Hitlers Leadership

Running head: HITLER’S LEADERSHIP 1

Hitler’s Leadership

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HITLER’S LEADERSHIP 2

Hitler’s Leadership

The assessment of popularity in 1933 to 1945 could be considered difficult due to

Germany's government style through that period. The main reasons for this may be the

suppression of freedom of speech in Germany, due to the censorship the state imposed on the

media and individuals in the Regime. Other reasons for the unreliability on evaluating

popularity may be the restriction of information; it is known that propaganda was one of the

main methods of releasing information to the public. The state would withhold information to

the people of Germany and allowed the state to manipulate them through the media easily.

Overall, the main factors that contributed to Hitler's popularity were the policies implemented

by his regime, the use of terror and violence in Germany, resistance towards the state by the

people and opposition groups. The main historians used for this assessment will be Fulbrook,

who mainly supports the argument that Hitler was unpopularity and Rees, with Johnson and

Reuband who supports popularity.

Fulbrook’s interpretation of whether Hitler was popular or not is very determent, but

overall, she suggests that he was unpopular during this period. She strongly implies that the

effects of the Regime led to internal migration which was the cause by the fear the state

projected through terror, the evidence that shows this is the migration of intelligent

individuals who moved from Germany to other countries such as USA and UK, who

benefitted from this brain drain. As well as the act of burning books with contradicted with

the ideals of the Reich, which included communists, Jews, and Socialists. There is also the

suggestion that there was direct unpopularity through the creation of opposition groups which

were created due to discontent and attempted to resist it, however, though they were against

the state, violence and terror performed its role and made these people scared to go against

the state. Groups that were created were ‘Edelweiss Pirates,' ‘Leipzig Meuten,' ‘the Dresden

Mobs' and ‘Bismarck Gang,' which were formed by working-class families. This evidence,

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overall, would emphasize that unpopularity towards Hitler came from the poorer society

within Germany, due to the changes being more unfavorable towards them, a strong example

would be; Autonomous trade unions were abolished and giving no voice to the working class

and how the employer was given more power over them. On the other hand, it’s also

indicated in Fulbrook’s work that Hitler did have popularity from higher classes in society,

especially from the industrialists, as they were able to regain control over worker wages, but

popularity did also stem from Hitler’s foreign policy which had positive reactions from most

social classes.

Rees’ interpretation of Hitler's popularity shares similarities with Fulbrook’s ideas,

however, his interpretation suggests that he was popular. This is evident as Rees’ state “the

Gestapo received enormous help from ordinary Germans. Like all modern policing systems,

the Gestapo was only as good or bad as the cooperation it received – and the files reveal that

it received a high level of cooperation, making it an excellent secret police force files show

that most of this unpaid cooperation came from people who were not members of the Nazi

party. There was never a duty to denounce or inform.", Other evidence showing public

cooperation is “a 56-year-old woman who lived in the same house sent an indictment to the

Gestapo. Her main complaint was that she objected the widow having a relationship with a

Jew, although it was not then an offense.”, This showed that there was cooperation.

Popularity is also shown as Rees states in his work “You denounce them; you hear somebody

tell a joke about Hitler – you denounce them as well.

Denunciations could also be used for personal gain; you want the flat the old Jewish

lady lives in – you denounce her; your neighbors irritate you-you denounce them too.” The

actions of Germans towards the Gestapo showed popularity as they would usually gain their

information from the German people who willingly denounced those considered enemies of

the state or to when it served their interest. Hitler also did have policies that received

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popularity from Germans such as the reduction of unemployment by creating jobs through

the autobahn and its shown in the Rees’ work that most citizens in Germany noticed living

standards had greatly improved. Most Germans noticed the change and supported these

policies mostly because they liked them. The statistics for unemployment were 6 million in

1932 which then dropped to 2.4 million in 1934, thus showing the policies were effective in

reducing unemployment. Hitler’s successful policies were a factor which increased his

popularity; this was mainly because Germans during the Weimar Republic struggled

economically due to inflation and the increase in jobs and reduction in homelessness, overall

led to Germans having a positive look towards the Regime and Hitler.

In comparison to Fulbrook, Rees gives an impression that terror and violence

committed by the Gestapo/Regime was a factor as to why Hitler was an unpopular leader.

