Creation of a dictatorship

• Creation of a dictatorship

  Reichstag fire:

  the reichstag fire was the burning of the german parliament in february 1933. at the scene, dutch communist, van de lubbe, was found and blamed. hitler used this as justification to persuade president hindenburg that hitler should be able to use article 48 to pass reichstag fire decree - allowing hitler to remove communist party (KPD) and have its leaders imprisoned. hitler continued to use article 48 and hindenburg to remove his chancellor opposition, transforming germany into a dictatorship.
• Creation of a dictatorship

  The enabling act:

  with support from other right wing parties, in march of 1933, hitler passed the enabling act - allowing him to make laws without consulting the reichstag. under its terms, other political parties were banned and leaders arrested, trade unions were made "any questiohs: SA was allowed to promote a culture of fear. this act ensure that hitler could rule as a dietator.
• Creation of a dictatorship

  Night of the long knives:

  hitler's greatest threat was ernest röhm (leader of the SA). however, he was also worried about other members of the nazi party, in late june of 1934, he sent men to arrest and kill röhm, alongside other leaders of the SA & senior politicians. hitler claimed that those killed were plotting to overthrow the government, which made it legal. this eliminated potential opposition within the nazi party, sending a message of hitler's brutality and how he is above the law.
• Creation of a dictatorship

  Fuhrer:

  after hindenburg's death in august of 1934, hitler decided to combine the posts of chancellor and president into führer, also making himself commander-in-chief of the army. at this point, hitler also reorganised the local government: führer in control, reichsleiters advising hitler (goebbels & himmler), & gauleiters that were in charge of certain areas of germany. hitler also made the army swear an oath of allegiance instead of pledging to protect germany. some workers were also forced to take an oath of obedience, losing their job if they refused.