The Church was one of the few organisations that criticised Hitler whilst he was in power. As a result, many priests were put into concentration camps. Hitler only allowed a Protestant church ran by the Nazi's. So yet again he could have control over another aspect of German life.
The trade unions suffered much of the same story. Trade unions are often thorns in the sides of Governments as they stand up for workers rights. There were many communists in the various unions. So Hitler banned all trade unions and replaced them with the German labour front. Of which, yet again, he could have control over to ensure everything ran smoothly and that nothing could be done against him.
One of Hitler’s main activities of persuasion was his youth movement and the changes he made to the education. German schools were aimed towards educating every child to be a good Nazi. Whether the teacher agreed or not they were forced to teach the children about Hitler and his greatness. In fear of losing their job, or of the pupils informing on them. All pupils were given lessons on the superiority of the Aryan race, and each lesson influenced this in some way shape or form. A typical maths question talks about how many bombs there would be if an area of Jewry were bombed and so on. From an early school age the girls were told they would be the mother to large family's of Hitler's superior race, and boy were told they were Hitler's future soldiers and they would fight for their country and their fantastic Furer. Old books in classrooms were replaced with new books, censored, written and created by the Government, Hitler's 'Mein Kampf' became the compulsive history book. The new subject, Science of the races was introduced and religious instruction became optional. All German Girls were expected to become a member of the League of German Maidens and the German boys were members of the Hitler Youth Movement. This way Hitler could control the lives of children in and out of school. The German youths had to be present at every meeting, if not somebody may inform on them. Hitler kept the youngsters fit, marching with heavy packs on their backs and cramming their weekends full with; outings and camping and sometime lectures on the National Socialist ideology. This had a bad affect on the youth's lives at school, they had no time for homework and their reports were bad. But Hitler only wanted to train these children for his mapped out future, war and Aryan families. Who needs 'miniature scholars' when they already have a future? This was Hitler's view. By brainwashing these children he could guarantee support from this generation and the ones following. Hitler focussed on the future and not what was at present. He could guarantee he would have their support when the time came that he needed it.
By dismissing Non Aryans and Jews from working for the Civil service, Hitler persuaded Germans that these people couldn’t be trusted and didn't deserve a job elsewhere. He put across that they were disloyal and dishonest. Only loyal Nazi's were allowed to keep their jobs. Non Aryans, including Jews and political opponents of the Nazi party would obviously be considered unsuitable for a job involving Government activity. The Civil Service is the organisation that helps to do the paper work in order that the Government can run efficiently. Yet another example of Hitler persuading the German public to be on his side. Is the economic improvements he made.' He had restored Germany her self-respect.' Germans believed he was the answer to all their problems, of course there was the sacrifice of their free speech and independence, but they felt it was worth it and the rebirth of the nation was solely down to Hitler's own personal inspiration. He had achieved better employment figures through public building schemes, for example, new schools, hospitals, autobahns and of course their was the option of joining the army. In 1933 over six million men were out of work but due to Hitler, in 1939 it was an estimated two million. That in itself had won the support of many Germans and had proved Hitler to be tremendously successful, but Hitler also aimed to achieve a state of autarky.(self sufficiency) Just in case Germany couldn't rely on imports during war-time, and their wouldn't be a state of starvation among German's. As there had been in World War one. Germany Produced a lot of man made goods (ersatz) They produced their own rubber out of latex, petrol out of methane, coffee out of acorns and their own silk out of Rayon. Hitler couldn't depend on other countries as they may not be accessible if there was to be a war. By solving Germany's problems Hitler had become a hero and was well on the way to his goal. To be a totalitarian leader.
The main example, I think, of persuasion is Hitler's use of propaganda and censorship. Propaganda is making people see the positive things and censorship is stopping people seeing the negative things. He controlled exactly what the German's saw or read. Hitler appointed Dr. Joseph Goebbels to be his minister of propaganda. Radio, newspapers, magazines, books, theatre, films, music and art were all supervised. Anything that was 'un-German' was banned. By the end of 1934 about 4,000 books were on the forbidden list, and the plays of Bertholt Brecht (a communist), music of Felix Mendelssohn (a Jew) were also banned. It soon became impossible to express an opinion, which did not fit with the Nazi system. Loud speakers were placed in every city and town and volksempfangers (peoples radios) were issued. By doing this Hitler controlled everything people thought, public opinion could be moulded and mass support could be assured.
Hitler reinforced a local government too. Germany was divided up into smaller areas similar to countries. Each area had a Nazi controller, which ensured that even small details of local politics were completely under Nazi domination. This created a sense of fear among German people, Hitler had became a part in every bit f their lives.
Hitler's army, the SS, was forced to take an oath of allegiance this was. 'I swear by God this sacred oath, that I will render unconditional obedience to Adolph Hitler, the Furer of the German Reich and people, Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, and will be ready as a brave soldier to risk my life at any time for this oath.' This oath ensured that the army was totally obedient to Hitler. They weren't just ready to die for Germany, they were ready to die for Hitler. He had total control of even the army.
In conclusion, I think, that the most important contributing action of Hitler. In his path to becoming a totalitarian leader is the act of propaganda and censorship, in which he controlled every aspect of the media to give positive views on himself. This brainwashed the German people into believing that he was their only way out of depression and such problems they had encountered after World War one. Hitler had banned anything that was against him or that he did not believe in. Making the German people believe the same and carry the same views, this was the reason so many supported Hitler. They didn't see any of the negative views about him, as he would not allow it. The only side they did see was Hitler as the almighty Furer who would restore Germany back her pride after the problems the Weimar republic had. Without controlling the media Hitler may not have had so many followers as they may well have seen Hitler for who he really was, a very facist right winged ruler, who wanted total control over everything.
Claire Fisher.
