In what ways did the Nazi state seek to establish total control over its people?

The Nazi regime under Adolf Hitler aimed to establish totalitarian control over the German population. Here are some key methods they employed:

1. Crushing Opposition — The Nazis systematically eliminated political opponents, dissenting voices, and rival parties. They even used violence to suppress political opponents. Citizens were afraid to express dissenting views. On 3 March 1933, the famous Enabling Act was passed. This Act established dictatorship in Germany. It gave Hitler all powers to sideline Parliament and rule by decree. All political parties and trade unions were banned except for the Nazi Party and its affiliates.
2. Successful Foreign Policy — Hitler’s foreign policy achievements, such as the reoccupation of the Rhineland, the Anschluss with Austria, and the Munich Agreement, garnered widespread support. These victories bolstered the regime’s image and maintained public approval.
3. Propaganda — Aggressive war propaganda and national honour occupied centre stage in the public sphere. Nazi propaganda skilfully projected Hitler as a messiah, a saviour, as someone who had arrived to deliver people from their distress.
4. Censorship — Mass killings were termed special treatment, final solution (for the Jews), euthanasia (for the disabled), selection and disinfections. ‘Evacuation’ meant deporting people to gas chambers. Gas chambers were labelled ‘disinfection-areas’.
5. Surveillance — Special surveillance and security forces were created to control and order society in ways that the Nazis wanted. Apart from the already existing regular police in green uniform and the SA or the Storm Troopers, these included the Gestapo (secret state police), the SS (the protection squads), criminal police and the Security Service (SD).