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CAMBRIDGE A2 HISTORY: HITLER AIMS IN GOVERNMENT AND ADMINISTRATION

The document discusses the chaotic and disorganized nature of the Nazi government under Adolf Hitler, highlighting the lack of a clear constitutional framework and defined responsibilities among various offices. It examines how Hitler's leadership style fostered competition and sycophant culture among Nazi officials while decision-making was often arbitrary and unstructured. The document also touches upon the debate among historians regarding whether Hitler's approach was intentional or simply reactive to circumstances.

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HISTORY CAMBRIDGE A2 (PAPER 4) PRESENTATION 5 (HOMEWORK) HITLER MODULE 2. HITLER’S DOMESTIC AIMS UP TO 1941 HITLER AIMS IN GOVERNMENT AND ADMINISTRATION
OVERVIEW The Nazi state gave the impression of being a very good managed system, run by an efficient government, with a decisive leadership and clear structures and hierarchies. As the SS was very disciplined, so seemed the government and bureaucracy of Nazi Germany. In practice, this was not the case, as the Nazi state was disorganised.
ADMINISTRATIVE CHAOS There were a variety of high-ranking individual offices, government departments, ministries, agencies and security forces – but there was no Nazi constitution and no clear framework or division of powers. Hitler repeatedly messed with the organisation of the state, creating new offices or departments and shifting responsibilities from one to the other – but there seemed to be little method or long-term planning involved in these decisions. In the end, Nazi government ended up being a chaos, generating more problems than fixing.
HITLER AND HIS POWER The only political certainty in the Nazi state was Adolf Hitler’s status as its supreme decision-maker. According to the Nazi doctrine of fuhrerprinzip, all power and sovereignty was vested in the leader; he would use that power to create a Nazi state that would serve the needs of Germany and its people. Hitler possessed more power than any other individual or agency in the Nazi state – but he was also ruler who left much of the work up to others. Hitler was not an experienced politician, not interested in administration or organisation, developing long-term planning or detailed policies.
A CULTURE OF COMPETITION He preferred to dictate great visions and vague orders, leaving the details and specifics to be fixed by his subordinates. Those who pleased Hitler by presenting him with good suggestions or policies were praised and rewarded; some were welcomed into his inner circle, the highest honour of all. This created a culture of competition and sycophancy, as leading Nazis competed against each other to impress the fuhrer. A sycophant is a person who tries to win favour from wealthy or influential people by flattering them.
LACK OF PLANNING During his rise to power, Hitler had offered no clear vision about the structure or organisation that a Nazi government might take. Once in power he ‘invented’ new departments or positions, to deal with issues as they arose. The Nazi state grew and evolved organically and haphazardly, with no blueprint and no real hierarchical backbone. Haphazard definition, characterized by lack of order or planning, by irregularity, or by randomness; determined by or dependent on chance; aimless.
NAZI STATE DEPARTMENTS Over time it became a mixture of bureaucracies, organisations and offices. The jurisdictions and responsibilities of these departments were not well defined: in many cases it was unclear exactly who had ultimate responsibility for a given area, so there was often ‘overlap’ or conflict between two or more departments.
THE REICH CHANCELLARY Overseen by Hans Lammers and Hitler’s deputy, Rudolf Hess, the chancellery was the closest equivalent to a Nazi executive cabinet. It met regularly with Hitler and his other advisors, playing an important role in drafting legislation and policy, and making important decisions when Hitler was absent or unavailable. The chancellery was also responsible for Hitler’s finances and his movements; anyone wanting an audience with the fuhrer had to go through the chancellery.
Dr. Lammers, Reichsminister und Chef der Reichskanzlei Rudolf Hess
THE REICH INTERIOR MINISTRY Headed by Wilhelm Frick, then Heinrich Himmler, this department was responsible for overseeing the internal organisation and security of Nazi Germany. It was given the task of ‘Nazifying’ existing government structures and departments, ensuring they were run by party members or sympathisers. The Interior Ministry also played a leading role in drafting and implementing racial laws, and suppressing other political parties and opposition.
