Growth and Expansion of the Nazi Party 1933 - 1934 - Essay Example

A CRITICAL REVIEW OF THE GROWTH AND EXPANSION OF THE NAZI PARTY 1933 - 1934 INTRODUCTION On November 9, 1918, just two days before the end of World War I, the German Emperor, William II abdicated and signed the armistice that ended the war1. This was followed by major reparation payment demands and other reforms that caused massive hardships for Germany in the interwar period2. Elections were held in January 1919 which elected a national assembly that was to draft a new constitution3. The Weimar constitution gave way for much more liberal methods of governance as opposed to the authoritarianism and militarism of the previous regime and government. The constitution also gave way for the formation of two houses of parliament4. This included the lower house, the Reichstag which was to be constituted by elected parliamentarians chosen by the German people through a universal adult suffrage. The model of the constitution was such that small parties were guaranteed seats in the parliament and it was virtually impossible for any single party to control the Reichstag5. This created cracks in the constitutional system of Germany which gave rise to the Nazi party and ultimately, the rise of Hitler as the supreme authority of Germany6. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF STUDY The aim of this paper is to examine the steps taken by Hitler, after his appointment as a chancellor, to turn Germany into a totalitarian dictatorship (Jan 1933 – Aug 1934). To this end, the following objectives will be explored: 1. An analysis of relevant issues that played a role in the operations and affairs that influenced the Nazi party and its ideologies; 2. A critical review of the events that came after Hitler became leader; 3. An assessment of the fundamental changes that were put in place by Hitler and Adolf Hitler; 4. An evaluation of the relevant steps taken to modify Germany into a totalitarian dictatorship. REICHSTAG FIRE The Weimar Republic’s constitution made it imperative for the President to appoint the Chancellor and the Reichstag had the power to interrogate the chancellor candidate and could pass a vote of no confidence in such a candidate7. The President could also dissolve the Reichstag in emergency situations through Article 488. In 1930, there had been numerous situations where the German President, Paul von Hindenburg had bypassed the Reichstag in making numerous decisions. This set a precedence in which the German parliament was seen as a weak body that did not have its own will or own position in matters and situations. This created cracks that Hitler could exploit in order to take up a position in the government. After winning the most seats in 1932, Hitler had won the election and was in line to become chancellor in January 19339. Paul von Hindenburg, the German President moved to dissolve parliament and asked for new elections10. This is because Hindenburg did not like the ideologies of Hitler.11 He therefore dissolved the Reichstag and asked for fresh elections. The Nazis were confident they would win the election since they had campaigned significantly12. However, on February 27, the Reichstag building was burnt. The burning of the Reichstag created major dissatisfactions amongst the leadership of the Nazi party. One person was arrested for starting the fire. He was a Dutch Communist called Marinus van der Lubbe who was mentally disturbed but believed that his actions will inspire the working class to seek an improved Communist system in the country13. Hitler was apparently upset and unhappy about the situation. This is because he was of the belief that he could win a significant section of the election so he could change the constitution in his favor. Hitler however sought to use the opportunity to deal with the situation and used the opportunity to criticize and demonize the Communists and Socialists14. Therefore, Hitler got the power and moral groundings to tighten the legal system in order to deal with the Communists who were viewed as a negative people who were against Germany’s progress as a nation15. Investigations indicated that Marinus van der Lubbe had acted alone but Joseph Goebbels and Herman Goering used the opportunity to spread the hatred against Communism and the Communist ideology in Germany16. Hitler was still very angry and spread the idea that there is a plot by Communists to take over Germany and destroy the German and Aryan civilization17. This caused people like Herman Goering to tighten their quest for exposing Communism sympathizers through the formulation of the SA which was made up of various volunteers who were ready to deal with the elements and aspects of the German society that tilted towards the Communists. Propaganda was spread and the enemies of the Nazi party were arrested and persecuted. Eventually, Herman Goering and his interrogators identified that van der Lubbe acted alone, but this did not stop Hitler from continuously spreading propaganda against Communists18 GENERAL ELECTION – 5 MARCH 1933 As a background of the March 5 General Election, it must be noted that