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Hi everyone. I have written the following essay, and I am stuck as to what to put in about the army. Like, I've got information about the army but I've put in other paragraphs in the essay. Please help me!
‘To what extent was Germany a totalitarian state in the period 1939-1945?’
The question of Nazi Germany as totalitarian is debatable. The regime’s structure, at an outward observation, did appear to be totalitarian, as it comprised the six essential features of a totalitarian state: a single party, a compelling ideology, the communications monopoly, the weaponry monopoly, the extensive use of terror and a centralized directed economy. However, at an inward observation, it would appear that Nazi Germany was more totalitarian in the first period of the Third Reich (1933 – 1939) then in the latter years (1939 – 1945). This was achieved through Gleicschaltung – or a process of coordination.
Historians who have debated the issue of Nazi Germany as totalitarian have been subdivided into “Internationalists” and “Structuralists”. “Structuralist” historians such as Martin Broszat and Hans Mommsen believe that to label Nazi Germany as totalitarian would indicate a focus on her outward structure rather then her internal structure\ thus it would be inappropriate to label Nazi Germany totalitarian. However, “Internationalists” historians such as Allan Bullock and Ian Kershaw believe that Hitler intended to create a totalitarian state, and succeeded. Thus it may by suggested that rather than rule Nazi Germany as totalitarian, the Nazis were infact a completely unorthodox party which led Germany into a period of a chaotic nature.
The removal of all political opponents was achieved through the enforcement of the Enabling Act of March 1933 and the suspension of the constitution. Under the Enabling Act, Hitler was granted the power to pass laws without government approval. As such, political parties were either abolished or banned. This paved the path which led to Hitler’s full control over the nation which increased at a rapid pace between1933 – 1939, but gradually declined and finally collapsed at the end of the Second World War in 1945. It is in this sense that Nazi Germany could not be classified as a complete totalitarian state during the period 1933 – 1945 as the regime experienced extensive instability.
The concept of a single, hierarchal structured party with a strong and decisive leader is an issue of much debate. Internationalists accept the fact that Hitler was at the centre of the regime, and a strong dictator: a reflection of the social, political, cultural and economic conditions in Germany. However, Structuralists believe that Hitler, while an important individual, was not a true reflection of the conditions in Germany. Nonetheless, Hitler received almost complete loyalty from Nazis and members of the public, mainly resultant of the enforcement of the Fuhrer Myth. However, during latter years, key individuals and groups began to defy Hitler, as they regarded his decisions as unrealistic and altogether threatening to Germany’s future. An example of such a person is Albert Speer who, when Hitler ordered a ‘scorched earth’ policy, obeyed the Fuhrer in the East but defied him in the West.
In relation to the party being made ubiquitous this ideal was only partially achieved. It was through the establishment of the Reich Church, Nazi schools and the Hitler Youth (plus the moderate success of the enforcement of Nazi ideology) that this was attempted. Yet the Nazis did not successfully achieve this, as various forms of opposition arose, particularly during the years of the war. Another feature of a single party is the ceaseless demands on party members and complete obedience. In the period 1933 – 1939, many party members displayed this – however, during the latter years of the Third Reich many members disobeyed Hitler, such as Albert Speer and the SS, over whom Hitler never exercised full control.
Another prominent feature of a totalitarian state is the compelling ideology of the party. Nazi ideology has been suggested to be unrealistic, as the ideas behind these were Hitler’s personal values, which did not, in all reality, stand a chance of survival in a nation with such diverse and complex ideals. The ideology focused on the concept of a ‘Volksgmeinshaft’ – a people’s community which was doomed to failure from the outset due to internal divisions resultant of Democracy collapse. Nazi ideology also focused on Hitler’s ‘Weltanschung’ or world view. There were seven prominent concepts which made up this view; nationalism, anti – Semitism, which had increased as a result of Germany’s defeat in the Great War and thus Hitler envisioned a ‘Volk’ of a pure race- the Aryan race, represented by members of the Nazi Party, Social Darwinism, which means the superiority of one people prevailing above all others through the use of struggle, or ‘War of Conquest’ with the spread of German control, ‘Lebensraum’, the idea of expansion into the East through the concept of enlarged families, the ‘Fuehrerprinzip’, an hierarchical leadership with a strong and decisive leader, democracy and the state, the idea that democracy had failed the people, incorporating the repudiation of the shameful Treaty of Versailles, and the extensive use of propaganda and communications as the way to promote Nazism. The most effective method of propaganda was the Fuehrer Myth.
