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Newly appointed chancellor Adolf Hitler greets President Paul von Hindenburg in January, 1933.(Photo courtesy of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.)
President Paul von Hindenburg appointed Hitler as chancellor of a coalition government on January 30, 1933. Hindenburg wanted to ensure that the national character of government would continue to have a moderate, conservative outlook. Yet however much Hindenburg tried to curb his influence, Hitler was able to gradually gain power over the political sphere, army, public administration, economy, education, law, and culture. During the first two years of his chancellorship Hitler and the Nazi party actively quelled opposition to his ideals and his vision of a Volk Community (Volksgemeinschaft).
The Enabling Act issued on March 23, 1933 allowed Hitler’s cabinet to gain full control of all legislative power in the state, thus eliminating the need for the German parliament (Reichstag). By July 1933 the only legal political party left in Germany was the Nazi party. When President von Hindenburg died on August 2, 1934, Hitler took on the additional roles of head of state and commander-in-chief of the Wehrmacht (German army). He acquired the titles of Fuehrer and Reich Chancellor. Hitler’s power became unlimited, and all aspects of German public and private life were now subjected to the Fuehrer principle (Fuehrerprinzip).
Hitler mandated that the armed forces swear absolute loyalty to him (not the state). As the new dictator he focused on the rearmament of Germany (in violation of the terms of the Treaty of Versailles) and escalated persecution of the Jews and political opponents. Under Hitler’s leadership, German citizens effectively lost all basic rights and various agents of Nazi oppression, including the SS, gained authority. Hitler successfully eliminated his political opponents in the first few years of his power. In the following four years he further transformed the military, the state, and the economy to fit his ideals and vision for Germany’s future.
Questions for Classroom Discussion:
Discuss Hitler’s consolidation of power with your students and have them research what general factors contributed to his election (for example, the weakened economy after World War I). Did he win the election democratically or did he manipulate the political system to gain the upper hand? Students could also research the Enabling Act and other legislation put into place shortly after Hitler’s election. How did these laws differ from the Nuremberg Laws and other legislation enacted years later?
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