Franz Van Papen had been the Chancellor between June and November 193219. When Hitler was elected in the election of 1932, Van Papen sought to keep his position in the chancellery so he convinced German President, Von Hindenburg that he will control the affairs of Hitler and Hitler and his Nazi party ideology will be contained20. Franz van Papen believed that he could control Hitler and he could use him against Kurt von Schleicher who selected Chancellor in December 193221. Van Papen therefore sought to convince the President and through this process, Hitler made him Vice Chancellor when he became Chancellor in January 1933 when Hitler was made Chancellor. However, Hitler had no intention of giving in to Van Papen. So Hitler called for an election on March 5th 1932. The Nazis built strong foundations during 30th January and March 5th when Hitler held power briefly as chancellor, he took steps to control some strategic processes and systems that helped him in the process22. First of all, he used Joseph Goebbels as a major propaganda expert who exerted a lot of influence on the voters and spread the fundamental ideologies and promises Hitler had dreamt up for the German people. The Nazi party promised the German people an empire that will last a thousand years and they promised to liberate the German people from the huge reparations they had to pay due to the treaties imposed upon them by the foreign powers, led by Britain and France23. Herman Goering became Interior Minister and he was able to put in place some changes in the police and through this, they were able to control some structures that gave the Nazis an unfair advantage in the election24. This gave way for massive intimidation and coercion of voters to choose the Nazi party in the March 5th election25. The process of arm-twisting led to a massive polling of votes in favor of the Nazis. Goebbels controlled the radio and press and spread so much propaganda and hatred between the average German and the Communists, Jews and other minorities26. Due to this, the average German was made to believe that the Jews were saboteurs and the Soviet Union was a Jewish creation that was meant to subdue the German people further. Thus, they compelled the average German to believe that there was the need to find a way of defending Germany from foreign aggression and the voters bought into this view. Through the demonization of the Communists, the Social Democratic party broke away from the Communists and they performed poorly in the elections27. The Nazis also presented seasoned campaigners and used different heterogeneous organizations that sought to promote nation, state and patriotism28. Another aspect of the propaganda focused on the “November Parties” which were parties that signed or recognized the armistice that ended the First War29. These parties were accused of being behind Germany’s woes and being weak entities that could not stand up for the rights of the German people and hence were unworthy of leading the German people. Therefore, through these tactics, the relatively unknown Nazi party which was not part of the German political heritage became popular amongst Germans and they did so well in the elections. Hitler and the Nazi party won 288 seats which was worth about 43% of the votes that were cast30. Although this was the highest percentage any party got in the election, it was not enough for the Nazis to make changes to the German constitution nor hand over power to Hitler to implement his ideologies fully. However, this was enough to give the Nazis control over the Reichstag and also control some sensitive aspects of the German political order and system. This saw Hitler becoming chancellor and he was able to get his important men, Joseph Goebbels and Herman Goering to become Information Minister and Interior Minister respectively. This gave them the impetus to dig deep into their quest to control different units and different processes that would later prove crucial for the agenda of the Nazi party. ENABLING ACT – 23 MARCH 1933 In order to ensure that the Nazi party attained their agenda, there was the need for the Nazis to cause the German parliament to give them more power and more authority. This led to the need for lobbying and an attempt to control affairs in the Reichstag. Therefore, the Nazi caucus of the Reichstag proposed the Enabling Act which was meant to transfer full powers to make laws and decrees to the Chancellor for four years31. The Enabling Act was meant to allow the Chancellor to make decrees and laws without scrutiny from the Reichstag32. In the process, many new arrangements were made to crack down on the Communists. This is because the Communists were touted as a danger to the German society. Hence, they were charged with various offences and crimes and they were generally arrested and sent to Concentration Camps. They were declared an illegal organization and they were made to go through a lot of negative processes. When the Enabling Act’s bill was passed through the German parliament, most of the Communists in the Reichstag had been jailed for various offences33. Thus, the Communists were not