4 German Society and Hitler
The Nazi Party’s Gleichschaltung (»coordination«) of politics and society went hand in hand with the voluntary collaboration of a society longing for security and strong leadership as well as for participation in social community and social ascendency. Propaganda and the social practice of the National Socialist Volksgemeinschaft (»national community«) appeared to fulfil these expectations and gave rise to the frequently expressed conviction that one must support the »Führer« in his effort to build up the nation. Social promises and successes in securing work and food for the people ensured the increasing approval of the government by almost all classes of society. However, the people were only too willing to overlook the exclusion and persecution of those »foreign to the community«.
