Hitler’s dictatorship was rapidly established through key events and policies from 1933 to 1934, transforming Germany from a democracy into a totalitarian regime.
The Reichstag Fire (February 27, 1933)
Background and Event
On the evening of February 27, 1933, the Reichstag building, which housed the German Parliament, was set ablaze. The fire quickly consumed the assembly chamber, and the event caused national panic. Marinus van der Lubbe, a 24-year-old Dutch Communist, was arrested at the scene. He claimed sole responsibility, but the Nazis alleged the fire was part of a larger Communist conspiracy to overthrow the government.
The fire happened just a few weeks after Adolf Hitler had been appointed Chancellor of Germany on January 30, 1933, a critical time for the Nazi Party as they sought to solidify their control over Germany.
Political Exploitation
The Nazis immediately seized upon the fire as an opportunity to stir up fear of a Communist uprising. The day after the fire, President Paul von Hindenburg, under pressure from Hitler, signed the Decree for the Protection of People and the State. This emergency decree:
Suspended civil liberties, including freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and freedom of assembly.
Allowed arbitrary arrest and detention without trial.
Enabled the police and SA to conduct house searches and confiscate property without judicial oversight.
Thousands of Communists, including leaders of the KPD (Communist Party of Germany), were arrested. This significantly weakened the opposition and prevented effective campaigning before the March 1933 elections.
Significance
The Reichstag Fire and the subsequent decree gave the Nazis a legal pretext to crush political opponents and eliminate Communist influence in Germany. The fire effectively marked the beginning of Hitler’s use of emergency powers, which he would later expand to dismantle the democratic framework of the Weimar Republic.
The March 1933 Election
Nazi Strategy and Intimidation
With Communist leaders imprisoned and the media censored, the Nazi Party launched an aggressive propaganda campaign. Hitler and Joseph Goebbels, the Minister of Propaganda, spread fear about a Communist revolution and presented Hitler as Germany’s only hope for stability.
The SA (Sturmabteilung) and police forces, now largely controlled by the Nazis, intimidated opposition candidates, disrupted their meetings, and harassed voters. Despite these tactics, the Nazis did not win an outright majority.
Election Results and Alliances
In the March 5, 1933, election, the Nazis received 288 out of 647 seats in the Reichstag—more than any other party but still short of the two-thirds majority needed for constitutional changes.
To secure enough support to pass key legislation, Hitler formed a coalition with the German National People's Party (DNVP) and negotiated with the Center Party, promising to protect the Catholic Church and religion in German schools.
The Enabling Act (March 23, 1933)
Passing the Act
With enough parliamentary support and under the shadow of SA intimidation, the Reichstag met in the Kroll Opera House instead of the burned Reichstag building. On March 23, 1933, the Reichstag passed the Enabling Act, formally titled the “Law to Remedy the Distress of People and Reich.”
The Act required a two-thirds majority because it amended the Weimar Constitution. Hitler ensured this majority by:
Banning the Communist Party (KPD) from attending.
Intimidating Social Democrat (SPD) members with the presence of armed SA members.
Persuading the Center Party to support the bill with false assurances of religious freedom.
Provisions of the Act
The Enabling Act gave the Chancellor and his cabinet full legislative powers for four years without the need for Reichstag approval. This meant:
Laws could be passed without debate or voting in the Reichstag.
These laws could deviate from the constitution.
Hitler could rule by decree, effectively establishing a dictatorship.
Impact
The Enabling Act made Hitler’s rule legal, bypassing democracy through parliamentary means. The Reichstag became a rubber-stamp institution, and constitutional government ceased to function.
Elimination of Political Opposition
Banning of Political Parties
With the Enabling Act in force, Hitler moved quickly to eliminate political pluralism. The Nazi regime systematically dismantled other political parties:
April to July 1933: Most parties dissolved themselves under pressure.
July 14, 1933: The Law Against the Formation of New Parties made the Nazi Party the only legal political party in Germany.
This law made Germany a one-party state, criminalizing any attempt to form or support a rival party.
Gleichschaltung (Coordination)
The Nazis implemented Gleichschaltung, a policy aimed at aligning all aspects of German society with Nazi ideology. This included:
Replacing state governments with Reich governors loyal to Hitler.
Forcing cultural institutions, sports clubs, and civil organizations to follow Nazi policies.
Merging all organizations under Nazi control to ensure complete political conformity.
Control of Trade Unions
Trade unions, which traditionally had Socialist or Communist affiliations, were seen as a threat:
On May 2, 1933, SA and SS units occupied union offices.
Union leaders were arrested and imprisoned.
All unions were merged into the German Labor Front (DAF), a Nazi-controlled organization.
