The German public saw Hitler as god-like with his vast power and glorifying the German race as being the “master race.” When he finally reversed the power of the Treaty of Versailles and rebuilt Germany’s armed forces, the German nation basically did as he told them to do. This was seen as one of his major successes. Another would be numerous military successes. He united Germany after the humiliation of World War I and extended the Germen territory into Eastern Europe. This would be his military successes.
Another rather ambitious aim of theirs was to indoctrinate the people with their Weltanschauung or in other words they were aiming to turn the population into committed members of their Volksgemeinschaft (a community whose members would be Aryan, genetically healthy, socially useful and politically committed to the regime). Nazi propaganda’s purpose was to influence people and to literally brainwash them without them even realizing it. Another aim was to ensure that the message delivered is so simple that even those without any education are able to understand it. It was carefully thought out to control and impose Nazi ideology. Hitler’s aim was to influence the nations spiritually on the behalf of the State and gain devoted followers on his side.
On the other hand Hermann Goering, head of the Four Year Plan, aimed to focus the economy onto preparing the country for war. Hitler became less involved as he took the Darwinist view of survival of the fittest, believing that the strongest would come out on top. This view is supported by source W which refers to a “Mosaic of Party and state agencies” with “over-lapping jurisdictions” who all try to gain power within there specific area by showing their loyalty towards the Fuhrer. This supports the view that the Nazi State lacked coherence because it suggests that the power of each institution depended entirely on their relationship with Hitler. The over-lapping institutions in the Nazi government led to administrative chaos because their responsibilities and functions were not
These views included, anti-Semitism, anti-Communism and racial purity, while also enhancing Hitler's image (otherwise known as the fuehrer myth), and make the Volksgemeinschaft more appealing. They were responsible for manufacturing cheap radios, so all Germans could afford to have one in their household. The radio was a key element of propaganda as it would reach a large scale of the German population. Goebbels also had a firm idea set in producing films entertained the public, while educating them on Nazi ideology. An important film figure was Leni Riefenstahl, who gave the world lasting images of Nazi Germany.
In a political sense, it ‘got his foot in the door’, so to speak. It came about largely due to problems with Weimar democracy and weak decisions; there were serious miscalculations in the appointment of Hitler. Many of the elite, particularly Papen, became intrigued and willing to co-operate with Hitler (even settle for a Hitler government), as they wanted his huge support base to further their own power ambitions and counter the rise of communism. He had the support required to solve Germany’s parliamentary crisis, and crucially he had the reluctant backing of Hindenburg, a nationalistic president who also feared a Bolshevik revolution and believed the Nazis could protect Germany from this. Despite the efforts of many to encourage Hitler’s appointment, there was no intention of forming a permanent leadership with him; the elite groups around Hindenburg planned to use Hitler to gain his support base, then abandon him when he was no longer needed.
However, despite clear use of his ability as an ideologue, Hitler’s rise to power and popularity is inversely proportional to the economic collapse, unemployment, instability and skepticism over the capacity of democracy to save Germany that did not bear his fingerprints. This clear instability of democratic Germany paved the way for an image of propaganda to be created, promoting the leftist, anti democratic and nationalistic views of the Nazi party that would perhaps solve the burdens placed upon Germany by democracy and ultimately, capture the imagination of millions. , The most important factor that allowed for Hitler’s rise to power was the evident instability of the Weimar republic. The political and economical fracturing of the Weimar republic was not influenced by the appeal of Hitler, instead it reassured understanding in Germany that there was a need to change. A clear economic issue was the inflation the Weimar economy witnessed.
However, there have been increasing opinions on how Nietzsche’s philosophy was abused and twisted by either his sister or the Nazi officials themselves, which leads onto the debate whether Nazi ideas are affected Nietzsche’s original views or the perverted ones. In order to understand more and discuss further, it is necessary to define the Nazi ideas of leadership first. There can be two interpretations: personal leadership, referring to Hitler’s dictatorship and racial leadership, echoing the Nazi idea that Aryan was the superior race and thus should be the race ruling the world. To some extent, it can be agreed that the ideas of Nietzsche did influence Nazi ideas of leadership. It is evident in the similarity between the most famous idea of Nietzsche, übermensch and Hitler’s image as the strong leader overcoming the harsh circumstances around him.
Racial policy was the ultilised to remove those who posed a threat to the government, or did not fit in with the idyllic race outlined in Mein Kumpf, thereby presenting the Aryan race as superior. The Nazi party with Hitler as the figurehead was incapable of achieving enduring change in German society due to the unclear roles and responsibilities of ministers and lower officials, the system of government became one with disorder and chaos, limiting the ability of the Nazi party to create changes. Through such a system, Hitler was seen as the figurehead for the
Hindenburg couldn't oppose against the public's choice otherwise he would be going against the democratic ‘Weimar republic’ regulation of including the people’s views. Overall, Hitler’s popularity with the nation was one of the main reasons why he was appointed as chancellor. He promised things to a variation of people that not many other politicians had offered. Secondly, because of the propaganda that was responsible for the change of peoples view's of the
Those that the Nazis did not trust because of their political views were sacked. Lessons were to start and finish by giving the Nazi salute and saying ‘Heil Hitler!’ As well as preparing young people to be future soldiers of Nazi Germany, Hitler demanded that schools impose his racist and nationalist beliefs. Young people were not encouraged to think for themselves and make choices but to accept Nazi views and attitudes. The whole education system had been reversed. The Nazi’s had been successful in changing and impose their views on the young and vulnerable people.