Establishing a dictatorship, 1933-34

• Hitler's appointment as chancellor in January 1933 did not guarantee him absolute power. Chancellors between 1930 and 1932 had been weak. None of them had been able to hold onto power.
• Hitler aspired to become Germany's dictator, but there was a series of obstacles in his path.
• Issues in Hitler's path:

  Civil rights were protected by the constitution, limiting the Nazis abilities to legally intimidate their opponents.
• Issues in Hitler's path:

  Germany was a federal system; therefore the national government had only limited power over the states.
• Issues in Hitler's path:


  Other political parties opposed the Nazis.
• Issues in Hitler's path:

  The Nazis did not control the Reichstag
• Issues in Hitler's path:


  Unions could use their power to undermine the Nazis
• Issues in Hitler's path:

  The press was free to criticise the new government
• Issues in Hitler's path:


  Hindenburg remained president and had the power to dismiss Hitler.
• Issues in Hitler's path:


  The army was suspicious of Hitler and the SA; it could use its power to overthrow Hitler.
• Issues in Hitler's path:


  Radicals in the Nazi movement were critical of Hitler's leadership
• Hitler dealt with these issues in a series of stages. The new government dealt with some of their opponents through political violence and intimidation, in an initial period known as the seizure of power. It also dealt with press and trade unions also known as Gleichschaltung. The Nazi dealt with the German constitution, the Reichstag and the government through 'the legal revolution'