In The Origins of Totalitarianism, Hannah Arendt proposed that a totalitarian regime is founded upon a combination of ideology and terror. Assuming the accuracy of her analysis, how were these concepts applied in Nazi Germany and how was the process of coordinating all social interaction perceived by the average non-Jewish citizen of the Reich?
How was the regime perceived by those at the top? How did ideology and terror serve to undermine the dignity attached to human freedom, numb self-awareness, and atomize German society? These are among the key issues addressed in this lecture.