CREATION OF A DICTATORSHIP: ENABLING ACT (1933-34) - Achieving total power/consolidation of power
REICHSTAG FIRE
- Limitation of Hitler's power: The Reichstag was still around, and the NSDAP needed a ⅔ majority to change the constitution.
- Reichstag Fire: 27.02.33—6 days before the election.
What happened?
- The destruction of the Reichstag building resulted in the capture of communist supporter Marinus van der Lubbe using matches.
- Hitler likely set up this plot and showed that KPD was a threat.
Marinus van der Lubbe was found guilty and was executed.
- Hitler persuaded Hindenburg to declare a "state of emergency" so he could rule under Article 48, which allowed him to pass any law. An election is scheduled for 05.03.33.
- Hitler ignores the SA and their activities.
2M—NSDAP members before the Nazi campaign.
- Hitler persuades Krupp to bankroll the Nazi campaign with 3 million dollars.
Many donated. → More votes (propaganda).
- The results show that the number of NSDAP members in the Reichstag has increased to 288, and Hitler has used Article 48 to ban the KPD. Together with other nationalist parties, he now holds 81 seats, giving him a majority in the Reichstag.
- Hitler used Article 48 to ban the KPD, which resulted in 81 seats.
→ Hitler can now change the constitution.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
- Hitler wanted to strengthen central government in Berlin and weaken local government in Germany.
- In January 1934, Hitler abolished the longer parliaments and declared that his appointed governors, known as Gauleiters, would govern each region as loyal Nazis.
→ Hitler personally oversaw all regional government departments.
- The Gauleiters allowed Hitler to maintain control throughout Germany and were aware of what was happening throughout the country.
ENABLING ACT (March 1933)
- The full name of this law is the Law for the Renewal of the Distress of the People and Reich.
- Hitler could pass this law, as he had a majority in the Reichstag.
- The law allowed the Reich cabinet to pass laws (Hitler and his ministers), which could overrule the constitution, as WR laws don't have to be voted on.
- Law proposed by Hitler in 1933.
- 24.03.33 passed; it was renewed in 1937.
- Hitler, using his connections, persuaded Hindenburg, the President and Minister of Defence, that this law did not contradict the Weimar Laws, despite having a majority in the courts.
- The act increased Hitler’s control, as he no longer needed Hindenburg to pass laws; he can pass any law at any time, removing democracy.
TRADE UNIONS (MAY 1933)
- 18 Communists among working men were able to control their trade union; they could be used to undermine Nazi government.
→ They can cause strikes—huge economic consequences.
- Nazis broke into trade union offices and arrested officials.
- Hitler used power to ban trade unions and made strikes illegal.
- Hitler’s own controlled trade union was created.
- May 11933: All trade unions were outlawed and strikes were made illegal.
→ This enhanced Hitler's authority by enabling him to enact laws pertaining to workers' rights and eradicate communist ideologies.
POLITICAL PARTIES
- May 1933: NSDAP attacked SPD, destroyed their newspaper, and confiscated their funds.
- July 1933: Hitler issues a decree to guarantee NSDAP is illegal; Germany is a one-party state.
- This increased Hitler’s control, as there was no competition for power, and it prevented another party from taking control.
THE NIGHT OF THE LONG KNIVES
- Ernst Röhm, the leader of the SA (Nazi's private army), still held considerable power, posing a threat to Hitler.
- SA: 3 million men remained loyal to Röhm, feeling that Hitler had undervalued their contributions. By 1923, 60% of the South African workforce was permanently unemployed.
- Röhm, along with the rest of the SA, opposed Hitler's policies and criticised their links with rich industrialists and army generals. They desired more socialist policies.
- German army officers were concerned about Röhm and the fact that the SA was significantly larger than the army.
→ There were concerns that Röhm might substitute the army with the SA.
- Leaders of the SS hated Röhm because they wanted the SS to be more powerful than the SA.
- In 1934, the army and SS warned Hitler Röhm was planning on seizing power.
SUMMARY (Hitler is acting illegally)
- Hitler arranged a meeting with Röhm and 100 others, held in Bad Wiessee (Bausania) on 30.06.34.
- Upon their arrival, they faced arrest, imprisonment, and shooting.
- Von Papen protested to Goening, an army officer/leader, but informed SSS that he had the situation under control.
- SS squads were rounding up individuals, and one group managed to reach von P's office prior to his death, where they shot his press secretary and arrested his staff. They surrounded Van P's house, demonstrating their lack of control over Hitler.
