The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich Ambition Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Book.Chapter.Paragraph)

Quote #7

He had been in office scarcely twenty-four hours when he made his first decisive move, springing a trap on his gullible conservative "captors" and setting in motion a chain of events which he either originated or controlled and which at the end of six months would bring the complete Nazification of Germany and his own elevation to dictator of the Reich, unified and defederalized for the first time in German history. (2.7.2)

Come on, people. How did you not see that coming?

Quote #8

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. (1.7.72-73)

Well, that's one way to make sure that your political party wins. Here, Shirer's quoting directly from a law that the Nazi Party passed in July 1933. Hitler may have been ambitious, but he wasn't the sort of man who valued honest competition—not to mention the will of the people.

Quote #9

The title of President was abolished; Hitler would be known as Fuehrer and Reich Chancellor. His dictatorship had become complete. To leave no loopholes Hitler extracted from all officers and men of the armed forces an oath of allegiance—not to Germany, not to the constitution, which he had violated by not calling for the election of Hindenburg's successor, but to himself. (2.7.179)

This is exactly what he'd wanted and intended all along.