Nazi Consolidation of Power 1933–1934

When Hitler became Chancellor on 30 January 1933, Nazis held only three of eleven cabinet posts. Within eighteen months, he had established a one-party dictatorship through legal manipulation, terror, and propaganda.

Key Definition: Gleichschaltung ('coordination') was the Nazi process of bringing all political, social, and cultural life under Nazi control.

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The Reichstag Fire and Its Aftermath

On 27 February 1933, the Reichstag was set ablaze. Marinus van der Lubbe, a Dutch communist, confessed. Most historians accept he acted alone.

The Reichstag Fire Decree (28 February 1933) suspended all civil liberties under Article 48: freedom of speech, press, assembly, privacy, and protection against arbitrary arrest. It remained in force throughout the Third Reich — the legal foundation of Nazi terror.

Exam Tip: The Reichstag Fire Decree is arguably more important than the Enabling Act — it provided the permanent legal basis for the police state.

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The March Election and Enabling Act

Despite terror and propaganda, NSDAP won only 43.9%. The Enabling Act (23 March 1933) transferred legislative power to the Cabinet:

Step	Detail
KPD excluded	81 deputies arrested or banned
SA intimidation	SA surrounded the Kroll Opera House
Centre Party won over	Promises about Church rights
SPD opposed	Otto Wels: 'You can take our liberty and our lives, but you cannot take our honour'
Result	444 for, 94 against

Martin Broszat: the Constitution 'committed suicide.'

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Gleichschaltung

Date	Action
Mar 1933	State governments dissolved; Nazi governors appointed
2 May 1933	Trade unions banned; replaced by DAF
Jun–Jul 1933	All parties dissolved or banned
14 Jul 1933	One-party state declared
7 Apr 1933	Civil Service Law: Jews and opponents purged
10 May 1933	Book burnings across Germany

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Night of the Long Knives (30 June – 2 July 1934)

The SA under Rohm (3 million members, larger than the army) demanded a 'second revolution.' Hitler needed army support for rearmament and feared Rohm as a rival.

SS squads murdered SA leaders and settled scores — at least 85 killed, possibly several hundred, including former Chancellor Schleicher. Hitler declared himself 'supreme judge of the German people.'