- Goening stated that security forces had been keeping a close watch on Röhm and were preparing to overthrow Hitler as a cover for killings.
CONTROL
- The Night of the Long Knives increased Hitler’s control as it removed all potential opposition within the NSDAP.
- It sent a powerful message to the party about Hitler's ruthlessness, scaring people and preventing any future plans to overthrow him.
- It also demonstrated Hitler's newfound freedom to act beyond the law.
FÜHRER
- 02.08.34: Hindenburg dies (president).
→ Hitler takes supreme power.
→ Hitler used this opportunity to add all presidential powers to the ones he already held.
- He proclaimed himself as Germany's Father, marking the start of the dictatorship.
- Hitler held an oath of loyalty from every soldier in the army.
- On 19.08.34, there was a plebiscite to confirm Hitler as Führer.
→ Bombardment by Nazi propaganda. 90% voted in favor.
- The Weimar Republic had officially ended, and Hitler’s 3rd Reich had begun.
CENSORSHIP
- Banning information/ideas.
- This may entail prohibiting the use of vehicles for the delivery of newspapers, pictures, radios, or films.
GOEBBELS
- Made a ministry of propaganda in 1933.
- The Nazis coordinated their responses toward media, sports, culture, and the arts.
- So attitudes oppressing Nazis were censored, and ideas supporting Nazis were promoted.
THE PRESS
- Newspapers had to present a viewpoint that Narit agreed with.
- Directions and guidelines dictated what journalists could and could not publish.
- Newspapers against NSDAP were shut down.
- Newspapers played a crucial role in disseminating information and opinions in the news, exerting significant influence and leading people to adopt Nazi beliefs and ideas.
RALLIES
- Mass rallies held annually at Nuremberg.
- During the 1934 rally, the stadium was filled with thousands of swastika banners.
→ Crowd of 200,000 waving 20,000 flags.
→ It fostered a feeling of solidarity among Germans and showcased the power of NSDAP Nazi Germany.
→ This allowed the NSDAP to have publicity both inside and outside of Germany.
RADIO
- Made minister of propaganda in 1933.
- Hitler and Nazi officials made frequent broadcasts.
- Sold cheap radios and controlled broadcasts.
→ 70% of households had radios in 1939, so Nazis had a voice in most homes.
- Radios were played in public places, spreading sub-ideas and unknowingly brainwashing people.
SPORTS - BERLIN OLYMPICS 1936
- Nazi symbols cover sports stadiums.
→ Enthusiasm for sport = Enthusiasm for Nazis.
- For the Olympics, the Nazis built a huge stadium that could hold 10,000 people. Very grand and with Nazi symbols everywhere.
- Showing off Germany's strength and happiness in the Olympics deters other countries from opposing Hitler, as they can clearly see his power. It also dispelled the misconceptions held by foreigners about the Nazis.
→ Germany won Olympics—Increased international Nazi success.
NSDAP wanted to surround people with their propaganda. NSDAP employed censorship to keep Germans from viewing or listening.
Nari took simple concepts and repeated them:
- Nazi propaganda served to unite Germans and persuade them that the Nazis would strengthen Germany.
- The Treaty of Versailles encouraged Germans to despise the countries that signed it and to fight to reclaim the territories it stole.
- Goebbels created myths about Hitler, portraying him as the saviour of Germany and a God.
- Nazis encouraged a return to traditional German values and a revival of traditional German culture.
- Nazi propaganda claimed that Jews and Communists were the primary causes of Germany's problems. The Don Nari paper claimed Jews murdered children for the Passover Feast.
CONTROL OF CULTURE AND ART
- Nazis strongly objected to many modern aspects of culture that emerged during World War II. They preferred:
- Romantic ideals of Germany's past.
- Goebbels, guided by the Nazi ideals of loyalty, struggle, and discipline, oversaw the establishment of the Reich Chamber of Culture in September 1933.
→ They ensured that cultural events in Germany aligned with Nari concepts—Gleichschaltung.
ARCHITECTURE
- Germany desired structures that conveyed its immense might.
- Huge Nazi flags adorned historical statues on Nazi buildings.
- Huge size, impressive huge power.
- Buildings ensured Hitler’s input was visible.
- Grandeur and flags suggested strength and scared opposition.
LITERATURE
- The chamber of culture must approve the publication of new books.
- Nazis have banned more than 2500 writers for expressing opinions they disagree with.
