From Chancellor to Dictator Focus 2: How did Hitler become the dictator of Germany by 1934? HITLER BECAME CHANCELLOR THE REICHSTAG FIRE THE ENABLING ACT DEATH OF PRESIDENT HINDENBURG THE NIGHT OF THE LONG KNIVES Der Fuhrer

From Chancellor to Dictator Great Depression  economic crisis  more people voted for the Nazis In 1933 President Hindenburg appointed Hitler as Chancellor

From Chancellor to Dictator The Reichstag Fire The Reichstag building was burnt down  the Communists were blamed Hitler convinced President Hindenburg to give him emergency powers  could suspend all rights and imprison people without trial Hitler arrested the Communists and other political opponents

From Chancellor to Dictator The Enabling Act Aim: To make laws without the consent of the Reichstag for 4 years  become dictator Needed 2/3 majority to pass the Act Got support of the Nationalists and Catholic Centre Party Banned the Communists from the Reichstag using emergency powers Put SA troops in the Reichstag building to pressure members to vote for the Act

From Chancellor to Dictator Result: Used the Enabling Act to – remove members of other political parties from government positions – ban other political parties – ban trade unions – imprison opponents – impose censorship

From Chancellor to Dictator SPD KPD DDP Zentrum

From Chancellor to Dictator The Night of the Long Knives Aim: To get rid of the SA leaders, e.g. Ernst Rohm Rohm wanted SA to be a second Germany Army Opposed by the Army Generals Rohm wanted large firms to be nationalised (under state control) Opposed by rich businessmen and industrialists Rohm was a serious rival to Hitler's powers SA was becoming too powerful (4m members) Used the SS to murder Rohm and other SA leaders (about 400 people) on 30 June 1934  gained support of Army

From Chancellor to Dictator The Death of President Hindenburg What Hitler did: Took over the powers of the President Combined the role of Chancellor and President Became the commander-in-chief of armed forces Declared himself as ‘der Fuhrer’ (the supreme leader)

So, how did I become the dictator of Germany?

From Chancellor to Dictator HITLER BECAME CHANCELLOR THE REICHSTAG FIRE THE ENABLING ACT DEATH OF PRESIDENT HINDENBURG THE NIGHT OF THE LONG KNIVES Der Fuhrer