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How Did The Reichstag Fire Contribute To The Rise Of Nazi Dictatorship

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Hitler’s Nazi Party took several steps in consolidating their hold on power in Germany from 1933-34. The effects of the Great Depression had a significant impact in creating an environment to facilitate the rise of Nazism, leading to the Nazi’s ability to take advantage of fortuitous events. Furthermore, The Reichstag Fire was a significant component which contributed to the start of a Nazi dictatorship. Following the fire, four thousand Communist officials were put under arrest along with other leading anti-Nazis. On February 28, 1933, the day after the fire, Hitler’s dictatorship began with the enactment of a decree of “The Reich President for the Protection of the People and the State”. Under the decree, the Reichstag restricted all constitutional protection of political, personal and property rights. With the decree in place, the regime was able to abolish their political opposition, suppress publications and gave central government the authority to overrule state and local laws. Kershaw affirms this as he conveys, “The Emergency decree that took away all personal liberties and established the platform for dictatorship was warmly welcomed”. They were further able to gain the majority of votes when voting took place on March 5th 1933. The Reichstag Fire was a favourable circumstance that allowed Hitler to exploit communists and their weaknesses. This was a mixture of terror and propaganda in order to present the opposition as weak and destructive and the NSDAP as
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