Of course, the extent to which Germany may be labeled totalitarian can not be fully examined without assessing the roles of key groups such as women, youth, the SS and the SA and the army.
Part of Nazi ideology outlines the preferred roles of women. This role was based on the traditional role and summarized by the slogan ‘Children, Kitchen, Church.’ Women were greatly discouraged from joining the workforce as their role was, as seen by the Nazis, to stay at home and raise children. The Nazis rewarded women by providing extensive financial support and introducing a motherhood award system. These methods were used to encourage women to stay at home and fulfill their obligation. However, though this approach worked in most cases, some women did oppose this idea. Therefore, as totalitarian is used to describe the control of ALL aspects of society Nazi Germany was not, in this case, totalitarian. Additional to this was the recruitment of women into the workforce that took place during the years of the war, which was contradictory to Nazi ideology. Again this was met with hostility due to the fact that some women had grown accustomed to their ‘traditional’ way of life.
Hitler was well aware that the survival of the Third Reich rested a great deal with the youth. Therefore, extreme precautions were taken to ensure the capture of younger generations’ minds. The Hitler Youth had been created way back in the early 20s, but after 1936, membership was regarded as compulsory. In March 1931, the reigns of leadership were passed from the SA to Baldur von Schirach, who, through some alterations, gradually increased membership. The Hitler Youth and the female equivalent, League of German Girls, supported party activities by distributing electoral materials and participating in marches and rallies.
As an answer to the question of education, history was rewritten. Textbooks which had survived the years of the Weimar Republic were destroyed. Education was of the utmost importance in the Nazi Regime, and was thus controlled in a very strict manner, as opposed to the fairly loose manner of previous education. There was a separation of young males and females, and the education they received reflected both traditional Nazi values and their future roles within the state. The only common education both sexes received was on the importance of exercise. On education, Hitler is quoted as of saying “…With knowledge, my youth will be spoiled.”
As the most powerful and influential force in Germany, the army was able to overthrow Hitler at any given time. However, they were drawn to him, attracted by his promise to restore and rearm the army.
One of Hitler’s main aims was to win the loyalty and support of the army, thus, from the moment he was appointed chancellor, he regarded the army with a great deal of respect. The final test Hitler faced in securing the loyalty of the army was the decision that led to the evens of the Night of the Long Knives.
‘To what extent was Germany a totalitarian state in the period 1939-1945?’
The question of Nazi Germany as totalitarian is debatable. The regime’s structure, at an outward observation, did appear to be totalitarian, as it comprised the six essential features of a totalitarian state: a single party, a compelling ideology, the communications monopoly, the weaponry monopoly, the extensive use of terror and a centralized directed economy. However, at an inward observation, it would appear that Nazi Germany was more totalitarian in the first period of the Third Reich (1933 – 1939) then in the latter years (1939 – 1945). This was achieved through Gleicschaltung – or a process of coordination.
Historians who have debated the issue of Nazi Germany as totalitarian have been subdivided into “Internationalists” and “Structuralists”. “Structuralist” historians such as Martin Broszat and Hans Mommsen believe that to label Nazi Germany as totalitarian would indicate a focus on her outward structure rather then her internal structure\ thus it would be inappropriate to label Nazi Germany totalitarian. However, “Internationalists” historians such as Allan Bullock and Ian Kershaw believe that Hitler intended to create a totalitarian state, and succeeded. Thus it may by suggested that rather than rule Nazi Germany as totalitarian, the Nazis were infact a completely unorthodox party which led Germany into a period of a chaotic nature.
The removal of all political opponents was achieved through the enforcement of the Enabling Act of March 1933 and the suspension of the constitution. Under the Enabling Act, Hitler was granted the power to pass laws without government approval. As such, political parties were either abolished or banned. This paved the path which led to Hitler’s full control over the nation which increased at a rapid pace between1933 – 1939, but gradually declined and finally collapsed at the end of the Second World War in 1945. It is in this sense that Nazi Germany could not be classified as a complete totalitarian state during the period 1933 – 1945 as the regime experienced extensive instability.
The concept of a single, hierarchal structured party with a strong and decisive leader is an issue of much debate. Internationalists accept the fact that Hitler was at the centre of the regime, and a strong dictator: a reflection of the social, political, cultural and economic conditions in Germany. However, Structuralists believe that Hitler, while an important individual, was not a true reflection of the conditions in Germany. Nonetheless, Hitler received almost complete loyalty from Nazis and members of the public, mainly resultant of the enforcement of the Fuhrer Myth. However, during latter years, key individuals and groups began to defy Hitler, as they regarded his decisions as unrealistic and altogether threatening to Germany’s future. An example of such a person is Albert Speer who, when Hitler ordered a ‘scorched earth’ policy, obeyed the Fuhrer in the East but defied him in the West.
