From Chancellor To Dictator

The National Revolution Hitler had been legally appointed Chancellor in January –However, he was in a coalition government –He did not have absolute power Immediately he called for new elections –He wanted to gain 50% of the vote –He wanted to remove his coalition partners –Election Date: March 5th

The ‘Unfair’ 1933 Election Scare Tactics –The Nazis claimed that the Communists were about to ‘take over’ Germany The government banned Communist meetings Communist newspapers were shut down In Prussia, the SA were given full police powers Government money and power –The Nazis no longer had to rely on their own money to fight an election campaign. Goebbels used propaganda very effectively. Huge Propaganda event on 27 th Feb –Just a week before the election

The Reichstag Fire The German Parliament was burnt to the ground –5 th March 1933 Nazis claimed that it was by a Dutch Communist –Van der Lubbe Possibly a Nazi Conspiracy Gave the Nazis a golden propaganda opportunity

“The Decree for the Protection of the People and the State” Using the Reichstag Fire as an excuse (an assault on German Democracy), Hindenburg signed the emergency decree on February 28 th : –Brownshirts given Police Powers Thousands of Communists were arrested –‘Protective Custody’ introduced Indefinite Imprisonment without trial First Concentration Camps created –Freedom of Speech removed Opposition newspapers closed down –Freedom of Assembly removed Only Nazis could hold meetings, rallies, etc…

March 1933 Election Results (With Cheating) PartySeats Nazis288 Nationalists (DNVP)52 Centre (Zentrum)74 Social Democrats (SPD)120 Communists81

The Enabling Act Nazis still did not have over 50% of seats They needed a 2/3rds majority to change constitution Nazis wanted to pass the Enabling Act –Would allow Nazis to pass laws without votes in Reichstag and without Article 48 Would turn Germany into a Dictatorship Nazis used emergency decree powers to arrest Communists Convinces Catholic Party to support him Enabling act passed 441 – 84 –Hitler is now a Dictator!