1. Text Summary 4.3: Why was the Enabling Act so important?

2. March 1933 election
Nazis got best ever results in March elections (288 seats)
Still failed to get overall majority
Hitler wanted Enabling Law
Needed 2/3 of Reichstag votes

3. Ban the Communists Banned Communists from Reichstag
Emergency Laws after Reichstag fire made this easy
Still needed to convince other parties

4. Intimidate the Social Democrats
Reichstag met in Kroll Opera House 23 March
SA and SS surrounded building and tried to intimidate Social Democrats (second largest party with 120 seats)
Social Democrats still voted against Enabling Act
But all other parties caved in and voted for it

5. The Enabling Act
Hitler could make laws without consulting Reichstag or President
Reichstag effectively voted itself out of existence and made Hitler dictator
Nazi revolution followed