The Nature of Nazi Government, 1934-39 - Key Features

Question 1

Leadership: What is Fuehrerprinzip?

Answer 1

leadership principle
- each level of gov had a clear leader who reported to the next level up’s leader
- Hitler = ultimate leader

Question 2

Decision Making: How did decision making operate in the Nazi gov?

Answer 2

• everyone working towards the Fuehrer
• H hated paperwork
• loyal to H = more responsibility e.g. Goebbels as M of Propaganda
• H stopped groups of ppl forming policy bc could make oppposition group e.g. no cabinet meetings like in WR
• H had broad principles and each department tried to fulfill them

Question 3

Administration: How did admin operate?

Answer 3

mainly through civil service w new Minister of the Interior - Wilhelm Frick
BUT
operated on Fuehrerprinzip + clashed w other ministries = civil service decisions often overruled by ‘Nazi principle’

Question 4

One Nation: What happened to the Laender + Replacement?

Answer 4

Nazis wanted a centralised state = March 1933 Laender stripped of most powers
+ 30 Jan 1934 - Law for the Reconstruction of the Reich = Laender terminated
SO,
was meant to change to Frick running regional + local gov
BUT
Frick’s civil service often came into conflict w the Gauleiters (incharge of regional Nazi party organisation)

Question 5

Control: How did the Nazi party maintain control?

Answer 5

tight levels of control by using the Gestapo (secret police) set up by Goerring 26 April 1933 + taken over by Himmler’s SS in 1936

• had own judiciary alongside existing court system for ‘political offences’
• Gestapo conc. camps set up for political prisoners (could put ppl freed by regular courts into these camps without trial)