SA Purge - June 1934 :: Ancient Rome Roman History

SA Purge - June 1934The Nazi consolidation of power was a gradual process that took place in more steps and was due to many factors, although a great deal happened in the root few months of Hitlers rule. However, the purge of the SA in June 1934 was a major turning point as it tremendously change magnitude Hitlers power over the state. By the time Adolf Hitler was elected as Chancellor of Germany in January 1933, the consolidation of power was not having the desired effect. Hitler immediately called another election, and use his newly acquired power, his first step was to ban all newspapers and political meetings, specially those of the communistics (KPD). He also dissolved the Prussian parliament, which effectively gave Hermann Goring complete go of 60% of Germanys police force. The police punt of the Nazi Party was the backing for a violent menace campaign against other political parties, again particularly against the KPD. This campaign of terror resulted in the Reichstag fire, blamed on the Communists. Some historians believe the fire was started by the Nazis, and was all a ruse to lose more Communist votes and exploit fears of a mass left-wing uprising. Whatever the case, Hitler claimed that the Communists were trying to intentianally thwart the Nazis election campaign. He asked President Hindenburg for extra powers to deal with any potential hazards, hypnotism Hindenburg to issue the Decree for the Protection of People and State. This law allowed the government to arrest people at will and also take over provincial governments, and was the first step towards a totalitarian government. It allowed the Nazis to completely smash the Communist election campaign and gain more position in the Reichstag. Despite this mass terror campaign, the nazi party still failed to win the majority of seats in the election, gaining under 44% of the votes. However, a majority was eventually gained by the Nazis winning the support of the Nationalist Party, as well as continuing campaigns of intimidation and scare-mongering. In the March election the Nazi party claimed just over half of the seats in the Reichstag, making them the largrest political party in Germany. However, the Nazis were not voted for in many Catholic and working-class areas of Germany. This did not stop their drive for power - they alone took control of the state governments and persuaded the Reichstag to pass an Enabling Law, which would give Hitler national power for the next four years.