Complete notes on the establishment of the Nazi dictatorship from the AQA Alevel History, Democracy & Nazism course from an A* student!!!
This includes information on;
- the position of Hitler when he first became Chancellor
- ways in which Hitler consolidated his power
- the use of legal powe...
H was the leader of the largest
political party in G, which is
why the policy of ignoring him
had not worked - political On the night hitler became
realism (practicality) forced the chancellor, there was a
conservatives to work with him procession in Berlin of around
SA created atmosphere of intimidation (also through the - they needed him more than 100,000 Nazis winding through
fact it was at the Kroll Opera house, could turn it into ' he needed them the streets of Berlin - showed
nazi hub' with flags etc rather than in reichstag where it the strength that H carried as
would remain neutral) Chancellor. There had not been
this level of support for any However, how likely was it that
Passed by 444/94 votes Chancellor for a long time, not Hindenburg would actually sack him -
KPD leaders were not least in the history of the WR what other choice did he have?
allowed to attend, due to
their party being banned. For this dictatorship to be fully established though,
Hitler needed more wide ranging powers - still had There were only 2 other nazis in
DNVP deputies were Hindenburg who had the power to remove him (he the cabinet of 12. Hitler was not His position as Chancellor still lay in the hands of
Spreading around
allies of the NSDAP wouldn't.. but he could) in complete control Hindenburg - someone who did not support him -
false promises H moved quickly to
meaning that he could easily be sacked.
Strengths gain the support of
powerful institutions
Centre party voted for it because they and groups within
Although Hitler needed 2/3 majority to Hitler's coalition gov did not have a majority in the
promised to protect the Catholic Church The Nazi victory in the March election and the Weaknesses German society,
pass this law - it was able to be passed Reichstag - it would be difficult for the Nazis to
on the 24th March 1933 BECAUSE... Reichstag Fire Decree severely weakened the introduce any dramatic change especially the army
opposition to the Nazis and laid groundwork for the and big businesses
SPD was the only
party who opposed establishment of a legal dictatorship
1. Position of Hitler when he was Hitler wanted to enforce a dictatorship but the
The enabling act would allow him to make and pass
appointed Chancellor in Jan 1933 constitution (which was still in force) guaranteed the In Feb 1933, he met with the army's senior officers
laws without the Reichstag's approval and without 3. Use of legal power and rights of German citizens under the law to reassure them that the Nazi regime did not pose
needing Hindenburg's agreement the end of democracy Gains the support from top
a threat to the army position as the most important people in society
institution in the state
The 'Pact of 1933'
On the surface seen as legal, 2. Ways in which Hitler
It can be argued that democracy was already dead in but actually the ways he went The establishment of Nazi dictatorship :
consolidated his power Later in Feb he met with
the water at this point, however, the Enabling Act about doing this = illegal eg January - March 1933 industrialists to reassure them that
signified the end of democracy means of terror and violence Election campaigns
there would be no Nazi attacks on during 1932, had
to eliminate opposition By the end of March 1933, THE REICHSTAG
large capitalist enterprises & to get decreased the Nazi
CONSEQUENCES a Nazi legal dictatorship ELECTIONS, 5TH MARCH
Trade unions were banned in May 1933 - USE OF NAZI TERROR their financial backing partys funds
OF THE E/A had been established. This 1933
significant because wc is largest part of society
was done through
so these trade unions had in the past been seen
In the Within 24 hours of being appointed Chancellor, new
as big threats to govs cos of the control they
building up Although the election was Reichstag elections had been called. Felt that new elections
had - by removing these eliminating more threat THE REICHSTAG
SA were vital to aiding Hitler's rise to power. Once to the supposed to be in line with would not I=only increase the Nazi vote (in hope to get the
8 March - first FIRE 27TH FEB
he was in power in Jan 1933, he used state elections, the Weimar constitution - majority - therefore no coalition) but to enhance his own
resources to consolidate and expand the SA further permanent on the 27th very little characteristics status and power as leader
Banning of political parties in Due to SA, able to concentration
July 1933 - nazi party the sole Feb 1933, Allowed Hitler on expected of democracy
remove any opposition camp, Dachau, the
legal party in Germany SA membership swiftly - consolidating was set up to the 28th to pass a Nazis terrorised their opponents and 69 people died in street fights during
Reichstag Reichstag Fire
went from 500,000 Because the his control - SA accommodate made it difficult to campaign the weeks of campaigning
building Decree through
in 1933 to around Nazis were in unleashed a wave of all the people Justification of the
was article 48
However, even before this Able to do this with 3 million in 34 power - it violence against trade they were decree was the threat
destroyed
existing parties faced severe control over the provided the unions, SPD and KPD removing/arresting posed by communists Used an atmosphere of hate and
in a fire The election had a
restrictions eg KPD banned police, and with SA with legal offices and members fear in their election propaganda. turnout of 88%!! - figure
sympathetic judges, authority He blamed the poor economic this high suggests the
the Nazis were able to A young dutch communist was conditions on democratic gov & success of SA terror etc
use terror without When opposition newspapers This suspended civil and terrorist activities of the
Example - a young arrested for supposedly doing
punishment condoned the killings and political rights and gave communists. Therefore ensuring
Nazi, shot dead the crime - this massively
violence, the newspapers got the police increased himself as the only person who
They merged with the Stahlhelm the SPD mayor of benefitted the Nazis as
banned - meant that he was powers of arrest they could turn to - promising to
(RW paramilitary group) & became a town in Prussia because it was blamed on the Hitler received 43% of the vote,
consolidating his power restore G's pride & unity (although
known as 'auxiliary police' communists who were plotting securing 288 seats - could claim a
because soon enough people never actually giving the details of
(additional support police) - orders to start a revolution majority with the DNVP
would not hear of the 'bad' how he would do this)
were given to regular police to
things he had done
forbid them from interfering with
SA. Effectively allowed the SA to Used to arrest more socialists and communists but more so allows
do whatever they wanted people to turn their votes away from the KPD and instead towards However, not the success that Hitler
the reichstag through fear of communism. Perhaps, those who would have liked - still 64% of voters,
would not have even voted before, would vote for the Nazis due to voted against Nazi party
this fear of communism
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