Fascism in Nazi Germany

1. Fascism in Nazi Germany Consolidating power Luc, Troy, Nathan, Carter

2. Role of the state • Hitler transformed Germany into a totalitarian state. As chancellor, he used the threat of communists trying to take over Germany to his advantage. That new found fear made the people of Germany call a new election that passed the Reichstag fire decree (1933) the enabling act (1933). These allowed the government to do many things such as restricting personal freedom, freedom of opinion, freedom of the press, freedom of organization and assembly, eliminated the privacy of mail, telegrams, and telephone conversations. The abolishment of these rights eliminated the need for warrants to conduct searches, allowed the chancellor’s office to pass legislation without the approval of the Reichstag and Hitler banned all political parties other than the Nazi party. After these bills were passed Germany was a dictatorship. He then assassinated the leaders of the storm troopers because they represented an alternative and threatened his rise to power. When the president Von Hindenburg died, Hitler declared himself Fuhrer or leader. He did all this so that he could eventually use his new power to kill off the Jewish people, invade neighboring countries and create room for the Aryana race he believed was superior. • Hitler used totalitarian methods to carry out his agenda. He used indoctrination in education, compulsory youth groups and rallies, secret police, media censorship and propaganda and scapegoats, blaming the Jewish people for Germany’s misfortune and blaming a young Dutch communist for the burning of the Reichstag building. • Video to go with this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zavO6ykIp-s

3. Consequences on the Nation • Hitler and the Nazi party took all the power in Germany by intimidating, inspiring fear and eliminating threats to them. Once Germany became a dictatorship, the power of the Nazi party was maintained by force. Initially the effects of Hitler having all the power were good. Germany had the strongest economy in all of Europe, due to its government spending and didn’t feel the great depression as much as other countries did. Although some good did come from Hitler and the Nazi party, their policies and actions ultimately led to the holocaust and World War II. This had massive negative effects for Germany, its citizens, and the rest of the world.

4. Consequences for the Citizen • Once Hitler became chancellor their was many privileges that were taken away from the people of Germany. They were restricted personal freedom, freedom of opinion, freedom of the press, and freedom of organization and assembly. With Hitler in charge it eliminated the need for warrants, peoples privacy was taken away from them. The Nazis were able to listen in on phone calls and were also able to look at your mail. Although most social groups suffered, the greater economy benefitted because with Germany going into war this opened up employment and job opportunities. This was essential at this time because many of the German people were unemployed due to the Great Depression. Hitler gained complete power over the public and private lives of the Germans.

5. Role of the citizen • The consolidation of power depended partly on the citizen. The Nazi Party was chosen by a third of voters. Hitler was a great leader, or seemed like it, as he fixed Germany’s economic troubles. The people of Germany looked past the fact that Hitler was a totalitarian leader, because he was a good leader. In 1933 as chancellor of Germany, Hitler destroyed the Reichstag building in a fire. The cause of fire was blamed on a Dutch communist. Hitler then led the people to believe that the fire was part of a communist plot to take over the country. He also used the panic of the citizen, and passed two bills. The bills were the Reichstag Fire Decree, and Enabling act. Hitler used the citizen in taking over the people themselves, and the government.