While Hitler was in power he used two completely different methods to gain control of the German Nation and its people. Terror and Propaganda were virtually the opposite yet there are many reasons why Hitler needed both of them to manipulate the people of Germany. This crucial balance between the two gave Hitler the ultimate Dictatorship power which made people support him.
Good Propaganda is vital for a strong and stable leadership. Hitler improved the average German lifestyle in a variety of different ways from what it was like back in the 1920s. Hitler gained significant respect and admiration from a large proportion of the German population because of his success as a leader. He was able to reduce the unemployment rate, improve the economy and resolve most situations confidently and effectively. This made Hitler a very strong and stable Leadership figure. In 1936, Germany hosted the Olympics which greatly increased their International Publicity. This added more support from the German people.
Torchlit processions and marches such as the Nuremberg Rally were organised every so often. As well as emphasizing order the key purpose of these rallies was to Symbolize German Power and Authority. Cinema and Radio broadcasts were used more frequently to promote Nazi propaganda. Some of these benefits came at a cost. For example, Hitler may have reduced the unemployment rate but ordinary workers and civilians had to divert their whole energy into serving the state and doing exactly what its leader wants.
The Essay on Nazi Germany Hitler German People
Adolf Hitler was one of the 20 th century's most powerful dictators. He was responsible for World War II and the death of millions. Hitler saw a nation in despair and used this as an opportunity to gain political power. He saw a nation of unemployed and hungry citizens and promised them economic prosperity in return for absolute power. Someone once said "The Nazis rose to power on the empty ...
The terror method was used mainly on the Jews, Communists, and Gypsies etc rather than the general German Public. Its primary function was to secure and preserve discipline and eliminate any threats or challenges to Hitler’s leadership. All the Nazis’ major opponents were either killed, exiled or put in prison. Examples of this technique include the Gestapo Secret Police and the Concentration Camps which began to spring up around Germany between 1933 and the late 1930s.
Ordinary people who disliked the lack of freedom the Terror method brought upon them had to play along with Nazi policy. The new laws enabled the Gestapo to arrest anyone on suspicion and send them to concentration camps without trial or explanation. The Nazis would not tolerate criticism and anyone who said negative remarks about the party or Hitler in public would be arrested. The illusion of the Gestapo made people assume that the Terror system was larger than it actually was and it eventually got to the stage where it relied on informants. The informants believed they were doing a good duty and so that they would not be arrested for something else.
Courts helped to increase the Nazi Dictatorship and the top jobs were given to high ranking Nazis. Judges swore an oath of loyalty to Hitler and were instructed to ignore crimes committed by other Nazis. Opponents to the Nazi party very rarely received a fair trial.
However, Hitler made a mistake when he led a Secret Euthanasia program against the disabled German people. When news of this eventually spread out, it caused public outrage and Hitler did not arrest the people who protested because he needed them. He actually intervened and put a stop to the Euthanasia project so he would not loose too much support from the German people as that was most important to him.
Hitler’s aims were to eliminate the sanctions from the Treaty of Versailles, unite all German people and expand the German Empire and give more Lebensraum (Living space) for the people of Germany. No doubt, the rest of the population wanted similar goals and Hitler was so popular with them because he was the most committed person to make Germany strong again.
The Essay on How Did Hitler Establish A Dictatorship In Germany By August 1934
Adolf Hitler surfaced in 1919, joining the Nazi party as a minority. However, by 1933, Hitler surprised everyone by becoming Chancellor, which was seen as a remarkable achievement. Yet many people underestimated his abilities, and thought that he would be removed from power. Even fewer people would have expected that by mid-1934, Hitler would become the sole leader of Germany, establishing a ...
The propaganda methods were probably the most important for the Nazis because they actually determined the effectiveness and strength of Hitler. Without them, the Nazis would have got little support. The Fear/Terror was merely a tool which allowed Hitler to minimise his opposition and protect himself and his party from any threats to leadership. However, if Hitler went too far with this, as he did with the Euthanasia project, then people would protest and he would loose supporters. The propaganda allowed Hitler to gain support and the fear/terror system allowed him to keep it to a certain degree. Only when he merged these two methods together was he able to obtain complete and total control of Germany.
