From democracy to dictatorship

Question 1

Step 1; Dictator

Answer 1

The enabling law March 1933

Gave Hitler the power to make laws for the next four years without Reichstag approval

Question 2

Step 2; Eliminate national opponents

Answer 2

The states;
1. state parliaments reorganised to give nazi majorities
2. nazi governors appointed to all states with power to make state laws
Trade Unions
1. SA arrested all union officials and confiscated funds.
2. workers made to join new nazi controlled ‘German Labour front’
Political parties
1. communist and SDP banned
- leaders arrested
- funds confiscated
2. small parties forced to disband
3. July 1933 new law forbids all political parties except the nazis.

Question 3

Step 3; Eliminate nazi opposition

Answer 3

The night of the long knives 30th June 1934
on Hitler’s orders SS men arrest and murder Rohm and other SA leaders and opponents.

Reasons

1. Rohm wanted to
   - merge the SA with the army
   - take control of the army
   - put socialist policies into practice
2. Hitler no longer needed the SA he;
   - was embarassed by it’s continuing violence
   - feared Rohm as a rival
   - needed the support of the army who opposed Rohm

Question 4

Step 4; Fuhrer

Answer 4

Death of Hindenburg August 1934
Hitler
1. takes over combines role of president and chancellor with the new title Fuhrer
2. Automatically becomes head of the army

The army oath
Every member of the armed forces made to swear an oath of unconditional obedience to Hitler.