Spoiler
To what extent was Nazi Germany a totalitarian state between 1933 and 1939?
A totalitarian state can be defined as having a centralised government with little tolerance for other parties or differing opinions, exercising dictatorial control over many aspects of civilian life. This was evident in Germany following the collapse of the Weimar Republic from 1933, however societies acceptance of such structural change decreases the extend of the totalitarian nation. It is through terror and propaganda, the consolidation of Nazi power, and Nazi ideology that Germany is highlighted as being a totalitarian state.
The consolidation of Nazi power eradicated opposing political parties, increasing the totalitarian characteristics of Germany in 1933. The German term ‘Gleischaltung’ meaning ‘coordination’ occurred between 1933 and 1934, bringing all elements of German life under Nazi control. Operation Hummingbird, otherwise known as the Night of the Long Knives, resulted in the execution of many SA leaders across the country, after President Hindenburg and other army leaders “demanded that Hitler get the SA under control” (Webb, 2011) after the continued violence they showed. Ernst Rohm, leader of the SA, was one of the many people executed during this operation as he believed that the Nazi revolution was incomplete and wished to establish a “national people’s militia” (Webb, 2011). This threat of rivalry motivated Hitler to act against the SA and conveys the characteristics of a totalitarian state as Rohm challenged his desire of a dictatorial leadership and was therefore killed. In March 1933, the Nazi party joined with the Nationalists party to gain an extra 7% of the vote in the Reichstag elections, giving them the majority vote at 51% (Webb, 2011). Furthermore, the Enabling Act of 1933 amended the Weimar Constitution to give Hitler the power as Chancellor to enact laws without the involvement of the Reichstag. The Communist party then collapsed after laws for the seizure of communist assets were passed, leaving them with nothing. Later, laws against the establishment of parties were passed, ensuring the Nazi party was the only political party in Germany. The legal processes Hitler used to consolidate Nazi power highlight how Germany was a totalitarian state in 1933 to 1934. Through Operation Hummingbird and removing conflicting parties from the Reichstag, Germany is portrayed to be totalitarian through its centralized government.
Widespread terror and propaganda was exercised by the Nazi regime to manipulate aspects of civilian life, highlighting the totalitarian features of Germany. Joseph Goebbels was appointed the Minister for Enlightenment and Propaganda in 1933 and was effective in his ability to manipulate society into supporting the radical change implemented through the Nazi regime. Loudspeakers were placed in public areas for people to hear the Fuhrer speak, and movies, radio and music was highly censored to ensure escapism, or light entertainment “to keep the minds of the masses off political difficulties.” (Webb, 2011). Furthermore, Goebbels represented Hitler as “the hero of fatherland, the man that the nation had been waiting for” (Webb, 2011) encouraging the German society to “embrace changes in their life made for ‘the cause’” (S. Gibbons, 2002). With complete faith in their dictatorial leadership, Germany then complied with the introduction of the SS, Hitler’s private army, and the Gestapo, the secret state police, who investigated any threats posed to the regime. These organisations fostered the image of an all-powerful body which brought dread to enemies of the regime. However, this “fear was more implied than actual” (B. Thomas, 2017) as “up to 80% of investigations stemmed from voluntary denunciations… which were more the consequence of spite than devotion to the regime.” (Webb, 2011) Therefore the extent to which Nazi Germany could be defined as a totalitarian state is challenged as society was accepting of the policies and procedures that were put in place with regards to terror. The Gestapo were a reactive organisation with no higher authority to monitor their activities, and although they removed many individual freedoms in Germany at the time, “the people generally supported this due to its ability to maintain law and order after the destructive Weimar years.” (S. Gibbons, 2002). The characteristics of Nazi Germany reflect that of a totalitarian state, however to a certain extent had the support from society to maintain law and order.
Nazi ideology and the desire for purity in the Aryan race, highlights the totalitarian nature of Germany. Eugenics was “nothing more than a crude form of Social Darwinism” (Webb, 2011), as it studied how humans could be improved through selective breeding. The Law for the Prevention of Hereditarily Diseased Progeny was introduced in July 1933 which resulted in the sterilisation of more than 300,000 Germans due to physical or other abnormalities who were “unworthy of life.” (Webb, 2011) This suggests Germany was a totalitarian state due to their control on human life and extermination of “inadequate” races. The Kristallnacht or “Night of Broken Glass” in November 1938 allowed organised attacks on Jews with 30,000 transported to concentration camps in one night. In 1938, the Jewish population in Germany was 355,000 which decreased to 185,000 in 1939, indicating the impact of racial attacks against the Jews. Furthermore, marriage between a Jewish and non-Jewish person were outlawed, aiming to maintain racial purity through the marriage of two Aryan people. Jews were charged with “attack on German blood” if they married non-Jewish, and non-Jews would be charged with “treason against German blood” (Webb, 2011). This strong anti-Semitism displays the totalitarian nature of Germany and how Nazi ideology of a pure race influenced society’s life.
Totalitarianism is displayed in Nazi Germany through their use of terror and propaganda, consolidation of Nazi power and anti-Semitism. Through the eradication of opposing parties and striving towards a pure race, totalitarianism was an integral part of German society throughout 1933 and 1939.
Home
Help
Search
Login
