Germany: From a Democracy to a Dictatorship

Democracy gives citizens the equal opportunities to help make laws, vote for leaders, and to keep the government from having total control. It’s important because it focuses on the rights of the people rather than rights the rights that the government has to control the citizens. By shaping the public’s opinion, eliminating competition, and intimidating the public with secret police Adolf Hitler was able to transform Germany from a democracy to dictatorship.

By outlawing the opposition Hitler was able to take control of Germany’s government. This can first be seen on the night of February 27, 1933 when the Reichstag was burned down. Within twenty minutes Hitler was on the scene already pointing fingers at the Communists stating, “this is a God-given signal! If this fire, as I believe, turns out to be the handiwork of Communists, then there is nothing that shall stop us now from crushing out this murderous pest with an iron fist.” Next, Hindenburg, by the request of Hitler, issued two decrees that made the arrest of anyone that had any ties to the Communist Party possible. Both of the decrees that enabled this temporarily stopped every part of the constitution that protected personal freedom. The Nazis viewed the decrees as necessary to protect the nation from the Communists, if they appeared in public they would be arrested. Adding to those, a new law was passed that made it a crime to speak out against the government. The Malicious Practices Act made sure that even if you were accused of “gossiping” about government officials you would be arrested and sent to prison. Along with the Malicious Practices Act came the Enabling Act, it allowed the chancellor to punish anyone he considered to be an “enemy of the state”. The act allowed laws that went against the constitution to override it. After this the Nazi Party was the only political party allowed in Germany. Banning political parties made Germany a one-party state and destroyed democracy in the country. It is evident that by passing decrees and laws Hitler was able to outlaw anyone who opposed him.

Hitler was able to intimidate and silence anyone who opposed him using stormtroopers, elite guards, and secret police. To begin with Hitler had previously used the SA or “storm troopers” since the Nazi Party was first formed. The SA were used to frighten opponents of the Nazis by marching and fighting in the streets. The SA operated outside the law and not many people tried to stop them. Also, the SS, Hitler’s personal bodyguards, were

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