Nazi Consolidation of Power (SQA National 5 History): Revision Note

Summary 

From February 1933 to August 1934, the Nazis tightened control step by step. They took over the police, won 288 seats in the March election, and used intimidation to pass the Enabling Act. The first concentration camps opened for political prisoners. They seized local government, created the Gestapo, and abolished trade unions, replacing them with the German Labour Front (DAF).

In June 1933, Hitler made a Concordat with the Pope so the Church stayed out of politics, then he banned the Centre Party and all other parties, creating a one-party state. In the Night of the Long Knives, the SS killed SA leaders. After President Hindenburg died, Hitler merged the roles of President and Chancellor, took the title Führer, and the army swore loyalty to him.

Control of policing, the Gestapo and early camps

• The Nazis used the Reichstag Fire Decree to take over the police they also

  • Suspended basic rights

  • Allowing searches

  • Detention without trial

• During 1933, the Nazi Party “co-ordinated” the state and removed rivals

  • Other parties were pushed out or banned; by 14 July 1933, Germany was a one-party state

  • Nazis took over local government, the police, the courts, and the civil service; teachers’ and youth groups were also brought under their control

• The first concentration camp for political prisoners opened at Dachau on 20 March 1933

  • These camps were used to imprison all opponents of the Nazi regime

• On 26 April 1933, Hitler created the Gestapo

  • This was a secret police force that spied on, arrested, and terrorised opponents

Destruction of the Trade Unions

• Nazi squads raided union offices; they:

  • Seized funds

  • Arrested trade union leaders

• Unions were replaced by the German Labour Front (DAF), which controlled:

  • Wages

  • Work conditions

  • Worker representation

• Strikes were made illegal

  • This removed a major organised source of resistance

The Concordat and the one-party state

• Hitler’s deal with the Pope kept the Catholic Church out of politics

• The Catholic Centre Party then dissolved

• On 14 July 1933, the Law Against the Formation of New Parties made non-Nazi Party political groups illegal

  • Germany became a one-party state under the Nazis

The Night of the Long Knives

• Hitler was concerned about internal opposition, especially from the head of the SA, Ernst Röhm

  • Röhm led around three million SA members, around 60% of whom were unemployed by 1933

  • Röhm wanted a greater focus on supporting the working class, which contrasted with Hitler’s desire to help the rich

  • Röhm’s SA clashed with the SS, led by Heinrich Himmler and Reinhard Heydrich

  Hitler arranged a meeting with Röhm and other SA leaders on 30th June 1934:

  • Röhm and around 400 SA members were arrested and later shot

  • Other opponents, such as von Schleicher, Gregor Strasser and von Kahr, were also arrested and killed

  • The public was informed that Röhm had been planning to replace Hitler, and therefore, his death served the interests of the country

• These killings from 30 June to 2 July 1934 became known as the Night of the Long Knives

• This removed rivals, won the army’s support, and tightened Hitler’s control

  • The killings were then legalised by a special law.

• When President Hindenburg died on 2 August 1934, Hitler combined the jobs of President and Chancellor and took the title Führer

• The army swore a personal oath to him

• By late 1934, he held total power