The establishment of the Nazi state

Summer of 1933 to August 1934

Aims of the lesson

By the end of this lesson you will

• Understand how Hitler was able to establish his control over Germany by the summer of 1934

• Evaluate the extent of his power at various points in the story

• Evaluate the extent of his power by the end of August 1934

Summer 1934 – a recap

• January 30th 1933 – Hitler becomes Chancellor – dissolves the Reichstag

• 27th March 1933 – Reichstag fire• 10th March 1933 – election. Nazis get 288

seats – short of a majority. Saved by the 52 seats of the nationalists

• 232rd March 1923 – the Enabling Law passed 444 to 94. gave all power in Germany to Hitler

The terror state – the SS

• Hitler’s bodyguards – the Black shirts led by Himmler

• The Nazi elite – obeyed Hitler’s every word

• Carried out his orders without question

• Feared all over Germany• Controlled the concentration

and death camps

The terror state – the Gestapo

• The GEheime STAtz POlitzi• The secret police• Could arrest anyone, read

mail or tap their telephones• Had informers everywhere –

even children• Arrested people at night –

everyone feared a knock on the door!!!!!!

The terror state – the police and judiciary

• The police and courts remained but were put under Nazi control

• Goering was in charge of the Prussian Police – the largest police force in Germany

• Courts were used as a political tool – judges had to be Nazis

The removal of political opposition

• May 1st 1933 – workers given a May Day holiday

• May 2nd 1933 – trade unions abolished and put in prison

• June 1933 – the SPD and all other political parties banned

• Nazis were the only legal party in Germany

The Nazification of the government

• All non-Nazis in the civil service were removed from their jobs

• The states of Germany lost their powers – all powers given to Nazi “Gaulieters”