Wilhelm Frick Heinrich Himmler
THE REICH MINISTRY FOR PROPAGANDA The Reich Ministry for Propaganda and Public Enlightenment was one of the most visible organs of Nazi rule, this department was created in 1933 and headed by the infamous Dr Joseph Goebbels. Its main function was to influence and manipulate public opinion, which it did through control of newspapers, film and radio. This ministry was also involved in organising the NSDAP’s huge public rallies in Nuremberg, as well as smaller events such as festivals and art shows.
Dr. Joseph Goebbels
THE REICH OFFICE OF THE FOUR-YEAR PLAN Headed by Hermann Goering, the Four-Year Plan was an economic program announced by Hitler in 1936. Its publicly stated aim was to make Germany self-sufficient by increasing agriculture, building, public works, roads and production of automobiles and synthetic materials. But it was also intended to prepare Germany for war, by speeding up armament and military production. The Four-Year Plan was so successful that this office remained in operation well into World War II, after the plan had officially ended.
Hermann Goering
THE GERMAN LABOUR FRONT Headed by Dr Robert Ley and twelve ‘trustees’, this department not only organised and co-ordinated the German workforce but acted as a state-run union for industrial workers. Factory employees were expected to be DAF members; it was almost impossible to obtain a job without membership. Most DAF workers wore paramilitary-style uniforms and their wages were set by DAF leaders. All other unions were banned.
Robert Lei
LOBBY GROUPS Many groups outside the Nazi bureaucracy also shaped government policy. Germany’s wealthy industrialists were an influential lobby group, since Hitler relied on their cooperation to achieve his program of rearmament. The upper echelons of the military provided Hitler with feedback, advice and policy suggestions. Echelon formation is a military hierarchical formation, a level or rank in an organization, profession, or society.
NO PROCESS OF DECISION-MAKING Also in the fuhrer’s ear were high-ranking NSDAP members, economics advisors, civilian ministers and politicians, Nazi Gauleiters in charge of the former German states, important academics and other experts. Any one of these people could suggest an idea or policy that might win Hitler’s approval. He made these decisions as he saw fit, often on a whim and without consulting relevant branches of the government. There was no clear process of decision-making, and little accountability. NAZI GAULEITER was the party leader of a regional branch of the NSDAP (more commonly known as the Nazi Party) or the head of a Gau or of a Reichsgau. The word can be singular or plural, depending on the context. Gauleiter was the second highest Nazi Party paramilitary rank, subordinate only to the higher rank Reichsleiter and to the position of Führer. During World War II, the rank of Gauleiter was obtained only by direct appointment from Adolf Hitler.
Joachim Albrecht Eggeling was the Nazi Gauleiter of Saxony and Anhalt and the Oberpräsident of the province of Halle-Merseburg.
OPINION “The Nazi state has been depicted as a chaotic competition of power blocks – those Nazi and non-Nazi groups with influence: the SS, the Nazi party, the army, the conservative elites and Germany’s powerful industrialists. In fact there was a coherence to this chaos: all competing groups and institutions were attempting to create policy in the Fuhrer’s name, according to what they believed to be the Fuhrer’s will.” Martin Collier
INTENTIONALIST HISTORIANS Historians have long debated why the Nazi state evolved into this jumbled contraption of competing organisations. Two schools of thought have emerged: intentionalism and functionalism. Intentionalist historians argue Hitler operated with a broad, pre-conceived plan; every decision he made was done with a purpose. The intentionalists believe the creation of a confused and complex Nazi state was a deliberate ploy on Hitler’s part, allowing him to ‘divide and rule’ and enhance his own power.
FUNCTIONALIST HISTORIANS The functionalist school contends Hitler had no such plan: he simply made decisions on a day-by-day basis, as they were put to him. Functionalist interpretations stress divisions, competition and rivalries as important factors in the Nazi movement. They also query whether Hitler’s power was as absolute as is claimed by intentionalists, and that he often made decisions to protect his own position.
HOMEWORK In your opinion, which government department was the most important in Nazi Government? Explain your answer.