Assignment on the Uniqueness of Third Reich with its Fuhrer, Militarism and Totalitarianism

Introduction of the Uniqueness of Third Reich with its Fuhrer, Militarism and Totalitarianism

            It is vital to understand what Third Reich is before looking at its unique features with its Fuhrer, Militarism, and Totalitarianism. Third Reich is an official name, which is given to the Nazi period of Germany, starting from 1933, which ended in 1945. Before the Third Reich, there were two other preceding periods, and this Reich terminology started from 800. It is important to keep in mind that the Third Reich started when Adolf Hitler joined the public office in 1933. He continued his campaign for years to become the legal chancellor and ultimately achieved his goal in Jan 1933. The Nazi party was now ruling Germany, but still, the powers were l9imited because they had to join a collation cabinet, where they had a representation of three members. So, it was thought that Nazi’s extremist ideology has been stopped. But Hitler was playing his cards being a smart man and convinced the cabinet for the re-elections. But Hitler again could not get a clear majority in the re-election. This is how Hitler struggled to be the most powerful ruler of Germany in the coming years (Britannica, 2020).

Body of the Uniqueness of Third Reich with its Fuhrer, Militarism and Totalitarianism

            Hitler made every cunning move to get all the powers and control Germany with his Nazism approach. He was able to pass the Enabling Act, which gave Hitler a license to become an outright dictator. This act was used to change the rules and regulations in the constitution, and it was the basis of starting the Third Reich. Hitler knew that there was no right way to get the ultimate power to rule Germany, so he went for every option, which suited him. This is how he went for the revolt as well. He was able to do a merger of Chancellor with the office of supreme commander and president. When he got these absolute powers in this Third Reich, he got the title of Führer. This German state was now entering into the era of totalitarianism because Hitler was going to make it a totalitarian police state. This essence of totalitarianism started in 1934 after the victory of Hitler and continued until WWII (Stone, 2004).

            Hitler knew that he can only survive with his rule if he uses the power of forcing people to follow his Nazi ideology. For this purpose, he uses police and army, which helped to take control of everything including press, school, theatre, universities, as well as, art. The Nazi ideology was injected into the younger generation of Germany. From sports to politics, Hitler used every tool to propagate the ideology of Nazism. It is important to keep in mind that history had seen brutal dictatorship in the past, but Hitler’s Nazi party dictatorship in Germany was very unique from other dictatorships with its Fuhrer, Militarism, and Totalitarianism. Hitler never believed in any democratic ideas and remained as brutal as he could during his tenure. The Militarism along with Totalitarianism was the key element of Nazism in Germany, and Hitler never stayed back from his views in any given terms. The history had not seen such kind of dictatorship earlier, where one of the destructive and damaging wars of the world was started, and the overall era of Hitler ended up with 40m deaths (Kershaw, 2004)

Conclusion of the Uniqueness of Third Reich with its Fuhrer, Militarism and Totalitarianism

            After looking at different elements and aspects of the Third Reich, which consisted of the dictatorship of Hitler in Germany, it can be said that the Third Reich of Hitler was very unique with its Fuhrer, Militarism, and Totalitarianism. These kinds of concepts were never merged at one place like Hitler used them with so much force and dominance.

References of the Uniqueness of Third Reich with its Fuhrer, Militarism and Totalitarianism

Britannica. (2020). Third Reich: HISTORICAL EMPIRE, EUROPE. Retrieved April 3, 2020, from https://www.britannica.com/place/Third-Reich/The-totalitarian-police-state

Kershaw, I. (2004). Hitler and the Uniqueness of Nazism. Journal of Contemporary History, 39(2), 239-254.

Stone, D. (2004). The Historiography of the Holocaust (illustrated Edition ed.). Springer.