Workers lost the right to strike or negotiate working conditions, and the DAF acted as a tool of state propaganda and control over the workforce.
The Night of the Long Knives (June 30 – July 2, 1934)
Background and Tensions
By 1934, the SA had grown to over 2 million members, far outnumbering the regular army. SA leader Ernst Röhm was seen as a radical who wanted to continue the Nazi revolution by redistributing wealth and replacing the traditional army with the SA.
The German army and conservative elites were alarmed by Röhm’s ambitions. Hitler was under pressure to eliminate the SA as a rival force and win the army’s support.
The Purge
On June 30, 1934, Hitler ordered a series of arrests and executions that became known as the Night of the Long Knives. The SS, led by Heinrich Himmler, carried out the purge.
Ernst Röhm was arrested and later executed.
Other SA leaders were killed.
Kurt von Schleicher, a former chancellor, and his wife were murdered.
Over 400 people were executed between June 30 and July 2, without trial.
Aftermath
The SA was brought under control, and its power significantly reduced.
The army pledged loyalty to Hitler after he promised to restore their prestige.
The SS rose in prominence and became Hitler’s main security and enforcement organization.
This purge was publicly justified as a necessary act to protect the state from internal enemies, and Hitler received widespread praise from conservative elites and the military.
Hitler Becomes Führer (August 1934)
Death of President Hindenburg
On August 2, 1934, President Hindenburg died. Under the Weimar Constitution, a new election should have been held, but Hitler took the opportunity to combine the roles of Chancellor and President.
He declared himself Führer und Reichskanzler (Leader and Chancellor) and claimed full control over the German state.
Army Oath and Public Plebiscite
To solidify his authority, Hitler required the German army to swear a personal oath of loyalty to him rather than the state:
“I swear by God this sacred oath that I shall render unconditional obedience to Adolf Hitler, the Führer of the German Reich and people...”
A plebiscite (referendum) was held on August 19, 1934, to legitimize Hitler’s new position. The regime reported that 90% of voters supported Hitler’s assumption of full control, though the vote was held under an atmosphere of intimidation and censorship.
Legal Consolidation of Power
This final step completed Hitler’s legal transformation from elected Chancellor to dictator. There were no remaining checks on his authority:
The Reichstag met rarely, and only to applaud Hitler’s speeches.
The cabinet no longer governed collectively—Hitler issued directives on his own
The judiciary, civil service, and military were all subordinated to his will.
Hitler’s Consolidation of Power: Key Factors
Legal Measures
Reichstag Fire Decree removed civil liberties and allowed detention without trial.
Enabling Act allowed Hitler to legislate without parliamentary approval.
Political parties and trade unions were outlawed, ending democratic structures.
Violence and Terror
The SA, SS, and Gestapo enforced Nazi policies through intimidation, imprisonment, and murder.
The Night of the Long Knives eliminated rivals and ensured military loyalty.
Propaganda and Control of Culture
Joseph Goebbels orchestrated massive propaganda campaigns to glorify Hitler and demonize enemies.
The press, radio, and cinema were used to promote Nazi ideology and suppress dissent.
Centralization of Power
Gleichschaltung brought state governments and institutions under central Nazi control.
Hitler placed loyal Nazis in all key positions, ensuring personal control over decision-making.
Cult of Personality
Hitler was portrayed as the savior of Germany, embodying strength, unity, and purpose.
The Führerprinzip (leader principle) meant all authority flowed from him, and questioning Hitler was viewed as betrayal.
Timeline of Major Events
January 30, 1933 – Hitler appointed Chancellor.
February 27, 1933 – Reichstag Fire.
February 28, 1933 – Reichstag Fire Decree passed.
March 5, 1933 – Nazi Party wins 288 seats in election.
March 23, 1933 – Enabling Act passed.
May 2, 1933 – Trade unions abolished.
July 14, 1933 – Nazi Party becomes the only legal party.
June 30 – July 2, 1934 – Night of the Long Knives.
August 2, 1934 – Death of Hindenburg; Hitler becomes Führer.
August 19, 1934 – Public vote confirms Hitler’s new powers.
By 1934, Hitler had dismantled Germany’s democratic institutions and established a totalitarian dictatorship rooted in fear, propaganda, and unchallenged authority.
FAQ
The German judiciary played a key role in helping Hitler consolidate his dictatorship by failing to challenge the erosion of constitutional rights and by aligning itself with Nazi ideology. After the Reichstag Fire Decree and the Enabling Act, courts no longer served as a check on executive power. Judges often acted in favor of the regime, interpreting laws in a way that supported Hitler’s aims. Political trials, especially against Communists and Social Democrats, became common, and verdicts were heavily biased in favor of the state. The Special Courts and People’s Court, established by the Nazis, were used to try cases of political offenses and treason. These courts often bypassed standard legal procedures and handed down harsh sentences, including death penalties, to silence dissent. Many judges were sympathetic to nationalist views or eager to keep their positions by cooperating with the new regime. The legal system thus became a tool of oppression rather than justice.
