consolidation of nazi power

• propaganda

  • often depicted depression
  • showed families, working class, middle class who wouldn’t want communism
  • eagle protecting, hitler god-like figure
  • women with a large aryan family who are healthy and thriving despite worldwide deprivation
  • greedy jewish puppet master
  • slogans
• goebells understood how to target all: middle class - prosperity, no communism; working class - employment, prosperity; women - future with a large family
• when von papen agreed to be vice chancellor, he hoped to control and manipulate hitler as he had no experience with power (only corporal in army). they planned to use him during the crisis to help them rule then dispose of him - they underestimated him
• reichstag fire february 1933

  • opportunity for hitler to show his leading skills and assert power in emergency - he is a saviour
  • dutch communist van der lubbe accused of arson - hitler establishes enemy
  • event used as propaganda to blame communists and make it seem like country under attack
  • 4000 communists arrested - attempt to eradicate it
  • freedom of speech suspended; hitler makes emergency decree giving himself more power
  • articles from constitution suspended, hitler more powerful and popular
• march election 1933

  • hitler calls for election
  • nazis fail to gain majority, earning 44%, not the increase hitler expected so not yet dictator
  • goering and SA prevented democracy in election
• the enabling law march 1933

  • the law of terminating the suffering of people and nation
  • awarded hitler powers
  • 81 communists refused admittance while SA intimidated people to vote in support
  • centre party support was essential as most voted in favour as they were promised seats
  • Article 1 transferred power from Reichstag to government (hitler)
  • he has control over central political system and strength
• gleichschaltung (bringing into line)

  • 18 reich governors (mini hitlers)
  • all parts of germany under nazis (no disagreements)
• trade unions banned

  • unions were opposition that he removed
  • replaced by National Labour service and German Labour Front
  • any opposition sent for re-education
• German Labour Front (DAF)

  • beauty of labour - aim: to improve work conditions
  • Strength through Joy (KdF) affordable leisure activities, hope for improvement, success over depression
• Reich Labour Service

  • less unemployment - a Nazi promise
  • teaches military discipline
• political opposition:

  • parties ‘wound up by members’ (gave up)
  • hitler caused fear, leading to obedience, which he tried to gain loyalty from
• hitler needed the legal and judicial system to arrest anyone who opposed him - what hitler says is law. lawyers swear oaths to hitler, not germany, in october 1933
• night of the long knives

  • hitler forced to choose between army and old power, and SA
  • June 1934, hitler ordered the arrest and execution of SA leaders and Rohm
  • hitler used support of SS and army
• gestapo

  • secret police run by frank
  • could arrest those suspected of political opposition and take them to camps
  • 1943: thousands of gestapo, agents, 100,000 informants
• SS (defence unit)

  • black coats, branch of SA
  • led by Himmler
  • responsible for the removal of all opposition