The consequences of Hitler’s leadership style was that he was a dictator who did not dictate’ How far do you agree with this statement? Flashcards
Who was the Justice Minister?
Gütner
What was interesting about Gütner?
Not a nazi, still the Weimar head of the judiciary
Despite the fact that Gütner was not a Nazi, he was not replaced until when?
1941
What were set up in parallel to the judiciary for political cases?
‘People’s Courts’
How many cases were tried by the People’s Courts?
16 000
What was the name of the retreat where Hitler spent most of his time?
“Berghof”
Who led the Reich Chancellery?
Hans Henrich Lamers
What did the Reich Chancellery provide?
A direct link between Hitler and the other organisations of government
What happened to old ministries?
They were kept but Nazi rivals were introduced
The foreign office also its position to what NAzi organisation?
Ribbentrop Bureau
What was the name of the old foreign minister and with whom was he replaced?
Neurath and Replaced with Ribbentrop
Hitler’s obsession with what mean that fear and uncertainty pervaded the Nazi state?
social Dawinism
How many time did the cabinet meet in 1933 compared with 1935?
72 time in 1933 but only 12 times in 1935
When was the enabling act?
March 23rd 1933
How should this question be approached?
Agree/disagree and Michael Burleigh
What are the different aspects of the ‘agree’, Hitler was a dictator who did not dictate side?
1) System of government
2) Approach to government
3) Propaganda
4) Nuremberg laws
What are the different aspects of the ‘disagree’, Hitler was a strong dictator side?
1) Hitler’s vision
2) System of government
3) Popularity
How did policy work for ministers the suggests that Hitler was a weak dictator?
it was up to ministers to draft legislation and co-ordinate it, after which it was presented to Hitler who would either sign or reject it
Though you could say that the approach to policy meant that Hitler’s leadership style was weak, what did it allow him to do?
Focus on the policy areas that really mattered to him such as re-armament and the treaty of Versailles.
How did Hitler feel about Berlin and how did this influence his behaviour?
he disliked Berlin and spent much of his time at “Berghof” in Bavarian Alps
How was Hitler’s behaviour at the Bavarian retreat of Berghof?
working through the nights but sleeping late in the day, with afternoon walks and a dislike of paperwork
How did Hitler hold meetings at the Berghof and does this suggest that he is a strong or a weak dictator?
Held meetings by walking through the garden. Suggests that Hitler was not truly involved in legislation, not scrutinising but letting others have reign over legislation. Weak dictator
Complete the sentence: The fact that so much decision making power was left to his ministers demonstrates that..
…whilst his title was one of ‘dictator’, his practice was far from it
How was the legal system chaotic?
Justice Minister Gütner was not a Nazi and was not replaced until 1941
What were the Nazi parallels to the criminal courts and what were they used for?
‘People’s Courts’ were set up in parallel with the criminal to try political cases
How many cases did the ‘people’s courts’ try?
16 000
Complete the sentence: many of Hitler’s measures were responses to the
Pressure of external events rather than following a particular plan
What two events show Hitler reacting to external pressures?
1) Night of the long Nuremberg Laws
What was the Night of the long knives a response to?
Growing middle class, business and senior Army pressure to remove the truly violent elements of the party
What was Hitler’s assumption in regard to Social Darwinism, how did this meant that his own power was reduced and in what way could this also be considered to be the moves of a strong dictator?
Hitler’s obsession with Social Darwinism meant that he supposed that the strongest people who had survived the battle would serve him entirely loyally. This meant that enormous amounts of power, independence and influence was given to senior figures such as Himmler and Göring that effectively diluted Hitler’s own power.
It could however be argued that this was just extremely effective delegation
What was the chaos and Social Darwinism regarding the economy of the Nazis?
Schact became economics minister in 1834, but Göring was also made plenepentary of the four year plan in 1936
Of the first Cabinet, how may were Nazis?
three
Who controlled all channels of communication with Hitler apart from those of Hitler’s most inner circle?
Secretary/Head of Reich Chancellory Lammers
What does the Historian Rosenthal say about Hitler?
“Without Göbbels there was no Hitler”
What does the quote “Without Göbbels there was no Hitler” suggest?
That the Hitler myth was correct, he was no more than a construct
The facade of Hitler as a strong dictator was largely constructed by who?
Ministry for Propaganda under Joseph Göbbels
When was the Ministry for Propaganda set up?
