13. Hitler's consolidation of power

Question 1

How did Hitler transform Germany into a Nazi state?

Answer 1

• Regional parliaments were dissolved and Reich governors took over
• The Law for the Restoration of Professional Civil Service removed Jews and political opponents of the Nazis from the civil service, schools and courts
• May 1933, trade unions were abolished - workers’ interest were now protected by the Nazi controlled Labour Front
• Late May 1933, the Nazis occupied the offices of the SPD and KPD, confiscating their funds
• Hundreds of LW newspapers were closed
• 150,000 political opponents of the Nazis were arrested and placed in concentration camps (new form of prison)
• June-July 1933, other political parties dissolved themselves and Germany officially became a one party state - Nazi state

Question 2

In what ways did Hitler not have total control?

Answer 2

• Hindenburg remained president
• The army remained outside of Nazi control - troops took an oath of loyalty to the president
• The army had the power to remove Hitler from office
• The 2/3 million SA were a potential threat - their violent methods proved to be an embarrassment after 1933 and many men became critical of Hitler as they did not benefit much from Nazi success

Question 3

Why and how did attitudes to the SA change after the summer of 1933?

Answer 3

• The role and importance of the SA declined
• They began to lose their ‘auxiliary police’ status and were subject to stricter regulations - reduced power
• Only one party - no longer a need for SA violence and intimidation
• Drunken brawls (always a feature of the SA) became increasingly common and police became targets of the SA when they tried to intervene
• The actions of the SA and its leader Ernst Rohm alarmed Hitler and was regarded as a serious threat by Nazi leaders
• The SA began stopping army convoys - confiscated weapons and supplies
• Paper called for an end to terror and for Hitler to clamp down of the SA’s calls for a Second Revolution - Hindenburg approved

Question 4

What was the Night of the Long Knives?

Answer 4

• On the night of 30 June/1 July 1934
• Hitler used detachments of the SS to purge the leaders of the SA and settle scores
• At least 84 killed and 1000 arrested
• Rohm, Strasser and Schleicher killed
• Papen’s staff executed and Papen was placed under house arrest - took away all power he had

Question 5

What impact did The Night of the Long Knives have?

Answer 5

• Wiped out any threat to his power
• Gained the support of the army - had no further objection to Hitler eventually succeeding Hindenburg as president
• Gained public support
• The SA declined rapidly after the purge and its political power was destroyed (due to the death of Röhm)
• The SS took control of the terror machine
• Violence and terror were used more systematically and in a more controlled manner

Question 6

What impact did the death of President Hindenburg in August 1934 have?

Answer 6

• The offices of the Chancellor and President were merged within an hour after his death
• The officers and soldiers of the army took an oath of allegiance to Hitler
• Hitler appointed as the Führer (Leader) and Reich Chancellor
• 89.9% of votes approved of this change - 10.1% didnt (4.5 million voters had the courage to say no)
• Final act in the Nazi consolidation of power