Night of Long Knives and Hitler's Rise to Führer

The Night of Long Knives, which occurred on June 30, 1934, was a pivotal event in Hitler's consolidation of power. This purge targeted key SA leaders and other individuals suspected of preventing Hitler's achievement of a full dictatorship.

Definition: The Night of Long Knives was a series of political murders carried out by the Nazi regime to eliminate potential rivals and consolidate Hitler's power.

Approximately 100 people were killed during this event, effectively preventing any potential SA putsch (coup). The purge was later legalized on July 3rd through a law passed by the Nazi-controlled government, demonstrating their control over the legal system.

Reasons for the Purge

The Night of Long Knives was motivated by several factors:

1. The SA, led by Ernst Röhm, was seen as a threat to Hitler's power.
2. Röhm's more left-wing views and plans to make the SA the new German army worried the existing military leadership.
3. Hitler needed the support of the traditional army for his foreign policy goals.
4. Other Nazi leaders, such as Heinrich Himmler and Hermann Göring, opposed Röhm's growing influence.

Quote: Hitler reportedly said of Röhm, "The SA has become too big for its boots," indicating his growing distrust of the SA leadership.

Hitler Becomes Führer

The final obstacle to Hitler's absolute power was President Paul von Hindenburg. When Hindenburg died on August 2, 1934, Hitler seized the opportunity to consolidate his power further.

A new law was passed merging the roles of President and Chancellor into the all-powerful position of Führer and Reich Chancellor, which Hitler assumed. This move effectively eliminated any remaining checks on Hitler's authority.

Highlight: The army demonstrated its gratitude to Hitler for eliminating the SA threat by swearing an oath of personal loyalty to him as Führer.

The German public largely supported these actions, with almost 90% agreeing with Hitler's consolidation of power. This widespread approval marked the final step in the Nazi Party's transformation of Germany into a totalitarian state under Hitler's leadership.

Students studying CCEA GCSE History should pay close attention to these events, as they are crucial for understanding the Nazis' consolidation of power. Utilizing resources such as CCEA GCSE History Past Papers and the CCEA GCSE History textbook pdf can provide additional context and practice questions on this topic.

Gleichschaltung and the Enabling Act

The Nazi Party's consolidation of power began with the process of Gleichschaltung, which aimed to bring all aspects of German society in line with Nazi ideology. This process was crucial in eliminating opposition and centralizing power.

Vocabulary: Gleichschaltung, meaning "coordination" or "bringing into line," was the Nazi process of streamlining all aspects of German society under their control.

In April 1933, Jews and political enemies were removed from legal professions and civil service positions. Trade unions were also outlawed in May, further consolidating Nazi control over the workforce.

The Enabling Act, passed in March 1933, was a pivotal moment in Hitler's rise to power. This law amended the constitution, allowing Hitler to pass laws without the consent of the Reichstag for four years.

Highlight: The Enabling Act passed with 441 votes in favor and 94 against, demonstrating the Nazi Party's growing influence and the weakening of opposition.

To achieve this, Hitler had to navigate various political obstacles, including gaining support from the President, Reichstag, and army. The events leading up to the Enabling Act were carefully orchestrated to ensure its passage.

Reichstag Fire and Its Aftermath

On February 27th, 1933, the Reichstag building was set on fire. The Nazis quickly blamed this on a communist plot, specifically accusing Marinus van der Lubbe.

Example: The Reichstag fire was used as a pretext to suspend civil liberties and arrest communist leaders, effectively disrupting opposition to the Nazi Party in the upcoming elections.

This event allowed the Nazis to intern opponents and disrupt the election campaign, paving the way for their consolidation of power. It gave Hitler the opportunity to potentially gain a full majority in parliament.