The March 1933 Elections and the Enabling Act: How Hitler Seized Power

1. The March 1933 Elections and the Enabling Act (removing German Democracy) Starter recap: Describe who we consider are to blame for the Reichstag fire and the reasons why? Extension: Explain how this helped Hitler in his mission to turn Germany from democracy to dictatorship?

2. Key words….. • Reichstag: the building in which the main German legislature met, badly damaged by fire on the Nazi accession to power in 1933 • Majority: the greater number • Enabling Act: a legislative act conferring certain specified powers on a person or organization.

3. Recap- Reichstag Fire • One week before the elections, on February 27th 1933, the Reichstag caught fire! • The Reichstag is the German parliament. • Was it a plan to get more votes? What party did it eliminate? How would this help Hitler when it came to gaining seats, and a majority in the Reichstag which is what he had hoped for?

4. How did the Reichstag Fire help Hitler? • Hitler used the Reichstag fire to convince everyone that there was a real threat of a communist revolution. Hitler used the confusion and unease that people felt to consolidate his position. • Emergency powers: Hitler persuaded Hindenburg to pass the ‘Law for the Protection of People and State’ on 28th Feb 1933. This ended freedom of speech, freedom of association and freedom of the press. • Election success: Hitler persuaded Hindenburg to call fresh elections for the 5th March. He used his new powers to make life difficult for non-Nazi candidates. Hitler increased his share of the vote and thereby gave his party more power in parliament. In your own words describe how the aftermath of the fire helped Hitler?

5. The March 1933 Reichstag elections Who won the 1933 election? Did this mean the Nazis had complete power? Although the Nazis didn’t have a majority, the Nationalist Party joined forces with them. He also used emergency powers to prevent Communists from taking their seats. The 52 seats added to the Nazis’ meant Hitler now controlled over half of the total seats – the Reichstag would do as Hitler wanted.

6. The 1933 Election • The election results brought victory to the Nazis in ways. • Although they won 44% of the votes they failed to get a majority • However the Nationalist Party joined forces with the Nazis and their 52 seats gave them the majority. • However, it was below the 66% needed to change the constitution (laws) of the German republic. • The ban on the communist party meant that its 81 members could not take their seats in the Reichstag.

7. How did Hitler push the Enabling Law through? • Hitler wanted the Enabling Law to be enforced, but without that 66% he couldn’t just ‘push’ it through. • He then used the SA to threaten and bully other member of the Reichstag, such as the Social Democrats, to vote for the Enabling Law. • The Enabling Law gave Hitler complete power to make laws for four years, without consulting the Reichstag or the President. • The Weimar Constitution had been destroyed. Describe how Hitler succeeded in the 1933 March elections even though he didn’t have a majority? Explain how the Enabling Law got pushed through by the Reichstag?

8. Summary- How Hitler consolidated Power • After he became Chancellor in January 1933, Hitler transformed his democratic position into dictatorial power.   Calling an election - and taking advantage of the Reichstag fire - he got the Reichstag to pass the Enabling Act. • Then, using the power this gave him to make his own laws, he set up the Gestapo, banned Trade Unions and opposition parties and (on the Night of the Long Knives, July 1934) removed even the opposition within the Nazi Party.    • When Hindenburg died, Hitler declared himself Fuhrer.

9. Summary of how Nazis take control Feb/March 1933 Reichstag Fire Blamed on Communists How the Nazis gained control Feb-June 1933 Nazis gained more seats in the Reichstag Communists banned from the Reichstag Enabling Law passed

10. Consequences of the Enabling Act(Create a table to summarise the consequences) • With the powers gained by the Enabling Law, Hitler now removed any opposition to the Nazi party • Trade unions were abolished and their leaders arrested • The Social Democrat party was banned • The Law against the Formation of New Parties banned all parties except the Nazis • Political opponents were arrested • Nazi ministers were appointed in National and state governments • Nazi supporters were appointed as civil servants and judges

11. Review test- complete all questions • In your own words summarise the events surrounding the Reichstag fire. • “The Reichstag fire was not started by the Nazis but was used by them to consolidate their power by introducing the Enabling Act”. Do you agree with this statement? • “Hindenburg was an old man who failed to appreciate the threat posed by making Hitler Chancellor. He proved this by granting Hitler the Enabling Act”. Do you agree with this statement?

12. Noughts and Crosses!

13. “The Enabling Law was only passed because of threats and pressure from Hitler, the Nazis and the SA”

14. Plenary- True or false? • The Nazis failed to win a majority vote • The Enabling Law was pushed through the Reichstag • President Hindenburg didn’t pass the Enabling law • Hitler banned all other political parties TRUE TRUE FALSE TRUE