capable of opposing it. The only group that spoke against the Enabling Bill was the Social Democrats and they were silenced by various counter arguments by the Nazis34. Meanwhile, the Nazis sought alliances with the Catholic Center parties and other parties in parliament35. Seeking to distance themselves from the “November Parties”, many right wing parties supported the National Socialist ideologies and supported the Enabling Act36. This is because they thought it will be wrong or against patriotism if they rose against these acts which were meant to help Germany to stand up against externally imposed suffering and challenges37. Thus, they ended up giving the Nazi party the 67% it needed to pass the Enabling Act. The Enabling Act played various roles in German national systems. First of all, the Enabling Act put Germany on the way to declaring all other political party as illegal38. This is because as a test ground, the Nazis in the German cabinet prior to the passing of the Enabling Act were able to suppress the Communists. This gave them the impetus to consider extending this process and habit to other parties in their bid to create a one-party state. One of the earliest rules and regulations that came to force after the Enabling Act was passed was the banning Trade Unions that were linked to the Communists39. This is because everyone already hated the Communists. Thus, creating a law that negated the Communists and banned groups allied to them was welcomed by the German people and was seen as a means of suppressing the enemy within. These Communists were sent to concentration camps where they were held as political prisoners. In the first few months of the Enabling Act, there were over 150,000 political prisoners kept in the Concentration Camps and this laid the foundation for the creation of one of the strongest tools the Nazis used to deal with people who opposed them40. LOCAL GOVERNMENT - 26 APRIL 1933 The local government system that was created in April 1933 laid the foundations for the Nazification of Germany41. The Nazis took control of the Local Government and the police. First of all, under the direction of Herman Goering who was the Minister of Interior the Geheime Staats Poleizeamt (Gestapa “Secret State Police Office”) was renamed to the Geheime Staats Polizei (Gestapo)42. This was meant to create a functional and proactive branch of government that will be primarily and fundamentally responsible for taking intelligence and information about things that were going on in Germany and taking immediate action against people that they considered suspicious. Under the new arrangement, the Gestapo could raid any part of Germany in their quest for information and they could do whatever they deemed appropriate based on their belief that such persons were a threat to the state43. There was a considerable limitation of the rights of people in Germany who were either tagged as anti-Nazi or were against the Nazi ideology44. This is because the Gestapo could seize property and they had the authority to overhear other people’s conversations, breach people’s privacy and seek information and do anything they deemed fit to protect state interests45. They also targeted other media outlets that were against the Nazi ideology and this led to serious situations and circumstances for such persons and such groups. Herman Goering modified the Prussian political police and expanded it to the Gestapo or the secret police46. This new police force, the Gestapo, was to operate separately from the mainstream police because they had their authority from the Enabling Act and they were seen to be seeking the best interest of the German people as they were directly accountable to the Chancellor47. The number of personnel was first increased from 60 to 250 and they were fundamentally responsible for trying Marinus van der Lubbe who was the prime suspect for the burning of the Reichstag in February 193348. Finally, the Concentration Camp system was attached to the Gestapo and they had the power to sentence people into custody for various charges. Herman Goering was the head of the Gestapo and he kept secret files about various political adversaries which allowed him to get a control over all the activities of people in the country including those who did not like the Nazi ideology49. As the concentration camp system became entrenched, the opponents of Nazism or “grumblers” were systematically arrested and deported into the camp. The people who posed a threat to the pure “Aryan Germany” that Hitler had promised the German people were also sent to the camp. This include people that the Nazis subjectively considered to be foreign or degenerate and they were to be kept away from the mainstream Germany population to prevent them from corrupting a “pure” nation. Therefore, university professors and other “undesirable” elements defined by the Gestapo were picked up and sent to the concentration camps. Many of these people were reported by other Germans who were encouraged by the Gestapo to leak information on such persons because they were a threat. Therefore, within the period that the Gestapo system was