Government of Nazi Germany Flashcards

Nazi government, one-party rule and a totalitarian state

Executive: Hitler joined chancellor and president into one position called Fuehrer. Thought he was a head to the Germany people and he represented them. He controlled the political system and the way Germany ran.

Legislative: Abolished the Reichstag. Intro. ENABLING ACT: Reichstag lost power: couldn't make/ implement legislation. Only the Nazi party could, and become observers.

Judaical: Lawyers and judges were removed and replaced with loyal nazi members. This meant that no one could question the Nazi government- Hitler controlled all laws.

There is only 1 party that makes up the government, so people can only elect that party.

1. Hitler had the most power- appointed people into the cabinet.
2.Had Municipalities report opposition
3. Party congress- main policy making body, used propaganda (rallies) to created enthusiasm

Authoritarianism: Hitler controlled who was government candidates, no opposition, and there was stability and order because everyone trusted Hitler to represent their interests.

Centralized decision making: Political decisions make by Hitler, appointed people based on loyalty.
RESULT: poor decision making because conflict b/w parties to gain Hitlers support and get appointed. National socialist laws implements in ALL STATES.

Limited Accountability: political leaders had too much power=corruption, did not care about citizens, did not allowed voicing opinions on policies, ineffective, broke party rules of conduct and had a luxurious life.

Little Dissent: if party members rebelled they were arrested, not pure german, have, had or believe an association with democrats or communists= arrested., used fear to get loyalty.

1. Controlled participation in elections and plebiscites
2. Youth organization
3.Nazi Constitution
4.PROPAGANDA
5.Agents of political control
6. National Socialist Values

1.Hitler selected the candidates
2 citizens can votes only for those candidates, if you disagree you can cross out their name but that will be counted as a spoiled ballot.
3. Plebiscites : citizens can directly vote on policies ex: unification of Austria

The Ministry of Public Enlightenment used :
1. news to promote hitler as the savior
2. promoted pop. culture, sports, radio to send a message that Germans were superior
3. Social programs to promote the idea that group over individual needs

Used in High School students, it promoted Nazi principles; group over individual, loyalty to Hitler, protect nation fight enemies, duty and work. These were taught in school.

Hitler wanted to control the youth of Germany and "brainwash" them to adopt Nazi principles and so he created Hitler youth. This took children starting at 8 years old.

SA: made sure that the Nazi party had political control and used violence against political enemies. But after their leader wanted to create a militia (army used only in emergency) Hitler arrested and executed him and after its duty was to train young military members and participate in rallies.
SS(wear black): HAD THE MAIN POLITICAL CONTROL. Duty to protect Hitler and top party leaders. Report and investigate suspicious party members, destroy enemies and protect nation.
Gestapo (secret police) created terror, arrest opposition or suspects. Sent them to concentration camps where there was forced labor, murder and separation of family.

OPPOSITION
1.Democratic Socialist: underground meetings and got bant literature. Communist had some success in informing outside world about situation. But the two could not work together= not really successful
2.Youth: the white Rose movement, used propaganda to inform others about antisemitism. The members were later sentenced and executed.
3.Catholic Church -concordat
4.Protestant Church: German Christians, and evangelic church
5.Military: some military people wanted to assassinate Hitler for created destruction.

1. Decree Reich President on Protecting of the people and state
- suspended rights and freedoms of the people
- government unlimited control on peoples rights and freedoms, invade privacy and seize property without compensation
2. Laws Against the Formation of a Political Party:
- legalized one-party rule
- No opposition party allowed
3. ENABLING ACT
-Cabinet had power NOT THE PARLIAMENT
-cabinet can make decisions without parliament approval; foreign treaties, adopt budgets and use move for government spending,create laws even if it goes against to constitution
3.Law on Safeguarding the Unity of Party and State
- Nazi party is ABOVE THE LAW
- Nazi party had ALL POLITICAL POWER
- party in now part of the Government

Was to make Germany self-sufficient in supplying resources to make weapons. Some resources were needed from east European suppliers=tied economies.

could have control over wage, employment, trade, finance and consumption. Also used only a few large cooperation= monopolies

Result: less unemployment and industrialization

It abolished Labour Unions and replaced it. Wanted to create an "industrial Army" for the state. It promote labour policies ex: work beautification, strength through joy and created LABOUR BOOKS!

Tried to show people that it represents them but the goal was to CONTROL the people.