Hitler's Consolidation to Power 1933-34

30th January 1933 - Hitler is Chancellor but is not a dictator. The things he does between 1933-34 are what make him a dictator. His power is still limited, the Nazis have 2 ministers in cabinet of 12 but over the next 12 months Hitler eliminated all political opposition and Germany became a one party state. 

February 4th March - Hitler has called new elections and  persuades Hindenburg to pass a decree allowing free and peaceful elections - in reality this means all election meetings had to be reported to the police 48 hours in advance. This allowed the Nazi controlled police (Goering had appointed members of the SA into the police force) to break up meetings if they wanted to.Hitler called an election because he needed to increase the Nazi's seats in the Reichstag to get a majority and to be able to pass new laws. If they got 2/3 majority the Nazis would be able to make changes to the constitution - change the way the gov was structured.

February - Hitler tries to stop all other political parties from carrying out successful campaigns, the nazis controlled news and had the ability to disrupt opposition meetings. He used the SA to terrorise opponents, they raided the Communist headquarters in Berlin & claimed to have found evidence they were planning an uprising against the Gov. 

27th February - this is 6 days before the election. The Reichstag Fire. The building was burnt diwn, a Dutch Communist - Van Der Lubbe was found inside the building and charged with starting the fire. Hitler blamed the communist party for this and generated anti-communist feelings. He claimed they were a threat to the country and Nazi newspapers spread anti-communist conspiracy theories. The Prussian Police arrest 4000 communsit leaders that night. Hitler persuades Hindenburg to issue an emergency decree, the next day, this suspended all personal freedoms inc freedom of speech and freedom of the press. This decree was supposed to deal with the communsist "threat." The police also now had powers to search houses, confiscate property,…