This chapter details Hitler's ascent to power and the immediate aftermath, focusing on the dismantling of democracy and the implementation of terror tactics. The Nazi party, despite not holding a majority in the cabinet initially, strategically secured key positions controlling domestic security and the police, allowing them to manipulate laws and ensure a more convincing victory in the upcoming March elections.
Following his appointment as Chancellor on January 30, 1933, Hitler quickly consolidated power. He dissolved the Reichstag and set new elections for March 5th, using the intervening period to intimidate political opponents. The Supervisory Committee, the only remaining instrument of parliamentary control, was subjected to hateful rhetoric and physical violence by Nazi deputies, effectively silencing dissent.
The NSDAP made it clear that it would disregard constitutional rights, with Goebbels declaring that adhering to the constitution was merely a temporary tactic. The 1920 party program, advocating for the stripping of Jewish citizenship and suppression of dissent, was swiftly put into action. An emergency decree banned communist gatherings and newspapers, and the SA, SS, and Stahlhelm were appointed as auxiliary police, terrorizing social democrats and communists with impunity.
The chapter highlights a critical turning point: the Reichstag fire on February 27, 1933. This event was exploited by the Nazis to claim a communist uprising, justifying increased state terror and mass arrests. Göring openly declared the constitutional state in ruins and proclaimed his mission to "destroy and exterminate" without regard for justice. As a result, many, including prominent figures like Heinrich Mann, began to flee the country, realizing they were now considered fair game.
Despite the growing terror, the March elections were held amidst violence and intimidation. Although the NSDAP gained significantly, falling short of the absolute majority they were hoping for, the Social Democrat vote remained surprisingly stable, while the KPD vote declined, with a portion of voters transferring to the Nazi party. Still, with the support of the far-right Black-White-Red Battle Front, Hitler managed to secure a clear government majority.
The chapter delves into the intoxicating sense of unity and charismatic leadership that drew many Germans to Hitler, even in the face of oppression. Through skilled manipulation of collective psychology and emotional rhetoric, he presented himself as a savior liberating the nation from discord and economic hardship.
The chapter also describes the passing of the Enabling Act, granting the government the power to make laws independently of parliament and the constitution. Despite significant intimidation, the Social Democrats voted against it, but the Catholic Centre Party, seeking accommodation with the new regime, ultimately voted in favor, leading to the Act's passage and the abolition of democracy in an ostensibly democratic manner.
The final sections explore how even as the once-diverse society was transformed, the initial years of Nazi rule saw a complex blend of terror and superficial normalcy. While Jewish individuals and political dissidents were persecuted, some aspects of Weimar-era culture, like nightlife and design, continued to exist. The chapter argues that the Nazis presented their regime as a modern welfare state, blending anti-modern sentiment with a furious embrace of technology and national unity. This temporary reconciliation was accomplished on the back of fanatical racial hatred, targeting Jews as scapegoats and fueling a campaign of violence and extermination.
The chapter ends with an epilogue chronicling the fates of several key figures from the Weimar era after Hitler's rise to power. Some were murdered, fled into exile, or joined the Nazi regime, illustrating the varied consequences of the transition to totalitarian rule.