Methods used which helped in the rise to power of Hitler's single-party state
-
Dolchstoss
"stab in the back", claimed that the German military had not been defeated in World War I, but that the Germans had been "stabbed in the back" by Jews, socialists, and liberals who forced them to surrender. Hitler was enabled to undermine the legitimacy of the Weimar republic by exploiting the feeling of resentment and betrayal that was felt both by the people and especially the army at this time. -
Period: to
Rise of Hitler
-
why Dolchstoss worked
Previously in 1918 when the Kaiser abdicated and the new government that was instructed to seek peace was formed, it was felt that the army was undefeated and that a single battle had not taken place on German soil. Therefore a feeling of resentment arose directed at the "November Criminals", the Weimar Regime that had ratified the Versailles Treaty. -
how Dolchstoss worked
One of the methods in detaining power being the propagation through propaganda and enforcement of resentment towards the Weimar Regime. These feelings were exacerbated by the continuation of the 1918 blockade killing an additional 300 000 Germans. -
Promise of strong leadership
Another rethorical method used by Hitler in gaining power was the promise of a strong leadership. In Mein Kampf, HItler called for a strong leader of Germany. This method attacked the inherent weakness of the Weimar constitutional attribute of proprtional representation. Proportional representation during the 1918-1933 Weimar period created 21 governments, all coalitions, and only 8 had a majority. -
Cont of previous
Thus Hitler used the method of promise of strong leadership in these circumstances of apparent political vacillation and weakness to appeal to the German people who in fact had no tradition of democracy. -
Brawn over brain
If diplomacy didn't suffice then HItler also was in control of his own personal squad, the brownshirts. The brownshirts were used to disrupt left wing political activities throughout the 1920's and 1930's. The communists receiving almost 2.5% of the 1928 election through physical attack were reduced greatly in power both physically and politically by the 1930s. -
Fear of communism
A further method employed by Hitler in obtaining tsingle party control was to capitalize on the fear of communism prevalent in Germany throughout this time. Big companies such as Krupps and I.G Farben were fearful of the growning popularity of Kommunistische Partei Deutschlands (KPD), in an attempt to shut them down they financed right wing groups. -
cont of prev
Similarly the army and eventually the President were convinced that the Nazis presented the only viable political alternative to Communism. This is evident by the 1933 28th February Reichstag Fire. The suspension of civil liberties following the communist caused attack allowed Hitler to further suppress millitary opposition. -
Cont of prev prev
It must also be noted that the mere physical presence of the Storm troopers (SA) also existed as the only milliatry alternative to Communism. These conditions convinced Hindenburg to instate Hitler as Chancellor in 1933 thus strengthening HItler's position and consequently weakening the position of the Weimar republic. -
Exploitation of legal system
Hitler, by becoming Chancellor was able to, through the president, issue decrees. However according to Article 48 these decrees were issued directly by the president and therefore Hitler could not initially exert Article 48. However through the tactics of dicrimination, suppression of political opposition and an alliance with the Catholic Centre Party Hitler was able in 1933 to obtain a two thirds majority in the Reichstag and pass the Enabling Law. -
Enabling law
The Enabling law allowed Hitler to directly issue decrees, or "Führer Edicts". The period demonstrates that Hitler was able to use a number of mehods in obtaining political dominance. He exploited a constitutional weakness and he formed political alliances. This enabling act allowed Hitler to use perhaps the most powerful of this method in obtaining single-party control; the extension of political power. -
Gleichsnchaltung
In the ensuring period of 1933-36 Hitler issued a number of "Führer Edicts" described as Gleichschaltung. Hitler was able to centralize control from the federal "länder" to Berlin in the 1934 "länder coordination law" . He was able to propagate obedience in the German populace through laws such as the 1933 Civil Service Law, the creation of the Nazi Labor Front (replacing all unions) in 1934 and creating the Nazi Teachers league in 1934. -
Exertion of single-party control
Hitler was further able to exert single party control through control of the media; thorugh the creation of Goebbels "Ministry of Enlighentment and Propaganda" in 1933 making editors directly responsible for what was printed in their papers. Hitler was able to finally enforce obedience of the people and cement one-party state control by illegalizing all other parties in 1933 and instituting the "basic Gestapo Law" in 1936 placing the gestapo above the law. -
Completion
Therefore we have seen that HItler used a wide variety of methods; brutal, political, legal, illegal to allow him to create a one-party state in Germany. However all these diverse methods involved either strengthening his position or undermining the position of his opponents.