However in Rees' work he also agrees that terror and violence was used in the regime by the

Gestapo, especially through harsh torture tactics and the role concentration camps played, but

he also states that these methods were only used on a small fraction of people in the Regime,

specifically political opposition and Jews, thus meaning a large majority of Germans were not

attacked by the State and may have been a reason for open support towards the Gestapo.

Another similarity that can be made between Fulbrook and Rees is that the policies brought

forward were popular with the German people due to there being economic stability and more

jobs to supply to people through the autobahn, however, there were different opinions

towards these policies, especially the economic policies, as working class citizens showed

passive resistance towards the regime, though it was ineffective in accomplishing much, it

was a sign of unpopularity.

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Johnson and Reuband support Rees in proving Hitler’s popularity in Germany. His

work covers many factors towards Hitler’s popularity. Policies implemented by the state was

a factor that had led to public support, evidence that supports this include: “60% of Germans

from Cologne, Krefeld, Dresden and Berlin liked the fight against unemployment”,

“Reduction of crime was also popular towards Germans, Cologne 57%, Krefeld 59%,

Dresden 42%, Berlin 56%”. This quantitative data is essential in determining whether there

was a majority in support towards Hitler, the data was also recorded after the Third Reich,

meaning it is reliable due to no Nazi influence. This data suggests that there was high support

towards the policies, probably because it was successful in getting people into work, as well

as, society is much safer than before, during the Weimar Republic.

Similarly, to Rees, popularity is also shown through the support the Gestapo gained

from the citizens. Johnson and Reuband’s work states “when the respondents were asked how

the Gestapo or police had found out about the alleged illegal activity, around 49% in cologne

and Krefeld identified informants in their immediate surroundings – primarily neighbours –

followed by colleagues and finally relatives and family members as the cause”, this would

suggest that the state had an appropriate amount of support, and those denunciations came

from a wide range of people, thus giving the impression that Germans would have to live a

‘second life' where they can freely express themselves, which could be seen as passive

resistance.

There is other evidence of popularity in Johnson and Reuband’s work such as “He

helped low-income families with lots of children, Families with lots of children got

preferential coupons for foodstuffs, for clothing. They could buy them for less" and

“Conditions were better. Order ruled the streets. Women were also able to go through towns

without anything happening like it would today”, This would imply that Hitler's popularity

stemmed from his effective policies, such as the improvements in the economy, as the state

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were able to subsidize food, thus improving the living standard for those in the State. His

popularity also came from making the state safer, during the Weimar Republic period there

were many militias which would constantly fight and in comparison, to the Third Reich,

many Germans would agree that the regime was better. Johnson and Reuband’s work further

show popularity as their work also says “Only a minority of Germans, it appears, fully

believed in National Socialism, admired Hitler, and were strongly committed to most Nazi

ideals, though most Germans certainly found at least some things that were to their liking

about National socialism and very few were against this'." This implies that Germans weren’t

fully committed to the Regime as other people such as members of the SS, but shows that

they also didn’t mind the way things were being run due to them also being benefitted from

the State, hence why there weren't any huge opposition groups to take on the Regime.

However, there is strong evidence to show unpopularity, within the Regime, as stated

in work, "Germans were proud that Germany had once again become an autonomous state

under Hitler. Considering this, even many critics of the regime were unable to conceal their

respect”, this shows that there were actively against the state and suggests that there was

passive resistance. The opposition is also shown, as its stated that “the SA rapidly opened

concentration camps all over Germany – in schools, hotels, and even youth hostels. Among

those held in concentration camps were groups such as the communists”, this emphasized that

opposition groups were targeted by the Regime as well as “around 100,000 people were

arrested and temporarily jailed even those who made snide remarks about the tat and its

representative’s risked arrest and punishment." This shows that whoever criticized the state

was punished and served as an example to those who wished to rebel. Overall, Popularity

towards Hitler was due to his effective policies such as the improvement in the economy.

Popularity also came from his policies that also rebuilt German industries, which

created jobs and kept people satisfied as things became more affordable and Germany was

HITLER’S LEADERSHIP 7

domestically safer, in comparison to its previous state under the Weimar Republic. Johnson

and Reuband share similarities with Fulbrooks works, especially in some aspects such as

terror and violence being an instrument in ensuring German compliance to the Nazi system,

however, Johnson and Reuband state that during interrogations, people were allowed to visit,

thus showing the Regime wanted information on the conditions of prisoners to spread so that

it may deter others from following. In conclusion, Hitler’s popularity seemed to be positive,

due to his effective policies which had a positive impact towards most of society.

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