January 1933, the Nazi Party began to eliminate all political opposition and consolidate their power.
August 1934, and Hitler became dictator of Germany when the powers and offices of the Chancellery and Presidency were merged. A national referendum held 19 August 1934 confirmed Hitler as sole
Führer (leader) of Germany. All power was centralised in Hitler's hands, and his word was above all laws.
Extensive public works were undertaken, including the construction of
Autobahns (high speed highways).
Jews and others deemed undesirable were persecuted or murdered, and opposition to Hitler's rule was ruthlessly suppressed. Members of the liberal, socialist, and communist opposition were killed, imprisoned, or forced into exile. The Christian churches were also oppressed, with many leaders imprisoned.
Career and educational opportunities for women were curtailed.
The government controlled artistic expression, promoting specific art forms and discouraging or banning others.
Austria and
Czechoslovakia were seized in 1938 and 1939. Hitler
made a pact with
Joseph Stalin and
invaded Poland in September 1939, launching World War II in Europe.
All civilian organisations, including agricultural groups, volunteer organisations, and sports clubs, had their leadership replaced with Nazi sympathisers or party members.
Violent suppression of communists by the
Sturmabteilung (SA) was undertaken all over the country, and four thousand
Communist Party of Germany members were arrested.
The
Reichstag Fire Decree, imposed on 28 February 1933, rescinded most German civil liberties, including rights of assembly and freedom of the press.
In March 1933, the
Enabling Act, an amendment to the
Weimar Constitution, passed in the Reichstag by a vote of 444 to 94.[SUP]
[17][/SUP] This amendment allowed Hitler and his cabinet to pass lawseven laws that violated the constitutionwithout the consent of the president or the Reichstag.
On 10 May the government seized the assets of the Social Democrats; they were banned in June.[SUP]
[21][/SUP] The remaining political parties were dissolved, and on 14 July 1933, Germany became a de facto
single-party state when the founding of new parties was made illegal
The first
Nazi concentration camp, initially for political prisoners, was opened at
Dachau in 1933.
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i'm sure bretz will be more than happy to point out where the equivalents of these things have happened recently in the united states!