creation on nazi dictatorship 1933-34

• Reichstag fire

  27th February 1933
• Who

  Young communist blamed
• Why

  Htiler claimed widespread communist terror plot
• Hitler used Article 48 as a "defensive measure against communist acts"
• 4000 leading communists arrested
• Decree for protection of people and state


  • Replaced constitution with a state of permanent emergency
  • Gave Hitler's regime a legal basis for persecution, terrorism and repression of all resistance
  • Took away people's basic liberties, gave police power to search houses and hold people without trial
  • Ordered death penalty for wide range of crimes
• Enabling Act

  • Passed through use of intimidation
  • 444 to 94 votes
  • Allowed Nazis to make laws without the approval of the Reichstag and without reference to the president
• Policy of co-ordination


  1. Nazis dissolved the regional parliaments and reformed them with acceptable majorities

  2. Nazis demanded regional state governments

  3. Germany a one-party state by July 1933

  4. Laws against the formation of new parties, political parties agreed to dissolve themselves
• Trade unions


  1. Nazis banned independent trade unions

  2. All German worker's organisations absorbed into the German Labour Front (DAF) headed by Robert Ley
• Night of the Long Knives

  • Hitler took decisive action against SA leadership and other political opponents
  • 90 people killed, 50 SA leaders including Rohm, Schleicher, Strasser killed
  • Events of the night legalised on 3rd July 1934
• After Hindenburg's death


  • Hitler merged the offices of Chancellor and President, becoming head of state
  • Army took an oath of loyalty to Hitler as their new Commander in Chief