These revision notes provide an in depth summary of this specific chapter of AQA History in the Study of The quest for political stability: Germany, 1871–1991. They can be used directly as lecture notes or can be reduced further to more of a summary of the topic.
History revision – Government and opposition 1933 – 45 (12)
The nature of political authority and leadership in Nazi Gr
- Political authority in Third Reich was based on charismatic leadership and centred on
the Fuhrerprinzip
The Hitler Myth
- Creation of Joseph Goebbels – realised key part of ensuring support for the regime
was in encouraging people to believe in Hitler as Gr’s saviour
- In a system where Hitler held so much power, it was vital the Gr people trusted him
- Goebbels portrayed Hitler as both an ordinary man, yet also a superhuman and heroic
figure, utterly and solely devoted to the service of his country
- It was portrayed that it was Hitler’s sacred, personal duty and mission to solve all Gr’s
problems
- The myth also gave justification for the legitimacy and stability of Nazi government
o Allowed Nazi propaganda to contrast Hitler’s selflessness with self-serving,
corrupt Weimar politicians, and promised unity and stability as opposed to
divisions and instability of Weimar democracy
- In this way it fulfilled 2 key roles:
o Satisfied people’s emotional need for strong government and allowed Nazis to
claim Hitler’s personal legitimacy as Leader rested on the will of the people
Thus the myth gave credibility to the principle of authoritarian leadership
by identifying Hitler as the sole protector of the Gr nation
- This myth was maintained until 1942-43 where it began to wane as the Allies seemed
to be gaining the upper hand
National Socialist ideology
- The ideal that lay at the heart of Nazi ideology and the Nazi state was
Volksgemeinschaft – the nation and people as a community which put common good
before personal advancement
- By definition, it wasn’t inclusive – you could only be born into the community
o A foreigner couldn’t become a national
- It was a vision of a society which would operate as a racial meritocracy
- At the apex of this national community was the Fuhrer
- It was ‘Ein Reich, Ein Volk, Ein Fuhrer’ – One nation, one people, one leader
- Hitler’s world view rested on his Social Darwinist outlook, which recognised a natural
struggle for existence between peoples and races
o He was convinced of the superiority of the Aryan race
- Nazi ideology also drew on the science of eugenics – advocating action against those
considered genetically unfit, the mentally and physically disabled who were a threat to
the aim of breeding a pure, and healthy ‘master race’
o Also extended to cover those whose personal practices Nazis considered
unnatural – e.g. homosexuals
- Nazi party was anti-modern, anti-capitalist, anti-democratic and anti-Com
o In this respect, Nazi society was backward looking and designed to appeal to
‘traditional’ Gr values of family, faith and nation
- Nazi ideology was a very vague and widespread set of beliefs attempting to appeal to
a broad number of Gr’s who desired national unity and revival and an end to the
economic weakness and political divisions of the Weimar
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