Nazi Consolidation of Power 1933

30th Jan, 1933

Hitler appointed chancellor

Hitler is appointed chancellor, Goering appointed minister of the Interior





17th Feb, 1933

Police, SS and SA

Goering orders local police to cooperate with the SS and SA.





27th Feb, 1933

Reichstag fire

The Reichstag,the German parliament building is burnt down. Hitler blames communists and other Nazi opponents and arrests 4000. Many Germans believe the Nazi's create the fire themselves, so they can use the communists as a scapegoat to gain support in the March 1933 election.





28th Feb, 1933

Hindenburg's emergency decree

The decree allows: Police to hold suspects without trial

Hitler to take over regional governments





5th Mar, 1933

Reichstag elections

The government uses various forms of media to intimidate opponents. Nazi's attract new voter with the slogan "the Battle against Marxism". They win the elections with 52%.





13th Mar, 1933

New Minister of Propaganda

Josef Goebells is appointed head of the new Ministry of Propaganda. He takes control of all media.





24th Mar, 1933

Enabling act

Allows Hitler to pass decrees without the president's involvement. Made Hitler a legal dictator. He could pass any law he wanted to.





7th Apr, 1933

A purge of aliens

In an effort to prevent Hitler's government being undermined by the civil service, he purges the organisation of all Jews and Nazi opponents.





1st May, 1933

Holiday

Workers granted May Day holiday





2nd May, 1933

Trade unions banned

All workers in Germany now belong to the German labour front (DAF).





9th Jun, 1933

Employment law

Major program of public works is implemented. This includes road-building etc. Designed to lower employment in Germany.





14th Jul, 1933

Formation of new parties

Hitler passes a law which prevents New parties forming. Germany becomes a one party state.





20th Jul, 1933

Vatican Concordant

Agreement between the state and the Roman Catholic church: Government protected religious freedom; church banned from political activity.





10th Jan, 1934

All State governments taken over

Hitler increases his power.





29th Jun, 1934

The Night of the Long Knives begins.

Even with control of the state government, Hitler did not feel totally secure. He was suspicious of the S.A. and it's leader, a long time colleague of Hitler, Ernst Rohm. Rohm wanted to make the S.A. a second German army. Hitler feared Rohm with his control of 4 million S.A. soldiers made him a dangerous opponent. On the weekend of the 29th-30th of June squads of S.S. soldiers broke into the homes of leading members of the S.A.(including Rohm) and eliminated them.





30th Jun, 1934

The Night of the Long Knives

Hindenburg thanked Hitler for his determined action(which he said nipped treason at the bud) which even eliminated Kurt von Schliecher, a critic of Hitler who had no connection with Rohm or the S.A. . The S.A. remianed as a paramilitary organisation and lost the influence it had before 1933, Many members were absorbed into the Schultzstaffel.





2nd Aug, 1934

The Death of Paul von Hindenburg

Upon the death of Hidnenburg, Hitler became Fuhrer of Germany. All members of the army swore a personal oath of loyalrty to him. They agreed to serve him and stay out of politics. In return, Hitler spent vast amounts on rearmament, brought back conscription and made plans to increase Germany's military strength.