Establishment of the Nazi Dictatorship, 193334

1
Establishment of the Nazi Dictatorship, 1933-34

• How did Hitler change Germany from a democracy to
  a Nazi dictatorship, 1933-34?

2
HITLER BECAME CHANCELLOR
THE REICHSTAG FIRE
THE ENABLING ACT
Der Fuhrer
OATH OF LOYALTY TO HITLER
THE NIGHT OF THE LONG KNIVES
DEATH OF PRESIDENT HINDENBURG
3
The depression after the Wall Street Crash made
many more people vote for the Nazis. In 1933 Von
Papen convinced Hindenburg that Hitler should
become Chancellor.
Hitler became Chancellor
January 1933
4
Hitler becomes Chancellor

• Hitler was appointed Chancellor by President
  Hindenburg, in January 1933
• But Hindenburg was still Hitlers superior.
• Hitler was the head of a coalition government
• He very much wanted to escape these constraints.

5
The election of March 1933

• Within a few days of becoming Chancellor he asked
  the President (Hindenburg) to call an election.
• The election was set for 5th March 1933.

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The election of March 1933

• Through this election Hitler hoped to gain an
  overall majority for the Nazi Party.
• This would mean that he could pass any laws he
  wanted.
• During the election Hitler persuaded Hindenburg
  to declare a State of Emergency
• This was used to prevent other parties from
  getting their message across to the German
  people, especially the Communists the Social
  Democrats

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The Reichstag Fire
February 1933
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The election of March 1933

• Hitlers excuse for the State of Emergency was the
  Reichstag fire.
• Task Read the case study of the Reichstag fire
  on Pp198-199 in the AQA textbook. Study sources A
  C. then answer the following question
• Who do you think set fire to the Reichstag? Give
  reasons for your answer.

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The Reichstag Fire

• The Reichstag building burnt down.
• A communist was found inside the building. He
  admitted responsibility.
• Chancellor Hitler was able to convince people
  that the Communists were trying to take power by
  terrorism.
• He was able to have the Communists banned from
  the Reichstag.

February 1933
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The election of March 1933

• The Nazis received 44 of the vote (288 seats)
• But the Nazis did not have an overall majority in
  the Reichstag (359 seats went to other parties)

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The election of March 1933

• To change the Constitution (the way Germany was
  run) legally the Nazis needed a two-thirds
  majority.
• Hitler did 2 things
• Used the emergency law to prevent the Communists
  from taking up their 81 seats
• Won the support of the Centre Party by promising
  to defend the Catholic Church

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Changing the Constitution

• The Enabling Law
• With his two thirds majority guaranteed, Hitler
  was in a position to change the constitution.
• In March 1933 he introduced the Enabling Law

• This made it possible for the government to
  introduce its own laws and to by-pass the
  Reichstag if it wished

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Changing the Constitution

• Law against the New Formation of Parties
• In July 1933 the Enabling Act was used to
  introduce the Law against the New Formation of
  Parties.
• Germany had now become a one party state. This
  had all been done legally using the German
  constitution

• Article I The National Socialist party is the
  only political party in Germany
• Article II Whoever tries to maintain another
  political party or form a new party will be
  punished with penal servitude and imprisonment up
  to 3 years, if not a greater penalty.

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Other ways Hitler established control over
Germany.

• Trade Unions were abolished
• Hitler placed Nazi supporters in important
  positions in the state government.
• Opponents were removed from their jobs.
• Nazi officials were placed in control of local
  governments.
• Civil servants judges were removed if they were
  anti-Nazi

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How did Hitler change Germany from a democracy to
a Nazi dictatorship, 1933-34?

• Hitler had complete control of Germany its
  political, administrative legal systems
• However, Hitler now identified one more threat to
  his power and it came from within his own party.

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The Night of the Long Knives.

• Task Read the Case Study of the Night of the
  Long Knives on p202.
• Answer the following question
• Why did Hitler order the Night of the Long Knives?

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Source analysis Night of the Long Knives. What
is the message of the cartoon?
A British cartoon published after the Night of
the Long Knives in 1934
They salute you with both hands now.
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The German army, Reichswehr marching into view.
Adolf Hitler, holding a smoking gun
The SA with their hands up.
A long knife with blood on it!!
Highlights fact Hitler has broken his promises
The Double Cross i.e Hitler has betrayed the SA
They salute with both hands now
Referring to the Nazi salute the fact that the
SA are surrendering
Joseph Goebbels (Minister for Propaganda) being
sneaky!
Dead bodies (members of the SA)
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The Night of the Long Knives

• Task Using your annotated sheet answer the
  following question
• What is the message of David Lows cartoon?

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Examine the cartoon below. How useful is this
source to an historian studying the Night of the
Long Knives? Explain your answer as fully as
possible.

• The source is very useful to an historian because
  it provides us with lots of information that I
  know from my own knowledge is true. For example,
  It shows us that Hitler had organised the
  execution of members of the SA. This can be seen
  by Hitler holding a smoking gun and the dead
  bodies behind. It shows us that after the Night
  of the Long Knives Hitler had complete control of
  the SA as they can be seen surrendering. The
  source also shows us that Hitler did this in
  order to win the support of the German Army, or
  Reichwehr. They can be seen marching in the top
  right hand corner.

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Examine the cartoon below. How useful is this
source to an historian studying the Night of the
Long Knives? Explain your answer as fully as
possible.

• However, the source does not tell us which
  members of the SA were murdered, for example Erst
  Rohm. Also the cartoon was drawn from a British
  point of view, by David Low. The cartoon is
  biased against Hitler and reflects the British
  peoples shock at what happened on the Night of
  the Long Knives.
• To get a balance view we would need a German
  point of view.

22
Why did the Nazi Party organise such huge
rallies? (p.39 Qs 2)

• The Nazis organised such huge rallies for a
  number of reasons. The Nazi rallies created an
  enthusiastic atmosphere which gave Hitler the
  ideal opportunity in which to make his impressive
  speeches. These speeches, made in such an
  environment created support for the Nazis. As it
  says in source 3 In such an atmosphere no wonder
  . . . That every word dropped by Hitler seemed
  like an inspired word from on high . . . Every
  lie pronounced is accepted as high truth itself.
  This point is backed up by source 5. The mass
  rallies also gave the Nazis the opportunity to
  show how well organised and disciplined they
  were. They could also show their strength. As we
  know this would appeal to the German people,
  especially during the chaotic years of the Weimar
  Republic. To conclude the Nazis organised such
  rallies in order to create the ideal situation in
  which to get their message across