The ceremonial reopening of Parliament, orchestrated by Joseph Goebbels, aimed to link the Hitler
government to Germany’s imperial past and portray the Nazis as saviors of the nation’s future.
The event was carefully staged to reassure the German establishment, including
the military, that Hitler would respect their traditions. Nazi–controlled newsreels then
gave the impression that the Army supported the new government. Though Hitler walked behind
longtime President Hindenburg for now, the new chancellor would soon be Germany’s absolute dictator.
Today was dedicated to the New Germany. And more than one hundred thousand schoolchildren
stood, shoulder to shoulder, as the car bearing the aged President and the Chancellor proceeded
through the crowd to the speaker’s stand. Whether you agree with his doctrines or not,
it must be admitted that the leadership of Hitler has united the German people for the
first time since the war. Their almost fanatical enthusiasm is a marvel to the entire world…
Hindenburg remained President until his death in August 1934. With Hindenburg gone, Hitler,
by agreement with the army, abolished the office of President, declaring himself Führer
and Reich Chancellor, leader of the nation and head of the government. Now there was
no authority above or beside him. Immediately, the armed forces swore an oath of allegiance
to Adolf Hitler.
All civil servants, including teachers and police, members of parliament and the judiciary,
swore an oath of loyalty—not to any constitution—but to Hitler as Führer of the German nation.
The economy had reached rock bottom when the Nazis came to power. They boosted its recovery
with huge public works projects for the unemployed.
Hitler christened new autobahns triumphantly in a display of national will that would unite
the country and facilitate the secret expansion of Germany’s armed forces. In 1935, Germany
openly defied the 1919 Treaty of Versailles by reinstituting the draft and increasing
its military strength. The Nazis were delivering on their promises to restore and strengthen
the nation. Their achievements encouraged many people to overlook radical Nazi policies, or even to support them.
In September 1935, the Nazi Party gathered in Nuremberg for its
annual rally. It opened with a traditional hymn that added solemnity and a sense of continuity
with the past. It ended with a special session of Parliament far from Berlin. New race laws
were introduced by Hitler and read by Parliament President Hermann Göring.
The Nazi regime aimed to create a racially pure Germany whose so-called “superior traits”
would make it ideally suited to rule the entire European continent. Nazism taught that racial
struggle was the driving force in history—“superior” races must battle “inferior” races or
be corrupted by them. The Nazi concept of a national community was exclusive and based
on race, as defined in the new laws and decrees. Heinrich Himmler and the SS led the ideological
battle. Racist ideas were taught in schools. Some groups, such as Jews, Slavs, Blacks and
Roma (also called Gypsies) were labeled racially inferior. People with mental or physical disabilities
were designated “unworthy of life.” Scientists and medical professionals applied pseudo-scientific
theories for measuring and valuing racial characteristics.