Hitler - Weak Dictator? - A2 Germany

Hitler - Weak Dictator?

• 'Hitler Myth' - built on fear
• Ultimately weak in that he relied on albeit a very powerful propaganda machine run by Goebbels, to provide a facade, a myth
• The idea that Hitler was an 'all powerful dictator' was from Nazi propaganda
• Rosenthal - 'without Goebbels, there was no Hitler'
• Hitler was too preoccupied with his self-image
• Several powerful empires ran underneath Hitler
• Structuralist emphasise the 'institutional anarchy' of the Nazi regime and of a 'leadership chaos'. They argue that Hitler was merely a puppet, a figurehead
• Polycratic chaotic goverment - consequence of Hitler's inability to effectively direct government
• There were no clear decision-making procedures, and often no clear lines of accountability
• Structures were often duplicated and overlapping in their functions,…