The death of President Hindenburg gives Hitler complete power
Anticipating the imminent death of German president Paul von Hindenburg, the Third Reich passed the Law Concerning the Head of State of the German Reich on 1 August 1934. The legislation established the legal basis for merging the offices of Chancellor and President. Designed to come into force following Hindenburg’s death, the act was duly implemented immediately after the 86-year-old president passed away the next morning. The law ordered that German soldiers take a new oath of allegiance. Rather than swearing to uphold the German constitution, they were required to pledge unconditional allegiance to Adolf Hitler personally: “I swear this sacred oath by God and pledge unconditional obedience to Adolf Hitler, the leader of the German Reich and people, […] as a brave soldier, [I will] be prepared to sacrifice my life at any time for this oath.”
As Führer and Reich Chancellor, Hitler was now leader of the only party still permitted in Germany, head of government, head of state and commander-in-chief of the armed forces. The merger of the previously separate offices of President and Chancellor marked the completion of Germany’s transformation from a republic to a “Führer state”. In a referendum held on 19 August, 90% of Germans provided their approval to the expansion of Hitler’s powers. They did so in the hope of economic success, national unity after years of party-political division, and the restoration of strength in foreign policy. The elimination of the last remnants of the Weimar Republic meant that Hitler had acquired total power.
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