Upload
mrmarr
View
87
Download
0
Tags:
Embed Size (px)
DESCRIPTION
Citation preview
Coalition government
Hitler became Chancellor in January 1933 and was
head of a coalition government, meaning he had to work with others.
Hitler persuaded the President to call an
election for March so he could win greater control.
Reichstag fire
One week before the election the Reichstag
burned down.
The fire was blamed on Communists. Hitler said
it was the start of a revolution. Doubts remain about who started the fire.
Reichstag Fire decree
After the fire, Hitler persuaded the German President to sign the
‘Decree for the protection of the people
and the state’.
This gave the government the power to arrest anyone
who opposed them (remained in force until
1945).
Left-wing newspaper announcing its closure
SS and SA become the police
The SA and the SS were the Nazis’ two security
groups, famed for violence.
After the Reichstag fire, Hitler made them an
official auxiliary police force.
March 1933 elections
Hitler wanted to change the German constitution to give him more power. He
needed two-thirds support for the Reichstag
to do so.
In the elections, the Nazis gained 43.9% of the vote.
The Enabling Act
The Enabling Act meant Hitler could pass laws with
the Reichstag's agreement.
On the day of the vote (when he needed 2/3 support), Hitler
had 26 SPD members arrested, meaning the Enabling Act passed.
Political control
After the Enabling Act was passed, Hitler banned the
left-wing SPD. Other political parties then
disbanded.
Hitler passed a law in July 1933 making the Nazis the only legal political party.
Employment controls
Trade unions were banned in Germany. Trade union
leaders were sent to concentration camps.
Anti-Nazis and Jews were forced to resign from their
jobs. Large numbers of teachers and doctors were
Nazi Party members.
Religious controls
The Nazis worried that the Catholic/Protestant divide
could hurt Germany.
They reached an agreement with the Catholic Church to
stay out of politics and reorganised the Protestant
churches.
Legal controls
Anti-Nazi judges were removed from their posts and replaced with Nazi
sympathisers.
Laws were introduced allowing the Nazis even
more control of their opponents.
Night of the Long Knives
Although dominant in Germany and the Nazi
Party, Hitler worried some Nazis were not loyal
enough to him.
On 30 June 1934, leaders of the SA were killed or
arrested by members of the SS.
Arguments for influence
All of these actions proved the phrase ‘Ein Volk, Ein
Reich, Ein Fuhrer’.
Hitler now had a control of all key aspects of
society, and there was no-one to oppose him or his
plans.
Arguments against influence
Even without these new controls, Hitler had the
support of large numbers of Germans
(44% of voters).
Clearly then the Nazis offered policies which
many Germans backed.