Truly, Hitler relied on a mix of legal and illegal means to gain power. Illegally, he murdered many political opponents, and used the SA and SS to cause violence among communists, socialists, etc. Essentially anyone who was a political threat against him. However, his rise to both chancellor and fuhrer, which were both monumental steps to consolidating his power, were both done through legal means. Hitler became chancellor by being personally picked by the president at the time, Paul Von Hindenburg. To become fuhrer, HItler utilized article 48, and gave himself absolute power and control over Germany. Though the use of article 48 was really a loophole in the system, Hitler utilized it as he stated that Germany was within a state of emergency, and gave himself full power, which was technically legal. Thus it can also be said the Germany was in a state of Emergency until HItler's demise, which was a loophole that provided Hitler with ultimate power.