In a pivotal move to consolidate power, Adolf Hitler enacted the Gleichschaltung decree, which streamlined the German political landscape by eliminating all political parties other than the National Socialist German Workers' Party (Nazis). This action took place amidst a climate of political turbulence in Germany, marked by the rise of extremist parties and the collapse of traditional political structures following World War I. The decree was part of the Nazis' broader agenda to centralize authority and suppress any competing ideologies that could challenge their control. By abolishing the political pluralism that had characterized the Weimar Republic, Hitler set the stage for a totalitarian regime.

The Gleichschaltung process aimed at the nation’s complete Nazification, extending beyond political parties to include state governments and civil society organizations. Hitler justified this power grab as necessary for national unity and effective governance, often framing opposition as traitorous or harmful to the German people. Organizations that were once platforms for democratic debate were dismantled or absorbed into Nazi structures, ensuring that all political allegiance was directed solely to the regime.

This decisive cancellation of political plurality effectively silenced dissent and marked a crucial step in the establishment of a one-party state. The repercussions of this decree resonated throughout German society, as civil rights were curtailed and dissent was met with extreme measures, including imprisonment or violence.