the creation of dictatorship

• the reichstag fire

  • 27th feb 1933- reichstag building was burnt down
  • van der lubbe, a dutch communist was found guilty of starting the fire
  • hitler used this to blame the communists
  • hitler persuaded hindenburg to pass an emergancy decree- 'decree for the protection of the people and the state'
  • giving police powers of arresting people with out trial
• the enabaling act

  • 24th march 1933 - hitler was given the power to make lwas without consent of reichstag
  • he banned trade unions
  • he banned all other political parties - by july 1933, germany was a one-party state
• the night of the long knives

  • 30th june 1934
  • hitler felt that the SA was a threat to his power so he removed this threat by purging the SA

  r e a s o n s:

  • the SA were increasingly out of control while hitler was trying to establish a dictatorship through legal methods
  • there were rumours that they were trying to plot against hitler
  • rohm wanted to bring greater equality in society

  e v e n t:

  • nazis invaded a hotel SA was staying in during the night
  • they were arrested by the SS, taken into munich and shot
  • hitler gives a speech saying the 'SA were trying to take over' and hitler 'saved germany'
• after hindenburg died in august 1934, the soliders had to swear an oath of loyalty to hitler

  • army serves hitler not country
• after hindenburgs death, hitler declared himself as 'fuher' combining the post of chancellor and president

  • more than 90% of the voters agreed with his action