Using the SA, Hitler suppressed Communist, Socialist, and Catholic opposition throughout Germany up until the new elections of the Reichstag were held. The new Reichstag met in March 23, 1933, to vote on the passing of the Enabling Act. In this session, all of the Communists and many Socialists were missing because they had been arrested by the Nazis. When the vote was taken, 441 deputies voted in favour of the Act and only the Social Democrats voted against it. Thus Hitler’s Enabling act was passed.
Hitler promised to use his new powers to return Germany to its former glory and rid it of Communists and any others who he believed threatened Germany’s economy and pride. However, it also meant that Germany was run by a dictator and so freedom of speech e.t.c. was limited and Germany was suppressed.
The purpose of the Enabling act was to “remedy the distress of the people and the empire”. The Act would allow Hitler to abolish any treaties and also gave him the power to pass laws without approval from the legislature.
Even though the Enabling act was needed to drag Germany out of depression, the powers it granted were used by Hitler in an entirely different way. Hitler used his powers to dissolve other political parties and overthrow governments. Having obtained dictatorial powers over Germany, Hitler focused his attention on what he would do about the Jews and those who he believed were responsible for Germany’s downfall. His first step was to appoint Goebbels as the Minister of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda. Hitler also started the boycott committee by assigning Julius Streicher to work on it. He did this to show that he was ridding Germany of its problems and so gain more voters. It was, however, these chains of events that lead to the beginning of the Holocaust.
The nature of the act meant that Hitler was given powers to introduce new laws, and the purpose was to help Germany through the depression, and even though Hitler abused his powers, he met very little opposition as the people of Germany felt that they were being aided. Despite the eventual outcome, the initial nature and purpose of the Enabling Act were both helpful and had Germany’s best interests in consideration.
