Hitler's Consolidation of Power 1933-34

The Reichstag Fire

Hitler's Consolidation of Power 1933-45

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The resources on this blog aim to:

Help you establish who was guilty of burning the Reichstag on 27th February 1933
Enable you to critically asses the significance of the fire in Hitler's consolidation of power 1933-34

Overview

After Hitler became Chancellor on 30 January 1933, there were torchlight parades celebrating his appointment.

Nazi celebratory torchlight parade under Brandenburg Gate, Berlin

Millions who voted Nazi in the previous year hoped for a glorious future under his government. The elites around President Hindenburg however thought differently, seeing him as vehicle for their own political control. They expected to discard him swiftly.

Vice-chancellor Papen said to a friend in February 1933: ‘I have Hindenburg’s confidence. Within two months we will have pushed Hitler so far into a corner that he’ll squeak.’ This was one of the most famous and disastrous misjudgements in history.

TASK: Watch this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CFWH4Fhkak (play from 5.28)‘how significant was the Reichstag Fire in Hitler’s consolidation of power 1933 – 1934?’

Hitler transformed his democratic position into dictatorial power. Calling an election, then taking full advantage of the Reichstag fire on 27 February, a week before the election (5th March), he was able to pass the Enabling Act. Then, using the power this gave him to make his own laws, he set up the Gestapo, banned Trade Unions and opposition parties. On the Night of the Long Knives (July 1934) Hitler removed opposition within the Nazi Party in the form of the SA leadership. When Hindenburg died, Hitler declared himself Führer.

Hindenburg’s state funeral at the Tannenberg Memorial

He had complete control over Germany. The final act was an oath of loyalty sworn by the Army to Hitler and a plebiscite on the 19^th August 1934 where 89.9% of Germans voted their approval of Hitler as both Chancellor and Head of State, with supreme command of the military.

Members of the regular army swear their personal oath of loyalty to Hitler