German democracy ended when Adolf Hitler was declared German chancellor on January 30, 1933. With racist and authoritarian ideas, the Nazis abolished basic freedoms and attempted to create a "Volk" society. Theoretically, the "Volk" community united all social classes and all German regions behind Hitler. In reality, the Third Reich quickly turned into a police state where individuals were subject to arbitrary arrests and imprisonment.
In the first months of his chancellorship, Hitler embarked on a policy of mass "synchronization" that forcibly drew organizations, political parties, and state governments to Nazi targets and forced them to rally under Nazi leadership. Culture, economy, education and law came under greater Nazi control. Trade unions were closed, workers, employees and employers were forced into Nazi organizations. By mid-July 1933, the Nazi Party had become the only political party allowed in Germany.
The Reichstag (German parliament) had become an institution that directly approved the Hitler dictatorship. The Führer's will became the basis of government policy.
With the appointment of Nazi Party members to government positions, Hitler's authority over state officials increased. According to the leadership principle of the Nazi Party, authority was top-down and absolute obedience was essential at all levels of the Nazi hierarchy. Hitler was the sole man of the Third Reich.
27 FEBRUARY 1933
REICHSTAG (GERMAN PARLIAMENT) BUILDING WAS DESTROYED BY FIRE
Adolf Hitler, who claimed that the Communists destroyed the Reichstag (German parliament) building in Berlin by arson, used the incident to gain extraordinary powers in Germany. Hitler persuaded German president Paul von Hindenburg to declare a state of emergency. Individual freedoms protected by the Constitution were thus abolished.
MARCH 5, 1933
NAZIS COULD NOT GET A MAJORITY IN THE REICHSTAG (GERMAN PARLIAMENT) ELECTIONS
Despite the state of emergency declared in February 1933 and the extraordinary powers received by Adolf Hitler, the Nazis were unable to gain a governing majority in the parliamentary elections. The Nazis received only 45 percent of the votes. Then, in March 1933, Hitler introduced a bill that would give his government the power to make laws without a vote in the German parliament. The bill was passed due in part to the fact that many of the Communist and Socialist dissidents had been arrested before the bill was voted on.
MARCH 23, 1933
IT WAS VOTED IN THE REICHSTAG (GERMAN PARLIAMENT) TO GIVE LEGISLATIVE POWER TO HITLER
After the Nazi Party failed to gain a majority in parliament, Adolf Hitler introduced a bill that would give his government legislative power. The Nazis, Conservatives and the Catholic Center Party supported this "Law-Making Act", which gave Hitler's government the power to legislate without a vote in parliament for a period of four years. Communist and many Socialist opponents were arrested before the vote. Ultimately, only the remaining Socialists opposed the measure and the bill was passed. Immediately after this, Hitler banned all political parties in Germany except the Nazi Party.
JUNE 30, 193
4NIGHT OF LONG KNIVES
A purge was carried out among Storm Troopers (SA) leaders and alleged opponents of Adolf Hitler's regime. This cleansing operation became known as the "Night of the Long Knives". More than 80 SA leaders were arrested and shot without being brought to trial. Hitler claimed that this purge operation was in response to the SA's plan to overthrow the government. The SA, led by Ernst Roehm, aspired to replace the German army. Roehm's dismissal increased army support for Hitler.
2 AUGUST 1934
PRESIDENT VON HINDENBURG DIES AT 87 YEARS OLD
German president Paul von Hindenburg has died at the age of 87. Upon Hindenburg's death, Adolf Hitler also assumed presidential powers. The army swore special loyalty to Hitler. The power of Hitler's dictatorship thus rested on his being Reich president (head of state), Reich chancellor (head of government) and Führer (leader of the Nazi Party). Hitler's official title was now "Führer and Reich Chancellor".
Kaynak: https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/tr/article/nazi-rule
