuse to issue a Decree for the Protection of the People and the State, giving him powers to imprison political opponents and ban opposition newspapers.
• Hitler convinced Hindenburg to call an election in March 1933 to gain more seats for the Nazi Party. Using emergency powers, they were able to prevent communists taking the 81 seats, which earned them 2/3 of the seats
• The enabling act of 1933 allowed the reich cabinet to pass new laws, which did not require permission of the constitution. It also allowed Hitler to propose laws
• The enabling act resulted in Germany no longer being a democracy
• Hitler expected opposition to the enabling act so he used the SA to intimidate the opposition. The Nazis won the vote 444 to 94
• In July, all political parties were banned. This ensured that no party tried to challenge the Nazis
• In May 1933, Trade union leaders were arrested and all trade unions were merged to form the German Labour Front
• In August 1934, Hitler made the army swear an oath that they would give their life defending Hitler. This made Hitler the supreme commander of armed forces