How did Hitler consolidate his power in 1933-34?

Question 1

Why was Hitler in a weak position when he first became chancellor on 30th January 1933?

Answer 1

• He was chancellor of a conservative coalition with von Papen as vice-Chancellor (only two other Nazis in the cabinet)
• Hindenburg was still president and could use his power to sideline Hitler
• Hindenburg and von Papen hoped coalition could hold off the Nazis’ more extreme ideas
• German army also opposed violent SA and its leader Ernst Rohm

Question 2

What events helped Hitler obtain a majority in the Reichstag?

Answer 2

• Reichstag Fire on 27th February 1933 (Reichstag building burnt down, and Dutch communist arrested)
• Reichstag elections on 5th March 1933 (received 44% of the vote, still lacked majority)
• Passed Enabling Act on 24th March 1933
  (a law that enabled Hitler and the Nazis to pass laws without consulting the Reichstag for a period of four years, got two thirds majority support he needed from the Nationalists (DNVP) and Centre Party using promises and intimidation from SA and SS)
• Concordat on 20th July 1933 (signed agreement with Catholic Church to stay out of religious issues, if church stopped all political activity)

Question 3

How did the Reichstag Fire help Hitler to consolidate power?

Answer 3

• Hitler declared it start of a communist uprising and demanded Hindenburg to grant him emergency powers
• Passed Reichstag Fire Decree which suspended personal freedoms and increased police powers
• Hitler caused SA and SS to arrest over 4000 communists and other opponents
• Communists were effectively banned

Question 4

How did the Reichstag elections help Hitler to consolidate power?

Answer 4

Hitler used fire, government control of the radio, the SA and SS to intimidate opponents and voters

Question 5

How did the Enabling Act help Hitler to consolidate power?

Answer 5

• Can now pass laws without consulting the Reichstag
• Democracy destroyed and Hitler is a virtual dictator
• Political parties and trade unions were banned
• But Hindenburg could still dismiss him and army could have removed him by force

Question 6

How did the Concordat help Hitler to consolidate power?

Answer 6

Ensure that anti-Nazi messages were not preached by the Catholic church

Question 7

How did Hitler gain support from the president and the German army?

Answer 7

• SA had become a problem (preventing support of both the army and Hindenburg)
• Used the SS to arrest these SA leaders
• Orchestrated murder of political opponents of the Nazis (such as von Schleicher) and 400 SA leaders (including Rohm) in the Night of the Long Knives on 29-30th June 1934
• Led to Hindenburg’s support (congrats on his actions)
• German army army now believed Hitler’s loyalty was to them and not the SA

Question 8

Why was President Hindenburg and the German army initially opposed to Hitler?

Answer 8

• Army was suspicious of Rohm and the SA because there were nearly 4 million Stormtroopers compared to 100,000 in the Germany army (Reichswehr)
• Hindenburg threatened to introduce martial law if the SA was not tamed
• Rohm controlled 4 million undisciplined men and sought to make the SA into a second German army

Question 9

How did Hitler become Fuhrer following Hindenburg’s death?

Answer 9

• Hindenburg died in August 1934
• Hitler used Enabling Act to make himself Chancellor + Fuhrer of Germany
• German army swore an oath of loyalty to Hitler
• Hitler is undisputed leader of Germany