Establishment of the Nazi Dictatorship: Unit Summary
Overview of the Course
This is Unit 1 of 5 in the course "Living under Nazi Rule."
Focuses on the establishment of the Nazi dictatorship from January 1933 to August 1934.
Covers the transformation of Germany from a democracy to a dictatorship.
Key Events and Topics Covered
January 1933 - August 1934: Transition to Dictatorship
January 1933: Hitler becomes Chancellor of Germany.
August 1934: Hitler becomes Führer, marking the consolidation of total power.
Key Historical Events
Nazi Ideology and Leadership (1933)
Overview of Nazi political ideology and leadership dynamics.
Reichstag Fire
Used by Hitler to remove communist opposition.
Enabling Act
Allowed Hitler to establish a legal dictatorship by bypassing the Reichstag.
Gleichschaltung (Coordination)
Process of bringing all aspects of German society in line with Nazi ideology.
Night of the Long Knives (June 1934)
Purge of SA leadership and conservative politicians by the SS to consolidate power.
Death of President Hindenburg (August 1934)
Paved the way for Hitler to assume total control as Führer.
Historical Debate: Rapid Shift from Democracy to Dictatorship
The key question: How did Hitler manage to transition Germany from democracy to dictatorship in just 18 months?
Factors Contributing to the Shift
Through Violence
Night of the Long Knives: Elimination of SA threats and political opponents.
Intimidation by SA and SS: Use of violence and terror to suppress the populace.
Examples include the boycott of Jewish shops and public book burnings.
Other Contributing Factors
Luck: Reichstag Fire provided an unexpected opportunity to target communists.
Legislation: Enabling Act allowed legislative power without Reichstag approval.
Appeal of Nazi Ideology & Charisma: Popular support due to the Nazi message and leadership during crises.
Essay Writing Strategy
Introduction: State your judgment on whether violence or other factors were more crucial.
Body Paragraphs:
Paragraph on how total power was achieved through violence.
Paragraph on how power was achieved through non-violent means.
Conclusion: Weigh both sides and provide a definitive argument.
Remember: There's no single correct answer; different historians have varied perspectives.
Conclusion
This unit explores the rapid establishment of Nazi totalitarian rule and encourages examining both violent and non-violent factors as contributors to Hitler's rise to power.