The Nature of the National Socialist Regime, 1933-1939. Flashcards
‘Hitler Myth’ - Quotes
Kershaw
“Omniscient and Omnipresent.”
“The day on which Hitler started to believe in his own myth marked […] the end of the Reich”
Hitler Myth Effects
- United Germany behind 1 leader
- Helped cover inconsistencies and failures as blame was shifted from Hitler.
Propaganda- quotes
- “Hitler’s great insight […] was the recognition that violence and propaganda could and should be an integrated phenomenon.” -Nicholas Shaugnessy
- “The purpose was not to deceive but to articulate that which the crowd already believed.” -Neil Gregor
- “Nazi propaganda, for all its energy and sophistication, did not manage win round people who were ideologically disinclined to vote for Hitler.” -Evans
- “[radios] Vital element of success.” -Oliver Rathkolb
Strong leader- Who and what supports this?
Who? - Stackelberg and Norman Rich
What? - Hitler Myth, Feudal nature of regime, a Intentionalist view of Hitler.
Weak dictator- Who and what supports this?
Who? - Hans Mommsen and William Irving.
What? - A Structuralist view of Hitler.
What is the modern view of Hitler’s leadership style?
Propounded by Ian Kershaw and supported by Evans.
Policies adhered to Hitler’s vision, but were not his own.
Hitler had no real opposition within the party.
Chaotic and competitive.
Decision Making Example- Nuremberg Race Laws 1935
Pressure from below- Gauleiter wanted to remove citizenship from Jewish people.
Pressure from Above- Wanted attacks on Jewish communities to be legalised and not just SA violence.
-Night before the Nuremberg rallies Hitler switched his speech from foreign policy to antisemitism and the laws were drafted.
-Such a large effect despite little thought/planning.
Decision Making Example- Euthanasia
- Father sent letter asking for his disabled son to be euthanised.
- Phillip Bouhler (Chancellery of the Fuhrer) used this to expand his power and secure verbal permission from Hitler to start Euthanasia program.
- Hitler only gave written permission later on after the insistence of the doctor’s carrying out these euthanisations.
How did the chaotic nature of the regime lead to radicalisation?
Due to the competition between Nazi party members. This competition was a result of the Members’ overlapping realms of authority, the deification of Hitler, and the chaotic decision making process.
How did the Nazis change the Reichstag and Cabinet?
Reichstag
- Largely irrelevant, more of a rubber stamp.
- Only passed 7 more laws after ‘33.
- Only 1 party (Nazis with 92%)
Cabinet
- Laws could be passed by them, but more often fell to the chancellery.
- Eventually stopped meeting
Structure of the Reich Chancellery?
Expanded in size and importance.
5 important Nazis controlled it- (Chaotic)
-Hans Lammers, controlled who had access to Hitler
-Otto Messner
-Phillip Bouhler
-Wilhelm Bruckner
-Martin Bormann (Fuhrer’s deputy)
What happened to the civil service?
- Many welcomed the Nazi regime
- Under 5% made redundant in the Law for the Restoration of the Civil Service.
- Eventually, you had to be a member of the party and wear a Nazi uniform.
How were the courts and the legal system affected?
- Judges told to act ‘in accordance with popular policy.’
- 1933: People’s courts and Sondergerichte were created with predetermined verdicts.
- 1936: Judges wore and eagle and the Swastika.
- German Lawyers’ front
- SS acted outside the law but saw no punishment as it was deemed ‘useful for the nation.’
How did the Nazi party’s power affect the Army?
- 1934: Oath of allegiance
- Grew massively due to reintroduction of conscription. (tenfold from ‘33 to ‘39)
- 1938: Hitler replaced 100+ generals including Blomberg (defence minister) and Von Fritsch (commander-in-chief)
- Hitler himself became the head of the Army.
Careerists- Figures
- ‘March Converts’ in 1933
- Restrictions on membership come 1935.
- Jan 1933: 850,000
- 1935: 2,500,000
- 1943: 6,500,000
