Hitler's consolidation of power

The rise of the nazis

In 1929, the American stock market crashed and soon the global economy was feeling the effects
Bankers and Businesses asked for their loan repayments from Germany, which sent the country into economic collapse
So the Nazis used this to campaign effectively, and in the July 1932 elections they won 230 seats, and became the largest party in Germany
Hitler demanded to be chancellor, but Hidenburg didn't like him so appointed von Papen, who wanted a coalition but Hitler refused
Hitler called another election in November as he thought he could win but the thuggery of the SA lost them seats and hope seemed lost
However, General von Schleicher was appointed chancellor when he stopped supporting von Papen but he was a weak leader
Von Papen saw his opportunity and sided with Hitler to get back into power
Hidenburg had no alternative but to appoint Hitler as Chancellor when von Schleicher resigned

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In order to become dictator from chancellor, Hitler called for another election in Febuary 1933 and he began campaigning like he had before, but with the state media and control of the streets
But on the 27th, the reichstag building burnt down
Hitler siezed this opportunity and blamed the communists, and forced President Hidenburg to use his emergency powers and ban the communists
In the elections in March, the Nazis got the most seats
Hitler then bullied the Reichstag into passing the enabling law, allowing him to do as he pleased
But he still wasn't safe, work had to be done

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In May, Hitler had banned trade unions and within a year most of his opponents were gone, but he was still suspicious
He feared the SA, and how Ernst Rohm talked of making it a 2nd army
He felt it was a badly diciplined force, and Rohm was now a rival
In the end, Hitler choose the army over the SA and on the weekend of the 29th/ 30th, the ** broke into the homes of the SA and arrested them
The were accused of trying to kill Hitler and 400 people were executed
Von Schleicher was also killed, and Hidenburg thaked Hitler, but the SA remained, rather subordinate to the **
Then soon after, Hidenburg died and Hitler became supreme leader of Germany
The entire army swore him an oath of personal loyalty to stay out of politics, serve Hitler in return for rearmament and conscription

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