Control and Dictatorship: 1933-1939

• Reichstag Fire

  A massive fire destroyed Reichstag (German parliament) on 27th February 1933
• With the support of other Nationalists, this gave Hitler a majority in the Reichstag, which he could use to make new laws
• The Enabling Act: March 1933

  1. The Nazis passed the 'Law for the removal of the distress of the people and the Reich' (Enabling Act)

  2. This suspended the constitution and gave Hitler the power to make laws without the Reichstag for 4 years

  3. The Nazis used the Enabling Act to ban all other political parties

  4. Ban all Trade Unions

  5. Make all Civil Servants loyal Nazis

  6. Remove regional and local parliaments
• The Enabling Act marks the end of the Weimar Republic and democratic rule in Germany
• When Hindenburg died of old age, Hitler took the powers of President as well as Chancellor. The Army now had to swear an oath of loyalty to Hitler. Hitler becomes Führer

  
• The significance of Hitler becoming Führer is that he becomes a dictator

  
• Nazi Police State

  • SS
  • SD
  • Gestapo
  • Concentration Camps
  • Judges, Law Courts and the Police
• SS

  In charge of all state policing and oversaw the Police state. They could arrest and imprison anyone they wanted
• SD

  Security Force – Monitor and keep track of Nazi opponents
• Gestapo

  The Secret Police
• Concentration Camps

  Prisons for political prisoners and opponents of the Nazis. Later developed into Jewish concentration camps
• Judges, Law Courts and the Police

  Could arrest and send opponents to prison
• The police state allowed Hitler to remove any potential opposition and have total control over the German people. It allowed the Nazis to establish a totalitarian state

  
• Control of the legal system

  1. All judges now had to swear an oath of loyalty to Hitler and had to become a member of the National Socialist League for the Maintenance of Law (NSRB)

  2. By 1936, judges had to wear the swastika and Nazi eagle on their robes

  3. In 1934, a new People's Court was established to try cases of treason

  4. The judges were loyal Nazis and the trials were conducted in secret

  5. Between 1934 and 1939, 534 people were sentenced to death for political offences
• The Catholic Church

  Catholics loyal to the Pope had their own schools and taught different values to the Nazis
• The Protestant Church

  Some leaders within the Protestant Church were not happy with the way the Nazis were running Germany. Pastor Martin Niemöller was the most outspoken. He set up the Confessional Church to oppose the Nazis
• Dealings with the Catholic Church

  July 1939 Hitler signed the Concordat (agreement with the Pope. Hitler agreed not to interfere in Catholic worship and schools as long as Priests did not interfere in politics and German Bishops swore loyalty to the Nazis
• Censorship

  1. Control of the Press: All newspapers were controlled by the Nazis. Only pro-Nazis stories could be written

  2. Control of Universities: All professors had to conduct pro-Nazi research to support Nazi views. Any professors who disagreed would be sacked. 3000 were sacked by 1938

  3. Control of the Arts & Culture: All art and culture was controlled by Joseph Goebbels. All books had to agree with Nazi views. 20,000 books were burnt for being anti-Nazi or written by Jews. Jazz was banned and modern art was disapproved off. Plays and theatres were allowed only if they showed Nazi views

  4. Radio: All stations put under Nazi control and had to broadcast Pro-Nazi messages / broadcasts
• Resistance and Opposition to the Nazis

  • Opposition from the Churches
  • Youth Opposition
• Pastors Emergency League (PEL)

  Established by Martin Niemöller in 1933. Opposed the Nazis desire to join regional Churches together and Nazi attempts to stop Jews becoming Christians
• The Confessing Church


  The PEL set up the Confessing Church in 1934. It was an Anti-Nazi Protestant Church. 6,000 Protestant Pastors joined. 800 Pastors were arrested and sent to concentration camps
• Catholic Opposition

  Some Catholics priests spoke out against the Nazis. Around 400 were arrested and sent to concentration camps
• By 1933, Goebbels had learned many ways to publicise the Nazi party. However, from 1933, Goebbels could use all the resources of the state/government to publicise Hitler and his message on every aspect of society
• Nazi Propaganda Methods

  • Posters
  • Aeroplanes
  • Radio
  • Cinema
  • Rallies
  • Sport
  • Architecture