Meanwhile, Hitler toured the country winning over masses to gain clear majority. Storm Troops wanted him and only him to become the Chancellor. They were ready to fight a bloody war for it.
Fonn Schlicher tried to buy the support of Hitler but failed. The political situation continued to deteriorate. Hitler asked Storm Troops to be ready to deal with any situation.
In the ensuing election Nazi Party at last won the majority with its allies. On 30 January, 1933, President Hindenberg constitutionally appointed Adolf Hitler the new Chancellor of Germany.
In his address to the nation Hitler claimed that the days of the humiliation of Germans were over. Nazis took out torch processions on the roads of Berlin. The president watched the procession from his window.
In Hitler’s cabinet Nationalists had to be accommodated as they were his partners. But Hitler wanted entire power to himself. So, he ordered for fresh elections. One week before the polling day Reichstag building burnt down to ashes. Many thought that it was the handiwork of Nazis themselves. But Nazis blamed communists for the fire and charged that they wanted to capture power through violent means.
Now Hitler moved fast. Meetings and speeches were banned. Civil rights were suspended. Nazi musclemen ‘Grey Shirts’ were given full freedom it intimidate the voters. Still Nazis got only 44% votes. Hitler declared emergency in the country.
Through puppet Reichstag he vested in himself all powers. Nazi rule had begun. Hitler declared his rule as the ‘Third Reich’.
The First Reich was Roman Rule during the King Solomon’s reign. The Second Reich was Bismarck introduced German Empire which lasted 1871 to 1918.
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