How did the SA and SS intimidate Nazi opponents during the March 1933 election campaign?

During the March 1933 election campaign, the Nazi Party utilized its control over the state apparatus to systematically intimidate political opponents and suppress opposition. Having been appointed chancellor, Adolf Hitler and his allies exploited their new authority to launch a campaign that effectively dismantled the democratic process.12

The intimidation tactics included the following:

• State-Sanctioned Violence: Hermann Göring, as minister of the interior for Prussia, purged the police force and replaced its ranks with 50,000 auxiliary police, the majority of whom were members of the SA and SS.1
• Freedom of the Streets: The SA was granted the freedom of the streets, and police were explicitly forbidden from interfering with their acts of violence.1
• Suppression of Opposition: While other political parties were still technically permitted to function, the Nazis actively broke up their meetings, assaulted their speakers, and continually suppressed their newspapers.1
• Control of Media: The Nazis made full use of their power over state resources, including the radio, to dominate the political narrative and ensure their campaign message overshadowed all others.1

These unscrupulous tactics were designed to ensure a Nazi victory and consolidate power, ultimately leading to the passage of the Enabling Act later that month.12