To what extent was Hitler a dictator by 1935?

Hitler's government was disordered and lacked a strong direction

However, it was not inefficient or incapable of reaching its goals

It was a unique system that centred on Hitler's role in the party

August 1933 - the unique natural of Hitler's approach to government was becoming apparent:

• Hitler had no interest in the discussions or design of new legislation
• it was up to the initiative of the ministers to draft new legislation 
• once the legislation was redrafted or organised it was presented to Hitler who would read through it and either sign it into law or reject it
• Hitler played no role in co-ordinatint the ministerial departments
• different ministers could be working on drafting legislation that contradicted or replicated other departments' legislation

There were several reasons why Hitler allowed this chaotic system to develop:

• Hitler played little role in day-to-day government which allowed him to focus on his key goals of rearmament and the imposition of German power against the terms of Versailles
• He had no real interest in the details of government
• He had no experience in political legislation
• His work habits were disorganised
• He frequently worked throughout the night and slept late during the day
• He disliked Berlin and therefore spent most of his time at his home in the Bavarian Alps
• When he became Chancellor, he made some efforts to work in a more regulated fashion, however on becoming Fuhrer he made no further effort to order his working life
• Hitler believed in the theories of evolution in his governing style, believing that if different government ministries were working on similar areas, the competition would ensure that the best departments would eventually emerge
• Hitler would only meet with his favourite ministers and Nazi officials
• It was impossible to admit any legislation was unworkable, instead legislative policies were never formally ended, but left unfulfilled
• Rivalries between departments developed as differing departments battles for the Fuhrer's attention
• Hitler declined to take a strong direction in relation to these rivalries, preferring not to take a firm stance on one department over another

Despite this chaotic approach to government, the Nazis still achieved their political goals

This was only possible due to the unique position of Hitler

Although the Nazi Party was fractured between competing agencies, they were united by their overwhelming loyalty to Hitler

Even without clear direction, Nazi officials used Mein Kampf and Hitler's speeches to understand his ideology and form legislation that would fulfil his goals

There may have been competition between departments, but the legislation being produced was committed to Hitler's ideas

Hitler would sign off initiatives that he favoured, ensuring his ideas were becoming…