National Socialist Government and Hitler - History Essay Sample

How did Hitler consolidate his power to create an authoritarian regime?

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Shortly after becoming the chancellor, Hitler ensured the disbandment of all political parties which saw the banning of major parties such as the KPD between March and July 1933. During this same period, socialists who were considered less extreme were imprisoned. He also engineered the law against the establishment of parties which made it illegal for the organization of parties outside the NSDAP. As a result, the Nazis were able to clinch all of Reichstag seats during the November 1933 elections since they were the only ones who were allowed to contest. The centralized one-party Nazi government then went ahead to control all areas that were previously under the Lander of Germany.

Hitler went ahead to organize the "Night of the Long Knives" in a bid to forestall a revolution that would see Rohm killed since he openly condemned Hitler for complying with the elite in 1933. He used the "Night of the Long Knives" to confirm his authority and portray a "heroic" act to the people of Germany appearing as a savior. His actions later led to the legalization of murder. Even after the Night of the Long Knives, Hitler recognized the power that lied with the army and proceeded to devise ways of gaining control of the German army. He instilled the Nazi doctrines to the institution and later dismissed the war ministers and some generals while transferring others. He would eventually become his own war minister juggling between both roles of the president and the supreme commander of the army. As a consequence, Hitler was able to create an authoritarian rule over the people of Germany by ensuring firm consolidation of his powers.

What part did personality and propaganda play in the consolidation of power?

Hitler's personality acted as an advantage to the clinching of absolute power in Germany. He had high self-confidence and faith in the person he was and was also an excellent orator. These traits were extremely useful in the National Socialist state creation as they made the Germans view him as their hope for a thriving country that would be marked with great happiness and success. He was passionately committed to the German nation and its people, and this helped fulfill the need of the German people of having a robust and powerful figure who would put his interests aside and focus on taking the German nation forward. He was considered as a caring leader, a father figure, and a friend to the children, qualities which endeared him to the people and the nation at large.

In March 1933 when Hitler became the chancellor, he embarked on establishing the ministry for popular entertainment and propaganda. The ministry was tasked with winning over the masses through the spread of propaganda in schools, workplaces, and towns. The aim was to control the press and the media in determining the content that was to be relayed to the German people. Editors were held liable and would face prosecution if they transmitted or published materials that had not gained the approval of the government. The Reich Broadcasting Corporation set up in 1933 was given the mandate to broadcast specific controlled content to the nation and cheap radios with limited ranges were sold to the people to prevent them from listening to foreign content. Stamps and posters were made bearing Nazi slogans and quotations, and the "Hail Hitler' salute would become the new form of the people greeting each other.

What were the main characteristics of National Socialist Government?

The National Socialist Government, after the declaration of the "Unity of Party and State," made it mandatory for everyone to be party members if they had intentions of advancing themselves. The government assumed the control of all politically aligned police, from 1933 to 1934, when the consolidation of power took place leading to the unification of all the police under Himmler as the chief. The government also set up the Reich Main Security department to oversee the nation's security detail. This was characterized by the employment of informants who visited people's homes in a show of power that reinforced the obedience of the citizens to their government.

The court systems including the judges were not permitted to have politically based views and beliefs that conflicted with the government's view. Those who did were immediately dismissed. The same case also applied to those who practiced law as they were required to study the Nazi ideology and become members of the Nazi Lawyers Association. The lawyers thus interpreted the law in ways that conformed to the ways desired by the National Socialist Government.

What was the nature and extent of opposition to Nazi rule and how was it dealt with?

Though the rule of the Nazi did not face any meaningful opposition due to the spread of propaganda, and the success of the policies established by Hitler at home and abroad, defiance of the rule of both public and private nature was still witnessed. People would privately listen to foreign media content and listen to foreign music. Some would read literature materials which were banned yet others would secretly tell of anti-Nazi rule jokes.

In the public domain, socialists considered brave enough would embark on distributing anti-Nazi leaflets while others would emigrate and join groups in exile that waged attacks on the Nazi regime. The bishops and other church leaders spoke out strongly against the Nazi policies and the judges portrayed opposition in their circle by refusing to adhere to the administration of the "Nazi justice." The opposition also emanated from the army, from 1940 to 1944, as military officers made attempts on Hitler's life. The universities also dared to go against the Nazi regime by bringing out the truth on how the Nazi treated the Jews and other slaves.

The extent of the opposition would rapidly spike during the times of war, but the regime would take stern actions in dealing with those who were responsible for pioneering the anti-Nazi movements by either executing or incarcerating them. The incarceration would be conducted in camps that were considered inhuman.

What was the impact of foreign policy on Hitler's consolidation and maintenance of power?

In October 1933, Hitler began rearmament shortly after taking Germany out of the League of Nations. He took advantage of France's timid nature without the British backing to drive a confirmation of the authority and power he enjoyed at home by expressing complete defiance of the unjust peace treaty. With Mussolini's support, Hitler was able to stage an invasion and took over Czechoslovakia making him even more powerful. The attack was preceded by a number of meetings held with Britain which gave birth to the Munich agreement in 1938. He was later hailed by the press and media as a real leader of the people for his victories and even became a senior partner to Mussolini.

Though Hitler's foreign policies accorded him respect and power in equal measures, the same policies later led to his downfall. He made major miscalculations while formulating his foreign policies. This was particularly the case in 1943, two years after declaring war on the United States that the German resources started to be strained. The defeat of Germany became imminent during the battle in Stalingrad where they faced allied bombing and shortage of food. The German people later came to lose their faith, trust, and respect for Hitler and this served as the beginning of his fall.