Modern History- Nazi Germany 10 marker

[Maryamm19]

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Evaluate the effectiveness of the various methods used by the Nazi regime to exercise control, (including laws, censorship, repression, terror, propaganda, cult of personality) (10 marks)


The Nazi Regime (1933-1945) was able to maintain political control over Germany through the creation of tough and radical laws and extensive use of censorship and propaganda which were the most effective in reinforcing the social control of the Nazi party.

In Germany, the creation of unreasonable and discriminatory laws was highly effective in suppressing political opposition and maintaining absolute, political power through repression.  Hitler created laws to divide the community and used legislation to manifest his anti-semitic and racist ideology. The Law for the Restoration of the Professional Civil Service (1933) banned Non-Aryans from working in the civil service, the legal profession or in any government-funded industries such as medicine and education. The Nuremberg laws of 1935, stripped Jewish people of their citizenship and implemented a high ‘Emigration tax’ which prevented many from leaving Germany; The tax required Jewish people to surrender up to 90% of their wealth. The Nazi’s further promoted disunity by changing the pre-existing idea of ‘Volksgemeinschaft’,  people’s community with Volksgenossen "National Comrades"  and Gemeinschaftsfremde "Community Aliens". Laws were ruthlessly enforced by the SS, SD and the Gestapo. The presence of a Gestapo instilled fear and terror within the community and prevented open opposition of the Nazi party and its laws and ideologies. The display of violence and brutality on days such as ‘The Blood Purge’ and severe sanctions such as being sent to ‘concentration camps’ and capital punishment incited fear in citizens who consequently refrained from openly opposing the government. In Nazi Germany, laws were highly effective in achieving the suppression of opposition and ultimately achieving the repression of German citizens and other political groups, therefore achieving absolute political control. Laws were also used to reinforce the anti-semitic and racist aspects of Nazi ideology which were promoted through propaganda.

While Laws suppressed citizen’s rights and freedoms, propaganda and censorship were a highly effective means of social control which was reinforced by other political controls. They allowed Hitler to achieve a ‘Cult of Personality’ and the appearance of a supreme leader who was the perfect representative for Germany after the embarrassment of WWI.  Laws like the Reichstag Fire Decree and the Enabling Act limited citizen’s civil rights (such as the right to freedoms of expression and association) and allowed widespread censorship of media, news, radio, music and film. Censorship allowed the Nazi’s to control what the public consumed; any material deemed to portray Hitler or the Nazi’s negatively, was banned and those who created it were severely punished- this was a highly effective means of social control and allowed for the enactment of political measures such as the creation of laws.  Control of the media, allowed the party to manipulate pivotal information to promote the Nazi cause. Joseph Goebells, the Reich Minister for Propaganda oversaw all propaganda before it was available to the public. The systematic and well-planned distribution of propaganda was a highly effective means of social control as it manipulated events and facts to suit the Nazi cause. Euphemisms were promoted to avoid a public outcry, for example, early concentration camps were advertised as ‘rehabilitation centres’.  Additionally, various professionals such as film-maker,  Leni Riefenstahl were hired to create propaganda films, posters, podcasts and music to build a false image of the country’s unstable social and political condition, demonstrating the effectiveness of propaganda and censorship in maintaining social control and preventing opposition.  In Mein Kampf, Hitler explains that a “cult of personality” created through propaganda can achieve “surprising and almost incredible results”. Hitler’s own “cult of personality” was a very effective means of social control. Hitler’s “Cult of personality”depicted him positively and helped garner support from the masses. Hitler’s “cult of personality” was taught in schools and promoted within the Hitler Youth to promote the ‘supremeness’ of Hitler himself. It was conveyed that Hitler was strong, charismatic, inspiring and passionate and could, therefore, restore Germany’s former glory and re-establish political and economic stability. Through propaganda, Hitler received many titles such as the: Supreme Judge of the German People and Greatest Military Commander of All Time. Hitler’s ‘cult of personality’ combined with widespread censorship and propaganda were a highly effective means of social control and complemented the tough laws to restrict political opposition.

 The Nazi party maintained absolute control over Germany through the creation of laws and extensive use of censorship and propaganda which were highly effective in maintaining political control and reinforced and complemented the Nazi’s use of terror, repression and propaganda which acted as a means of social control.

[owidjaja]

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[Maryamm19]

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