Editing Nazi Germany (section)

=== Government ===
{{Main|Government of Nazi Germany}}
[[File:WWII, Europe, Germany, "Nazi Hierarchy, Hitler, Goering, Goebbels, Hess", The Desperate Years p143 - NARA - 196509.jpg|thumb|Hitler, Göring, Goebbels and [[Rudolf Hess]] during a military parade in 1933|alt=]]
Hitler ruled Germany autocratically by asserting the ''[[Führerprinzip]]'' ("leader principle"), which called for absolute obedience by all subordinates. He viewed the government structure as a pyramid, with himself—the infallible leader—at the apex. Party rank was not determined by elections, and positions were filled through appointment by those of higher rank.{{sfn|Kershaw|2008|pp=170, 172, 181}} The party used propaganda to develop a [[cult of personality]] around Hitler.{{sfn|Evans|2005|p=400}} Historians such as Kershaw emphasise the psychological impact of Hitler's skill as an orator.{{sfn|Kershaw|2008|pp=105–106}} Roger Gill states: "His moving speeches captured the minds and hearts of a vast number of the German people: he virtually hypnotized his audiences".{{sfn|Gill|2006|p=259}}

While top officials reported to Hitler and followed his policies, they had considerable autonomy.{{sfn|Kershaw|2001|p=253}} He expected officials to "work towards the Führer"&nbsp;– to take the initiative in promoting policies and actions in line with party goals and Hitler's wishes, without his involvement in day-to-day decision-making.{{sfn|Kershaw|2008|pp=320–321}} The government was a disorganised collection of factions led by the party elite, who struggled to amass power and gain the Führer's favour.{{sfn|McElligott|Kirk|Kershaw|2003|p=6}} Hitler's leadership style was to give contradictory orders to his subordinates and to place them in positions where their duties and responsibilities overlapped.{{sfn|Speer|1971|p=281}} In this way he fostered distrust, competition, and infighting among his subordinates to consolidate and maximise his own power.{{sfn|Manvell|Fraenkel|2007|p=29}}

Successive ''[[Reichsstatthalter]]'' decrees between 1933 and 1935 abolished the existing ''Länder'' ([[States of the Weimar Republic|constituent states]]) of Germany and replaced them with new [[Administrative divisions of Nazi Germany|administrative divisions]], the ''Gaue'', governed by Nazi leaders (''[[Gauleiter]]s'').{{sfn|Evans|2005|pp=48–49}} The change was never fully implemented, as the Länder were still used as administrative divisions for some government departments such as education. This led to a bureaucratic tangle of overlapping jurisdictions and responsibilities typical of the administrative style of the Nazi regime.{{sfn|Freeman|1995|p=6}}

Jewish civil servants lost their jobs in 1933, except for those who had seen military service in World War I. Members of the Party or party supporters were appointed in their place.{{sfn|Evans|2005|pp=14–15, 49}} As part of the process of ''Gleichschaltung'', the Reich Local Government Law of 1935 abolished local elections, and mayors were appointed by the Ministry of the Interior.{{sfn|Evans|2005|p=49}}