Mallard-Masked Totalitarianism

Hitler was very focused on becoming the ruler of Germany. Although unorganized (2), Hitler used the people to carryout his “mission.” Hitler was very indecisive as to how he wanted things done but he knew what he wanted to achieve. He would assign the same job to many people, causing hostility between Hitler’s workers. (2) This shows that Hitler did in fact use totalitarianism to gain his power. Because he used tacks such as giving different people the same job and the result being that the people the task was assigned to would try to be better than the other, this showed that the people took a liking to Hitler and they wanted to give him their best. Not only did Hitler put his workers against each other, he also put the German citizens against each other. Hitler established the Gestapo and even though there were only 28 in one city, there would be thousands of denunciations because the citizens would denounce their neighbors. (2) This showed Hitler essentially put the citizens against each other and no one was safe, again showing his totalitarianism tactics. Hitler would use simple ways to “trick” the people of the commitment they should have toward Germany. He would use propaganda to get the people thinking of the things they should or should not be doing in order to make Germany a better place. (2) Hitler believed in Fascism, which was putting one’s country above all else. (lecture notes) With this belief, Hitler was able to convince people that his way was best and that they needed him in order to be a better country because he was the one who could carry this out. Once Hindenburg dies and Hitler becomes not only chancellor but also the president, he decides upon creating new laws. These laws were labeled the Nuremburg Laws. These laws were put in place in order to hinder the Jews and anyone who associated with Jews. (2) These laws consisted of things such as there can be no marriage between a Jew and another German citizen and Jews were banned from many jobs. (2) This was just another was Hitler manipulated, through totalitarianism, the German citizens in order to get his way. Hitler used tactics such as abolishing the regular army to create a national army, creating a central authority. (3) This was a totalitarian tactic because Hitler created things in order to make him self look better and seem to be a better leader. Hitler also put limits on press and other aspects of peoples lives in order to make him seem the most appealing and also his way would become the only way. (3) Hitler used many totalitarian tactics in order to make him the best way, or at least seem to be the best way.

Hitler was not always using totalitarian tactics because he was very unorganized. (2) Hitler believed that things would work themselves out upon no interference. (2) This shows that in some ways Hitler could care less how he achieved his goals of ruling Germany just as long as he achieved them.

Hitler did use totalitarian tactics but not in every aspects of his journey to power. Hitler let the people around him pave his way.