March 1933
How does the 1935 Nuremberg laws show Hitler as a weak dictator?
it was changed because of pressure from regional Gauleiter Nazis
How was the Nuremberg law changed due to pressure form the Gauleiters?
The Nuremberg speech was changed overnight from one on foreign policy to anti-Jewish due to regional pressure from Gauleiters, keen to remind Hitler of his earlier promises.
What is the German word that sums up Hitler’s dominance?
Fuhrerprinzip
What was Fuhrerprinzip?
Where all authority at all levels remained with Hitler at all levels and those loyal to Hitler’s views and ideas.
What was Fuhrerprinzip startet?
Bamburg meeting in 1926 in order to give Hitler control over his own party
What demonstrates the extent to which Fuhrerprinzip was effective at controlling the party?
No challenges to him, those who threatened him such as Röhm were challenged and removed
After the Enabling Act of March 1933, how did laws become recognised and does this show Hitler to be a strong or weak dictator?
Simply published in the Volkisherbeobachter. This shows a strong dictator because the Reichstag did not have to be consulted.
What did Hitler provide that meant that even when he was not directly dictating, he was still a strong dictator?
He provided the dream, vision and direction for the party and power was still very loyal to him
What phrase emerged that suggests that Hitler was strong even when he was not directly dictating?
Working towards the Fürhrer
What meant that Hitler’s underlings would not have to imagine what the Führer would want in any situation?
Due to his speeches, propaganda and Mein Kampf
What suggests that Hitler’s intention was to create a government that was fully behind him?
Ministries, run by conservative civil servants, became rivalled by Nazi offices that wholeheartedly supported Hitler.
What is an example of Ministries, being run by conservative civil servants, becoming rivalled by Nazi offices that wholeheartedly supported Hitler?
The Foreign office lost its position to the Ribbentrop Bureau. Neurath was replaced by von Ribbentrop.
What ensured that government legislation was co-ordinated to please Hitler?
Reich chancellery led by Hans Henrich Lamers
What did Social Darwinism lead to in the Nazi state?
Fear and uncertainty that meant that Hitler could very easily divide and rule
Compare the frequency of German Cabinet meetings in 1933 and 1935 and does this suggest a strong or weak dictator?
German Cabinet met 72 time in 1933 but only 12 times in 1935, which suggests that he was pursuing an increasingly dictatorial style, however perhaps gave more autonomy to minsters
The extent to which he appeared relaxed at the Berghof could even be indicative of what?
The confidence that he had in his own position as the Fürhrer and the self-assurance in his absolute power
What organisation ensured that the patty was always unified behind Hitler and who headed it?
SD was managed by Himmler
What event suggests a formulated, structured plan to centralise power around Hitler?
Gleichschaltung
When was the Enabling Act and what did it do?
Enabling act 23rd March 1933 gives Hitler the powers of a dictator.
How many members of the SA were executed during the night of the long knives and how many other opponents were?
200 SA members, 100 other opponents
Hitler and the Nazis were what in the public eye?
Synonymous
How many seats did the Nazis win int he March 1933 election and, given that the public viewed the Nazis and Hitler to be synonymous, what did this mean for Hitler?
288 seats ensured that the Nazis were the largest party and gave Hitler a tremendous personal mandate to implement his own wishes
What does Michael Burleigh argue?
Hitler was a strong Dictator in issues about which he really cared, but was a weaker dictator in issues that did not interest him so greatly.
What information about the Agricultural Minister supports Burleigh’s idea when compared to someone such as Himmler?
Agricultural Minister Walter Darre met Hitler just twice in 13 years as Agricultural Minister whereas Himmler met with Hitler almost everyday as Minister responsible for the Final Solution, SS, all areas in which Hitler placed great importance.
Complete the sentence: Even at the times where it is accurate to say that he did not directly dictate, it is still true to say that it was..
..to his vision that people were working, complete dictating was not necessary due to the extent to which propaganda, Mein Kampf and his speeches defined the political agenda.
When could Hitler be a strong dictator?
When the occasion demanded
The areas that Hitler was chaotic and weak in were what?
Neglected and of lesser importance as the german state advanced into a wartime economy
“Fuhrerprinzip” where all authority remained with Hitler, at all levels and those loyal to Hitler’s views and ideas. When how and why was this started?
This was started at the Bamberg Meeting in 1926 in order to assert his authority over other party members and continued into the Nazi Government.
