Why Did Hitler Come Into Power

Hitler came into power in 1933 for a number of different reasons; some may say that it could be down to pure fate, that the depression that struck as a result of the Wall Street Crash in 1929 was what allowed Hitler to grasp the power he so longed for. Others may claim it was his charisma and the talent he had for speeches and just generally being a powerful and effective leader. What it most definitely can be said, however, is that Hitler used his Enabling Act to eventually declare himself Fuhrer once Hindenburg had died. The general election of 1932 pushed him into power, and he only then further gained more and more strength.
The general election which took place in 1932 consolidated the Nazi’s strength within politics. Compared to the results in 1928, where Hitler and his party had only managed to gain 12 seats in the Reichstag, 1932 showed the massive effect that the Great Depression and the Wall Street Crash had had on Germany’s citizens, employment, and economy. During the

campaign, it was said Hitler had great success with those who were protestant, and those who were of working class. These statistics are significant because they highlight that the Nazi’s were going to gain support (mainly) from those who were unemployed. During the time of the 1932 election, it is said there was 6 million German citizens unemployed, and a predominant part of the Nazi’s campaign was that Hitler had promised the people ‘Work and Bread’. It could therefore be concluded that a major reason for Hitler’s success and power came from the campaign of the 1932 election, which was sparked from the Wall Street Crash in 1929 because people were still being heavily effected and hence influenced by it. The vote went to the party who was thought to handle the situation best, and it seemed that the Nazi’s had a roaring success, securing 230 seats. Later, in March 1933, the Nazis secured 288 seats, ensuring that they were now the biggest party in the Reichstag, allowing Hitler to move forward with his plans. The campaign by Hitler was a seriously effective method of getting into power, as it was democratically, and frankly nobody could properly go against it.
The Reichstag fire was another element that contributed to Hitler’s new power. After being confirmed as Chancellor by President Hindenburg merely weeks beforehand on the 30th January. The Reichstag fire helped Hitler into power because it was a chance for him to eliminate any other parties that were opposing him or his views. As the event was blamed upon Marius van der Lubbe, a Dutch communist, the ratings for support of the communist party plummeted. The Reichstag was a seriously important building in Germany, and the fact someone had destroyed it left a huge dent in the politics of the wounded country. People were still recovering from the Wall Street Crash and the Great Depression and this only enhanced the weakness of Germany. The Nazis (specifically Hitler) exploited the Reichstag Fire to the party’s advantage. It was soon after that the ‘Decree for the Protection of the People and the State’ was signed, leaving most civil and political liberties suspended, and the central government gaining more and more strength. The arrest of many anti-Nazis and members of any opposition left Hitler to be the only person with considerable power. However, it is still not even certain to this day whether van der Lubbe actually set the Reichstag alight, or whether it actually was a secret plan by the Nazis then could push them further into power. Regardless, it is one of the reason that ensured that Hitler became dictator of Germany in the following years that were to come, and was an effective method too as there wasn’t particularly any proof that it wasn’t someone other than a communist.
Once Hitler had had a taste of power, he only went further to consolidate it. A method of Gleichschaltung used by the Nazi’s established their status in Germany’s ‘democracy’, or what was barely left of it. Here, they merged typical German society into a way of Nazi life; big businesses, schools, even the local shops. The entirety of Germany became much more strictly controlled, and everyone had to live their lives under Nazi regime, whether they agreed with Hitler’s views or not. As part of this, a law was created in March 1933 which dissolved regional parliaments, making Germany a much more ‘united’ country, which Hitler had longed for. The unification of the entirety of Germany enhanced Hitler’s power, because it meant that the Nazis were able to dominate everyone, after each regional parliaments had kept the country partially separated throughout the years of the Weimar Republic. In 1934, this was even further confirmed, when all regional state parliaments were abolished completely. This meant that Hitler had power in the central Berlin government, which could rule over Germany as a whole. Furthermore within Gleichschaltung, the Nazis controlled the trade unions. Eventually, independent trade unions were banned and all German workers’ oragnisations were absorbed into the German Labour Front, otherwise known as the DAF. This meant that by the end of 1933, the power of the German labour movement had broken down completely.
It is well known that the Nazi’s used fear, intimidation and violence to what they wanted within Germany.

The SA had a major role in this, as they monitored Nazi party meetings, and during elections (especially in 1933 and 1928, when the Nazis were finally finding success) the SA intimidated citizens into voting the Nazi party as they walking into the polling station. It is said that the SA were extremely important within Hitler’s rise to power, and described as “violent thugs”. Furthermore, people saw the SA as a source of employment, which made the Nazi party get more publicity, as such. By the 1930’s, the SA was at 3 million members. And yet, it wasn’t only the SA that pushed fear into the hearts of the German citizens, the SS and Gestapo began to come into the limelight after Hitler was appointed chancellor. First being formed on 4th April 1925, the SS were most known as Hitler’s personal bodyguards, and eventually organising concentration camps that kept any opposition at

bay.
Finally, Hitler passed the Enabling Law by 444 to 94 votes. This guaranteed his power because it meant he could pass any laws that he wanted by decree. From this, Joseph Goebbels wrote that Hitler now had full power to push Germany forward. Due to the Enabling Act, Hitler soon banned any other political parties in Germany, meaning that he could therefore eventually establish himself as Fuhrer because he had nobody to go against him. As well as this, the Enabling Law meant that the President of the country was protected. Although this was Hindenburg when the law was first passed, once he died Hitler took the opportunity to merge his role and the presidents together, showing that he was secure in his position. The Enabling Act had a serious role in Hitler coming into power, and a massive effect on Germany as a whole. It was a relatively democratic too, as it was validly voted for and passed in a legal manner just as what Hitler wanted. As a result of it, Hitler could do whatever he wanted. It could easily be said that the Enabling Act is the main reason for Hitler coming into power, and staying in power for 12 entire years.
To conclude, Hitler came into power for a number of different reasons, and most were carried out in a serious democratic manner which is what he wanted. The Great Depression, a ‘lucky’ event for Hitler, had a massive impact on German society, leading them to fall into the trap of his propaganda in the 1928/1933 where he promised many ‘Work and Bread’. As well as this, the SA took in many of the unemployed that were in desperate need of work. It provided them with an activity to take part in, a uniform, and a community that many longed to feel secure in. The Nazis (and Hitler) provided hope for the German people. His power was further consolidated when he brought in the Enabling Act. It was this that allowed Hitler to do whatever he wished to Germany, as well as getting rid of any opposition completely. This was what made Hitler eventual dictator of Germany.