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." …showed first 75 words of 2739 total…

…showed last 75 words of 2739 total…succeed without the other and that the exploitation of fear along with use of persuasion and propaganda helped Hitler to consolidate his position as the leader of Germany. This view supports the opinion of the two historians, Noakes and Pridham who take the compromise view that: "Although the regime deployed a formidable apparatus of terror, it is clear that it was also based on a large measure of consent from broad sections of the population."