Full authoritarian control could not be achieved

Question 1

PLAN

Answer 1

• Both used policies to enact control
• PRC: mass campaigns –> eliminate pol resistance
• Nazi –> targeted perseuctions and extrajudicial executions
• Both gov –> eliminte large-scale org resistance, oppositions in both authoritarian states remained, albeit through different forms
• PRC –> Internal division
• German –> resistance groups
• Pol
• Economic
• Control of opposition

Question 2

Political

Answer 2

Large pol control established in Both –> reforms and policies targeting opps

China –> 6 regions –> Decisions taken at national level could be imposed throughout the country

• “Regional Congress” –> made it seem as if Beijing were listening to the peasants
• 4 Senior communist officials in place over each region –> Power extremly centralised –> Manchuria, Gao Gag held all 4posts
• The party even had a central commitee (49 members) ‘49 –> Ultimately controlled by the standing committe –> Liu Shaoqui close revolutionary colleague of Mao
• Eliete –> ‘thought reform’ –> abolishing idv thought
• Nazi Germany –> similar mthd (fear) –> though greater emphasis on legal methods –> Reichstag Fire Decree (Feb ‘33) –> sucesfully suspended civil liberties –> freedom of expression, freedom of the press, right to free assembly
• This + Enabling Act passed six weeks later –> instiled Hitler with plenary powers of enacting laws –> Banned all other parties –> confirmed domination of authoritarian regime

Question 3

Economics?

Answer 3

Firm economic control

• CCP –> ‘Agrarian Reform Law’ (1950) –> succesfully redistributed 40% of arable land to 300 million peasants
• In Germany, Nazi economic control was asserted through the outlawing of labour unions, as well as strict guidelines on rearmament.
• The drive to rearmament placed significant power to the Nazis (particularly Goring during the Four Year Plan of 1936-40) with regard to fund allocation
• 50% gov spending on the military
  (17.2 billion in ‘37)
• Government had a virtual monopoly over all heavy industries and redirected spending to the war effort as they so chose
• Kershaw argues that Nazi economic policy was the most defining aspect of its auth control, overshadowing its use of force and control of opposition.
• Although econ control established through different means, targeting different sectors (agriculture vs industry), both the CCP and Nazis were in firm control over economci planning

Question 4

Mobilisation

Answer 4

Wolfson “the Nazi State permeated every corner of life” and “there could be no escape [from it]”; this was imposed by the Reich Ministry for Popular

Enlightenment and Propaganda founded in 1933 that encompassed the Reich Broadcasting Corporation who controlled radio + broadcast to ‘People’s Receivers’ (1939: 70% public ownership of radios).

• Similarly, the youth were mobilised with (in) 1935 youth groups absorbed into Hitler Youth or League of German Maidens (1939: 82% teenagers in one).
• Hitler further mobilized/controlled the masses through his domestic cultural, social and economic policies Reich Chamber of Culture had sub-chambers to control Film /Music /Theater/Press/Literary/Radio/ Fine-Arts Strength Through Joy program provided leisure activities (eg. concerts/plays/holidays/cruises/sports/gyms) German Labour Front (DAF) replaced all trade unions and represented both workers and employers

Question 5

Mobilisation Hitler

Answer 5

Wolfson “the Nazi State permeated every corner of life” r

Enlightenment and Propaganda founded in 1933 that encompassed the Reich Broadcasting Corporation who controlled radio + broadcast to ‘People’s Receivers’ (1939: 70% public ownership of radios).

• Similarly, the youth were mobilised with (in) 1935 youth groups absorbed into Hitler Youth or League of German Maidens (1939: 82% teenagers in one).
• Hitler further mobilized/controlled the masses through his domestic cultural, social and economic policies Reich Chamber of Culture had sub-chambers to control Film /Music /Theater/Press/Literary/Radio/ Fine-Arts Strength Through J

Question 6

Mobilisation Mao

Answer 6

Central Propaganda Department’ controlled the dissemination of propaganda to promote support of Mao ‘The Little Red Book’ (1964-68: 750 million copies sold) AND the ‘Learn from Lei Feng’ Campaign (1963) ‘People’s Daily’ (newspaper) controlled the press ‘China Central Television’ (broadcaster) controlled TV schools (attended by 96% of kids by 1976) became used for indoctrination (taught through Maoist lens

Question 7

Criticisms of Mobilisation

Answer 7

Evans self-preservation was responsible for conformity with Nazism, not genuine support of Hitler as the Nazi terror apparatus would have deterred much active resistance. Hitler faced opposition such as the ‘20 July Plot’ (1944) was motivated by the need to take control from Hitler to push for peace with Allies the “Consequences of National Socialism” survey conducted in 1949 by the German Public Opinion Institute

Todd/Waller “Mao did tolerate some pluralism from ethnic and religious minority groups”.
Despite religion being considered “poison” (as a capitalist invention), many establishments were allowed to exist AND some temples/mosques/churches were even funded (as long as they professed support for Mao). Lots of religions functioned under the authorisation of the RAB. Additionally, in the 1954 Constitution under article 88, Mao pronounced religious freedom.

Question 8

Criticisms Pol

Answer 8

However, Mommsen maintains that Hitler created a confusing government structure plagued by inefficiencies and guesswork. Hitler’s decision to create a polycratic government inherently involved a significant amount of confusion with the Nazi Press Chief: Hitler created “the biggest confusion in government that has ever existed in a civilised state”. Hitler also became increasingly distant from the actual running of the government as the regime went on Hitler: “a moment of genius is worth a lifetime of office work” (justified his lack of direct involvement in gov) from 1934 Hitler became less involved in the Reich Cabinet meetings AND these ended altogether in 1937. That being said, no political opposition existed to Hitler.
Gray argues that Mao faced a degree of political instability as a result of internecine squabbles within the party. This began in 1953 with Gao Gang and Rao Shushi condemning Zhou Enlai and Liu Shaoqi for moving too slowly, and later in 1959 Peng Dehaui would condemn Mao for his failure in the GLF leading to Mao stepping down as President and thus he held little power from 1959-66 as Xiaoping and Shaoqi led the party. Deng Xioaping and Liu Shaoqi would also condemn Mao in 1966. That being said, Mao dealt with all these threats ruthlessly with prison or death the outcome for all.