Free State of Prussia (1933-1935)

Infobox Former Subdivision
native_name = "Freistaat Preußen"
conventional_long_name = Free State of Prussia
common_name = Prussia
continent = Europe
subdivision = State
nation = Nazi Germany
era = Interwar period|
year_start = 1933
date_start =
event_start= Nazi takeover
year_end = 1935
date_end =
event_end = Dissolution of Prussia
p1 = Free State of Prussia (1918-1933)
flag_p1 = Flag of Preussen 1919-1935.jpg
s1 = Gau Kurmark
flag_s1 = Flag of Germany 1933.svg
s2 = Gau Eastern Hanover
flag_s2 = Flag of Germany 1933.svg
s3 = Gau East Prussia
flag_s3 = Flag of Germany 1933.svg
s4 = Gau Magdeburg-Anhalt
flag_s4 = Flag of Germany 1933.svg
s5 = Gau Lower Silesia
flag_s5 = Flag of Germany 1933.svg
s6 = Gau Pommerania
flag_s6 = Flag of Germany 1933.svg
s7 = Gau Southern Hanover-Brunswick
flag_s7 = Flag of Germany 1933.svg
s8 = Gau Upper Silesia
flag_s8 = Flag of Germany 1933.svg
s9 = Gau Wesser-Ems
flag_s9 = Flag of Germany 1933.svg

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symbol_type =
symbol_type_article =

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image_map_caption = The Free State of Prussia (blue), within Germany at the time of Nazi Germany.
national_motto= "Gott mit uns!"
(God with us!)
national_anthem=
capital = Berlin
latd=52|latm=31|latNS=N|longd=13|longm=24|longEW=E
stat_area1 = 292695.36
government_type = Constituent state
title_leader = Reichsstatthalter
leader1 = Adolf Hitler
year_leader1 = 1933-1935
title_deputy = Minister-President
deputy1 = Hermann Göring
year_deputy1 = 1933-1935 (remained a title until 1945)

The Free State of Prussia 1933-1935 briefly continued to exist in name after take-over by the Nazi regime of Adolf Hitler. Unlike the Free State of Prussia (1918-1933) in the Weimar Republic, the Nazi Free State had no parliamentary democracy and was ruled exclusively under the leadership of the National Socialist German Workers Party (Nazi Party). Prussia was administered by high-ranking Nazi member Hermann Göring from 1933 to 1935, who retained the title until 1945, despite the free state being abolished in 1935. Prussia was dismantled into regional gaus in 1935, ending Prussia as a single territorial unit of Germany.

History

Establishment of Nazi rule in Prussia

On 30 January 1933, Hitler had been appointed chancellor of Germany. As part of the deal, Papen was formally appointed minister-president of Prussia in addition to his role as Vice Chancellor of the Reich. In a little-noticed appointment, Hitler's top lieutenant Hermann Göring became the state's interior minister.

Four weeks later (27 February 1933), the Reichstag was set on fire. At Hitler's urging, President Paul von Hindenburg issued the Reichstag Fire Decree, which suspended civil liberties in Germany. Six days after the fire, the Reichstag election of March 5 1933 strengthened the position of the Nazi Party, although they did not achieve an absolute majority. However, with their coalition partners, the German National People's Party, Hitler now commanded a bare majority in the Reichstag. Göring figured prominently in this election, as he was commander of the largest police force in the Reich. His police beat and harassed the other parties (especially the Communists and Social Democrats), and only allowed the Nazis and Nationalists to campaign relatively unmolested.

The new Reichstag was opened in the Garrison Church of Potsdam on March 21 1933 in the presence of President Paul von Hindenburg, who had long since descended into senility. In a propaganda-filled meeting between Hitler and the NSDAP, the "marriage of old Prussia with young Germany" was celebrated, to win over the Prussian monarchists, conservatives, and nationalists and induce them to vote for the Enabling Act. The act was passed on 23 March 1933, legally granting Hitler dictatorial powers.

In April 1933, Papen was visiting the Vatican. The Nazis took advantage of his absence and appointed Göring in his place. With this act, Hitler was able to take power decisively in Germany, since he now had the whole apparatus of the Prussian government, including the police, at his disposal. By 1934 almost all Prussian ministries had been merged with the corresponding Reich ministries.

Dismantlement of Prussia

In the centralized state created by the Nazis in the "Law on the Reconstruction of the Reich ("Gesetz über den Neuaufbau des Reiches", 30 January 1934) and the "Law on Reich Governors" ("Reichsstatthaltergesetz", 30 January 1935) the States were dissolved, in fact if not in law. The federal state governments were now controlled by governors for the Reich who were appointed by the Chancellor. Parallel to that, the organization of the party into districts ("Gau") gained increasing importance, as official in charge of a "Gau" (the infamous "Gauleiter") was again appointed by the Chancellor who was at the same time chief of the NSDAP. Hitler appointed himself formally as Governor of Prussia, although his functions were exercised by Göring.

The Prussian lands transferred to Poland after the Treaty of Versailles were reannexed during World War II. However, most of this territory was not reintegrated back into Prussia but assigned to separate "Gaue" of the "Nazi Germany".