Achieving Total Power, July 1933 - August 1934

The Night of the Long Knives

Hitler felt that the SA and Röhm threatened his power, as they SA wanted to take over the army and were starting to damage the Nazi reputation. Hitler sought the allegiance of the smaller but more disciplined army, comprising only 100,000 men, and the SS, led by Himmler.

The Night of the Long Knives

On the 30th June 1934, Hitler used the SS to purge (get rid of certain members) the SA.
- 400 members of the SA were killed, including Röhm. As well as this, Hitler used the opportunity to kill other opponents, such as the former Chancellor, von Schleicher.
There was now no internal opposition (in the Nazi party) to Hitler. Rohm, his most powerful rival was dead.

Why did the Night of the Long Knives happen?

Removing opposition to Hitler (Röhm) and von Schleicher was one reason.
Another was to secure the support of General Werner von Blomberg. On the 9th of April 1934, aboard a German battleship, historians believe Blomberg agreed to support Hitler as the leader of Germany after Hindenburg if he reduced the SA's power and grew the German army under Blomberg.

Hitler becoming the Fuhrer

In August 1934, President Hindenburg died.
- Hitler merged (joined) the roles of Chancellor and President together, becoming the new Führer.
Hitler called his regime the ‘Third Reich’ which he believed would last 1,000 years.

Loyalty in the Third Reich

Loyalty to the Führer was shown through the ‘Heil Hitler’ salute.
Hitler forced the army to swear an oath of allegiance (loyalty) to him personally, not Germany. On the 2nd August 1934, Blomberg added a new oath to the German army, swearing loyalty to the 'Fuhrer'.

Control of local government

Local government in provinces was brought under Nazi control.
Provinces (called Gaue) were all run by a Gauleiter, who was a Nazi trusted by Hitler.
Each Gauleiter reported to Reichsleiters, who reported to Hitler. Goebbels was a Reichsleiter focused on propaganda.
In 1934, the Law for the Reconstruction of the Reich gave Hitler total control of local governments.

1Dictatorship

1.1Hitler & The Nazi Party in 1933

1.1.1The Origins of the Nazi Party

1.1.2Hitler & The Growth of the Party

1.1.3The 1932 Election

1.2Establishing Dictatorship, 1933-1934

1.2.1Establishing Dictatorship

1.2.2Achieving Total Power, July 1933 - August 1934

1.2.3End of Topic Test - Dictatorship

1.2.4Grade 9 - Dictatorship

2Control & Opposition

2.1The Machinery of Terror

2.1.1Police State & Legal System

2.1.2The Gestapo & SS

2.1.3Concentration Camps

2.1.4End of Topic Test - Control & Opposition

2.2Nazi Propaganda

2.2.1The Effectiveness of Nazi Propaganda

2.3Opposition to Nazi Rule

2.3.1The Left

2.3.2Church Leaders

2.3.3Youth Groups

2.3.4Support for Nazi Rule

2.3.5End of Topic Test - Propaganda & Opposition

2.3.6Grade 9 - Propaganda & Opposition

3Changing Lives, 1933-1939

3.1Work & Home

3.1.1Work

3.1.2Home

3.2The Lives of Young People

3.2.1Education

3.2.2Youth Movements

3.3Nazi Racial Policy

3.3.1Racial Policy

3.3.2Persecution of the Jews

3.3.3End of Topic Test 0 Changing Lives

3.3.4Grade 9 - Changing Lives

4Germany in War

4.1The Impact of War

4.1.1Impact of the War Economy on the People

4.1.2Impact of Total War on the People

4.2Growing Opposition from the German People

4.2.1Opposition from the People

4.2.2Opposition from the Army

4.2.3End of Topic Test - Germany in War

4.2.4Grade 9 - Germany in War

5Occupation

5.1Nazi Rule in Eastern and Western Europe

5.1.1The Start of World War 2

5.1.2Western Europe

5.1.3Eastern Europe

5.1.4End of Topic Test - Occupation

5.2The Final Solution

5.2.1Ghettos & Executions

5.2.2Death Camps

5.2.3End of Topic Test - The Final Solution

5.3Responses to Nazi Rule

5.3.1Collaboration

5.3.2Accommodation

5.3.3Resistance

5.3.4End of Topic Test - Responses to Nazi Rule

5.3.5Grade 9 - Occupation

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