The Creation of the Nazi Dictatorship

The Nazis in Power1933 - 1939

On the day of his appointment as German chancellor, Adolf Hitler greets a crowd of enthusiastic Germans from a window in the Chancellery building. Berlin, Germany, January 30, 1933.

The Reichstag Fire 27th February 1933

Is this evidence of History repeating itself?

Order of the Reich President for the Protection of People and State

• On the basis of Article 48 paragraph 2 of the Constitution of the German Reich, the following is ordered in defense against Communist state-endangering acts of violence:

• § 1. Articles 114, 115, 117, 118, 123, 124 and 153 of the Constitution of the German Reich are suspended until further notice. It is therefore permissible to restrict the rights of personal freedom [habeas corpus], freedom of opinion, including the freedom of the press, the freedom to organize and assemble, the privacy of postal, telegraphic and telephonic communications, and warrants for house searches, orders for confiscations as well as restrictions on property, are also permissible beyond the legal limits otherwise prescribed.

Order of the Reich President for the Protection of People and State

Reichstag Fire Decree is the common name of the Order Issued by German President Paul von Hindenburg in direct response to the Reichstag fire of 27 February 1933. The decree nullified many of the key civil liberties of German citizens. The decree was used as the legal basis of imprisonment of anyone considered to be opponents of the Nazis, and to suppress publications not considered "friendly" to the Nazi cause. The decree is considered by historians to be one of the key steps in the establishment of a one-party Nazi state in Germany.

The People Vote List 1 National Socialists Hitler Over Germany

Election 5th March 1933

Newspaper Election Special reportNational Socialists Gain nearly 100 seats!In the 9th German Federal Election held on 05.03.1933 the NSDAP of Chancellor Hitler gained 92 seats and 5.5 million votes, in a resounding endorsement of his pro-German, anti-Communist policies. Their friends and allies in the DNVP will add their 52 seats to form a patriotic, nationalist German coalition in the Reichstag, and form a majority government. Reds Suffer Setbacks!The KPD Communists, whose terrorist leaders are safely in custody lost nearly 20 seats, a drop of 5% of the vote, as the German people showed their disgust at their despicable violent means. Their Jew-ridden Red rivals, the SPD also lost a seat, although they now comprise the second-largest party in the Reichstag.Catholic Centre Party key player in new politics.The Zentrum Party of Franz von Papen, Vice-Chancellor, holds the key to further reform. Chancellor Hitler needs to persuade the Roman Catholic Centrists that their future lies in co-operation in order to pass further measures to protect our nation from Red terror.

The Enabling Act March 23rd 1933

• To pass the Act, Hitler needed a 2/3rds majority in the Reichstag.• He had already expelled the Communists from the Reichstag • Hitler was still 31 votes short• Hitler persuades the Centre Party to support him• Hitler also made a false promise that he would only use the new law in emergencies over the next 4 years.

The so-called Enabling Act, which transferred parliamentary legislative authority to the Reich administration, was approved by the Reichstag on March 23, 1933, in the Kroll Opera House. From that point on, the disempowered Reichstag continued to meet in the Kroll Opera House at irregular intervals to give Hitler's dictatorship an air of legitimacy.

The Other Political PartiesGermany became a one party state in 1933 by

1. Nazis passed a law in July 1933 which declared the NSDAP the only party in Germany.

2. Banned the SPD (Socialists) and KPD (Communists)

3. May 1933 – all Trade Unions banned.4. All workers and employers had to be in the Nazi

Labour Front. A national organisation which set wage levels.

5. All strikes were illegal

Night of the Long KnivesElimination of opposition within the Nazi Party

By 1934, Ernst Roehm, the leader of the 3 million strong SA (Stormtroopers) wanted:1.to extend the Nazi revolution by having another revolution which would develop the socialist part of National Socialism.2.He also wanted to join the SA with the German army.

Hitler saw this as a threat to his leadership as he:1.relied on German businessmen for financing the Nazis. Being anti Socialist they would cut off funds to Hitler if they thought he was allowing a socialist revolution.2.He needed the German army to support his foreign policy and the army did not want Roehm as their leader.

Hitler’s solution?Kill Roehm and any others who were considered a threat to his leadership.Result: 30 June 1934: Roehm plus c. 400 people executed

Any opposition from within or without the Party would be dealt with in the same way. Ie the use of terror

David Low‘s cartoon comments on the Nazi regime and the Night of the Long Knives of June 1934

“They salute with both hands now.”

The Death of Hindenburg2nd August 1934, President Hindenburg died.Hitler refuses to be President.He creates the post of Fuhrer – leader – this allows him to avoid the limitations of the constitution of the Weimar government.

The Fuhrer Oath

Now Hitler has the loyalty of the German Army and the SA. His dictatorship was now complete.