Essay on How Hitler Mantained his Power - 1757 Words

Consent is the permission for something to happen or the agreement to do something. Although admittedly it played a part in initiating Hitler’s power and then later maintaining it, it was not the most important element. Terror was the most important element in maintaining his power. The other elements that were important in maintaining Hitler’s power include propaganda, necessity of economic depression and the removal of other political parties in Germany. Interpretations A and B refute the view that consent was the most important element in maintaining Hitler’s regime in power. Interpretations C and D however support the view that consent played an important element, albeit interpretation C was consent through propaganda. Hans Rothfels†¦show more content†¦Propaganda was an important element as it enhanced the effectiveness of the terror; the Nazis ensured the population knew what would happen to Nazi opposition. One case in particular highlighting the high level of terror is that a court case by a Cologne Judge. A middle aged woman was sentenced to death even though her crime was just theft of curtains, clothes and coffee. The population became aware of the ruthlessness of the courts mainly via the press. Historian Robert Gellately enforces this, crime and punishment stories were ‘crafted according to specific guidelines laid down by the Propaganda Ministry and press officers to obtain the maximum public relations effect’. Propaganda Minister Josef Goebbels concluded that propaganda was required to strengthen the existing support from people and to convince those who did not support the party that they needed to. As Goebbels once said, â€Å"The essence of propaganda consists i n winning people over to an idea so sincerely, so vitally, that in the end they succumb to it utterly†. The ability to convince the population into succumbing to ideology meant that there was as a whole a collective acceptance of the regime which meant there were no mass uprisings or opposition against it. Thus, Hitler’s regime was able to maintain power through the publishing of terror through propaganda. The economic crisis was also mandatory in the maintenance ofShow MoreRelatedThe War Of World War II Essay2001 Words   |  9 Pagesthe Allies and the Axis Powers. The Allies being Great Britain, France, the Soviet Union, The United States, and China and the Axis Powers being Germany, Japan, and Italy. Despite the many countries that participated in the war, Germany and the Nazi party were considered to be the main enemy. Many great battles were fought in WWII and many weapons of warfare were utilized in combat. Million upon millions of lives were lost to the Second World War. While many believe Hitler and the Nazi army to be