The use of legislation was very important to the Nazis and their consolidation of power, and was a key tool for the Nazi’s to make there actions legal and justifiable. This way of legalising what other wise would have been deemed illegal and immoral ways of running a political party and government. This meant they could keep the balance of a respectful government and ruthless power driven party well.
The use of legal ways of consolidating power in Source A allows Hitler to manipulate the crowd into believing he a good politician who has the good of the people and country at his heart. This meant he improved his reputation which in turned helped him and his party gain more control and power. This persona of a respectful statesman meant that Hindenburg wouldn’t think that Hitler is planning a radical change in political power and policy.
The way in which legislation was used also meant Hitler was able siege more power legally. By passing the enabling act on the 23rd of March 1933 spelt the end practically of democracy in Germany and the start of Hitler’s reign as dictator. But as Source B tells of how Hitler had used SA and SS to control the crowds at the Kroll Opera House, this dominance shows that the Nazi party would do what it takes to gain the advantage whether it be legal or more aggressive tactics.
The Essay on Hitlers Enabling Act
... German Democratic party had finally been eliminated, and Hitlers dream for Nazi command became closer to reality. Hitler gained the power he craved ... clergy were arrested. The Nazi party had, as Hitler said, become the state. By August 1934, Hitler became commander-in-chief ... end democracy in Germany and establish the legal dictatorship of Adolf Hitler. The Nazis had secretly caused confusion in order ...
The most important act legally sanctioned by the Nazi Party in my opinion was the Law against the formation of parties on the 14th July 1933. By legally banning the formation of parties Hitler and the Nazi party were unopposed in the quest for consolidation of power. This fall in line with Source C, which talks about how the governments supporters were opposed to parliamentary democracy but didn’t to abandon the rule of law all together. The Nazi party also managed to legally remove another one of its potential obstacles in their path to power by the suppression of trade unions. By doing so the party could avoid any union coups that may cause trouble for the party and their reputation.
However these laws wouldn’t stand alone they needed away of enforcing them. As Source B tells of how Hitler had used SA and SS to control the crowds at the Kroll Opera House, this dominance shows that the Nazi party would do what it takes to gain the advantage whether it be legal or more aggressive tactics.
The main tactic of the Nazi party for doing so was terror. In Source B Hoegner talks about the terror imposed on them by members of the Nazi party. Mainly the show of force that the SA and SS symbolised. Source B implies that the Social Democrats were surrounded by members of the SA and SS who lined up at the exits and along the walls in a semi circle. Giving the feeling that they were trapped and that they were controlled. It wasn’t just here that the SA and SS were used as weapons of terror, on the 1st May 1933 members raided offices of the trade unions as a show of dominate force.
There was other factors other than laws and force that were crucial to the Nazi strategy. To survive as a party they would have to compromise on certain stances. In the Reichstag elections on the 5th March 1933 the NSDAP still only managed to get the majority vote when they were joined with the Nationalists. Another way of achieving true consolidation was through a popular plan of the Nazis propaganda. The Nazis would spread pro Nazi propaganda as in Source A, the whole act of a respectful statesman who had the pride of the nation as a key goal and Hitler calm humble manner around President Hindenburg on the day of Potsdam. Was all a form of propaganda to make the Nazis more a appealing to a wider range of people.
The Essay on To What Extent Did Propaganda Influence Nazi Consolidation Of Power 1933 1939
The Nazi regime in Germany implemented itself swiftly and effectively the National Socialists had only three Nazis in a cabinet of twelve in January 1933, yet within two months Hitler had consolidated his political power by entirely legal means . With this, came the need for support from the German public. For a regime to consolidate its power people could be too afraid to rebel against it, or ...
In all I believe that the legislation was the most important factor in the Nazis consolidation of power. With out putting through laws and acts to deal and remove problems legally then the Nazi party never would have been aloud to continue and siege power. A government still needs to be seen as a political force and not just a force of aggression and terror. Although they were needed to keep an element of fear over the head of the people of Germany. The show of force may of even seemed to some degree better than the weak Weimar republic as it showed power and strength. But if things weren’t run legally and correctly then President Hindenburg could replaced Hitler as chancellor which would have had serious repercussions on the Nazi party probably dashing the dreams of power permanently.
The ability to compromise definitely aided them as no government will get things all there way all the time so compromise is need to keep the people happy. Coupled with clever propaganda to increase the Nazi parties popularity and slander the opposition helped increase the profile of the party and kept the public into believing what the Nazi propaganda machine wanted them too which should not be overlooked as a benefiting factor as to why. But the most important factor due to what it allowed the Nazi party to do legally and still stay in favour of the popular President and his people is legislation.
