Transcript Following the FŸhrerÕs Lead:

Following the Fuhrer’s Lead: Hitler’s
Leadership Style and its impact on the Nazi
Party structure
By Brooks E. King
Leadership Models
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Transformational/Charismatic
Authoritarian
Laissez-Faire
Democratic
Transactional
Paternalistic
Bureaucratic
Hitler
Nazi Party Leaders
Weimar Republic Period
• Hitler’s leadership followed the Transformational/Charismatic model.
• “‘Leader’ does not follow man made rules… he creates new ones.” –Pg. 518, H.
Gerth, 1940
• Beerhall Putsch
• Executive Orders that give Nazi party more power and control
• Creates ethical standard and establishes himself to be on the ethical ‘highground.’
• Acts as a messianic, prophetic authority, creating a narrative that pits Germany
against ‘Jewish aggressors’ and casts himself as leading a crusade.
• Consistent in speech and actions, doesn’t ‘flip-flop’ on issues.
• Appeals to followers ideals i.e. creating a better, morally pure Germany through
National Socialism.
Influence on Party
• Party members idealize Hitler as a result of his transformational
leadership; his charisma wins himself leading role in party.
• Helps ignite fervor against Jews, Bolsheviks, etc. through
inflammatory ideology, creating unity in party and fear in
populace.
• Draws scores of voters through charismatic speeches, followers
view him and Nazi party as best hope for Germany.
• Driving force in Nazi party’s rise to power.
Influence on State
• Eliminates opposition and establishes Nazi dominance through
executive orders, loyal militants carrying out his will, etc.
• Myth of ‘World-Jewry’
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Nazis appear to be morally correct
Builds sympathy for Nazi cause in German populace
Unity against common foe
Designates himself as bearer of the torch
Third Reich Period
• Hitler followed the Laissez-Faire model of Leadership
• Designs overarching goals for party leaders
• Party leaders are expected to accomplish goals without further guidance
from the leader
• Implementation of goals left to party leaders, given a great deal of
autonomy in carrying out their tasks.
• Success by these leaders means further goals are given to them to
accomplish, greater status with party.
• Hitler chose self-motivated individuals with strong belief in party ideology.
• Competitiveness within the party encouraged
Influence on Party
• Party leaders set out to accomplish Hitler’s goals, the successful leaders
gained positions of higher status within the Nazi Party
• Examples: Heinrich Himmler, Reinhard Heydrich
• Hitler had only to state an objective and the rest would be taken care of
by Nazi leadership
• Created rivalries within party, with competition being commonplace
amongst Nazi elite; fits within Nazi ideology of the most superior person
gaining the most power and traction within the party.
• Despite competition, the myth of ‘World-Jewry’ gave party leaders a
common enemy to unite against
• Creation of SS and elevation of SS officers to elite status
Influence on State
• Nazi Party leaders given direct role in handling all tasks of state
governance
• Bureaucracy grows around the implementation of Hitler’s policies
• The “Final Solution” takes place largely without Hitler’s guidance,
reflecting the goal-oriented aims of Nazi leadership
• Nazi ideology is implemented in all forms of administration of the
state, Nazi leaders take prominent role in this administration
The Fall of Germany
• Bureaucratic form of Leadership becomes dominant in this period,
more exclusive of Hitler’s direct influence
• Over the course of the Third Reich Hitler became increasingly
reclusive
• Although Hitler had final say in all decisions made by Nazi
Leadership, his charismatic and laissez-faire presence had waned
as Nazi administration largely took control of state activities
• During this period Hitler’s exercised little control over Reich
activities, however his Charismatic leadership was deferred to as
final authority in all decisions