The Nazi Dictatorship 1933–1934

When Hitler became Chancellor on 30 January 1933, he was not yet a dictator. He led a coalition government with only three Nazis in the cabinet, and President Hindenburg could dismiss him at any time. Within 18 months, however, Hitler had destroyed democracy and established a totalitarian dictatorship. This lesson examines how he achieved this with terrifying speed. This is a crucial topic for AQA GCSE History.

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Step 1: The Reichstag Fire (27 February 1933)

On the night of 27 February 1933, the Reichstag building was set on fire. A young Dutch communist, Marinus van der Lubbe, was arrested at the scene and confessed.

What the Nazis Claimed	What Actually Happened
The fire was the start of a communist revolution	Historians debate whether Van der Lubbe acted alone or whether the Nazis started the fire themselves to create an excuse for emergency powers

Consequences