The Initial Consolidation of Nazi Power 1933-34 Flashcards
Summary of Reasons for Nazi Consolidation of Power
luck
division of German left
manipulation of legal procedure
willingness to be utterly ruthless
Reichstag Fire
February 1933
blamed on communists
heightened the nation to official state of emergency
led to the implementation of the Reichstag fire decree
Reichstag Fire Decree
February 28 1933
eliminated the civil liberties of the people including the right to assembly, freedom of speech and freedom of the press
enabled the regime to imprison political opponents, to dissolve political organisations and confiscate private property
gave the regime power to overthrow state and local laws and governments
Reichstag Elections
March 1933
Nazis win 44% of vote, though no majority
Nazis join with the nationalists to form a majority
soon after, Goebbels is appointed to cabinet and forms the Ministry for Propaganda and Enlightenment
In the same month, the first concentration camps are openened at Dachau and Oranienburg
Gestapo are also established
Enabling Act
23 March 1933
Gave Hitler absolute power to make laws which enabled him to destroy all opposition
Law for the Restoration of the Professional Civil Service and Law for the Coordination of the States within the Reich
Jews were dismissed from the civil service and limits placed on Jews in education
Consolidation of Nazis in Public Service
7 April 1933
placed Nazis in charge of local governments
alien elements were removed from civil service, courts and education
Banning Trade Unions
2 May 1933
trade unions were banned and workers were expected to join the German Labour Front
destructed a potential form of sympathy for the left
Burning of the Books
10 May 1933
burned anti-national, anti-nazi texts and literature
made it clear that no independent thinking would be allowed
Banning Political Parties
14 July 1933
Nazis were the only legal party
enforced a one party state and destroyed democracy
removed other parties as a source of opposition
Concordat
treaty negotiated between the Nazis and the Vatican which aimed to end potential opposition from the church
State Government Takeover
January 1934
Nazis took over state governments which allowed Hitler to centralise all policy
encouraged more nationalism and potential dissent was lessened
Night of the Long Knives
20 June 1934
SS murdered approximately 400 SA members alongside Hitler’s other opponents
it was a siege on disloyal members of the party
destroyed all opposition within the party
demonstrated what a tyrant Hitler was
consolidated Hitler’s power
SS became highest police authority
Hitler becomes Fuhrer
19 August 1934
After Hindenburg’s death, Hitler declared himself Chancellor and Head of the Army
members of the armed forces had to swear allegiance to Hitler
formally made Hitler the absolute ruler of germany
SA threat
Ernst Rohm believed there should be a second revolution to establish a national people’s militia
throughout 1934 it appeared as though the SA were getting out of hand
