• Consolidating power January-March 1933 The role of the Führer and Hitler’s aims

1. •Consolidating power January-March 1933 The role of the Führer and Hitler’s aims

2. Connector

3. Outcomes • To know how Hitler gained power legitimately • To know the events of Enabling Act, the March elections and the Reichstag Fire • To be aware of the different interpretations of Hitler coming to power

4. Jan-March 1933 Legal Revolution • Hitler had been appointed Chanceller but he had limited power • Von Papen “Hitler will be squeaking in two months” • Hitler's constitutional power was weak as • 2/12 of the Cabinet were Nazi's- Frick and Goring • Hitler's Coalition government did not have a majority in the Reichstag • The post was dependent upon the whim of the President and he openly resented Hitler- why? • Hitler also had to be aware of the army and Trade Unions- he could not alienate either. The army could arrange a coup or the unions could strike which could break the government

5. Strengths of Hitler • Within two months these were not problems as • He was the leader of the largest political party in Germany which is why the policy of ignoring him did not work . The politicians probably needed him more than he needed them. The alternative to Hitler was a civil war or communist revolution • The Nazi party now gained access to resources of the state ie Goring being Minister of the Interior in Prussia- he could ignore Nazi crimes but pursue others • Hitler was a masterly tactician- he was determined to achieve absolute power.

6. 1933 March Election • Within 24 hours of his appointment a fresh Reichstag election had been called, so that Nazi support could be increased and also enhance his own status • The final Reichstag election was one of little democratic endover. Violence and terror dominated socialist meetings. In Prussia Goring enlisted 50 000 extra police, all were SS or SA • They also created an atmosphere of hate and fear through propaganda. Hitler blamed the economic crisis on the democratic government and terror activities of the communists • The government was a national uprising determined to restore Germanys pride and power , without ever really commiting to economic or political details • Hitlers election fund had also been boosted by 3 million marks, through meetings with 20 leading industrialists

7. Reichstag Fire • On 27th Feb the Reichstag building was set on fire and a young Dutch communist, von Lubbe, was arrested in incriminating circumstances • At the time many believed it was a Nazi plot and was to justify their policy of repression. To this day no satisfactory explanation has been found • Von Lubbe has been founded both guilty and innocent in studies. However at the time the Nazi's were able to exploit the situation • On 28th Feb Frick and Hindenberg drew up and signed the “Decree for the Protection of People and State”, suspending civil liberties and the central government was strengthened, the justification being the threat by the communists. In the last week of elections hundredds were arrested and violence by the Nazis reached a new high • The result was an 88% turn out, and the Nazi's increased their vote from 33% to 43% securing 288 seats in the Reichstag. Hitler could claim a majority with the help of the 52 seats from the Nationalists. Also a blow for democracy- constitutional changes coiuld be made with 2/3 majority in the Reichstag • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jt5HtPYv1FQ

8. Enabling Law March 1933 • Hitler decided to propose a new Enabling Law to the Reichstag which would do away with parliamentary procedure and legislation, and transfer power to the Chancellor and the government for four years • Therefore the dictatorship would be grounded in legality but this depended upon other political parties in order to achieve the 2/3's majority • There were further problems with a revolution from below- those who had taken Nazi power into their own hands, which threatned to challenge Hitlers legality, as well as antagonise the DNVP support (Conservative) • To help legitimise the Nazi's Hitler arranged at the opening of the Reichstag in the presence of Hindenberg and the Crown Prince as well as army generals- alisgning the Nazis with Germany's old regime • Two days later at the Opera House (Reichstag) the Reichstag met to discuss the Enabling Law. The communists were refused entry, whilst the Nazis knew they would need the backing of the Centre party if the SPD voted against them. Hitler promised to respect the Catholic church and uphold relgious and moral values if they supported him- these were lies • The Enabling Law was passed- 244 to 94

9. Task • Read the consolidation of power by Hitler in the red book between Jan-March 1933 • Extension • Find out what happened in the Night of the Long Knives

10. The Key Debates • Why did the Weimar Republic collapse and why did it give way to Hitler and Nazism • Left wing Marxist view- crisis of captialism • Anti German determinists- Hitler an inevitable result of German history • Ritter- Moral crisis in Europe • Structuralists- response to economic and political structure • Intentionists- Hitlers Ideology and Evil Genuis • Kershaw-result of miscalculation