i candidates held seats, and Hitler was made Chancellor of Germany. It was the second highest position in the German government. With only a week left till the new election, Hitler needed an incident that might put him ahead in the polls. Two nights later, the old courthouse, the Reichstag, began burning. The Nazis immediately began blaming it on the Communists. This was just what the Nazis needed to put them ahead in the race. Hitler still was not elected as the President. Using force, Hitler got Hinderburg to pass a law that abolished freedom of speech, of the press, and of assembly. Hitler then brought before the court the Enabling Act. This law gave Hitler the power of a dictator for the next four years. With violent persuasion, he got the bill passed. Germany had become a dictatorship. After the bills were passed, the German military feared that when Hitler took full leadership of the country, they would lose control, and the SA would take over. Hitler assured the military that this was not true. To gain their trust, he gave them a list of 500 to 1000 storm troopers, which they could dispose of. In a period of two days, all the men were brought before a firing range in a school basement and shot. In August of 1934, President Hindenburg died. Hitler's last obstacle had been eliminated. Using his unlimited powers, he combined the offices of president and chancellor. To everyone in Germany he was now Der Fuhrer, the leader.Avoiding capture by the approaching forces, Hitler shot himself on April 30, 1945. The world was never the same again. Hitler's Reich was over, and millions of Jews were dead. The world asked one question: How could this have happened? Truthful answers cannot put the responsibility on Hitler alone. He led the Reich, but millions of people followed him eagerly-and many others chose to stand and watch him alone in frightened silence. Adolf Hitlers rise to power was a very bumpy. He had to go through many things to...
