National Studies
GERMANY 1918 – 1939
Consolidation of Nazi Power
1933 - 1934
By
S. Angelo
Head Teacher History
East Hills Girls Technology High School
2007
Step 1:
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Hindenburg appoints Hitler as
Chancellor 30th January 1933
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3 Nazis in Cabinet with von
Papen as Vice-Chancellor (Hitler,
Goering, Frick)
Hindenburg agrees to dissolve
Reichstag 1st February and hold
new elections
Hitler hopes to gain 2/3 majority
needed to form a government
What are the implications for
this?
Step 2

Reichstag Fire 27th February 1933
Probably arson committed by Dutch
Communist Marinus van der Lubbe acting
alone
 Exploited by Nazis to highlight danger
posed by communist threat
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How would this help the Nazis gain
power?
Step 3
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Presidential Decree 28th February 1933
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Decree of the Reich President for the Protection of the
Nation and State
Issued by Hindenburg using Article 48
Suspended constitutional and civil rights
Gave secret police power to hold people indefinitely in
protective custody
Used to repress KPD
Remained in force throughout Third Reich
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Essentially forming the basic law
What are the ramifications of this for the
German people?
Step 4
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Elections 5th March 1933
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Government uses control of radio, police, along with
unofficial pressure, to intimidate opponents in election
Highest ever turnout - 88.8%
Nazi election slogan – “The Battle Against Marxism”
Nazis only get 44% of vote
Nationalist allies get 8%
Formation of a coalition government
What do you think the reaction of Hitler and the
Nazi leadership would have been?
Step 5

Ministry for Public Enlightenment and
Propaganda established 13 March 1933
Goebbels appointed as head
 Exercised control over all media
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 Film,
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radio, newspapers
How significant was this in the
consolidation of Nazi power?
Step 6

Enabling Act 24th March 1933
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Law for Terminating the Suffering of the People and the
Nation
Passed by Reichstag as SA and SS surround Opera House
and intimidate deputies
Gave emergency powers to government for four years
Cabinet (Hitler) could pass decrees without President’s
involvement
Needed 2/3 majority since it was a constitutional
amendment
Passed 441 votes to 94 (SPD opposed; KPD banned) Centre
Party supported it with promises from Hitler
Renewed in 1938
Virtual constitution of Third Reich
What did this essentially mean?
Step 7
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Boycott of Jewish shops 1st April 1933
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One day
SA enforced boycott by standing outside stores
with placards ‘kauft nicht bie Juden” “don’t buy
from Jews”
Associated with mass dismissal of Jews from civil
service
Law for Restoration of Professional Civil Service
8th April 1933
How do you think the German people would
have reacted to this?
Step 8
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Destruction of Trade Unions
May Day holiday 1st May 1933 turned into
a Day of National Labour
 Trade Union offices siezed 2nd May 1933
 All unions incorporated into new German
Labour Front - DAF
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Step 9
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One Party policy 14th
July 1933
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KPD and SPD already
banned
Other parties had to
dissolve themselves
No new parties allowed
Germany becomes a one
party state
Step 10
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Reduction in power of local
government
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30th January 1934 Law for
the Reconstruction of the
State
From March 1933 many state
(local) governments were
overthrown by the SA using
violence
Third Reich government
appoints commissioners
New laws formalise this
Elected State Assemblies
dissolved
Reich Governors created to
run states
Step 11
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Night of the Long Knives 30th June 1934
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Advised by Mussolini to get rid of SA
SS shoot many SA and other people seen as a threat
Removed the left wing threat
Won support of Reichswehr who resented SA
Reduced conservative opposition
Justified as a removal of Rohm – SA leader
Gustav von Kahr and Gregor Strasser also removed
As many as 1,000 died – including about 50 SA
leaders
Step 12
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Death of Hindenburg 2nd August 1934
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Hitler becomes undisputed head of government –
the Fuhrer – leader
1st August Law Concerning the Head of State of
the German Reich merged office of President and
Chancellor – the position was called “The Fuhrer
and Reich Chancellor”
Confirmed by Plebicite
Army takes an oath of personal obedience to
Hitler
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“I swear by God this sacred oath: I will render
unconditional obedience to Adolf Hitler, the Fuhrer of
the German nation and people, Supreme Commander of
the armed forces, and will be ready as a true soldier to
risk my life at any time for this oath.”
HITLER’S STRATEGY
USE OF LAW
TERROR
INTIMIDATION
AIR OF
RESPECTIBILITY
CONCESSIONS
METHODS
OF
CONSOLIDATING
POWER
CO-ORDINATION
Gleichshaltung
WIDE APPEAL
PROPAGANDA
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END OF THIS SECTION