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{{Anchor|Enabling Act}}

{{Anchor|Enabling Act}}

[[File:Nazi German leaders.jpg|thumb|200px|From left to right: [[Adolf Hitler]], [[Hermann Goering]] [[Joseph Goebbels]], and [[Rudolf Hess]]. Photo taken around 1933–34.]]

[[File:Nazi German leaders.jpg|thumb|200px|From left to right: [[Adolf Hitler]], [[Hermann Goering]] [[Joseph Goebbels]], and [[Rudolf Hess]]. Photo taken around 1933–34.]]

The election of March 5 was the last held in Germany until after World War II. Although opposition parties were severely harassed, the NSDAP won only 43.9 percent of the vote. Nonetheless, with the help of political allies, Hitler presented the Reichstag with the proposal for an Enabling Act that, if passed by a two-thirds majority, would allow him to govern without parliament for four years. On March 23, the proposal was passed with the support of the Center Party and others. All Communists and some Social Democrats were prevented from voting.

The election of March 5, 1933 was the last held in Germany until after World War II. Although opposition parties were severely harassed, the NSDAP won only 43.9 percent of the vote. Nonetheless, with the help of political allies, Hitler presented the Reichstag with the proposal for an Enabling Act that, if passed by a two-thirds majority, would allow him to govern without parliament for four years. On March 23, the proposal was passed with the support of the Center Party and others. All Communists and some Social Democrats were prevented from voting.

Hitler used the Enabling Act to implement ''[[Gleichschaltung]]'' (synchronization), that is, the policy of subordinating all institutions and organizations to Nazi control. First, all other left-wing political parties were banned; then, in July 1933, Germany was declared a one-party state. The civil service and judiciary were purged of "non-Aryans" (Jews) and leftists who did not hold Nazi Party membership. Local and state governments were reorganized and staffed with Nazis. Trade unions were dissolved and replaced with Nazi organizations. Even the NSDAP was purged of its social-revolutionary wing, the SA. The enormous and unruly SA was brought under control by a [[massacre]] of its leadership which took place between June 30 and July 2, 1934 in what became known as the "[[Night of the Long Knives]]". Other opponents were also killed during this purge, among them Schleicher. After Hindenburg's death in early August 1934, Hitler combined the offices of the president and the chancellor. With the SA tamed, Hitler assured the army that he regarded it as Germany's military force, and the soldiers swore an oath of personal allegiance to Hitler, pledging unconditional obedience. [[Heinrich Himmler]]'s guard detachment, the (''Schutzstaffel'') or [[SS]] replaced the SA as Hitler's private army.

Hitler used the Enabling Act to implement ''[[Gleichschaltung]]'' (synchronization), that is, the policy of subordinating all institutions and organizations to Nazi control. First, all other left-wing political parties were banned; then, in July 1933, Germany was declared a one-party state. The civil service and judiciary were purged of "non-Aryans" (Jews) and leftists who did not hold Nazi Party membership. Local and state governments were reorganized and staffed with Nazis. Trade unions were dissolved and replaced with Nazi organizations. Even the NSDAP was purged of its social-revolutionary wing, the SA. The enormous and unruly SA was brought under control by a [[massacre]] of its leadership which took place between June 30 and July 2, 1934 in what became known as the "[[Night of the Long Knives]]". Other opponents were also killed during this purge, among them Schleicher. After Hindenburg's death in early August 1934, Hitler combined the offices of the president and the chancellor. With the SA tamed, Hitler assured the army that he regarded it as Germany's military force, and the soldiers swore an oath of personal allegiance to Hitler, pledging unconditional obedience. [[Heinrich Himmler]]'s guard detachment, the (''Schutzstaffel'') or [[SS]] replaced the SA as Hitler's private army.