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1934
Dictatorship Takes Hold
Germany & The National Story
During the Night of the Long Knives, Hitler orders the murder of political rivals and former allies, demonstrating that violence—not law—will determine who holds power in Germany.
After President Paul von Hindenburg dies, Hitler combines the offices of president and chancellor, declares himself Führer, and becomes Germany’s absolute ruler.
German voters overwhelmingly endorse Hitler’s seizure of power in a national referendum, while hundreds of thousands gather at the Nazi Party Rally in Nuremberg, revealing how dictatorship is reinforced not only through fear, but also through public support and mass spectacle.
The Neuburger Family
Julius and Rose marry, determined to build a future together even as Germany's changing political climate casts an increasingly long shadow over Jewish life.
Their modest wedding brings family and friends together in celebration, yet everyone leaves wondering whether such gatherings will still be possible in the years ahead.
The family increasingly realizes that waiting for Germany to return to normal may no longer be realistic—the changes surrounding them are becoming the new normal.
A Moment in Time
By 1934, Germany had become a dictatorship. Political violence had replaced the rule of law, power had been concentrated in one man, and millions of citizens had accepted—or even celebrated—the transformation. As Julius and Rose began building a life together, they could not escape the reality that dictatorship does not remain confined to government. It reaches into homes, schools, workplaces, and the most personal parts of everyday life.
The 1934 Nuremberg Rally showcased Hitler's complete control of Germany, turning political power into a spectacle of mass loyalty and unquestioned obedience.
Berta Spiro and Hans Israel on their wedding day in 1934. An antisemitic attack had disrupted their original plans. Like Julius and Rose Neuburger, Jewish couples across Germany continued to marry and celebrate life’s milestones despite growing antisemitism.
Photo: United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, courtesy of Eva Silverman.
HISTORY RECORDED HOW IT ENDED. THIS IS HOW IT BEGAN.
