How were Hitler and the Nazi Party able to consolidate their position in Germany between January 1933 and August 1934?

Consolidation of the Nazi dictatorship, 1933-34

When Hitler was nominated Chancellor on 30 January 1933 it was partly on the basis that he headed the largest party in the Reichstag, having gained 196 out of 584 seats (just under 34%) in the general election of November 1932. He was in coalition with the German Nationalists (DNVP) but still didn't have an overall majority. When Hitler became Chancellor, Goering became Prime Minister of Prussia, the largest of the German states. The police were unable to do much against the SA (Brownshirts).

Hitler persuaded Hindenburg to call a fresh general election for 5 March 1933. At the end of February the Reichstag burned down. Hitler immediately blamed the Communists, whipped up anti-Communist hysteria and banned them from taking part in the forthcoming elections. (It was widely believed that the Nazis were responsible for the fire).

On 23 March 1933 the Reichstag passed the Enabling Law by a two-thirds majority. This enabled the Chancellor to rule by decree with even the need for approval by the President. In effect, the Reichstag then dissolved itself.

The first permanent concentration camp had been set up at Dachau the day before! The SA was unleashed on political opponents and several semi-official concentration camps were set up all over Germany. (Most of these were later closed).

April 1933-February 1934. A series of measures abolishing the federal structure of Germany and massively stengthening the powers of the central government.

May 1933. Decree issued banning all parties except the NSDAP (Nazis). Labour unions also banned at the same time.

- Also appointment of an official 'Reichsbischof' ('Reich bishop') who was put in charge of the Protestant churches, which were ordered to preach 'positive Christianity', free of 'Judaistic servility' ...

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Second half of 1933. Further measures to strenghten the party and the central government. (Partial merger of state and party).

1933-34 Growing demands from Roehm and the SA. Roehm overreached himself by demanding that the armed forces (Reichswehr) be made subordinate to the SA. Hitler had Roehm and the leadership of the SA slaughtered in June 1934.

August 1934. Death of President Hindenburg. Hitler then declared himself "Fuehrer of Germany". No presidential election was held.

Also important: in 1934 the SS became fully independent of the SA. Himmler and Heydrich were put in charge of the entire terror apparatus.

Joncey

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