Consolidating Power

A Single Party State

Hitler changed Germany's bureaucratic institutions. He first tried to remove all political opponents. By the end of 1933, the Nazis were the only official party. Germany was a single party state.

Politically removing opponents

SPD leader Otto Wels fled into exile in June after the party was banned. Other parties dissolved themselves.
On 14 July the Law against the Formation of New Parties was passed.
In November 1933 NSDAP won 92% of the election votes (8% = spoiled votes)
In January 1933 the Law for the Reconstruction of the State was passed. Elected state assemblies were dissolved. Reich Governors were created – Nazi Gauleiters often appointed.

Trade Unions

On 2 May trades union officials were seized; all trade unions replaced by DAF (Nazi Trade Union).

Violently removing opponents

The SA murdered about 500 people.
100,000 political opponents were arrested.
From March 1933 the SA had been violently overthrowing many state governments so that the Reich government had to appoint commissioners.

This was a purge of Hitler's SA and key political opponents. The SA were becoming uncontrollable and Hitler believed they were damaging the reputation of the Nazi party. He replaced them with the more disciplined, SS.

Motives behind the Night of the Long Knives

Nazi infighting:
- Himmler wanted the SS removed from SA control.
- Goering resented Röhm and led Hitler to believe Röhm was planning a coup.
Hitler needed élite support:
- Röhm had spoken of a ‘second revolution’ to fulfil the socialist points of the 25 Point Programme. Hitler feared an élite backlash.
Papen had publicly criticised the SA, with Hindenburg’s approval.
The Army disliked the SA. Germany’s military was still run by the élite.

Night of the Long Knives

The purge (named Operation Hummingbird) lasted from 29 June to 2 July.
Overall, about 90 opponents of Hitler were murdered, including over 50 SA leaders.

Impact of the Night of the Long Knives

The night marks a watershed Hitler’s dictatorship: he crushed the radical SA, murdered his opponents and won the support of the élites – including the army.
On 3 July 1934, Hitler passed a law legalising the actions having gained acceptance of his actions and legalised the murders of his opponents.
The SS became independent of the SA and under Hitler’s personal command.

Historical assessment

Ian Kershaw (2001) argues that the Night of the Long Knives actually increased public confidence in Hitler as Fuhrer.
- The 'Hitler Myth' is the idea that in the eyes of the millions of people who loved him, Hitler could do no wrong.
- Hitler gave a long speech in the Reichstag a fortnight after the events and justified his actions, describing himself as the 'supreme judge' of the German people.
- His public image was strengthened by the speech. People saw him as a defender of the little man against the big man.

The Death of President Hindenburg

When Hindenburg died, Hitler became the Führer of Germany.

Führer and Reich Chancellor

On 1 August 1934, Hitler passed a law concerning the Head of State of the German Reich.
He merged the offices of President and Chancellor into Führer and Reich Chancellor.

Hindenburg's death

On 2 August 1934, Hindenburg died.
Hitler became Führer of Germany.
As head of the only political party allowed in Germany, all power was in his hands.

Oath to Hitler

The German Armed Forces took an oath of personal loyalty to Hitler:
- ‘I will render unconditional obedience to Adolf Hitler, the Führer…’.

