Hitler's Path to Power

In January 1933, Hitler became Chancellor of Germany, but the Nazi party still lacked a majority in the Reichstag. This posed a challenge for Hitler in making decisions and passing laws. To overcome this, Hitler called for another election in March 1933, aiming to win over left-leaning voters and Communists.

Highlight: Hitler's appointment as Chancellor in January 1933 was just the beginning of his quest for total control.

Hitler gained full control of Germany from 1933-1934 through several key events:

1. Reichstag Fire
2. Enabling Act
3. Control of Churches
4. Night of Long Knives
5. Death of Hindenburg
6. Nazi Propaganda

These events allowed Hitler to systematically eliminate opposition and consolidate Nazi power.

The Reichstag Fire - February 1933

On February 27, 1933, just one week before the scheduled Reichstag elections, the German parliament building $Reichstag$ was burned to the ground. This event would prove crucial in Hitler's consolidation of power.

Example: A Dutch Communist named Marinus van der Lubbe was found at the scene with matches and firelighters. He was arrested, put on trial, and later beheaded for the crime.

The Nazis took advantage of this situation to blame the Communists for the fire, claiming they were attempting to start a violent revolution. Hitler positioned himself as Germany's savior, which increased support for the Nazi party.

Highlight: The Reichstag Fire allowed Hitler to portray the Nazis as protectors of Germany against the Communist threat.

Impact of the Reichstag Fire

The Reichstag Fire had significant consequences that helped the Nazis consolidate power:

1. President Hindenburg used Article 48 to introduce the Reichstag Fire Decree, which allowed Hitler to arrest political opponents and censor critical newspapers.
2. The Nazis expelled Communists from Parliament and imprisoned 4,000 Communists and many opposition party leaders.
3. Censorship of newspapers and surveillance of communications hindered opposition to the Nazis.
4. Nazi propaganda spread fear about the "dangers" of Communism, increasing support for the Nazi party.

Highlight: In the March 5, 1933 election, Nazi party support increased from 33% to 44%, though they still lacked a majority.

These actions significantly weakened opposition to the Nazi party, paving the way for further consolidation of power.

The Enabling Act - March 1933

Despite gaining more support in the March 1933 election, the Nazis still lacked a majority in the Reichstag. To overcome this, Hitler persuaded other parties to support the Enabling Act on March 24, 1933.

Definition: The Enabling Act gave Hitler the ability to pass laws without agreement from the Reichstag, effectively making him a dictator.

With the power granted by the Enabling Act, Hitler took several actions to further consolidate Nazi control:

1. In July 1933, he banned opposing parties and imprisoned their leaders in concentration camps.
2. In May 1933, Hitler banned Trade Unions.
3. Nazis were put in charge of all state governments.
4. The party used fear and intimidation to suppress challenges to Nazi rule.

These actions effectively eliminated all legal opposition to Nazi rule, transforming Germany into a one-party state.

The Night of Long Knives

As Hitler increased his control over Germany, he became concerned about potential opposition within the Nazi Party itself. He particularly feared a takeover from Ernst Röhm, the leader of the SA $Sturmabteilung or "Brownshirts"$.

Vocabulary: SA $Sturmabteilung$ - The Nazi Party's original paramilitary wing, also known as "Brownshirts"

To address this threat, Hitler initiated Operation Hummingbird, better known as the Night of Long Knives, which took place from June 30 to July 2, 1934.

Definition: The Night of Long Knives was a purge of Nazi Party members and other political opponents deemed threats to Hitler's power.

Key aspects of the Night of Long Knives:

1. The SS arrested and executed Nazi opponents of Hitler.
2. Approximately 100 people were killed, including Ernst Röhm and former Chancellor Kurt von Schleicher.
3. German newspapers were initially banned from reporting on the event.
4. Hitler later claimed the executed men had been plotting with France and used the Enabling Act to make the killings legal.

This event solidified Hitler's control over the Nazi Party and eliminated potential rivals within its ranks.

Control of Churches

After banning trade unions and political parties, the churches remained the only mass organizations that could potentially oppose the Nazis. Hitler was concerned that taking direct legal action against the churches might provoke Germans to stand up against Nazi rule.

To address this potential threat without causing widespread resistance, Hitler took a more diplomatic approach:

Highlight: In July 1933, Hitler signed a Concordat with the Catholic Church.

The Concordat was an agreement that guaranteed:

1. The Nazis would not interfere with Church organizations such as schools and youth groups.
2. In return, the Catholic Church would refrain from political activities in Germany.

This agreement effectively neutralized potential opposition from the Catholic Church, further consolidating Nazi control over German society.

Revision of Hitler and Nazi Germany - Consolidating Power

This lesson focuses on how Hitler and the Nazis consolidated their power from 1933-1934. Students will learn about key events such as the Reichstag Fire, the Enabling Act, and the Night of the Long Knives.

Vocabulary:

• Consolidated: Making something solid or stronger
• Reichstag: German parliament

The learning objectives include describing the events and impact of the Reichstag Fire, understanding the points of the Enabling Act, and describing the events of the Night of the Long Knives.