How did Hitler consolidate power Jan 1933 to Jan 1934?
1. Election campaign –Jan/Feb 1933
- Within 24 hours of being appointed as chancellor Hitler persuaded Hindenburg to call an election.
- This was to be held on 5 March 1933
Before the election Hitler:
- stepped up his election campaign
- controlled the police force so they ignored SA activities (e.g. intimidation of voters, breaking up meetings of Communists and
Socialists)
- persuaded industrialists to finance the Nazi campaign
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------2. Reichstag fire – 27 Feb 1933
Explanation: Reichstag building destroyed by massive fire 6 days before the election. A Communist supporter, Marinus van der
Lubbe was found on site with matches and firelighters. Van der Lubbe confessed – tried, found guilty and executed
Results:
THE FIRE WAS EXPLOITED BY THE NAZIS TO THEIR ADVANTAGE:
- Hitler claimed Van der Lubbe’s plan was part of communist conspiracy against the government.
- Hitler made Hindenburg call a state of emergency because of it. In this state of emergency Hitler could now use decrees to
govern Germany (as long as Hindenburg supported him).
- Now he could use decrees, Hitler drew up a Decree for Protection of the People and State (28 Feb 1933)
-gave him powers to stop civil rights of German people, imprison political opponents & ban communist newspapers. Hitler used
the communist threat to justify this decree
- All this was LEGAL
-After the fire the Nazis stepped up their election campaign with posters, rallies and radio broadcasts.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------3. Election – 5 March Hitler won more seats – 288.
-He also had power to ban communists from taking up their seats, giving him a 2/3 majority
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------4. The Enabling Act – late March 1933
- Gave Hitler the right to make laws for 4 years without the consent of the Reichstag, giving him full powers – i.e. a dictatorship
- This law was passed 444 votes to 94 - SO IT WAS LEGAL.
- But, Reichstag members were intimidated during the vote
- THE WEIMAR REPUBLIC WAS DISMANTLED BY HITLER IN JUST A FEW WEEKS – END OF DEMOCRACY
- This law was renewed in 1937
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------5. Trade Unions – May 1933
-Trade unions were a potential source of opposition - could be used in strikes against the government
- Hitler used new powers to ban trade unions and make strikes illegal.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------6. Political parties – July 1933
-Hitler issued a decree to make all political parties in Germany illegal, except for the NSDAP.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------7. Local government – Jan 1934
-Next step – Hitler to strengthen central government (Berlin) and weaken local Gov.
-Under Weimar constitution – every region in Germany (Länder) had their own parliament – which -ran local Gov. in that area.
-In Jan 1934 he abolished the Länder parliaments and declared that governors, appointed by Hitler, would run every region in
Germany.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Explain the effects of the Enabling Act (8 marks)
Explain how Hitler used the Reichstag Fire to weaken opposition to the Nazis 1933 to 1934 (8 marks)
Explain how the political situation changed in 1933 (8 marks)