Download The Consolidation of Hitler`s Power January to March

The Consolidation of Hitler’s Power - January to March 1933
Cartoon by Paul Weber – Hitler a German Fate (1932).
Weber illustrated books and provided drawings for magazines
published by the Widerstands-Verlag (Resistance Press).
From this cartoon whom does Weber believe is
responsible for bringing Hitler to power?
Does Weber believe that Hitler and the Nazis were a
positive thing for Germany?
Using Kitson page 148 – 149 what evidence can you find to support and to refute Weber’s cartoon
above?
Using Kitson page 149 note the strengths and weaknesses of the Nazis in January 1933
Nazi Strengths January 1933
Nazi Weaknesses 1933
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Read Source 4 page 150 and answer the following questions:
What is the tone of the speech and why does Hitler address the German people in this way?
How useful is this source when examining Hitler’s aims and tactics in 1933?
Hitler had been sworn in as Chancellor and head of the coalition government on January 30 1933. As
Chancellor, Hitler asked Hindenburg to dissolve the Reichstag and call for a new parliamentary election on
February 1. Hindenburg did so and the date set for the elections was March 5 1933. Hitler's aim was first to
acquire a National Socialist majority in order to secure his position and eliminate the communist opposition.
Hitler’s power as Chancellor was not secure as Hindenburg could dismiss him at any time. Hitler hoped to
abolish democracy in a more or less legal fashion by passing the Enabling Act. The Enabling Act was a
special law which gave the Chancellor the power to pass laws by decree without the involvement of the
Reichstag. These special powers would remain in effect for four years, after which time they had to be
renewed. Under the existing Weimar Constitution, under Article 48, the President could rule by decree in times
of emergency. The Enabling Act would pass these powers to the Chancellor. To pass an Enabling Act, a party
required a vote by a two-thirds majority in the Reichstag. In January 1933, the Nazis had only 33.1% of the
seats and thus were in no position to pass an Enabling Act.
Using page 150 and 151 – What roles did Goebbels and Goring play in the run up to the March 1933
elections?
The Nazis rounding up political prisoners
in Germany, February 1933
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KEY EVENT: The Reichstag Fire and Reichstag Fire Decrees February 27-28 1933 (page 151)
Who did the Nazis blame for burning down the Reichstag in February 1933?
Who has since been implicated in the burning of the Reichstag?
How did the Nazis exploit the burning of the Reichstag to their full advantage?
KEY EVENT: The March Election Results
Using page 153 of Kitson complete the table.
Why were the election results a disappointment to Hitler?
Party
NSDAP
DNVP
DVP
Z
DDP
SPD
KPD
% of Vote
Seats
How did grass-roots members react to the election results?
How did Hitler initially attempt to maintain order?
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KEY EVENT: Day of Potsdam 21 March 1933
Using Kitson page 153:
Why was Potsdam Day important in Hitler’s consolidation of
power?
Hitler and the Cabinet at Potsdam 21 March 1933
KEY EVENT: The Enabling Act, 23 March 1933
Using Kitson page 153-154: What powers did the Enabling Act give to Hitler?
Why was the Enabling Act passed by 444 votes to 94?
Within three months of becoming Chancellor Hitler had become independent of his conservative allies and the
first phase of his seizure of power was completed. Those who had helped Hitler into power in January 1933,
particularly von Papen, had intended that he should be little more than a figurehead in a cabinet still dominated
by conservative nationalists. Von Papen and his fellow conservatives underestimated Hitler’s political abilities,
viewing him as an ambitious ex-corporal. The elite thought that it was their birth-right to control Germany and
they had intended to use Hitler and the Nazis to create the illusion that they had the support of the masses.
However, Hitler had more political cunning than the conservatives gave him credit for. Hitler moved swiftly to
undermine democracy with his “Legal Revolution”, he use his two cabinet ministers Frick as Minister of the
Interior and Goering as Minister of Interior for Prussia to devastating effect. Regional and National political
power was soon controlled by the Nazis. However, Hitler’s position was not full secure within Germany by the
end of March 1933. He still had to co-ordinate German society to prevent any opposition or resistance to Nazi
rule. The loyalty of the Army was still questionable, Hindenburg as President could dismiss him at anytime
and the Churches of Germany were powerful critics of the Nazi regime.
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KEY EVENTS IN THE NAZI CONSOLIDATION OF POWER JANUARY 1933 - MARCH 1933
DATE
30 Jan
1933
EVENT
SIGNIFICANCE
LEGAL?
ILLEGAL?
1 Feb 1933
4 Feb 1933
6 Feb 1933
27 Feb
1933
28 Feb
1933
5 March
1933
8 March
1933
13 March
1933
Creation of the Ministry Controlled by Goebbels. The Nazis
for Propaganda and
exercised control of all of the media in
Enlightenment
Germany and had the power of
indoctrination.
Legal
21 March
1933
23 March
1933
A LEGAL REVOLUTION?
Hitler and the Nazis maintained the appearance of legality when consolidating their power. The so called
LEGAL REVOLUTION was an important element of Hitler’s strategy to seize control without arousing the
suspicions of the conservative elite who had appointed him Chancellor. However, the Nazis also continued to
use violence and intimidation to silence their opponents, particularly those on the political left, the communists
and the socialists. Therefore it is more accurate to refer to the Nazi seizure of power as a “pseudo-legal”
Revolution.
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