Why did the Nazi government suppress trade unions in 1933?

In May 1933, the Nazi government suppressed trade unions as part of the Gleichschaltung (coordination) process, which aimed to consolidate total control over German society and eliminate potential centers of independent power. By dismantling these organizations and merging them into the state-controlled German Labour Front, the regime effectively removed organized labor as a source of political opposition.1

This suppression was a critical step in Hitler’s broader strategy to establish a dictatorship following the passage of the Enabling Act. By outlawing independent unions and later banning all other political parties, the Nazi Party ensured that no institution could challenge its authority. Furthermore, this move aligned with the regime's efforts to secure the support of industrial and financial elites, as the Nazis sought to avoid radical anti-capitalist policies that might have disrupted the economy or alienated their conservative allies.123