Nazis Consolidation of Power 1933-1934

Nazis Consolidation of Power 1933-1934

1. January 1933

   • 30th Hitler appointed Chancellor
   • Only 3 Nazi Cabinet members; Hitler, Goering, Frick
   • Hindenburg agrees to dissolve Reichstag on 1st Feb and hold new elections. Hitler hopes to gain 2/3 majority

2. February 1933

   • 27th Reichstag Fire
     • Suspected arson by Dutch Communist
     • Nazis took advantage to show a communist threat
   • Decree for the Protection of the People and the State
     • Issued by Hindenburg using Article 48
     • Gave secret police ability to hold people indefinitely in protective custody
     • Used to repress KPD

3. March 1933

   • Highest ever voter turnout with 88.8%
   • Nazis only got 44% of votes
   • Government used control over radio and police to intimidate opponents
   • Goebbels appointed new Minister of Propaganda
   • 24th Enabling Act
     • Passed 441 to 94 (only SPD voted against)
     • Kroll Opera House
     • Emergency powers for 4 years

4. April 1933

   • 1st One Day Boycott of Jewish shops
   • Law for Restoration of Professional Civil Service
     • Administration, courts, schools, and universities purged of "alien elements"

5. May 1933

   • 1st May-Day Holiday turned into Day of National Labour
   • 2nd Trade Union offices seized, all union incorporated into German Labour Front

6. June 1933

   • Major public work schemes such as Autoban

7. July 1933

   • 14th Law against formation of New Parties
     • KPD and SPD already banned
     • Other parties dissolved themselves
   • 20th Concordant with the Church
     • Church banned from political activities
     • Religious Freedom granted by Government

8. October 1933

   • 14th Reichstag disolved

9. November 1933

   • Nazi Candidates win 92% of vote

10. January 1934

    • Law for the Reconstruction of the State
      • From March, many local governments overthrown by SA violence
      • Elected State assemblies dissolved
      • Reich Governors created to run states

11. June 1934

    • Night of Long Knives
      • SS shot many SA leaders
      • Others killed such as Von Papen and Edgar Jung
      • Appeased Hitler's conservative supporters

12. August 1934

    • 1st Law Concerning the Head of State of the German Reich mergers the offices of the President and Chancellor in the new position of Reich Chancellor
    • 2nd Hindenburg dies
    • Army swears personal oath of loyalty to Hitler