In relation to the party being made ubiquitous this ideal was only partially achieved. It was through the establishment of the Reich Church, Nazi schools and the Hitler Youth (plus the moderate success of the enforcement of Nazi ideology) that this was attempted. Yet the Nazis did not successfully achieve this, as various forms of opposition arose, particularly during the years of the war. Another feature of a single party is the ceaseless demands on party members and complete obedience. In the period 1933 – 1939, many party members displayed this – however, during the latter years of the Third Reich many members disobeyed Hitler, such as Albert Speer and the SS, over whom Hitler never exercised full control.
Another prominent feature of a totalitarian state is the compelling ideology of the party. Nazi ideology has been suggested to be unrealistic, as the ideas behind these were Hitler’s personal values, which did not, in all reality, stand a chance of survival in a nation with such diverse and complex ideals. The ideology focused on the concept of a ‘Volksgmeinshaft’ – a people’s community which was doomed to failure from the outset due to internal divisions resultant of Democracy collapse. Nazi ideology also focused on Hitler’s ‘Weltanschung’ or world view. There were seven prominent concepts which made up this view; nationalism, anti – Semitism, which had increased as a result of Germany’s defeat in the Great War and thus Hitler envisioned a ‘Volk’ of a pure race- the Aryan race, represented by members of the Nazi Party, Social Darwinism, which means the superiority of one people prevailing above all others through the use of struggle, or ‘War of Conquest’ with the spread of German control, ‘Lebensraum’, the idea of expansion into the East through the concept of enlarged families, the ‘Fuehrerprinzip’, an hierarchical leadership with a strong and decisive leader, democracy and the state, the idea that democracy had failed the people, incorporating the repudiation of the shameful Treaty of Versailles, and the extensive use of propaganda and communications as the way to promote Nazism. The most effective method of propaganda was the Fuehrer Myth.
Of course, the extent to which Germany may be labeled totalitarian can not be fully examined without assessing the roles of key groups such as women, youth, the SS and the SA and the army.
Part of Nazi ideology outlines the preferred roles of women. This role was based on the traditional role and summarized by the slogan ‘Children, Kitchen, Church.’ Women were greatly discouraged from joining the workforce as their role was, as seen by the Nazis, to stay at home and raise children. The Nazis rewarded women by providing extensive financial support and introducing a motherhood award system. These methods were used to encourage women to stay at home and fulfill their obligation. However, though this approach worked in most cases, some women did oppose this idea. Therefore, as totalitarian is used to describe the control of ALL aspects of society Nazi Germany was not, in this case, totalitarian. Additional to this was the recruitment of women into the workforce that took place during the years of the war, which was contradictory to Nazi ideology. Again this was met with hostility due to the fact that some women had grown accustomed to their ‘traditional’ way of life.
Hitler was well aware that the survival of the Third Reich rested a great deal with the youth. Therefore, extreme precautions were taken to ensure the capture of younger generations’ minds. The Hitler Youth had been created way back in the early 20s, but after 1936, membership was regarded as compulsory. In March 1931, the reigns of leadership were passed from the SA to Baldur von Schirach, who, through some alterations, gradually increased membership. The Hitler Youth and the female equivalent, League of German Girls, supported party activities by distributing electoral materials and participating in marches and rallies.
As an answer to the question of education, history was rewritten. Textbooks which had survived the years of the Weimar Republic were destroyed. Education was of the utmost importance in the Nazi Regime, and was thus controlled in a very strict manner, as opposed to the fairly loose manner of previous education. There was a separation of young males and females, and the education they received reflected both traditional Nazi values and their future roles within the state. The only common education both sexes received was on the importance of exercise. On education, Hitler is quoted as of saying “…With knowledge, my youth will be spoiled.”
As the most powerful and influential force in Germany, the army was able to overthrow Hitler at any given time. However, they were drawn to him, attracted by his promise to restore and rearm the army.
One of Hitler’s main aims was to win the loyalty and support of the army, thus, from the moment he was appointed chancellor, he regarded the army with a great deal of respect. The final test Hitler faced in securing the loyalty of the army was the decision that led to the evens of the Night of the Long Knives.