Between 1933 and 1939, the Fascist Nazi state, under the rule of Adolf Hitler was reliant on a combination of fear caused by force, and popular support for its maintenance. It is difficult to decide exactly whether fear or support was more effective, as because of the Fascist regime, the German public were forbidden to express their opinions as the historians Noakes and Pridham had commented, "an independent public opinion did not exist in the Third Reich." Therefore, there is much historical debate and controversy caused among those who believe that fear caused by force was the main factor keeping Hitler in power and those who believe that the Nazi state survived due to popular support from the German people. The historian Buchheim is an example of someone who considers the exploitation of fear to be responsible, as opposed to Wilt, who gives more credit to popular support for Nazism. …
