How far do you agree with this opinion? Explain your answer using the evidence of Sources Y, Z and AA and your own knowledge of the issues relating to the controversy.
Sources Y, Z and AA all bring different arguments to the opinion that ‘The Nazi regime enjoyed broad consent brought about by popular policies’. Arguments such as the people of Germany could see through the policies, that they took advantage of the policies but did not believe in the Nazi Regime and that the Nazi Regime did enjoy broad consent brought about by popular policies are all presented in the sources and will be analysed in order to come to an evaluated conclusion.
The first opinion presented in the sources is that the Nazi regime enjoyed broad consent brought about by popular policies. Source Y partially agrees with this statement, stating that ‘The symbolic payments of the state, special contributions of industry, as well as ‘strength through joy’ trips and events stabilised relations to the Hitler state to a not inconsiderable degree’. This argues that the policies put forward by the Nazi regime helped to get the people of Germany on their side and were enjoyed fully.
Source AA also partially agrees that the Nazi regime enjoyed broad consent brought about by popular policies as it states that, ‘ ‘Strength through Joy’ became one of the most popular of the regime’s cultural innovations… The organisation became widely appreciated’. Thus supporting the argument that broad consent was brought about by popular policies as Source AA argues that the policies were some of the most popular additions that the regime made and were greatly valued by the people.
It is well known that Robert Ley established Schonheit der Arbeir and Kraft durch Freude in November 1933 that create opportunities for the people such as improved working conditions and theatre trips. By 1938, 18,000 workers had been on a Kraft durch Freude