nature of national socialist regime 1933-39 Flashcards
where did power lie- hitler
Enabling act=rule by decree=passed 444:94 emblematic of : Williamson was in “theory, at least, omnipotent”
H’burg death (90%) vote for Fuhrer- people wanted power to lie with Hitler at helm
Perhaps it didn’t lie with him as Nuremburg laws =/= introduced until 1935- after pressure on streets (mobilisation). Power in Hitler was chaotic as he last minute changed speech from foreign affairs to instead centre Nuremburg laws which were written in one night. Bankier were emphatic that “Hitler was a skillful tactician, waiting until the time was ripe to make a decision” to give illusion that power laid with the people. Vs structuralists who see this action as being forced into appeasing the mobilised party
where did power lie- govt traditional structures
1933, Nazi candidates won 93% of Reichstag seats therefore acting as an “applause machine” to pass the views of Hitler, so image of power in people’s choice erradicated under guise of H
Cabinet: had only 3 Nazis in Jan 1933 one of the non nazis was Schact who remained minister for Economics until 1937. THis shows the intentionalist “stage manager” view of Hitler as someone who valued the contribution of professionals in running a powerful state. THe cabinet however, stopped meeting in 1939 altogether.
where did power lie- independent structures
Hiden: “the judiciary effectively worked in favour of the regime”. 10,000 lawyers swore allegiance 2 H and had to wear swastikas, therefore, even if law remained in place, it appeared heavily 2 reflect Nazism and when it did not its decisions could be criticised. The Nazis created their own People’s courts for political trials which furthered the notion established from NOLK onwards that he had “contempt for the law” Kershaw.
Kershaw also believes that the Army “chained itself to Hitler” despite being the last indie org to undergo any reform due to their complicity in NOLK. Fact of NOLK alone proves that Hitler saw power in the trad army over his own army so power not solely in Nazi party grip.
Civil service- just 5% were purged and with prior DNVP loyalties it is presumed thast power of Nazism within was low as few changes were made. Yet the power of Nazism within is clear because membership became mandatory
where did power lie- mobalisation
SS, SA and Gestapo created an “oppresive terror state” to give the illusion of power connected to Hitler. NOLK, street violence, camps
NOLK- H&H was the single most dramatic and most significant event during the establishment of H’s supremacy
60 deaths to prove to elites -like Hindenburg- that H had control of his men and simultaneously instilled fear in Von-Pappen and other elites from intriguing against him or further criticising him, like he did at Marburg, by killing his speech writer
Goebbels constructed media to see the move as protection of De ppk and 3 days later the killings were legalised by Hitler: Burleigh: “the purge showed Hitler’s contempt for the law in retrospectively legalising mass murder
DACHAU
The SS controlled the police and its own prison camp system and this gave it ‘awesome power’ (NOAKES). Gelately says ppl were content with terror’s existence if it kept themselves safe, suggesting the consolidation of fear was only relevant to some
SA VIOLENCE: INC. KOPENICK BLOOD WEEK. evans notes that terror was used against groups the public feared