Hitler ensured the loyalty of the German military through a combination of purges, legal changes, and symbolic gestures that reinforced his authority. The Night of the Long Knives in June 1934 was critical in this process, as it eliminated Ernst Röhm and other SA leaders, whose growing influence had alarmed the military. By removing the SA threat and reaffirming the army’s role as the nation's official armed force, Hitler won the support of army leaders. Most importantly, after President Hindenburg’s death in August 1934, Hitler merged the roles of Chancellor and President, becoming Führer. He then introduced a personal oath of allegiance, not to Germany or its constitution, but directly to him as Führer. This symbolic shift turned the military into a loyal servant of Hitler himself. The oath bound officers to him personally, reinforcing obedience and discouraging disloyalty. In return, Hitler restored military pride, rearmament, and reversed the Treaty of Versailles’ restrictions.
The SA lost power after the Nazis took control of the government because its radicalism and ambition threatened Hitler’s relationship with the German army and conservative elites. The SA, led by Ernst Röhm, had been instrumental in intimidating political opponents and showing Nazi strength during the early 1930s. However, after Hitler became Chancellor, Röhm pushed for a “second revolution” that would see the SA absorb the army and take on a more prominent role in government. This alarmed the army leadership, who valued discipline and tradition, and conservative figures who feared a shift towards socialism. Hitler, needing the army’s support to secure his rule and rearm Germany, chose to side with the military. The Night of the Long Knives in June 1934 was the turning point, during which Röhm and many SA leaders were executed. Afterward, the SA was marginalized, and the SS under Himmler rose to prominence as Hitler’s primary enforcers.
The oath of allegiance sworn by the German army in August 1934 was significant because it marked a profound shift in the relationship between the military and the German state, reinforcing Hitler’s absolute authority. Before this, military oaths were made to the German constitution and nation, symbolizing loyalty to democratic institutions. After President Hindenburg’s death, Hitler seized the moment to change the oath, requiring soldiers to swear unconditional loyalty directly to him as Führer of the German Reich. The wording emphasized obedience to Hitler personally, not to the office or the country. This ensured that the military was bound to Hitler by honor and duty, making it morally and institutionally difficult for officers to oppose him. Even when Hitler’s decisions were questionable or led to aggressive military campaigns, the oath discouraged resistance from within the army. It became a central element of his dictatorship, reinforcing a cult of personality and helping secure military complicity in Nazi policies.
Hitler used the law strategically to eliminate democracy by manipulating existing legal frameworks and passing new legislation that dismantled democratic structures from within, rather than through an outright coup. After being appointed Chancellor, he persuaded President Hindenburg to pass the Reichstag Fire Decree, which suspended civil liberties and enabled mass arrests of political opponents. Following this, Hitler introduced the Enabling Act, which legally gave his cabinet full powers to make laws without the Reichstag’s approval. Both measures were passed using the democratic processes of the Weimar Republic, giving the appearance of legality and legitimacy. Hitler also used laws to outlaw political parties, disband trade unions, and centralize state governments under Nazi control through Gleichschaltung. By maintaining the illusion of a functioning legal system, Hitler avoided immediate backlash and international condemnation. The Nazis effectively turned the republic into a dictatorship through constitutional amendments, showing how democracy can be dismantled using the very laws meant to protect it.
Practice Questions
Explain two effects of the Enabling Act on Germany.
One effect of the Enabling Act was that it allowed Hitler to pass laws without the Reichstag's consent, effectively giving him dictatorial powers. This meant he could rule by decree, removing democratic processes. Another effect was the elimination of political opposition. With this new authority, Hitler swiftly banned all other political parties and suppressed dissent, turning Germany into a one-party state. Civil liberties were destroyed, and Nazi ideology became law. The Act marked the legal foundation of Nazi dictatorship, ending the Weimar Republic and paving the way for complete Nazi control over government and society by the end of 1934.
Write a narrative account of the key events that led to Hitler becoming Führer in 1934.
After the Reichstag Fire in February 1933, Hitler used emergency powers to suppress Communists. In March, the Enabling Act gave him authority to rule without the Reichstag. Hitler then eliminated political parties and trade unions, creating a one-party state. In June 1934, the Night of the Long Knives removed the SA's leadership and rival conservatives, securing army support. When President Hindenburg died in August 1934, Hitler merged the roles of Chancellor and President. A public vote confirmed his new title as Führer. These events, through legal changes and violent purges, allowed Hitler to establish a totalitarian dictatorship by late 1934.
