What Benefits Did the Enabling Acts Give to the Nazi Party?

What benefits did the Enabling acts give to the Nazi party?

Hitler requested the enabling act to allow him more time to deal with the nations problems. In order for him to pass the act he need two thirds of the majority. He bullied and threatened any potential opposition into silence, only the socialist democrats were brave enough to vote against the enabling act but it was still easily passed by 441voted to 84. The Reichstag in effect had voted away its power meaning there would be no more constitutions or elections to keep Hitler in check. Within a few weeks it had become illegal to criticise the nazi government. A new secret police was established, which arrested all ‘unreliable’ people. Dachau, the first concentration camp was opened; trade unions were banned, all other political parties were declared illegal, leaving only the Nazi party. Germany had become a one-party state with Hitler as the dictator.

Why were the Nazis the most successful in Reichstag elections 1932?

The great depression weakened the country, many were living in poverty or were unemployed which made people angry with the Weimar Republic, due to their unpopular economic policies, their presidential rule and the rise of extremism. People lost confidence in the democratic system so turned towards the extremist political parties such as communists and Nazis. However, the Nazis success was not only because of the weakness of their opponents. Hitler was also given power in a political deal by Hindenburg and Papen who thought they could control him. The Nazis were very good at persuading the German population that they could solve all of the Nations problems, Hitler was a great speaker, with the power to make people support him. The Nazis were very well organised and had a very built and organised propaganda team which gained them tremendous support from the industrialists. The industrialists gave Hitler money and support. The Nazi’s were always willing to change their plans and ideas if they were not working. This made them very flexible. Lastly, the German people were still angry about the Treaty of Versailles and supported Hitler as he promised to overturn it.

‘the depression was the main reason Hitler became Chancellor of Germany’.

In 1929, the American stock exchange collapsed. They asked Germany to pay back the money they had lent to them, resulting in an Economic depression, which led to high unemployment, a sharp drop in prices and a fall in production. Unemployment rose to 6 million. In July 1930, the government cut expenditure, wages and unemployment pay. This resulted in anger and bitterness towards Hindenburg