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Events That Helped The Nazis Rise To Power - Coggle Diagram
Events That Helped The Nazis Rise To Power
Reichstag Fire
On 27 February 1933 the Reichstag building, home to the German Parliament, was burned down.
a Dutch communist, called Van der Lubbe was found at the scene and so the communists were blamed.
many historians believe that hitler started the fire and blamed it on the commies.
Enabling Act
After the Centre Party politicians joined the Nazis (giving Hitler a majority), many of them were bullied into passing the Enabling Act.
This was the law that gave Hitler the dictatorship he wanted - it meant he could pass laws without the approval of the Reichstag.
Night of the Long Knives
Ernst Rohm, leader of the SA, thought Hitler was going too slow.
And in 1934, the SA and Rohm were becoming an embarrassment to Hitler.
Threat of the SA
Many of the SA were violent thugs who now wanted well-paid jobs as a reward now that Hitler was in power.
Hitler worried that Rohm was becoming too powerful.
The SA already had more members than the German Army.
Rohm wanted to control both the SA and the Army. And this really worried/pissed off Hitler and the army leaders.
What happened?
Hitler dealt with this problem ruthlessly.
Hitler arranged a meeting at a hotel in Bavaria, southern Germany, with SA leaders on the 30 June 1934.
Shortly before dawn, Hitler and an assassination squad from the new SS stormed the hotel and arrested Rohm along with the other leaders. They were later killed.
Hitler needed the army on his side.
Removal of Opposing Political Parties
In the days following the Night of the Long Knives, around 400 political opponents were executed.
After the Reichstag fire, Hitler persuaded Hindenburg to give him emergency powers - Hitler used these to take care of the communists and trade unions.
4000 communists were jailed.
The removal of other parties all but ensured Hitler and the Nazi party got a majority in the March elections, but STILL they didn't.