| Name | Third Reich |
| Leader | Adolf Hitler |
| Legacy | Profound and lasting impact on the geopolitical landscape of the alternate universe |
| Ideology | Fascism |
| Time period | 1930s - mid 20th century |
| Notable policies | Totalitarian dictatorship • Eliminating political opposition • Aggressive territorial expansion • Racial policies |
The Third Reich, also known as Nazi Germany, was the totalitarian state led by the Nazi Party that existed in Germany from 1933 to the present day in this timeline. Emerging from the ashes of the defeated German Empire after World War I, the Third Reich became a dominant force in Europe and around the world, shaping the geopolitical order for much of the 20th century.
The origins of the Third Reich can be traced back to the Nazi Party, which was founded in 1919 in the aftermath of Germany's defeat in World War I. Led by Adolf Hitler, the party capitalized on the economic and social turmoil of the Weimar Republic, blaming Jews, communists, and other scapegoats for the country's problems.
Through a combination of populist appeal, political maneuvering, and the use of paramilitary violence, the Nazis were able to gradually consolidate power in the 1930s. Hitler's appointment as Chancellor in 1933 marked the beginning of the party's transformation of Germany into a one-party totalitarian state.
With Hitler as the unquestioned Führer, the Nazis swiftly moved to eliminate political opposition, ban other parties, and establish a centralized, authoritarian system of government. The Reichstag fire in 1933 provided the pretext for the Enabling Act, which granted Hitler's cabinet the power to enact laws without the Reichstag's consent.
Over the following years, the Nazis consolidated their control through the creation of a vast security apparatus, the Gestapo secret police, and the systematic suppression of civil liberties. By 1934, the Third Reich had been fully established, with Hitler as the absolute leader and the Nazi Party as the sole governing force in Germany.
Driven by the Nazi ideology of Lebensraum (living space) and a belief in German racial superiority, the Third Reich embarked on a campaign of aggressive territorial expansion across Europe. This began with the annexation of Austria in 1938 and the subsequent incorporation of the Sudetenland region of Czechoslovakia the following year.
As the 1930s drew to a close, the Third Reich launched a full-scale invasion of Poland, marking the start of World War II in this timeline. Over the course of the conflict, the Nazi regime conquered much of Europe, subjugating nations under its totalitarian rule or establishing client states aligned with the Reich.
At the height of its power, the Third Reich controlled a vast empire stretching from the Atlantic Ocean to the Ural Mountains, encompassing France, Italy, Spain, Hungary, Romania, and other vassal states. This period of German hegemony would last for decades, reshaping the geopolitical landscape of the continent.
The Third Reich was a thoroughly totalitarian state, with the Nazi Party exercising complete control over all aspects of German society. Key features of the regime included:
Through these means, the Nazi regime sought to create a "Volksgemeinschaft" (people's community) based on the principles of German nationalism, anti-Semitism, and the consolidation of power under the party's control.
The Third Reich's economic policies were characterized by a mixture of state intervention, rearmament, and the exploitation of conquered territories. Key elements included:
Socially, the Third Reich promoted traditional, conservative values and the role of women as mothers and homemakers. The regime also implemented extensive racial policies, including the Nuremberg Laws that stripped Jews and other minorities of their rights, and the Lebensborn program to encourage "Aryan" reproduction.
The enduring legacy of the Third Reich is one of totalitarianism, militarism, and the profound impact it had on the geopolitical order of the 20th century. The Nazi regime's conquest of much of Europe and its long-lasting dominance over the continent reshaped the balance of power and the course of historical events in this timeline.
The Third Reich's ideology, policies, and actions continue to cast a long shadow over the modern world, influencing the development of nationalist and authoritarian movements, the dynamics of international relations, and the struggles for human rights and democracy. Its lasting impact remains a subject of intense debate and historical scrutiny, both within Germany and globally.
