Chancellor to Dictator: How did Hitler remove opposition 1933 - 1934?

1. Chancellor to Dictator:How did Hitler remove opposition 1933 - 1934? Lesson aims: To be able to explain the methods used to remove opposition between 1933 and 1934 To explain how this led to the dictatorship of Germany

2. What am I learning? • Can I identify who stands in the way of Hitler gaining total power? • Can I explain why these groups pose a threat to Hitler and the Nazis? • Can I explain the methods use to remove this opposition? • Can I analyse the significance of the events leading to total power for the German people?

3. “The following steps gave me TOTAL control of Germany and the Nazi Party. CHANCELLOR = The elected leader of Germany but answerable to the Reichstag AND THE German President. DICTATOR = The power to pass any law without the permission of (in this case) the Reichstag.

4. HITLER BECAME CHANCELLOR THE REICHSTAG FIRE THE ENABLING ACT Der Fuhrer OATH OF LOYALTY TO HITLER THE NIGHT OF THE LONG KNIVES DEATH OF PRESIDENT HINDENBURG

5. 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. Hitler became Chancellor January 1933

6. Removing opposition • Hitler faced two types of opposition. • Under these 2 headings in your pairs list as many people/groups that stand in his way of total power

7. How did Hitler remove external opposition in the years 1933-1934? The Reichstag Fire

8. The Reichstag Fire February 1933 • The Reichstag (German Parliament building) was burnt down. • A Dutch Communist was caught red-handed with matches and fire-lighting materials. He admitted responsibility.

9. The Reichstag Fire • Feb 1933 EFFECT The Nazis blamed the Communists for the fire. It enabled Hitler to ban the Communist party.

10. Reichstag elections – March 1933 Nazis win 288 seats in Reichstag By far the largest party BUT not a majority. This is last free election under the Nazis. Why were they able to increase the seats they held in the Reichstag? NAZI PARTY

11. How did Hitler remove external opposition in the years 1933-1934? With the Communists banned from the Reichstag Hitler was able to pass the ENABLING ACT March 1933 HITLER CAN RULE ALONE FOR FOUR YEARS. THERE IS NO NEED TO CONSULT THE REICHSTAG.

12. Hitler needed at least two thirds of the Reichstag to vote for the Enabling Law. He was able to do this as he arrested the Communist Party (due to the Reichstag fire) and the SA threatened to beat up many of the other members of the Reichstag if they turned up to vote. EFFECT The Enabling Act gave Hitler the power to pass any law that he wanted without permission from the Reichstag. This ENABLED him to become Dictator. The Enabling Act March 1933

13. THE ENABLING ACT GAVE HITLER THE POWER TO MAKE HIS OWN LAWS. SO, HE BANNED ALL OTHER POLITICAL PARTIES!

14. Political Parties Banned 14 July 1933 One of the first laws that Hitler passed as Dictator was to ban ‘the formation of new political parties.’ EFFECT This law actually banned other political parties. Hitler smashed all other parties and put their leaders in prison. Germany was now a one party political state.

15. Removing external opposition Trade unions are banned because they are a threat to the Nazis. They could organise strikes. Also their removal would please the business men that had been funding the Nazis. The SA (Brownshirts) block the entrance to a trade union building.

16. Political prisoners were put in concentration camps run by the S.S.

17. REMOVAL OF EXTERNAL OPPOSITION The Reichstag Fire and the Enabling Act had dealt with all opposition outside the Nazi Party. Germany was now a one party State and democracy was effectively dead. But what about threats from within the party and its supporters? How does Hitler deal with internal opposition?

18. How did Hitler remove internal opposition in the year 1933-1934? Now I have got rid of opposing 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. June 1934

19. How had the SA helped Hitler into power? Why were they now a threat? Ernst Rohm the leader of the SA had been a member of the party since it’s early days. The SA had been loyal to Hitler. They had disrupted other party’s meetings and protected Hitler.

20. The Night of the Long Knives, June 1934Why were the SA purged? • Hitler had to get rid of Rohm. He was seen as a genuine threat to his position as leader. • Rohm led an organisation of nearly 2 million men. • The SA were increasingly violent and had become an embarrassment. • Hitler needed the support of the army who felt threatened by the SA. • Rohm’s homosexuality had tarnished the party’s image.

21. Night of the Long Knives Hitler secured the control of the Nazi party and his position as Dictator of Germany EFFECT

22. The Night of the Long Knives, June 1934What happened? • On the night of 30th June 1934 Hitler’s S.S. killed over 1000 S.A members including Rohm. • EFFECT • Hitler had removed all opposition and threats to his leadership within the Nazi Party. • The S.S were established as a separate organisation. • The army were pleased and swore an oath of allegiance to Hitler.

23. Oath of loyalty to Adolf Hitler Every soldier swore a personal oath of loyalty to ADOLF HITLER.

24. The death of President Hindenburg 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’.

25. So, how did he become a dictator legally?

26. HITLER BECAME CHANCELLOR THE REICHSTAG FIRE THE ENABLING ACT Der Fuhrer OATH OF LOYALTY TO HITLER THE NIGHT OF THE LONG KNIVES DEATH OF PRESIDENT HINDENBURG

27. The cult of the Fuhrer

28. A COMMON EXAM QUESTION IS ONE THAT ASKS YOU TO CONSIDER WHICH OF THESE IS MORE IMPORTANT IN HELPING HITLER GAIN TOTAL POWER: REICHSTAG FIRE vs ENABLING ACT ‘The Enabling Act was the most important factor in helping Hitler become dictator’. Do you agree? DISCUSS

29. Creation of the Nazi State: summary http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0eyxlRGo5Y&feature=relatedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vPH4VHo_ig&feature=related • The Reichstag Fire gave Hitler and the Nazis the ideal excuse to remove the communist threat. • The legal basis of Hitler’s dictatorship was the Enabling Act of March 1933. Within a few months he had created a one party state. • Rohm and the SA threatened Hitler’s position as leader and the continued support of the army. This threat was removed on the Night of the Long Knives. • With the death of Hindenburg, Hitler became Fuhrer and the Nazis carefully developed the ‘Hitler myth’.

30. What am I learning? • Can I identify who stands in the way of Hitler gaining total power? • Can I explain why these groups pose a threat to Hitler and the Nazis? • Can I explain the methods use to remove this opposition? • Can I analyse the significance of the events leading to total power for the German people?

31. GCSE QUESTION: 12 MARKS In what ways did the Reichstag Fire in Feb 1933 help Hitler increase his control over Germany? • You may use the following and any other information of your own in your answer. • Jan 1933: Hitler was appointed Chancellor • March 1933 election: Nazis gain 288 seats • March 1933: The Enabling Act.

32. GCSE QUESTION: 12 MARKS