Hitler turned the Chancellorship into a dictatorship through several key steps between 1933-1934:
1) After being appointed Chancellor in 1933, Hitler used the Reichstag fire to convince Hindenburg to sign the Enabling Act, granting Hitler emergency powers and allowing him to ban other political parties.
2) With other parties banned, Hitler established himself as the sole leader of Germany through the Night of the Long Knives in 1934, in which he had SA leader Ernst Rohm and other political rivals killed.
3) Upon Hindenburg's death later in 1934, Hitler combined the roles of Chancellor and President, taking the title of Führer and cementing his dictatorship over Germany.
1. How did Hitler turn the
Chancellorship into a
dictatorship by 1934?
2. Treaty of Versailles
Black Tuesday
1929
- stock market crashes
Great Depression
during
1930s
Increasing influence of new
political parties that emphasize
state control
-For example: Communism,
Nazism, Fascism
Total Control
of State by a
Dictator
3. January 1933
The depression
after the Wall
Street Crash made
many more people
vote for the
Nazis. In 1933
Von Papen
convinced
Hindenburg that
Hitler should
become Chancellor.
5. February 1933
The Reichstag building burnt down.
A communist was found inside the
building. He admitted responsibility.
Chancellor Hitler was able to
convince people that the Communists
were trying to take power by
terrorism.
He was able to have the
Communists banned from the
Reichstag.
6. March 1933
HITLER CAN
RULE ALONE
FOR FOUR
YEARS. THERE
IS NO NEED TO
CONSULT THE
REICHSTAG.
With the Communists
banned from the Reichstag
Hitler was able to pass:
7. THE ENABLING ACT GAVE HITLER
THE POWER TO MAKE HIS OWN
LAWS. SO, HE BANNED ALL OTHER
POLITICAL PARTIES!
THE ENABLING ACT GAVE HITLER
THE POWER TO MAKE HIS OWN
LAWS. SO, HE BANNED ALL OTHER
POLITICAL PARTIES!
SPD- Social Democrats
KPD- Communists
DDP- German Democratic
Zentrum- German Centre Party (Catholic)
8.
9. June 1934
Now I have got rid of opposition
political groups, I can now deal
with opposition in my party.
Ernst Rohm (an old friend), head
of the S.A. is very unpopular
with the German army leaders.
They have the power to
overthrow me.I’ve been worried
about Rohm for a while, so this
is a good excuse.
10. The Night of the Long Knives
♦ Hitler had to get rid of Rohm. He was too
much of a threat.
♦ On the night of 30th
June 1934 Hitler’s S.S.
killed over 1000 SA members including
Rohm.
♦ The army were pleased.
♦ Hitler had gained the support of the
army.
11. August 1934
A final note
PRESIDENT HINDENBURG’S
DEATH GAVE HITLER THE
OPPORTUNITY TO COMBINE
THE ROLE OF CHANCELLOR
AND PRESIDENT. HE CALLED
HIMSELF ‘DER FUHRER’.
16. • GESTAPOGESTAPO:: the Secret State Policethe Secret State Police
• SSSS (Schutzstaffel):(Schutzstaffel): Defense Corps “black shirts”, an elite guard unitDefense Corps “black shirts”, an elite guard unit
formed out of the SAformed out of the SA
• SASA (Sturmabteilung):(Sturmabteilung): Stormtroopers "brown-shirts" early private NaziStormtroopers "brown-shirts" early private Nazi
army that protected leaders and opposed rival political partiesarmy that protected leaders and opposed rival political parties
• LebensraumLebensraum (living space):(living space): concept that emphasized need for territorialconcept that emphasized need for territorial
expansion of Germany into eastexpansion of Germany into east
• WehrmachtWehrmacht:: German armyGerman army
• HJHJ (Hitler Jugend):(Hitler Jugend): Hitler YouthHitler Youth
• EinstazgruppenEinstazgruppen:: Nazi Death Squad; mobile killing unitsNazi Death Squad; mobile killing units
• Volk:Volk: all inclusive concept of nation, people and race, implying theall inclusive concept of nation, people and race, implying the
superiority of German culture and race; led to policy ofsuperiority of German culture and race; led to policy of VolksgemeinschaftVolksgemeinschaft
(idea of a harmonized racial Nazi community in government policies and(idea of a harmonized racial Nazi community in government policies and
programs)programs)
17.
18.
19.
20.
21. This Nazi propaganda poster reads,
‘Behind the enemy powers: the Jew.
“The Eternal Jew”
Depiction of a Jew holding gold coins in one
hand and a whip in the other. Under his arm is a
map of the world, with the imprint of the
hammer and sickle. Posters like this promoted
a sharp rise in anti-Semitic feelings, and in
some cases violence against the Jewish
community.