Hitler's Story

Hitler's Story

Hitler became chancellor in January 1933. At this stage he was not the

dictator of Germany. The night of the long knives helped him to

establish his dictatorship. However, there were other aspects, which

helped him extend his control.

As soon as Hitler was in power, new elections were called. In the

middle of the Reichstag campaign, the Reichstag building went up in

flames. It was this, which allowed Hitler to increase his control over

Germany.

On 27th February the Reichstag caught fire. When they police arrived

they found Marinus van der Lubbe on the premises. He confessed to

starting the Reichstag Fire. However he denies that he was part of a

Communist conspiracy. Hermann Goering refuses to believe him and he

orders the arrest of several leaders of the German Communist

Party.

When Hitler heard the news about the fire he gave orders that all

leaders of the German Communist Party should "be hanged that very

night." Hindenburg didn’t agree but he did agree that Hitler should

take "dictatorial powers". Shaken Hindenburg, was easily convinced

that the nation was on the verge of a communist revolution, was

induced by Hitler to sign an emergency decree. KPD candidates in the

election were arrested and Goering announced that the Nazi Party

planned "to exterminate" German communists.

In the March 5 elections the Nazis got their best ever result. Yet

despite that, the election still failed to give the Nazis an overall

majority. The Nazi party won 288 seats out of a possible 3...

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...generals to

try to rebuild Germany.

On 29th of June 1934 Hitler acted. He called a meeting of SA leaders.

It was during this meeting that Hitler gave the purge its name: Night

of the Long Knives. Hitler claimed that 61 had been executed while 13

had been shot resisting arrest and three had committed suicide.

The Night of the Long Knives was a turning point in the history of

Hitler's Germany. The Night of the Long Knives, in June 1934, saw the

wiping out of the SA's leadership and others who had angered Hitler in

the recent past in Nazi Germany. Hitler had made it clear that he was

the supreme ruler of Germany who had the right to be judge and jury,

and had the power to decide whether people lived or died. With

elimination of potential threats to his rule, and the death of

Hindenburg, Hitler was in firm control.