nature of Nazi government, 1934-39 Flashcards
LO: Nazi system of goverm,emt, role of Hitler, Fuhrerprinzip, 'working towards the Fuhrer'
how did Hitler’s style of govt change over time?
it evolved from a relatively conventional system to a chaotic polycratic regime, with more power being given to the Nazi Party and new agencies
who described the Nazi govt as the ‘biggest confusion in government’?
Otto Dietrich, Hitler’s press secretary
name two new ministries created under Nazi rule
Ministry of Aviation and Ministry of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda
what is a polycratic govt?
a polycratic govt has multiple centres of power with overlapping organisations that were often uncoordianted, leading to chaos
how long did it take the Todt Organisation (OT) to build almost 1,000 km of autobahn?
between 1935-6
what was the effect of overlapping organisations in the Nazi economy?
it led to conflicts between different ministries and agencies, underminning policy effectiveness, such as the Ministry of Economics and Four Year Plan Organisation conflicting over trade
what was Hitler’s approach to govt meetings and daily operations?
he disliked formal meetings, rarely attended govt sessions and often delegated tasks to subordinates
how did the chaotic govt system benefit Hitler?
it allowed Hitler to ‘divide and rule’, with his subordinates fighting each other, ensuring that Hitler remained the ultimate authority
who were involved in the power struggle over political police forces in 1933-4 following the Night of the Long Knives?
Heinrich Himmler and Hermann Goering
what was Hitler’s style of decision-making described as?
a non-interventionist approach, where he allowed issues to develop before stepping in, often only during crises
what does the term ‘fuhrerprinzip’ mean?
it refers to the concept of leadership where leader alone made decisions without discussion or consultation, based on his mystical relationship with the German people
what was the origin of Hitler’s authority according to Nazi theorists?
it derived from his representation of the people’s will, granting him the right to rule without the constraints of laws or constitutions
how did Hitler ensure that his regime was perceived as lawful?
he passed laws that retroactively made his actions legal, despite their arbitrary nature
what does working towards the Fuhrer mean?
it refers to Nazi officials trying to create policies that aligned with Hitler’s broad vision, even though he rarely provided clear or consistent directions
what is the significance of the fuhrerprinzip in terms of govt chaos?
it created a system without clear limits or rules, making Hitler’s power limitless and leading to a chaotic and arbitrary govt structure
how did Nazi officials contribute to the development of policies under Hitler’s regime?
they often implemented policies based on their understanding of Hitler’s vision, showing the significance of his ideas in guiding govt actions
what event in 1938 demostrated the concept of working towards the fuhrer?
Kristallnacht, where Goebbels convinced Hitler to support antisemitic violence following the assassination of a Nazi official
what was the cumulative radicalisation in nazi policy due to working towards the fuhrer?
it led to harsher policies such as Aryanisation (1937), forced emigration (1938), and the destruction of Jewish property during Kristallnacht (1938)
