How dictatorship in 18 months?

"The Reichstag Fire was the most important event in Hitler's establishment of dictatorship by August 1934." How far do you agree? (16 marks)

Mark scheme — Levels 1–4 over 16 marks. Agree:

• Without the fire, there was no excuse for the emergency decree.
• Mass communist arrests cleared the Reichstag of opponents.
• Made passing the Enabling Act possible. Disagree — other events more decisive:
• The Enabling Act itself gave Hitler legal dictatorship — without it, even with KPD removed he could not legislate alone.
• The Night of the Long Knives removed the last internal threat (the SA) and bought army loyalty.
• Hindenburg's death merged Chancellor and President into Führer — without it, Hitler still had a President above him. Best answers conclude with sustained judgement: the fire was a trigger but a series of events together created the dictatorship.