G31+Hitler


 * 3 Nazism in power**


 * Hitler’s role in the Nazi state

Text: Chapter 7.1 "Hitler's role in the Nazi state


 * //[[image:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/10/Bundesarchiv_Bild_183-S33882%2C_Adolf_Hitler_retouched.jpg/200px-Bundesarchiv_Bild_183-S33882%2C_Adolf_Hitler_retouched.jpg align="right"]]Führerprinzip//**

In August 1934, Hitler became Führer und Reichskanzler, suggesting total authority. The importance of the leader was a significant part of Nazi ideology as expressed in Mein Kampf: a strong leader would come to destroy the weak democracy. This was emphasised in the Nazi newspaper the Völkischer Beobachter in 1934: “... our constitution is the will of the Führer.”


 * The Myth**
 * Propaganda was used to develop the image of Hitler as leader. He was portrayed as moderate, reasonable, benevolent, selfless and working for the good of the nation, and at the same time, as strong and resolute especially against the enemies of the people, e.g., communists, Jews.
 * He continued in a tradition of strong national leaders: Frederick the Great and Bismarck.
 * The propaganda worked in creating a sustaining strong popular support for Hitler which helped sustain the power of the party. Every German success in domestic or foreign policy was due to Hitler’s inspirational leadership. There was a messianic tone to the propaganda: he was delivering his people from the Depression and from their enemies.


 * The Reality**
 * He was a moody and lonely person, capable of great kindness and great brutality.
 * His personal charisma was reported by those who met him or heard him speak. His eyes particularly had great power of attraction.
 * Goebbels claimed he “knows nothing other than the work he does as the truest servant of the Reich.” But in reality he was lazy and took little interest in the direct running of government.
 * His lifestyle was erratic: he travelled a lot and often retired to his retreat, the Berghof. Speer wrote, “He rose late in the morning and conducted one or two official conferences, but from lunch on he more or less wasted time.” He maintained a discreet relationship with Eva Braun, who remained unknown to most Germans. He lived a materially simple life and was more interested in the exercise of power than its trappings. He received no salary, though he did get royalties from Mein Kampf and from postage stamps which bore his portrait.
 * He had total belief in himself and was capable of great energy and concentration. He was a great demagogue who knew how to sway people’s emotions: “He put into words what they were longing to hear, feeding on their hidden resentments, playing on their anxieties, unleashing elemental passions and forcing his listeners to surrender their will to that of the leader...” (Carr 1969)
 * He had an excellent memory, a knowledge of history and military strategy, and was a skilful opportunist.

__**Historiography**__
 * Outline the arguments of the Intentionalist and the Structuralist historians. **