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Hitler Consolidates Power. How did Hitler Consolidate Power?. Between March and July 1933—all political parties banned KDP already banned Many socialists imprisoned Even supporting parties disbanded Catholic Central Party Concordat w/ Vatican
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How did Hitler Consolidate Power? • Between March and July 1933—all political parties banned • KDP already banned • Many socialists imprisoned • Even supporting parties disbanded • Catholic Central Party • Concordat w/ Vatican • Church recognized Hitler; Nazis left Church alone • Law Against the Establishment of Parties (July 14, 1933)
Länder • Ref. to state govt • Took over through • Forced resignation • Seized buildings, docs, and supplies • Loyal Nazi commissioners were appointed • Law for the Restoration and Professional Civil Service (April 1933) • Trade Unions bannedreplaced w/German Labor Front
One Party State Made Legal • Law to Ensure the Unity of Party and State (Dec. 1933) • Structrualist Historians argue that Hitler set up parallel institutions to maintain power • Others argue Hitler did this because of disinterest and neglect
Hitler’s Storm Troopers • Had been using SA to maintain control…but it was causing problems with the military. • Rumors of a military coup; SA became disposable
Propaganda • Joseph Goebbels—Propaganda Minister • Believed masses could be won over easily • Censorship (Party controlled 2/3 of private newspapers) • Radio • Slogan (“Heil Hitler”) • Movies • Decorations on buildings
Repression • Even before Hitler became the official leader, his chancellorship had led to the death of 30,000 communist (arrest of 300,000) • SS: The Security Service • Ran concentration camps • Dachau (March 1933) • Gestapo: State Secret Police force
Class Discussion • Do you consider propaganda or repression more important in the consolidation of power in a totalitarian state, such as Hitler’s?
Gleichschaltung • Nazi party control over every aspect of life
Consolidation Complete in 1938 • 1934-Night of the Long Knives • Slowly began to transition the military into a Nazi force • 1935: Restoration of conscription—peacetime army of 500,000 • Some generals did not like the pace of rearmament • Didn’t like the SS (who were suppose to be a domestic police force but were technically part of the “war time army” • Some didn’t like the expansionist policies • War minister von Blombrg and Commander in Chief von Fritsch opposed “Lebensraum”; both dismissed and Hitler became war minister.