Hitler became Chancellor in 1933 and used several key events to transform Germany into a dictatorship by 1934. The Reichstag fire allowed Hitler to ban the Communist party and pass the Enabling Act, which gave him sole lawmaking powers. Next, the Night of the Long Knives saw Hitler order the killing of SA leader Ernst Rohm and other political opponents to consolidate power. When President Hindenburg died, Hitler combined the roles of Chancellor and President to become the Führer of Germany with soldiers swearing personal loyalty to him.