- In May 1933, students burnt 20,000 books written by undesirable individuals, specifically Jews and Communists.
- Anti-Nazi (e.g., Jewish/Communist) views could not gain traction.
→ Young people learnt that publications by undesirable groups (Jews and Communists) had no value.
→ Students only learnt views promoted by Nazis, leading them to conform to Hitler's desired identity.
ART
- The Reich Chamber of Visual Arts was created.
- All painters and sculptors had to join; otherwise, they couldn’t produce, teach, or sell art.
- Hitler, with those who reached membership, encouraged art.
- Encouraged by art Nazis, who approved of art competitions, were held.
- Art only produced if it is reflected in Nazi ideology, preventing any opposing ideas from coming out.
MUSIC
- Jazz music was banned; seen as it was the work of Black people, it was inferior.
- Some musicians promoted it as it emphasised aspects Nazis liked, e.g., Wagner's themes of Richard Wagner, as it depicted legends and heroes from Germany.
- Prevented anti-Nazi ideas from spreading.
- Promoted songs about the strength of Germany and boosted morale and popularity of the NSDAP.
FILM
- A 45-minute official 'newsreel' publicising Germany's achievements preceded films in cinemas.
- All filmmakers were required to submit a plot for each new film to Goebbels for approval.
- Nazis produced 1300 films, most of which featured Jewish villains.
- Anti-Nazi views couldn't spread.
- Propaganda is imposed upon leisure activities, leading people to subconsciously adopt Nazi ideology.
- By portraying Jews as evil people, especially children, they would be led to believe that Nazis were real.
High level of support for NSDAP:
- Hitler won 36% for the April 1932 presidential election, and the NSDAP won 38% for the July 1932 general election.
- For the rest of the 1930s, there was a high level of acceptance for Hitler and NSDAP policies.
Because of censorship propaganda:
Reducing unemployment rates and achieving success in foreign policy resulted in only 1 million unemployed people by 1937.
HITLER YOUTH POLITICAL TRAINING
- Members had to swear an oath of loyalty to Hitler.
- I was required to participate in residential sessions to gain knowledge about Nori concepts.
- Leart anti-Semitic views.
- Members had to report anyone disobedient to the Nazis.
- Young children were highly impressionable, resulting in the indelible imprint of Nazi ideas on their minds.
- The oath gives Hitler a sense of authority and respect.
HITLER YOUTH PHYSICAL AND MILITARY TRAINING
- Ran regional sports competitions (and national ones too).
- Members learned useful skills, like map reading.
- In 1938, 1-2 million boys trained in small-arms shooting.
- Naval training (at a smaller scale) was reported.
- Nazis wanted future generations to stay fit and join the army to protect Germany.
→ Residential and camping environments instilled a positive view in young boys. Boys wore military-style uniforms.
HITLER YOUTH CHARACTER TRAINING
- Drilled by SA instructors.
- Plunged hands into ice water (punishment/chastisement) for errors.
- Engaging in strenuous activities like standing for hours or lengthy workouts can be exhausting.
- Kept in mind that it made them fitter for the army.
- Their attitudes turned into Nazi attitudes (ruthless ones).
- This process desensitizes them and equips them to administer penalties.
THE LEAGUE OF GERMAN MAIDENS: POLITICAL TRAINING
- Rallies and oaths of allegiance.
- They made sure to portray Hitler and the Nazis as supremely powerful and highly significant.
- Teachers taught girls about the Aryan race and advised them to marry only Aryan men.
- Hitler ensured future generations would be morally supportive of the Aryan race, so ideas would live on.
THE LEAGUE OF GERMAN MAIDENS: CHARACTER TRAINING
- They learnt only the skills required to become mothers from a very young age.
- Gins would aspire to be the perfect mother and woman living in Nazi Germany.
- Slight resistance to the system in culture and girls would be 'perfect by Nazi standards'.
THE LEAGUE OF GERMAN MAIDENS: PHYSICAL AND MILITARY TRAINING
- They were constantly supervised while camping and marching in silence.
- They likely trained in the military to influence Nazi ideology, but only boys could get weapons.
- Girls training as housewives (knitting, cooking) and making sure they are ‘fit and healthy’ to be able to have lots of kids for the ‘Aryan' race to have colour when older.
- While some young people demonstrated enthusiasm and commitment, the majority did not find the forced participation in activities enjoyable. They didn't find the activities enjoyable or align with their beliefs.
