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The first steps during Democracy before the dictator takes control. This stage usually consists of someone exploiting current conditions and pushing their ideology to find a way to gain complete power.
Using pressing economic issues helps to build a foundation for popularity. Understanding how to think critically of how the situation can benefit you and employing pathos is crucial. Due to dire conditions, people need solutions, and it will minimize potential resistance in the future.
When the Nazis wanted power, Hitler saw the burden of poverty and their defeat in WWI (Davis 92). By noticing their suffering, he used their hardships in campaigns to create desperate, but loyal followers.
Finding an issue that appeals to many creates positive light around a campaign. Once they find a topic that reaches a wide audience, and one that many people can resonate with, they can use the idea for other purposes.
When the new Polish government came into power, they found that they could appeal to many people by rebranding their ideology into "traditional norms". (DW Documentary 22:28-22:52). Once they silenced the opposition, the general population usually agreed with their beliefs (DW Documentary 23:35-23:52).
After finding appeal, they introduce ideology into their speeches. Using an idea everyone agrees upon and associating your ideology with those ideas can implicitly change people's beliefs. From there, it is easier to give reason to your power or create false senses of danger.
Once the new Polish government gained traction, they began enforcing their values onto others. As a result, ideas of traditional norms brought hatred and harmful behavior, while victims of sexual abuse were ridiculed (DW Documentary 22:20-22:58). Meanwhile, the public was on board with the government's ideas since they silenced any opposition (DW Documentary 23:12-23:52).
When finding power, creating friendships with people in power is substantial to gaining authority. After making those bonds, that person can put the individual in power or give them what they want. If there isn't any power, they can create friendships with others to create power.
The RSS is an organization in India that hopes to create a Hindu state in India (DW Documentary 13:08-13:40). Prime Minister Modi is the head of the organization of 6 million members, so once he gained power, the RSS could use him to pass new laws (DW Documentary 13:28-13:40). Now, they control the school, education, and government legislation.
Their reign begins once they can find a loophole to bring themselves to power. From there, they must prevent anyone else from stopping them by changing laws, creating propaganda, and eliminating resistance.
By murdering high-ranking officials or having relations with others in power, taking the highest seat of authority puts them above everyone else. From there, the person can also pass new laws to make sure they stay in power. It doesn't mean indefinite power, but it is the first step towards true authority without much opposition or pushback.
Once Hitler was appointed chancellor, the Nazis faked the Reichstag fire and blamed the Communists (USHMM 10:00-10:20). This gave Hitler full emergency control along with Hindenburg, and he took away many people's rights (USHMM 10:20-10:59). After Hindenburg died, the coalition government disbanded and the Nazis had full power.
Eliminating the opposition doesn't only consist of murder, but other non-violent techniques alongside them. If murder is not applicable, taking control of the press and spreading propaganda can help to silence the critical voices. From there, the autocrat can murder or silence any potential opposition, effectively removing their influence.
For example, the Russian government silences any anti-Russian critique, using measures including cutting funding for most NGOs and creating fake NGOs to mislead the public (DW Documentary 16:44-17:00). By creating frauds, they could display pro-Putin retaliation against real NGOs, leading the public to believe the true NGOs were causing harm (DW Documentary 17:36-18:04).
Often, select individuals seek autocratic power so their plans eventually manifest into its final form: what they wanted to happen all along. It usually consists of large, cataclysmic events that have profound impacts on the future and irreversible consequences.
In 1939, Hitler enacted "The Final Solution", which led to the genocide of millions of Jews and other racial minorities (Davis 112). Throughout his journey to autocracy, he always strived to exterminate all people with no Aryan traits, and the plan finally manifested itself when he gained true power (Davis 112-113).
World War II, also known as the Second World War, was a global war that lasted
Eventually, the Authoritarian government will come to an end. After finding a reason to resist, outside or inside forces can overthrow the government. From there, they must decide the fate and control of those who were once in power and return everything to normal.
Before authoritarian governments throughout history disappear, there has to be a motive for resistance. Often, it is because people don't agree with the government or victims resisting to survive. It can also come in the form of outside countries resisting by helping those on the inside, usually since the authoritarian government threatens their country or some empathize with the victims.
Resistance from the Nazi regime came in many forms, both from Jewish and Non-Jewish people. On the Jewish side, many revolted against the Nazis at several killing centers, as well as Jews from outside countries providing assistance (USHMM, "Jewish Resistance"). On the other hand, Non-Jewish people resisted by not following Nazi rule, exposing them, or even trying to assassinate some high-ranking officials (USHMM, "Non-Jewish Resistance").
If there is an active movement for resistance against the authoritarian government, with enough brute force, they can overthrow them. That happens by the government surrenduring, giving up their power, or being forced out. After losing power, either another entity is in control or no one is yet.
From 1941 to 1945, the Allies attacked Germany and outnumbered their troops, with the Soviets attacking from the east and the other Allies from the west (Davis 142). Once they sieged the country, the Nazis were forced to surrender and the authoritarian government lost their control.
After someone overthrows the government, the autocrats and other high ranking officials are often punished for their crimes and have to pay in some way. Then, outside countries or other groups wanting power must figure out who will control the country.
The Allies used the Nuremburg trials to decide what happened to the main perpetrators in the Nazi Regime (USHMM, "Nuremburg Trials"). They decided who was guilty, who may have been innocent, and who should take control of the country afterwards.
After their fate is decided, someone or some group must step up and take power. In the case of an outside country forcing the authoritarian government to surrender, they will usually run the country. However, if resistance from the inside was the reason for the authoritarian government splitting, then usually it is someone or some group that wants to be in power.
After the war, the Allies split control of Germany between countries into four main sections, while Berlin was also split into several parts (Davis 143). Afterwards, what was once Nazi Germany became a democratic government controlled by several countries.
Works Cited
Davis, Kenneth C. Strongman. Square Fish, 2022.
"Jewish Resistance." United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/jewish-resistance. Accessed 21 Jan. 2023.
"Non-Jewish Resistance." United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/non-jewish-resistance. Accessed 21 Jan. 2023.
"Nuremburg Trials." United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/the-nuremberg-trials. Accessed 20 Jan. 2023.
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. "The Path to Nazi Genocide." United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, www.ushmm.org/learn/holocaust/path-to-nazi-genocide/the-path-to-nazi-genocide/full-film. Accessed 20 Jan. 2023.
"Why Are Autocrats Popular? - Assault on Democracy." YouTube, uploaded by DW Documentary, Alphabet, 6 Nov. 2021, www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWOlugUj4Qk. Accessed 20 Jan. 2023.