Charlotte Niehaus
National Socialist years
### National Socialist years

Following the [change of government](/wiki/Machtergreifung "Machtergreifung") in January 1933 the authorities lost no time in [transforming Germany](/wiki/Gleichschaltung "Gleichschaltung") into a [one\-](/wiki/One-party_state "One-party state") [party](/wiki/Nazi_Party "Nazi Party") [dictatorship](/wiki/Enabling_Act_of_1933 "Enabling Act of 1933"). The [Bremen state parliament (*"Bürgerschaft"*)](/wiki/B%C3%BCrgerschaft_of_Bremen "Bürgerschaft of Bremen") [ceased to function effectively](/wiki/Bremen_zur_Zeit_des_Nationalsozialismus%23Verwaltung_der_NSDAP_ab_1933 "Bremen zur Zeit des Nationalsozialismus#Verwaltung der NSDAP ab 1933") in March 1933, though the city only formally lost its autonomous status in January 1934, with the coming into force of the [Law for the recreation of the state](/wiki/Gesetz_%C3%BCber_den_Neuaufbau_des_Reichs "Gesetz über den Neuaufbau des Reichs"). Charlotte Niehaus lived a very withdrawn existence and was not politically active during the twelve [National Socialist years](/wiki/Nazi_Germany "Nazi Germany"): she was spared arrest or serious persecution. She nevertheless had to undergo several thorough house searches, and was under constant surveillance on account of her political past. She was required to report regularly to the [Gestapo](/wiki/Gestapo "Gestapo") office in the city. Hermann, her son, was detained for several months on account of "defeatist utterances" (*"...wegen defaitistischer Äußerungen"*).


How did Germany change after January 1933?