entrenched, thousands of Jews, Communists, Protestants, gypsies, homosexuals, alcoholics and others were arrested and sent to concentration camps. People who held banned books and those who complained about the economic conditions were reported to the Gestapo. The Gestapo quickly arrested them and put them in concentration camps. TRADE UNIONS BAN – 2 MAY 1933 On 2 May 1933, Unions that were said to be linked to the Communists were banned50. This is because the Communists were seen as a people who were against Germany’s progress and success. Hence, they were to be viewed as dangerous to Germany’s interest. Propaganda was spread about a grand Jewish-oriented plan to overran Germany through the Soviet Union which the German people were made to believe was a Jewish creation. Thus, the May 1933 Act was meant to ban anything that was connected to the Communists and eliminate their connection to the German state and the German people. In the first week that the ban came into place, 89 Union leaders were arrested51. These were people who had sought to fight for workers’ rights and other needs. However, due to the fact that Hitler had a grand agenda that was mainly related to foreign military aggression, he believed it was essential to limit the power of people who will ask for resources and other things that could sabotage his agenda for his foreign expansionist and vengeful quest. Therefore, the ban was to prevent potential strikes and demands for higher salary. Thus, a broad class of Communist-linked trade unions was defined and this created a framework for arrests and detention of such leaders. Within the first week, assets worth 184 million Deutsche Marks were seized from these Communist-linked trade unions52. This was enough to support the Nazi party for a whole year53. On 10th May 1933, Hitler put in place the German Labor or the Deutsche Arbeit which was an independent entity to be created to ensure that workers cooperated with the Nazi government. This group eventually created a framework through which workers’ pays were reduced and workers were denied the right to strike54. Other groups linked to trade unions and automatically dissolved55. This is because such groups found it in their own best interest to stop presenting their views and opinions openly. They saw the need to either operate secretly or join the Nazi party altogether. This is because such groups knew and saw it clearly that if they continued to operate, they will be doing so in contravention to a new legal system that did not favor them. Therefore, they had to voluntarily dissolve their groups and either become apathetic or integrate into similar Nazi entities that saw the same ends. Germany was therefore set on the path towards a one-party state. POLITICAL PARTIES BANNED – 14 JULY 1933 In June 1933, the KPD or the German Socialist Party (SPD) was banned by decree56. This is because the German Socialist party was the main party that was the most outspoken against the Nazi ideology and the arrangements of the Nazi party57. Therefore, they were seen as a threat to the Nazi ideology and process. Therefore, the decree of Hitler banned them. This was seen by most Germans to be a good thing because at that time, the propaganda machinery of Joseph Goebbels had made the German people believe strongly that Germany was being cheated by the dominant powers of that time. And they saw organizations like the Socialist Party to be the main entity that was selling out the country. This is because such parties were linked to the armistice that forced the Germans to pay high reparations whilst the previous regime that caused the war was living in a luxurious and comfortable exile in the Netherlands. The Nazi party was therefore vocal in telling the German people that there was the need for action. And the Socialist Party and other anti-Nazi entities were seen as betrayers and negative entities in the country. Therefore, the decree of July 1933 that banned the Socialist Party was welcomed by numerous people in Germany. The conservative and liberal political party dissolved themselves58. This is because such entities were seen to be different from the Nazi party and there was no point in continuing to exist when it was clear and apparent that their existence will continue to pose a threat to the National Socialists. National Socialist parties and similar ideologies merged into the Nazi Party. This includes groups and organizations that had emerged as supporters and allies to the message of Hitler. Such entities sought to create a national system that was to rally alongside other Germans to fight against foreign oppression59. Therefore, on 14th July 1933, a formal law was made against new parties60. This was known as the Law against the formation of Parties. This law prevented the establishment of new parties and this also prevented new political views from sprouting up61. The central agenda and view was to deliver Germany from the hands of foreign influence. And by law, the Nazi party was the only legal political movement allowed in Germany62. This put the country on a path towards total and absolute rule by the Nazis. Meanwhile, the leaders