Hitler's consolidation of power

Consolidation of power:

Reichstag fire & Decree for the Protection of People and State:
 

• On the 27th of Feb 1933, the Reichstag in Berlin was gutted by fire. A young communist, Van De Lubbe, took the blame and was executed (although nobody is sure who actually was the real culprit). 
• Hitler exploited this and claimed that Germany was under attack from within by Communists. 
• This led the Nazi party to persuade President Hindenburg to pass the Decree for the Protection on People and State, which was introduced to guard against Communist acts of violence endangering the state, it allowed for imprisonment without trial, the ending of press freedom (censorship) and the ending of the right of assembly.

March 5th Election:

• Due to censorship and the majority of communists being imprisoned as a result of the decree for the protection of the people and state, Nazis were the only ones who could really campaign.
• Nazis failed to gain a majority vote in the March 5th elections, however, they did achieve majority by gaining the support of the nationalists DNVP which won 52 seats, adding to the 288 won by the Nazi party.

Potsdam:

• Hitler was keen to impress Hindenburg and the wider establishment and show that he could control the more radical elements in the Nazi movement.
• On March 21st 1933, Hitler held an impressive display of his legality and respectability at the ceremonial opening of the Reichstag which was held in Potsdam.
• Hindenburg and many other leading generals all saw Hitler's commitment to traditional German values.
• This gained Hitler even more popularity.

The Enabling Act:

• On March 23rd the Enabling Act was passed.
• This gave the government the power to pass laws without having it to go through parliament.
• It granted Hitler 4 years of power as…