Thus hatred of the Treaty of Versailles resulted in hatred of the first German democratic Weimar Republic, which signed the treaty. Germans had little experience and interest in a republic, but they felt a passionate desire to pay the Allies back and make Germany the "greatest nation" in the world again. As Hitler was such a passionate speaker many Germans enthusiastically believed in many things he said and promised them. Another reason that helped the Nazis gained power was that after WW1 the Communists violently attempted to overthrow the government. Many people since then feared a communist takeover. Thus for the moderate German the Nazi Party only proved to be strong enough to prevent a communist capture of the country. .
Totalitarianism is government control over all aspects of a particular country and a person's life. A totalitarian state is usually led by a dictator, which is "above" the law and has the power over life and death. In such a state common good is placed over individual good, opponents are ruthlessly prosecuted and the armies as well as the police forces serve as political weapons. The Nazi regime in Germany was a totalitarian one, because its government leaders showed no mercy toward potential opponents as this speech from Herman Goring displays:.
" Police officers who use weapons in carrying out their duties will be covered by me. Whoever misguidedly fails in this duty can expect disciplinary action. Every bullet, which leaves the barrel of a police pistol, now is my bullet. If one calls this murder, then I have murdered. I ordered this. I back it up. I assume responsibility, and I am not afraid to do so. I don't have to worry about justice. My mission is only to destroy & exterminate, nothing more! " (Middleton, D. 1987).
Hitler also stated what would happen to opponents of the regime.
"The German people have been soft too long. Every communist official must be shot.