of other political parties that were banned were mostly put in prison. This is because they were deemed as a threat to the national socialist ideology and such persons were viewed as a threat to the country’s plan and progress towards redemption from foreign occupation63. NIGHT OF THE LONG KNIVES – 30 JUNE 1934 From the chronology of the history of the Nazi Party, it can be said that 1933 was a year of struggles and an attempt to achieve constitutional recognition. And to a large extent, they achieved all their objectives and they got a legal control and authority over the people and sensitive institution. The year 1934 was a period of consolidation of the Nazi ideology and the main characters that played leading roles were Joseph Goebbels who was now the Minister for Information and Enlightenment which was a full-scale pro-Nazi institution that was meant to spread propaganda about the Nazi party. Also, Herman Goering consolidated the processes and activities of the secret police and the pro-Nazi groupings and organizations to help to crack down on foreign elements of the country that were deemed to be against the agenda of the party. One of the groups that proved to be problematic was the Sturmabteilung (SA) which was a storm detachment or assault division of the Nazi party64. This group was headed by Ernst Julius Rohm and this was meant to provide protection for the Nazi party during rallies. As the Nazi party developed and grew, local and new units of the SA were formed and there were over 1 million SA members in a country with a population of about 18 million65. However, on the 30th of June 1934, during what became known as the Night of Long Knives, the Nazi Schutzstaffech (SS) unit turned their attention on the SA and they killed a number of the SA members who were deemed to be destructive and negative to the Nazi ideology. As identified, it is apparent that the Nazis had no opponents outside the party. However, some historians indicate that Rohm was talking of a Socialist revolution against the Nazi party with a view of taking over from the Army66. Therefore, to the Nazi top-hierarchy, there was a view that the SA was an embarrassment. This is because they had been involved in various mob actions and various mass violent activities. However, they were not soldiers who had gone through conventional warfare training and other things. So they were just a pressure group and a group of thugs and criminals. Therefore, on the Night of Long Knives, Hitler gave an order through coded language to kill some of the SA members as a process of eliminating SA members. Through the process, Ernst Rohm was murdered and over 80 other people were killed because of their linkages to Anti-Nazi activities67. Through the Night of Long Knives, the main enemies within the Nazi fraternity were crushed. This provided a support for party unity and eliminated many undesirable elements from the party68. The effect was that people sought to swear allegiance directly to the top hierarchy of the Nazi party and the SS was much more disciplined and more structured. Thus, Hitler could maintain a better control over the people and the country through the SS. Also, the dissolution of the SA gave room for the creation of a Nazified Army because there was a direct allegiance to be sworn by soldiers to Adolf Hitler. This gave him full control of the military structures and systems. THE FUHRER: 19TH AUGUST 1934 On August 2, 1934, German President, Hindenburg died and his testament was shown to the public69. This testament was presented by the Ministry of Information and Enlightenment headed by Joseph Goebbels as the “last wish” of Hindenburg70. In the testament, Hindenburg stated that he wanted the German people to vote on whether to grant absolute power to Adolf Hitler or not. The effect of this “testament” was that if there was a vote and the people chose Hitler as their leader, Hitler will have uncontrolled and absolute power over the German people. This was meant to promote the Nazi party and entrench it as the only party. This was also meant to make Hitler the overall leader or Fuhrer. This meant that Hitler would have absolute and total control and combine the Chancellery and the Presidency and become the absolute authority. Clearly, this was going to be a major leap in the country’s constitutional systems and structures. Thus, the issue was put together into a vote and presented to the German people in a plebiscite. In the plebiscite, 84.3% of the electorates agreed to make Hitler the permanent leader of Germany on August 193471. This means that Hitler had absolute and unconditional control over the affairs of Germany and his views were to be taken absolutely by the German people. This effectively put the Nazi party forward as the main party and the main entity that was meant to control affairs and issues in the country. NUREMBERG RALLIES 1933 – 1938 The Nuremberg Rallies were major rallies that were seen as national unification processes within which Hitler, the Fuhrer could tell the German people his plans and agenda for the country72. Through these rallies, Hitler, who had gained the credibility of the savior