How Hitler consolidated his power

The Enabling Act, placed before the Reichstag on 23rd of March 1933 was to allow the powers of legislation to be taken away from the Reichstag and transferred to Hitler's cabinet for a period of four years. The act was signed at the Kroll opera house in March 1933 and needed a two-third vote to pass. It passed easily with 444 yes to 94 no.

Thus dictatorial powers were finally bestowed, legally, on Hitler. By July 14th Hitler had proclaimed a law stating that the Nazi Party was to be the only political party allowed in Germany. All non-Nazi organizations were disbanded, including political parties and trade unions.

Industrialists and the elite, who had provided the funds for the Nazi victory, were unhappy with Ernst Rohm’s socialistic views and Hitler did not want to irritate them Hitler was also aware that Rohm and the SA had the power to remove him. On 29th June 1934. Hitler, accompanied by the SS, and arrested . During the next 48 hours 400 SA officers were arrested and killed. This is referred to as ‘The Night of the Long Knives’. The  was a turning point in Germany. Hitler had made it clear that he was the supreme ruler of Germany.

When Hindenburg eventually died, at the age of 84, on 2nd August; Hitler united the positions of President and Chancellor, and pronounced himself Fuhrer.

All the events above took place in less than a year, a year that saw Hitler take the position of Chancellor and gradually rise up to Fuhrer. There were many wasted chances to stop him from rising, much to our dismay.