Was Nazi Germany a Totalitarian State? (Cambridge (CIE) IGCSE History)

Worked Example

How effective was Nazi control over Germany? Explain your answer

10 marks

Partial answer:

In some ways, the Nazis did not have full control over Germany (1). Although many people were afraid to speak out against the Nazis, some people did publicly object to Nazi policy. For example, many Germans spoke out against the T-4 Programme that killed many physically and mentally disabled people (1). As a result of the public’s anger towards the T-4 Programme, the government publicly stopped the policy in 1941. The Nazis continued to secretly murder disabled people. However, the incident shows that the public could oppose  Nazi actions if they collectively challenged it (1). Therefore, this example shows that the Nazis still relied on public support to rule, showing that they lacked full control (1).

Exam Tip

A strong response for this Paper One question needs to examine both sides of the argument. The next paragraph would explain why the Nazis did have control. You could use the Nazi use of the Gestapo and concentration camps as evidence that the Nazis ruled by fear. Continue to use a clear PEE structure as shown above.

You would then need to write a conclusion explaining how effective was Nazi control over Germany. Remember to use phrases like ‘fully’ or ‘partially’ to explain how much control Hitler and the Nazi Party had over Germany. Consider how this level of control changed between 1933 and 1945.