Nazi Consolidation of Power

• He wanted to abolish the treaty of Versailles - he felt it was too harsh.
• Re-arm Grmany - gain back its military might and presence.
• Promote the aryan master race - Ubermencsh.
• Achieve Lebensraum - living space for his Ubermensch.
• Destroy Marxism (communism).

Hitler was appointed Chancellor, however he did not have the majority of seats majority in the Reichstag (not complete power).

He could still have been removed by President Hindenburg.

Politicians like Franz von Papen supported Hilter's appointment as they thought Hitler could be controlled.

• 27th Feb, 1933 - just before German election
• Reichstag (Parliament) building burned down
• Communist Marinus van der Lubbe blamed (possibly framed)
• Easy scapegoat - he was known to have mental health problems
• Hitler used this to play on the middle class' fear of communism
• Allowed him to bring in the Decree for the Protection of  People and State

Hitler used fear of communism to persuade President Hindenburg to bring in special law - the Decree for the Protection of the People and State.

This gave Hitler power to suspend civil liberties, intern political opponents and stop communists from campigning in election.

Despite this, the Nazi party still failed to achieve an overall majority in March elections.

The Enabling Act would allow Hitler to create laws without having to consult the Reichstag first, but he needed a 2/3 majority in election.

He had the support of the Nationalist party, was able to get support of the Catholic Centre Party, and arrested Communist party members so they could not vote against him. The SA marched outside to intimidate members voting inside.

The Enabling Act was passed - democracy was now dead in Germany.

Hitler needed to deal with all the parties and organisations that opposed him - Gleichschaltung.

• March 1933 all state parliaments were brought under Nazi control and by January 1934 they were all closed down.
• May 1933 all Trade Unions were banned and replaced by DAF (German Labour Front).
• July 1933 the Law Against the Formation of New Parties was introduced.

The SA were important during Hitler's rise to power but Hitler felt they and their leader Ernst Rohm were becoming too powerful.

Rohm was a more 'left-wing' member of the Nazi Party, and believed that the SA would replace the German army (he belived in a 'second revolution').

On the night of 30th June 1934 Rohm and other leading SA members were shot - Hitler also dealt with von Kahr and von Schleicher. Doing this gave Hitler the support of the army.

President Hindenburg was the only person who could stop Hitler, however he was becoming old and sick.

In August 1934 he passed away. Hitler took this opportunity to combine the roles of President and Chancellor, replacing them with Führer.

Out of gratitude for dealing with the SA, the Army swore a personal Oath of Loyalty to Hitler.