Although Hitler was already chancellor in 1933, he and the Nazi party still had a few obstacles
left in their road to establish and consolidate their power, as Hitler was convinced he must do so
through legal and constitutional means only. His consolidation of power could be termed as a
political revolution when compared to the liberal, democratic Weimar constitution, however,
when compared to the imperialistic and authoritative rule of the Kaiser, it may not be so much of
a revolution.
Hitler used the Reichstag fire to remove competition from the communists and socialists in the
upcoming elections in Feb 1933, claiming this was the start of a communist revolution. Although
thousands of members of the KPD and SPD were arrested, the Nazis still had 43.9% of the vote
in the Reichstag. He was able to negotiate with leaders of the other parties, assuring them that
their interests would be protected in the Nazi-ruled Germany. The support from the Center party
and the DNVP gave him the two-thirds majority in the march 1933 elections that he required to
pass the enabling act, which gave him full emergency powers for 4 years and thus overthrow the
Weimar constitution. As Piers Brendon says, ‘to consolidate his position as chancellor, Hitler
insisted on holding a democratic election to end democracy.’
The enabling act provided a basis for Hitler’s dictatorship, allowing him to implement the
process of Gleichschaltung to turn Germany into a one-party state, which was aimed at
‘coordinating’ German political, cultural, and social life with Nazi ideology and values. He
passed laws to abolish the provincial parliaments (landtage) and place all federal governments
under the control of the ministry of the interior, allowing for a more unified Germany. The Nazis
also worked to remove competition from any other political parties, to achieve their goal of a
one-party state. The Reichstag fire had allowed the KPD to be banned and the social democrats
were subjected to increased repression from the SA and were soon officially banned on 22 nd June
1933. Other parties also agreed to dissolve themselves by early July. The ‘law against the
formation of new parties’ imposed by Hitler on 14 July 1933 formally established the single-
party state, making the NSDAP the only legal political party in Germany. The Gleichschaltung
also allowed for trade unions to be disbanded and all workers were ordered to join the Nazis
German labor front, where they had no power to negotiate wages or working conditions. Civil
service officers were also replaced by Nazi officials. These actions helped hitler consolidate his
power further.
Hitler also used violence and terror to establish and consolidate his power over the country.
While the Gleichschaltung had paved the way for Hitler and his authoritative regime, he still did
not have control over the army, which remained under the leadership of Hindenburg. Some
officers were impressed by his promises of expanding the army and returning to a more
aggressive foreign policy resembling the one before ww1, however they still upheld their
independence from the Nazis and therefore power to overthrow hitler. He also feared that the
army, inspired by Ernst Rohm and his socialist ideals, would merge with the SA to form the
People’s army, and provoke them into taking action against the Nazis. To eliminate the threat
posed by Rohm and the SA, hitler’s personal bodyguards, the SS, arrested and murdered many of
the SA leaders, including Rohm. This came to be known as the Night of the long knives and over
the next few days, over 400 people were killed. This increased Hitler’s popularity and support
within the army, leading them to support Hitler’s decision to merge the presidency with the
left in their road to establish and consolidate their power, as Hitler was convinced he must do so
through legal and constitutional means only. His consolidation of power could be termed as a
political revolution when compared to the liberal, democratic Weimar constitution, however,
when compared to the imperialistic and authoritative rule of the Kaiser, it may not be so much of
a revolution.
Hitler used the Reichstag fire to remove competition from the communists and socialists in the
upcoming elections in Feb 1933, claiming this was the start of a communist revolution. Although
thousands of members of the KPD and SPD were arrested, the Nazis still had 43.9% of the vote
in the Reichstag. He was able to negotiate with leaders of the other parties, assuring them that
their interests would be protected in the Nazi-ruled Germany. The support from the Center party
and the DNVP gave him the two-thirds majority in the march 1933 elections that he required to
pass the enabling act, which gave him full emergency powers for 4 years and thus overthrow the
Weimar constitution. As Piers Brendon says, ‘to consolidate his position as chancellor, Hitler
insisted on holding a democratic election to end democracy.’
The enabling act provided a basis for Hitler’s dictatorship, allowing him to implement the
process of Gleichschaltung to turn Germany into a one-party state, which was aimed at
‘coordinating’ German political, cultural, and social life with Nazi ideology and values. He
passed laws to abolish the provincial parliaments (landtage) and place all federal governments
under the control of the ministry of the interior, allowing for a more unified Germany. The Nazis
also worked to remove competition from any other political parties, to achieve their goal of a
one-party state. The Reichstag fire had allowed the KPD to be banned and the social democrats
were subjected to increased repression from the SA and were soon officially banned on 22 nd June
1933. Other parties also agreed to dissolve themselves by early July. The ‘law against the
formation of new parties’ imposed by Hitler on 14 July 1933 formally established the single-
party state, making the NSDAP the only legal political party in Germany. The Gleichschaltung
also allowed for trade unions to be disbanded and all workers were ordered to join the Nazis
German labor front, where they had no power to negotiate wages or working conditions. Civil
service officers were also replaced by Nazi officials. These actions helped hitler consolidate his
power further.
Hitler also used violence and terror to establish and consolidate his power over the country.
While the Gleichschaltung had paved the way for Hitler and his authoritative regime, he still did
not have control over the army, which remained under the leadership of Hindenburg. Some
officers were impressed by his promises of expanding the army and returning to a more
aggressive foreign policy resembling the one before ww1, however they still upheld their
independence from the Nazis and therefore power to overthrow hitler. He also feared that the
army, inspired by Ernst Rohm and his socialist ideals, would merge with the SA to form the
People’s army, and provoke them into taking action against the Nazis. To eliminate the threat
posed by Rohm and the SA, hitler’s personal bodyguards, the SS, arrested and murdered many of
the SA leaders, including Rohm. This came to be known as the Night of the long knives and over
the next few days, over 400 people were killed. This increased Hitler’s popularity and support
within the army, leading them to support Hitler’s decision to merge the presidency with the
