1. From Chancellor to Dictator
L.O: To understand how Hitler consolidated his power as dictator
1. Unscramble:
1. SECITARHG
2. STITOAHIDRSP
3. PAN VENPO
4. CBLINAEG ATN
5. DROGNPAAPA
6. TTICUONTONSI
2. Extension:
1. What was the Reichstag fire and who got the blame?
2. What was the Enabling Act?
3. Which was more important in helping Hitler?

2. The Night of the Long Knives

3. Background
Hitler was Chancellor (Prime Minister), but not yet completely in control.
Opposition from outside the Nazi party was being strangled – Communists were banned and concentration camps set up.
BUT – Some within the Nazi Party opposed Hitler. ALSO – Some important people wouldn’t support Hitler while these opponents remained.

4. Were the SA disloyal?
Some SA members were still keen on the original ideas of the Nazis – a National Socialist Revolution.
They wanted rich landowners and big businesses to be swept away or taken over.
Gregor Strasser was the main believer in this – and he had lots of supporters.

5. Gregor Strasser wasn’t too keen on Adolf Hitler....
I am a man marked by death.
Whatever happens, mark what I say: From now on Germany is in the hands of an Austrian who is a congenital liar, a former officer who is a pervert, and a clubfoot.
And I tell you the last is the worst of them all. This is Satan in human form
1932
liar – Hitler
pervert – Roehm
clubfoot - Goebbels

6. Ernst Roehm
Ernst Roehm, the leader of the SA, also clashed with Hitler.
He wanted his Brownshirts to become the new German army with him in charge, of course.

7. Did Roehm know what was coming?
Adolf is a swine. He will give us all way. He only associates with reactionaries now. Adolf knows exactly what I want. Not a second edition of the old imperial army. Are we revolutionaries or aren't we? We've got to produce something new, don't you see? A new discipline. A new principle of organization. The generals are a lot of old fogies.
May 1933

8. Was Roehm in a strong position?
Jan 1934
Hitler can't walk over me as he might have done a year ago; I've seen to that. Don't forget that I have three million men, with every key position in the hands of my own people…If Hitler is reasonable I shall settle the matter quietly; if he isn't I must be prepared to use force - not for my sake but for the sake of our revolution.

9. Why should Hitler support the Sturmabteilung (S.A)
The S.A. had fought for Hitler during the Munich Putsch in 1923
The S.A. had been in existence since the early days of The Nazi Party
Why should Hitler support the
Sturmabteilung (S.A)
The S.A. was led by one of Hitler’s earliest supporters – Ernst Rohm
Members of the S.A. were loyal Nazis
Ernst Rohm was personally loyal to Hitler
Ernst Rohm shared Hitler’s vision of a racially pure society
The S.A. had supported Hitler and the Nazis by putting up posters, handing out leaflets and intimidating political opponents throughout the 1920’s and early 1930’s.
The S.A. had more than 2 million members by 1934.

10. Why should Hitler purge the Sturmabteilung (S.A)
If the S.A. were not brought under control Hitler may lose the support of Hindenburg (the President) and powerful conservatives
The German Army was well organised and trained and possessed the weapons necessary to wage large scale war
Ernst Rohm wanted to merge the regular German Army with the S.A
The S.A. were becoming lawless by the early 1930’s and were causing some Germans to turn against the Nazis
Why should Hitler purge the
Sturmabteilung (S.A)
Ernst Rohm was a potential rival to Hitler
As S.A. membership grew, they were becoming harder to control
Many Generals and leading Nazis distrusted and feared Ernst Rohm
S.A. leaders were demanding rewards for their loyal service. They were angry that new Party Members were receiving more recognition than they were
If Hitler supported the German Army he would gain the support of large businesses
The S.A. were good at breaking up opponents political meetings, but they were not a professional army.

11. What did Hitler do?
He got his friends to compile hit-lists of disloyal SA men.
Himmler, Heydrich and Goering were keen to do this.
Viktor Lutze, another SA chief was also very willing to help.
Can you think why?