- Many parents worried their children were becoming more loyal to the Hitler Youth than their families.
Both groups were founded in 1926 for kids aged 14+.
→ Hitler Schools trained high-achieving boys to become loyal NSDAP leaders.
- The Nazis believed boys and girls were equal but offered Germany different strengths.
- In March 1939, it became compulsory for all German kids to attend Nazi youth groups from ages 10 to 18.
→ Discrete youth groups depending on age.
- In 1936, all other youth groups were banned, making it difficult for kids to avoid joining Hitler Youth.
- In 1933, all children attended school until the age of 14. Boys and girls attended separate schools.
- By 1934, Bernhard Rust became education minister: “The whole purpose of education is to create Nazis.”
CURRICULUM CONTROL
- Racial Studies: All German children were taught Nazi racial superiority theories and how to classify racial groups. They learnt that Aryans were superior and should not marry "inferiors" like Jews.
- Maths: Used to spread Nazi ideology. Examples include solving war-related questions and calculating Aryan superiority.
- Physical Education (PE) emphasises sports to build strong boys for soldiers and healthy girls for mothers.
- Science: Girls studied domestic science.
There is an obligatory emphasis on developing strong wives and mothers.
- History: From 1925, all textbooks had to be Nazi-approved.
Mein Kampf became a compulsory school text.
History lessons explained WWI as a “stab in the back” by Jews.
- During breaktime and assemblies, students gathered in school halls to listen to Nazi political speeches on radios.
- Children were encouraged to be anti-Semitic.
CONTROL OVER TEACHERS
- In April 1933, the Nazis introduced a law to dismiss teachers they disapproved of.
They assisted the Nazis in controlling young minds and ensured that teaching was in line with Nazi propaganda.
- Teachers had to swear an oath of loyalty to Hitler.
- They were required to join the Nazi Teachers' League in order to learn Nazi methods.
They ensured children's minds were controlled.
The Nazis conducted political education courses for teachers.
They made certain that every teacher backed the Nazi party.
Spread Nazi ideas through curriculum control.
- Teachers had to teach students the Nazi salute and end every lesson with "Heil Hitler.”
Reinforced his loyalty to Hitler, making him seem godlike.
Classroom Propaganda:
Nazi posters and flags decorated the classrooms.
→ Subtle propaganda reinforced ideas of admiring Nazi supremacy.
- Students burnt anti-Nazi and Jewish books.
• Jewish lecturers were sacked.
• Public schools dismiss Jewish teachers.
• Napolas: Elite schools taught by SS and SA were set up to train future Nazi leaders.
WAGES
- In general, wages for 9 German workers improved under the Nazis.
- The pace of improvement was quite slow from 1933 to 1936, but it improved between 1986 and 39, during which time wages rose quite quickly.
- The cost of goods increased in 1939. The sales of goods increased by 45% compared to 1933.
LABOUR FRONT (DAF)
- Set out rights of workers in the workplace, maximum length of working week, and minimum pay.
- The standard of living for German workers was safeguarded.
- Workers lost rights to negotiate improvements in pay with employers.
- The maximum length of the working week has been increased by 6 hours.
- They possessed the authority to penalise employees who interfered with the production process.
STRENGTH THROUGH JOY (KdF)
- Hitter realised loss of trade unions could be a source of unrest for workers.
- Hitler aimed to secure benefits for workers, provide leisure activities, and reward loyal workers with impressive holidays.
- The majority of workers anticipate joining by 1936, with 35 million members.
- Activities like sports events, film theatres, shows, and outings and foreign travel are provided.
VOLKSWAGEN
- A car designed so that the average German could afford.
- Scheme for workers run by a division of KdF.
- Encouraged workers to give 5 marks/week, eventually entitling them to a Volkswagen. Money set up factories to make cars.
- From 1938, factories switched to the production of armaments, and no one saw money or cars.
Did the standard of living improve overall in Nazi Germany?
- May have improved for some more or less than others.
- Think about DAF, KdF, and SdA for workers.
- Wages increased 20% in 1939, but so did good prices and working hours.
- More bad for workers.
BEAUTY OF LABOUR (SdA)
- Division of KdF campaigning to get better facilities, e.g., toilets in the workplace.
- Gave employers tax breaks to help with building & decorating costs.
- Expected workers to do all building/decorating themselves.
- By 1938, the NSDAP claimed nearly 34K companies improved their facilities.