of Germany and the deliverer of the nation spread the Nazi propaganda. Hitler used these rallies to address millions of Germans and presented his ideologies and showed the German people what the problem was and encouraged them to support him in the quest to promote the deliverance and salvation of the German nation. Hitler spoke about Germany as an invincible nation that was being influenced by certain external elements including Britain, France and some saboteurs who were within the country73. Hitler spoke of the Nazi story and shared the Nazi dream about how the Nazis sought to improve and enhance Germany’s fortunes. This gradually created an image of an enemy in the minds of the German people. They were gradually indoctrinated and made to believe that their problems were caused by some other third parties. This created the basis and springboard for the mobilization of the German public’s support for the Nazi movement and the Nazi processes. People in Germany sought to see the Nazi promise as one thing they had to adhere to and without which they will be left out. So through these rallies, the Germans sought to add up their efforts and support to the enhancement and growth of the German Nazi party and the Nazi process. Also, there was a general trend of adulation for Hitler in these rallies74. In each rally, the people hailed Hitler and they said many positive things that made him evolve as a major figure that unified an oppressed Germany75. The people got to view Hitler as a major leader who could lift the country from its problems and issues. They therefore depicted these processes and systems in the media and more and more people who heard Hitler came up with periodic roars of support for Hitler. Most of these speeches delivered in Nuremburg were similar to sermons. They were usually charged emotionally and the people of Germany could identify with the things Hitler said. The signage and the atmosphere showed Hitler as a dedicated nationalist who was on the verge of supporting and improving the country. They presented Hitler as a leader who could lead Germany from the hands of the enemies. And the prosperity promised by Hitler in these campaigns were highlighted and presented to the masses as a method and an alternative for dealing with issues and problems that the people of Germany were embroiled in. CONCLUSION The paper establishes that the Nazi party played a major role in subverting the constitution in order to eliminate all forms of opposition in the year 1933. This is because Hitler sought to use the Reichstag fire incident to demonize the Communists and also use propaganda to win as many votes as possible in the March 5 election. The mode of doing this was to present the Communists as enemies of the state and linked to the Jewish-conspiracy of the Soviet Union. Secondly, the Nazis sought to present other parties connected to the armistice that led to the end of the First World War as traitors. This led to a system whereby the Nazis gained credibility and based on this, they expanded gradually. The Enabling Act gave Hitler the power and authority to assert himself by passing decrees that eliminated other parties. With the help of Joseph Goebbels who spread propaganda as a cabinet minister and Herman Goering who restructured the Prussian special police force into the Gestapo, the concentration camp system was instituted and a lot of Communists were sent into these Concentration Camps. Trade unions and entities connected to the Communists were declared illegal and their assets were seized by the Nazis. This was replaced by a labor group that was instituted by the Nazi party. With time, the main opposition party faced by the Nazis in the Reichstag was the Social Democrats and this group was declared illegal by the Nazi party. Other moderate groups automatically dissolved themselves. With this in place, the Nazis took control over their external enemies. Internally, the Nazis purged members of their ranks like Rohm who was seen to have a connection to the Socialists. This led to the killing of leaders of the SA and this was replaced by the SS which had more devotion to Hitler. Hitler finally became the absolute authority with permanent oversight of the country after he was declared Fuhrer upon the death of German President, Hindenburg. Hitler continued to spread his propaganda and eventually, he controlled the whole nation and used the Nazi rallies in Nuremburg to continue to indoctrinate Germany until Germany went to war in 1938. BIBLIOGRAPHY Adams Jefferson. Historical Dictionary of German Intelligence. New York: Scarecrow Press. 2012 Ashby Turner, Henry. Hitler’s Thiry Days to Power: January 1933. London: Edward Arnold. 1996 Brockmann, Stephen. A Critical History of German Film. London: Camden House. 2012 Brockmann Stephen. Nuremburg, The Imaginary Capital. London: Camden House. 2010 Butler Rupert. The Gestapo: A History of Hitler’s Secret Police New York: Amber Books. 2012 Chandler Malcolm and Wright, John Modern World History London: Heinemann. 2009 Child Johnson, Hodge Tim & Taylor. David. Understanding History. 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