On top of legislation, the Nazi Party also corrupted Germany's justice system, in order to further it's dominance over the German people.
Nazi Political Opposition.
Among the first groups to be targeted by the Nazi's, were oppositional political parties, such as the Communist. Upon taking office in early 1933, Hitler and his government prohibited all Communists assemblies and Communist media. As well, outlawed meetings and rallies being held by the Social Democrats or had them smashed by the S.A., the Socialist press was also banned. Another group suffering the Nazi's wrath was the Catholic Center Party. While attempting to speak at a Catholic Trade Unionist meeting, it's leader Stegerwald was attacked by the S.A., Another member, Bruening, was forced to obtain police protection at a separate rally, in fear that the S.A. would attack him, like they had his followers. .
On July 14, 1933, a law declared that the "National Socialist German Workers' Party constitutes the only political party in Germany. Whoever undertakes to maintain the organizational structure of another political party or to form a new political party will be punished with penal servitude up to three years or with imprisonment of from six months to three years, if the deed is not subject to a greater penalty according to other regulations."" Finally the Nazi party was the only legal political party in Germany. All other political parties within the Reich were now illegal, and violation of this law could lead to imprisonment. .
What seems to be the most shocking aspect of this law, which as a result made Germany a totalitarian state, was that the Nazi party was able to achieve this status with little opposition from other political parties. In conclusion, the Nazi party was able to relinquish any sort of democratic reasonability the Reichstag had within four months of its election.
Although throughout German history, the states with in the German State had obstinately upheld their individual powers, these governments were among the first to have their powers stripped.
