2 - system of govt & administration

Question 1

limitations to Hitler’s role

Answer 1

• no all-embracing constitution in Third Reich (govt & law = unorganised)
• no individual could control all areas of govt
• Hitler relied on subordinates to put his wishes to practice
• personality/lifestyle = long sleeping hours & absences from Berlin
• unco-ordinated govt
• role of Cabinet declined (met 72 times in 1933, only 4 in 1936, last meeting in 1938)

Question 2

‘working towards the Führer’

Answer 2

where ministers had to determine Hitler’s wishes, often led to contradictions

Question 3

Hitler’s personality & lifestyle

Answer 3

• long sleeping hours & absences from Berlin
• avoided decision-making & had little contact with ministers (led to ‘working towards the Führer’)
• disliked paperwork & committees, didn’t co-ordinate govt

Question 4

How often did the Cabinet meet under Hitler?

Answer 4

• 1933 -> 72 times
• 1936 -> 4 times
• last meeting in 1938

Question 5

Who controlled who met with Hitler?

Answer 5

Martin Bormann (head of party chancellery from 1941, & Hitler’s secretary from 1943)

Question 6

attempts to improve party influence after 1938

Answer 6

• Rudolf Hess (deputy Führer) insisted civil servants had to be party members & increased supervision
• Bormann created Department for Internal Party Affairs (disciplined party structure) & Department for Affairs of State (secured party supremacy over state)

Question 7

limits to power of Nazi party

Answer 7

• never destroyed established state institutions (bureaucracy of state was already effective) eg. civil servants - often conservative
• never clarified old institutions’ relationship with the Nazi party (led to overlap & confusion)
• party divisions remained

Question 8

Department for Internal Party Affairs

Answer 8

created to discipline party structure

Question 9

Department for Affairs of State

Answer 9

created to secure party supremacy over state