1.2 Nazi consolidation of power, 1933–34

• Hitler became chancellor


  In 1933, and by the end of August 1934 he was the Führer. Germany had moved from democracy to dictatorship.
• Hitler became chancellor


  1. Through electoral support

  2. Political dealings
• The Nazi Party increased its share of the votes in the July 1932 elections, winning 230 seats. This was more than any other party, but Hindenburg still refused to make Hitler chancellor as he was suspicious of him
• Things seemed to be going worse for the Nazis – in the November 1932 elections they lost 38 seats
• In December 1932, Hindenburg chose von Schleicher as chancellor, but he was forced to resign within a month. Hindenburg effectively ruled with the support of army leaders and industrialists
• Hitler then struck a deal with Franz von Papen, another politician. Hitler would make von Papen vice-chancellor if von Papen could persuade Hindenburg to make Hitler chancellor
• Hindenburg agreed to this, as he knew Hitler was popular. Both Hindenburg and von Papen believed that they could control Hitler. Hitler became chancellor of Germany on 30 January 1933
• The Nazis used the Reichstag Fire


  To remove the Communists
• In the 1933 elections, the Nazis controlled the media and banned any opposition meetings. The SA were also used to terrorise opponents.
• On 27 February 1933, the Reichstag caught fire. Marinus van der Lubbe, a Dutch Communist, was blamed for this. Hitler exploited the fire for his own purposes, and used it to stir up anti-Communist feeling in Germany.
• As a result of this, Hitler persuaded Hindenburg to pass the Emergency Decree on 28 February 1933, removing people's civil rights. Using the law, thousands of Communist supporters were thrown into prison.
• Elections took place on 5 March 1933, and the Nazis hoped that they would win enough seats to have an overall majority. They won 288 seats, but still didn't have a majority.
• Consequently, Hitler used the support of the Nationalist Party to gain a majority in the Reichstag and then banned the Communist Party.
• The Enabling Act


  Allowed Hitler to make laws without consulting the Reichstag
• The Enabling Act was passed on 24 March 1933 – it gave Hitler the right to pass laws for the next four years without having to get the support of the Reichstag. Hitler was a legal dictator.
• Trade unions were banned in May 1933, and all workers became part of the German Labour Front (DAF).
• In July 1933, Hitler outlawed all other political parties – Germany became a one-party state.
• Hitler successfully removed a threat to his power

  During the Night of the Long Knives
• Although the SA had helped Hitler to come to power, Hitler now saw it as a potential threat. Hitler believed Röhm, the leader of the SA, was becoming too powerful.
• The army were also suspicious of the SA and Röhm, and Hitler knew he would need the support of the army to remain in power. He therefore acted ruthlessly to deal with this threat.
• On the weekend of 29–30 June 1934, SS assassination squads murdered Hitler's potential SA rivals, including Röhm. Up to 400 people were killed.
• The SA became subordinate to the SS and many of its members were absorbed into the SS and army.
• Hitler declared his actions to be legal, as he argued that those killed were plotting to overthrow the government.
• The Night of the Long Knives was a triumph for Hitler, as it got rid of opposition and showed how ruthless the Nazis could be.
• President Hindenburg died in August 1934.
• Hitler used Hindenburg's death to combine the posts of chancellor and president.
• Hitler called himself der Führer ('the leader') of Germany.
• He also made himself the commander-in-chief of the army. From this point onwards, members of the armed forces swore an oath of allegiance (a promise of loyalty) to Hitler. Soldiers vowed to obey him and give their lives for him.
• The Weimar Republic was dead. Germany was a dictatorship.