Nazi Political system Flashcards
(27 cards)
On the outside
The Nazi state gave outward impressions of being an orderly, well-managed system of government, with strong leadership and clear structures and hierarchies. As the Schutzstaffel (SS) appeared finely tuned and well disciplined, so seemed the government and bureaucracy of Nazi Germany.
But in practice
The Nazi state was disorganised and shambolic. There were many high-ranking leadership positions, government departments, ministries, agencies and security forces – but there was no Nazi constitution and no clear framework or division of powers.
But in practice p2
Hitler repeatedly tinkered with the organisation and structures of the state, creating new offices or departments and shifting responsibilities from one to the other – but there seemed to be little method or long-term planning involved in these decisions. Called polycracy- series of overlapping bodies eg state ministries, party organisations, special agencies
Fuhrerprinzip
Fuhrerprinzip
Perhaps the only political certainty in the Nazi state was Adolf Hitler’s status as its supreme decision-maker. Enforced via the Fuhrerprinzip- all power and sovereignty were vested in the leader; he would use that power to create a Nazi state that would serve the needs of Germany and its people with Hitler having more power than any other individual or agency in the Nazi state
Competition in Fuhrerprinzip
In this Führerprinzip structure members of the Nazi party were in constant competition, falling in line with Hitler’s strong belief in social Darwinism. The leading Nazi’s such as: Himmler, Goebbels, Göring, Bormann and Speer worked toward being Hitler’s successor and lower ranks aimed to gain promotions and establish more power within the party. This system ensured complete dedication to the Führer because if one failed to meet Hitler’s demands or acted against him in any way other Nazis in the same ranks would inform Nazis with greater power of their mistakes. This information would eventually reach Hitler, causing the individual’s downfall in the party or more severe punishment.
How leadership style affected government
Hitler was also a lazy and sometimes vague ruler who left much of the work up to others. Hitler was not an experienced politician, nor was he much interested in administration or organisation, developing long-term planning or detailed policies. He instead preferred to dictate grandiose visions and vague orders, leaving the details and specifics to be devised by his subordinates.
The state-
Following his appointment as chancellor by President Paul von Hindenburg on January 30, 1933, Adolf Hitler began laying the foundations of the Nazi state. Guided by racist and authoritarian principles, the Nazis eliminated individual freedoms and pronounced the creation of a Volk Community (Volksgemeinschaft)—a society which would, in theory, transcend class and religious differences
The state p2
In the first two years of his chancellorship, Hitler followed a concerted policy of “coordination” (Gleichschaltung), by which political parties, state governments, and cultural and professional organizations were brought in line with Nazi goals. Culture, the economy, education, and law all came under Nazi control.
Dual State
The relationship between the Nazi party and the state has been given the term ‘dualism’, this refers to a government system in which two forces co-exist. Even though some of the Nazi members wanted to establish the party’s control over the civil service, Nazi leadership did not wish to confront the institutions of state.
Why institutions not altered
Many Nazis acknowledged the bureaucracy of the German state was already efficient and staffed with well educated personnel. A growth of March converts (those who joined immediately after Nazi consolidation of power between January and March 1933) diluted Nazi radical ideas to alter the state apparatus.
Hitler describing the party and state in vague terms
Hitler referred to the relationship between the party and state in a vague manner. He remained ambiguous when describing the role between party and state, first stating that ‘the party is inseparably linked with the state’ in 1933 before declaring the Party’s main responsibilities to organise propaganda and indoctrination two months later. Yet in September 1934 he informed party congress ‘it is not the state who commands us but rather we who command the state and declaring a year later that the Party’s role was to accomplish the tasks the state could not accomplish. This ambivalence was a contributing factor to the political unrest that occurred over these years.
Overlapping gov and state
The Nazi Party (NSDAP): While initially separate, the Nazi Party gradually became intertwined with the state apparatus. Party officials often held dual roles within the government, and the party’s influence pervaded all levels of governance. Key institutions directly linked to the party included the SS (Schutzstaffel) and the SA (Sturmabteilung).
Reich government
The Reich Government: This was the official government of Germany, including traditional structures such as ministries and a civil service. However, each ministry often had a corresponding Nazi Party department, leading to significant overlap. The Reich Chancellery, led by Hitler, was at the top, but various ministries operated with considerable autonomy, often resulting in a chaotic and competitive environment.
SS
The SS, led by Heinrich Himmler, was a powerful organization that functioned both as an elite paramilitary unit and as a political police force. It controlled the Gestapo (secret police) and the Waffen-SS (armed units). The SS became a state within a state, with its own military units and significant influence over domestic and foreign policy.
Military
The Military (Wehrmacht): While the military retained a degree of independence early on, especially before World War II, its leadership was gradually brought under Nazi control. The Wehrmacht was supposed to maintain its influence over military affairs, but key figures like Hermann Göring (as head of the Luftwaffe) and other loyalists played pivotal roles in ensuring military cooperation with the Nazi regime.
Gauleiters and Regional Administration:
The country was divided into Gaue, regional districts led by Gauleiters who held both party and governmental authority. This system often bypassed traditional state administration, allowing for tight Nazi control over regional and local areas.
Ensuring Totallitarianism
Hitler set up roles such as Gaulieters to control regions, Kreisleiters to control districts, Ortsgruppe to control small towns and Zelle and Blöcke to control 250 and 50 households to ensure any new developments formed in Berlin were implemented across Germany.
Legal System:
Traditional legal structures were supplanted by Nazi legal principles, which emphasized the primacy of the state and the racial ideology of Nazism. Special courts and the People’s Court (Volksgerichtshof) were established to enforce Nazi policies and execute political dissidents.
Economy and Industry:
The regime maintained significant control over the economy, largely through cooperation with industrial leaders. Göring headed the Four Year Plan to ensure that the economy met the needs of the war effort. The Nazis exerted control over industry while allowing a form of managed capitalism that aligned with their objectives.
Changes to Reichstag
Reichstag-Under enabling act- Reichstag granted legislative powers to Hitler and so only 7 more laws passed by Reichstag- every 4 years renewed enabling act, rarely meeting
Changes to cabinet
Cabinet- like Reichstag- was retained but gradually lost purpose- initially only had 3 members but increased though some non- nazis remained- showed cabinet unimportance- increasingly decisions made on ad hoc (individual basis) depending on who had ear of Fuhrer Even though cabinet did have legistlative powers laws usually drawn up by chancellery and issued through Hitler
Reich chancellery
The Reich Chancellery was responsible for coordinating government; the Chancellery’s role became increasingly important as the cabinet declined from 1934. Lamners was head of the Reich Chancellery, helping with government legislation and bridging the gap between Hitler and other organisations. Yet Lamners found it increasingly difficult to coordinate the increasing number of organisations.
Evidence of Dual system ministries
The personnel of the ministries mostly remained the same ‘The Law for the restoration of the civil service’ only purged Jews and Socialists, some 2% of the total civil service, and by late 1937 there was some 7 non-Nazi ministers still in post. Additionally responsibility overlapped, Goering was made head of the 4 year plan in 1936 despite the ministries of economics, Labour, Transport and agriculture already being involved
Changes to civil service
Most civil servants had been conservative and anti parliamentary they welcomed presidential govs from 1930 and were committed to serving state and so transferred reasonably happily to third Reich- under 5% purged in law for restoration of civil service July 1933- cirvil service gradually became more Nazi influenced as more Nazis appointed/ more existing bureucrats joined the party.
