STRUCTURALISTS Believe:

1
FUNCTIONALISTS / STRUCTURALISTS Mommsen, Broszat
(1970s lt) Opportunistic, non-determinist, weak
dictator.
Confusion of Private Empires (Mommsen)
LEGACY of Bismark, Kaiser and Weimar
continuation of Germanys past.
HITLER led state through propaganda rather than
organisation and leadership.
DUALISM chaos in Germany as Nazi and State
organisations overlapped and clashed. Eg Police
v Army v SS v Gestapo.Econ Schacht v Goering v
Tadt v Darre. Educ von Shirach v Rust v Himmler.
WAR YEARS permanent confusion and conflict in
planning (admitted needed army more onside)
STRUCTURALISTS Believe
ECONOMIC RECOVERY was shaky. A full war-economy
didnt exist until 1942.
NO CLEAR LINES OF AUTHORITY Eg big businesses
didnt know where to go to get effective action.
SPEER often privately over ruled Hitlers
orders during war that would have caused further
destruction for Germany.
POLYCRATIC REGIME Large no of power bases Eg
Goering, Goebbles and Himmler sought power and
titles. Gauleiters could become very powerful at
local level.
HITLER MANIPULETED by key figures eg Martin
Borman.
HITLER didnt create policy he sanctioned
whichever competing parts of states had succeeded
in seeing off rivals.
NAZI LEADERS IN CONFLICT Continually clashed in
seeking power
HITLER was an opportunist. He only sprung into
action in emergencies.
INDIVIDUAL MINISTERS left to own devices
because Hitler was lazy, hated paperwork and was
preoccupied with pet projects like re-building
Berlin!
IDEOLOGY Confused and contradictory.
EARLY 20s Hitler said he was the drummer for
the Volkish movement, making way for a more major
figure to follow.
HITLER destroyed State Organisations with
destructive policies. Gradually previously strong
organisations like the army and civil service
were worn down to collapse.
2
INTENTIONALISTS Bullock, Bracher, Fest, Shirer
1945-c.1970s Planned, Determinist,
Totalitarianism, Strong Dictator.
Nazism was Hitlerism (Bracher)
PLANNED rise to power policy of legality after
Munich confused everyone, achieved broad-based
support.
DURING WAR Persuaded Austrian Chancellor
Schuschnigg to allow Nazi to enter Gov Feb 38.
Persuaded Czech President Hacha to allow Nazis
into country. Nullified Anglo-German Naval
Agreement and planned invasion of Poland, once
Britain had given ultimatum.
TOTALITARIANISM one leader, one party, one
ideology.
FUHRER PRINZIP All powerful leader.
INTENTIONALISTS Believe
ALL POLICIES went through Hitler, his word was
law.
ARMY swore to die for him and to protect him.
CULT OF LEADERSHIP charismatic leader
underpinned by propaganda Eg Nuremburg Rallies.
WAR CRIMES TRIALS Nazi officials declared they
had simply followed orders
WORSHIPPED by other leading Nazis.
ECONOMY strong, as unemployment was virtually
nil and Germany was preparing for autarky.
POWER STRUGGLES were allowed between ministers
to gain more power for Hitler.
IDEOLOGY strong core of War, Racial
Extermination and Fuhrer Prinzip.
ELIMINATED OPPOSITION EXTERNALLY 1933 Enabling
Act, Law Against Formation of Parties, becoming
Fuhrer. INTERNALLY 1934 Night of the Long
Knives.
TERROR HOUSE SS, Gestapo and to some extent SA
all under Hitlers control and in turn controlled
masses through fear.
EDUCATION SYSTEM strong, from teachers, to
students in the class room and the Hitler Youth.
FEW REBELLIONS Generally people supported his
policies and ultimately supported him.