How chaotic was Nazi Government? Central Government Hitler´s role

Historians´ views Intentionalists Structuralists Karl Bracher, Hugh-Trevor-Ruper Hitler was a powerful figure at the centre of the government Internal rivalries between overlapping bodies ( ministries, party organisations and special agencies) were reinforcing Hitler´s position: * Hitler as a strong dictator Ian Kershaw, Martin Broszat, Hans Mommsen, Jeremy Noakes Nazi Germany was a mixture of competing institutions: The Third Reich was not a powerful totalitarian state, the regime was chaotic ( overlapping duties of ministers), Nazi projects left unfinished * Hitler as a weak dictator

Central Government cabinet meetings became more infrequent - in 1933 met 72 times - in 1934 19 - in 1935 12 - in 1936 4 - after 1938 did not meet at all → without the cabinet there was no place for ministers to discuss!!

Hitler´s role H´s style of government was to give power to those he trusted and who presented him with good ideas → the creation of Supreme Reich Authorities - specialist agencies whose functions often overlapped with existing ministries * Hitler was the single source of authority for everyone ( ministries and agencies)

Hitler´s role Ministries of Labour, Agriculture, Economy, Transport * FOUR-YEAR PLAN ( A Supreme Reich Organisation under Göring, overlapped L. , E., A.) * TODT ORGANISATION ( A Supreme Reich Organisation under F. Todt; road-building, other building, German defences, linked to 4-year plan, became extremely powerful!)

Was this chaos intended? The Intentionalists ; Hitler´s divide and Rule-policy, it was intended! The Structuralists; H. was a Weak leader, a structural chaos made H. to choose the policy he did → most historians for intentionalists, also many combine these two

Persuasion and Force in the Nazi State 1) The Nazi Party In 1933 2.5 million members → by 1939 5.3 million ( 10 % of the population) → by 1945 8 million → The party was simply an instrument of propaganda ( in 1939 the Party Membership was compulsory for positions in the administration) Relations between the party and the state Ways in which the Nazi party took over the institutions

Propaganda Terror and fear The aim was to achieve racially pure state in tune with Nazi principles - concentration camps - spy networks In 1933 the Ministry for Popular Enlightenment and Propaganda (Göbbels)

Propaganda Press Radio Film Other forms of Propaganda How successful was it??

The Police State Gestapo SS Police SD Himmler