Hitler02-Web

Slide 1: Hitler’s Germany

Slide 2: How did Hitler become Chancellor in 1933? • Nazi Strengths – Hitler’s speaking skills – Propaganda campaigns – Violent treatment of their opponents – criticisms of the Weimar gov’t – Nazi policies – Support from big business • Opponents’ weaknesses – Failure to deal w/ Depression – Failure to cooperate w/ one another – Attitudes of Germans toward democracy • Other factors – Weaknesses of the Weimar Republic – Scheming of Hindenburg & von Papen – Hindenburg’s repeated use of Article 48 – Impact of Depression – Treaty of Versailles – Memories of 1923

Slide 3: Hitler’s Consolidation of Power: 1933 • 30 Jan: Hitler appointed Chancellor, Goering Minister of Interior • 17 Feb: Goering orders local police to cooperate w/ SA • 27 Feb: Reichstag fire – 4000 KPD arrested (same night!) • 28 Feb: Emergency decree (Art. 48) – ordered by Hindenburg (Hitler’s request) – Police can hold people w/o trial – State gov’ts taken over by Nazis • 5 March: Reichstag elections – Nazis control radio & police to silence opponents – Nazi slogan “The battle against Marxism” – Nazis win 52% of vote

Slide 4: Hitler’s Consolidation of Power: 1933 • 13 Mar: Goebbels made head of new “Ministry of Propaganda” – Took control of all media • 24 Mar: Enabling Act – Allowed Hitler to pass decrees w/o authorization of the president (Hindenburg) – Made Hitler legal dictator • 7 Apr: Civil service, courts, schools purged of ‘alien elements’ – i.e. Jews, Socialists, opponents of Nazis • 1 May: Workers granted May Day holiday • 2 May: trade unions banned – All workers now part of Nazi-controlled German Labor Front (DAF) The writing on the board reads, “The Jew is our greatest enemy. Protect yourselves from Jews.”

Slide 5: Hitler’s Consolidation of Power: 1933 • 9 June: Employment Law – Public works (road building, etc.) • 14 July: Law Against the Formation of New Parties • Germany becomes a one-party state • 20 July: Concordat w/ Roman Catholic Church • (G) protects religious freedom (hardy har har) • Church banned from political activity

Slide 6: Hitler’s Consolidation of Power: 1934 • January: All state governments taken over • 30 June: Night of the Long Knives • August: Hindenburg dies • Hitler assumes title of “President” • German military swears oath of loyalty to Hitler

Slide 7: Night of the Long Knives • Hitler knew the Civil Service, judiciary, and army had undermined the Weimar Republic • Hitler knew he needed the army, and the generals feared the SA would replace the army • Hitler feared the SA too, for it numbered over 4 million soldiers, and Ernst Rohm, the SA leader, spoke openly of disbanding the army and making the SA the new army of Germany, w/ Rohm the leader • SS soldiers, on Hitler’s orders, murdered 400 SA leaders, including Ernst Rohm • Hitler gained the army’s loyalty • Hindenburg thanked Hitler for his ‘determined action which has nipped treason in the bud’

Slide 8: Night of the Long Knives