12. This was of course, done in secret!
Watch your back, Ernst....
Himmler, leader of the SS, was
especially keen to rub out Roehm.
He wanted control of the
concentration camps and the
police forces.

13. On 30 June, Hitler strikes!
The SS and the police arrest dozens of SA leaders.
Many are shot dead in their homes, others are taken to camps for execution.
Rohm is jailed, and shot the next day.
Strasser is also shot dead.
Hitler even takes the opportunity to have von Schleicher, the ex-chancellor, killed.

14. Hitler’s speech on 13 July
"In this hour I was responsible for the fate of the German people, and thereby I become the supreme judge of the German people. I gave the order to shoot the ringleaders in this treason."
Hitler had wanted Roehm to be let off, for old time’s sake. Himmler and Goering wanted none of it. Roehm was ordered to commit suicide. When he refused, two SS men shot him dead....

16. The Night of the Long Knives - 30 June 1934
What does this cartoon say about the Night of the Long Knives?
Age 8.6
The caption reads: 'They salute with both hands now'.   

17. The Night of the Long Knives
Herr Adolf Hitler, the German Chancellor, has saved his country. Swiftly and with exorable severity, he has delivered Germany from men who had become a danger to the unity of the German people and to the order of the state. With lightening rapidity he has caused them to be removed from high office, to be arrested, and put to death. The names of the men who have been shot by his orders are already known. Hitler's love of Germany has triumphed over private friendships and fidelity to comrades who had stood shoulder to shoulder with him in the fight for Germany's future Daily Mail, July 2nd 1934.
Age 10.4
1. What words in the source show that the Daily Mail has a positive view of Hitler?
2. Why do you think they might have this opinion?
3. Do you agree with this opinion? Why?

18. Dealing with the Final Opposition

19. In August 1934 Hindenburg died
On the same day, the army swore allegiance to Hitler.
Hitler combined the posts of Chancellor and President together to create a new title called ‘Fuhrer’.
Hitler wanted to gain the support of the people in his action so he called a referendum (a vote) where 90% of those who voted agreed with his actions (38 million).
Only 10% voted against him.

20. Why do you think this oath gave Hitler more power?
Army Oath
I swear before God to give my unconditional obedience to Adolf Hitler, Fuhrer of the Reich and of the German people, and I pledge my word as a brave soldier to observe this oath always, even at the peril of my life.
Why do you think this oath gave Hitler more power?

21. Other Factors
24 April 1934
People's Courts - Hitler sets up the Nazi people's courts where judges have to swear an oath of loyalty to the Nazis.
Age 8.8

22. Other Factors
14 July 1933
Political parties are banned - only the Nazi party is allowed to exist.
Age 9.7

23. Other Factors
20 June 1933
Concordat - Hitler makes an agreement with the Pope who sees him as someone who can destroy communism. This agreement allows Hitler to take over political power in Germany as long as he leaves the Catholic Church alone.
Age 11

24. Make a time line in your books
Events to include:
Political parties banned
People’s courts
Hitler becoming Chancellor
Hindenburg death
Reichstag fire
Enabling act
1932 election
Von Papen Chancellor
Von Schleicher chancellor
Hitler joining the German
Munich Putsch
1928 election
Mein Kampf is written
Wall street crash
Night of the long knives
Hitler becomes Fuehrer
1933
1934

26. Why was this significant?

27. What was the most important event leading to Hitler becoming Fuehrer?
The most important cause of Hitler becoming Fuehrer was…
This is because…

28. Plenary: ODD ONE OUT
Events caused by hitler – Reichstag fire of seen to be not caused by hitler

29. Plenary: ODD ONE OUT
Thisng that led to the rise of the Nazi party – odd one out is propaganda – the other three were things that happened outside of germany

30. Plenary: ODD ONE OUT Gregor Strasser Hindenburg Goebbels Hitler
Hitler is the odd out out because he was the only one not born in Germany
Goebbels
Hitler