1Political & Governmental Change, 1918-1989

1.1Creation & Collapse of Weimar, 1918-1932

1.1.1Creation of a Republic

1.1.2Strengths & Weaknesses of Weimar Constitution

1.1.3Overcoming Challenges to the Constitution

1.1.4The Great Depression

1.1.5The Collapse of Democracy

1.1.6The Collapse of Democracy 2

1.1.7Hitler Becomes Chancellor

1.2Nazi Dictatorship, 1933-1945

1.2.1Establishing a Dictatorship

1.2.2Consolidating Power

1.2.3Nature of Government

1.2.4Government in Wartime

1.2.5Top Grade AO2/3 - Political & Governmental Change

1.3Return to Democratic Government, 1945-1989

1.3.1Creation of the FRG, 1945-1949

1.3.2Consolidation Under Adenauer

1.3.3Consolidation Under Erhard

1.3.4Maintaining Stability Under Brandt

1.3.5Maintaining Stability Under Schmidt

1.3.6Maintaining Stability Under Kohl

1.3.7Top Grade AO2/3 - Return to Democratic Government

2Opposition, Control & Consent 1918-1989

2.1Opposition to Government, 1918-1989

2.1.1Impact of Versailles

2.1.2Political Extremism & Crises, 1918-1932

2.1.3Opposition & Dissent in Nazi Germany, 1933-1945

2.1.4Political Dissent from the Left, 1949-1989

2.1.5Political Dissent from the Right, 1949-1989

2.1.6Top Grade AO2/3 - Opposition to Government 1918-89

2.2Controlling the People, 1918-1989

2.2.1Attempts to Control Extremism

2.2.2Repression, 1933-1945

2.2.3Censorship & Propaganda, 1933-1945

2.2.4De-Nazification Policies of Western Allies, 1945

2.2.5Constitutional & Legal Response to Extremism, 1949

2.3Popular Support, 1918-1989

2.3.1The Nature of Support for the Weimar Government

2.3.2Support for the Nazi Regime

2.3.3The Nature of Support for Democracy, 1945-1989

2.3.4Top Grade AO2/3 - Controlling the People

3Economic Developments & Policies, 1918-1989

3.1Reacting to Economic Challenges, 1918-1932

3.1.1Economic Crises & Government Response, 1918-1923

3.1.2Economic Loans, 1924-1928

3.1.3Policies for Recovery, 1924-1929

3.1.4The Great Depression

3.1.5Change in Living Standards

3.1.6Top Grade AO2/3 - Reacting to Economic Challenges

3.2Controlling the Economy, 1933-1945

3.2.1Attempting Economic Recovery

3.2.2Creating a Command Economy

3.2.3Change in Living Standards

3.2.4Impact of War

3.2.5Impact of War 2

3.2.6Top Grade AO2/3 - Controlling the Economy

3.3Creating the Social Market Economy, 1945-1989

3.3.1Economic Recovery, 1945-1955

3.3.2The Economic Miracle, 1955-1966

3.3.3Surviving the Recession, 1960-1969

3.3.4The Oil Crisis

3.3.5Integration into the European Economy

3.3.6Change in Living Standards

3.3.7Top Grade AO2/3 - Creating Social Market Economy

4Aspects of Life, 1918-1989

4.1Attitudes Towards Women, 1918-1989

4.1.1Role & Status of Women in the Weimar Republic

4.1.2Impact of Kinder, Küche, Kirche

4.1.3Impact of WW2 on Women

4.1.4Role & Status of Women in the FRG

4.1.5Top Grade AO2/3 - Attitudes Towards Women

4.2Education & Cultural Developments, 1918-1989

4.2.1Education in Weimar

4.2.2Cultural Experimentation in Weimar

4.2.3Education Under the Nazis

4.2.4Nazi Culture

4.2.5Education in the FRG

4.2.6Generational Conflict

4.2.7Top Grade AO2/3 - Education & Cultural Development

4.3Position of Ethnic Minorities, 19189-1989

4.3.1Ethnic Minorities in the Weimar Republic

4.3.2Nazi Racial Policies, 1933-1939

4.3.3Nazi Racial Policies During the War

4.3.4Ethnic Minorities in the FRG

4.3.5Top Grade AO2/3 - Position of Ethnic Minorities

5Historical Interpretations

5.1Influence of German History

5.1.1Influence of German History

5.2Hitler & Foreign Policy

5.2.1Hitler & Foreign Policy

5.3Contribution of Other Nations to WW2

5.3.1Weak Nations

5.3.2Appeasement

5.3.3The Rise of Fascism

5.4Reasons for Invading Poland

5.4.1Reasons for Invading Poland

5.4.2Top Grade AO2/3 - Historical Interpretation

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