Enabling Act facts for kids

The Enabling Act' (called Ermächtigungsgesetz in German) was a very important law passed by Germany's parliament, the Reichstag, on March 23, 1933. It was a big step that helped the Nazis gain total control over Germany. This law allowed Chancellor Adolf Hitler and his government to create new laws without needing the Reichstags approval.

The official name of the Enabling Act was Gesetz zur Behebung der Not von Volk und Reich, which means "Law to Remedy the Distress of the People and the Empire."

What the Enabling Act Did

The Enabling Act was quite short, but it had huge consequences for Germany. It basically changed the rules of how laws were made.

• Article 1: This part said that the German government, led by Hitler, could make laws without the parliament (Reichstag) voting on them. This was a huge change because normally, laws had to be approved by the Reichstag.
• Article 2: This article was even more powerful. It allowed the government's new laws to be different from the country's constitution. This meant they could change fundamental rules without following the usual process. However, it said they couldn't change the Reichstag or the Reichsrat (another part of the government) themselves. It also said the President's rights were still protected, but this didn't last long in practice.
• Article 3: This explained how the new laws would become official. The Chancellor (Hitler) would sign them, and they would be announced. They would become law very quickly.
• Article 4: This part gave the government power over international agreements. It meant they didn't need parliament's approval for treaties with other countries, even if those treaties involved German laws.
• Article 5: This article stated when the law would start and when it would end. It was supposed to end on 1 April 1937, or if a new government took over. However, the Nazis stayed in power much longer, and the Act was never truly ended by a new government.

How the Enabling Act Was Passed

The Nazis wanted the Enabling Act so they could have complete political power without needing the support of most members in the Reichstag. They also didn't want to have to make deals with other political parties.

Nazi Propaganda

Just a few weeks after Hitler became chancellor of Germany on January 30, 1933, the Nazis started a strong propaganda campaign. Their propaganda minister, Joseph Goebbels, wrote about how easy it would be to control the country now that they had access to state resources like radio and newspapers. He planned a "masterpiece of propaganda."

In the days before the election, the Nazis used violence in the streets to scare their opponents. They also tried to make people afraid of communism. A key event was the Reichstag fire, which happened just six days before the election. The Nazis blamed communists for the fire, which helped them gain more support and justify their actions against opponents.

Intimidation and Voting

When the Reichstag met to vote on the Enabling Act, the atmosphere was very tense. Members of the SA (the Nazi Party's private army) were inside and outside the parliament building, making it clear that opposition would not be tolerated.

Hitler gave a speech that tried to calm some of the other parties, especially the Centre Party, by talking about the importance of Christianity. In the end, almost all parties voted for the Enabling Act. The Communist members had already been removed, and many Social Democratic members were arrested or in hiding. The final vote was 441 in favor and only 94 against (all of whom were Social Democrats).

What Happened Next

After the Enabling Act was passed, the Communist Party members of parliament were jailed, and their positions were officially taken away. The remaining members of parliament were scared by the SA surrounding the building. Because of this intimidation, only the Social Democrats dared to vote against the bill.

Presidential Role

President von Hindenburg, who was quite old, seemed happy with Hitler's strong actions. His representative said that the President would no longer be involved in the daily decisions of the government. This meant that the President's approval would not be needed for the new laws made under the Enabling Act. This further cleared the way for Hitler to rule without checks and balances.

See also

In Spanish: Ley habilitante para niños