Nazism as Totalitarianism

There are some characteristics of a totalitarian state that fit with the description of Nazi Germany, however not all aspects of the totalitarian model are features of the Nazi state. The downfall of the 14 years of democracy and the Weimar Republic in 1933, correspondingly led to the rise of Hitler and the Nazi Party and the beginning of a totalitarian state. However, through an examination of historian’s lists of criteria for totalitarianism, the extent to which the Nazi state is classified as totalitarian can be evaluated.

ONE RULE PARTY Nazi Germany had the appearance of a totalitarian state, and Germany was an authoritarian state in the early 1930s and was moving progressively closer to a totalitarian system by 1933. This was welcomed by many German citizens such as the Conservative Elites who were determined to replace the Weimar Republic with an authoritarian system. Thus, the Nazi Party found increasing success in the elections such as in the significant July 1932 elections, where the Nazi Party won 230 seats and became the largest party in the German parliament. Hitler’s chancellorship on January 1933 gave him the authority to bring in principles of totalitarianism. The passing of the Enabling Act in March 1933 which was immediately introduced after his chancellorship and the process of Gleichschaltung led to the destruction of democracy and the establishment of totalitarian rule by one-party. The process of Gleichschaltung promoted the cause that Germany was to be Nazified so that the philosophy of National Socialism and the control of the party pervaded every aspect of German life. Thus, every aspect of the German state was brought under the authority of the Nazi Party including the political system, the civil service, trade unions, the law, the education system, the economy and the cultural and social life. It is generally accepted that with the process of Gleichschaltung and the elimination of opposition to his regime through propaganda and a...