ABSTRACT
Portrayals of Hitler's rule in the years following the demise of the Nazi regime focused heavily upon extreme terror and violent repression as its chief characteristics. Generally, then, repression was aimed at the powerless and unpopular sections of German society. The creation of a repressive organisation with a dynamic ideological aim closely tied to the 'charismatic' mission of the 'Führer state' is of decisive importance for the exercise of Hitler's power. This chapter, pointing out how mistaken it would be to dissociate repression from consensus, and to presuppose a population subjugated against its will to the mighty and tyranny of the Gestapo. Although in the final stages of the war, with consensus undermined, the escalating level of repression was crucial in preventing an internal collapse as had taken place in 1918, for much of the Third Reich not only Hitler personally but also the police apparatus which provided such a crucial prop to his power had widespread support.
