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Why did German soldiers and officials swear personal loyalty to Adolf Hitler?

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Portrait of Adolf Hitler in a collared shirt and tie, facing forward with a serious expression, circa 1933. — Adolf Hitler Nazi Party leader Adolf Hitler, c. 1933.

German soldiers and officials swore personal loyalty to Adolf Hitler primarily as a result of the consolidation of power that followed the death of President Paul von Hindenburg on August 2, 1934.123

Upon Hindenburg's death, Hitler merged the offices of president and chancellor, assuming the role of supreme commander of the armed forces. Following this transition, the Minister of War, Werner von Blomberg, changed the oath of service for German troops. Instead of pledging to defend the German constitution or the fatherland, soldiers were required to swear unconditional obedience to Hitler personally.123

This shift was facilitated by several factors:
* Political Maneuvering: Hitler had previously secured the support of army leaders by executing Ernst Röhm and other leaders of the SA during the Night of the Long Knives, which satisfied military leaders who distrusted the SA's radicalism.12
* Ideological Control: The regime utilized the Führerprinzip ("leader principle"), which demanded blind and unswerving obedience to leaders appointed from above.45
* Systemic Terror: A pervasive system of propaganda and police terror, managed by figures like Heinrich Himmler, ensured that opposition was suppressed and absolute authority was maintained.416