nach oben

Erschienen in:

2019 | OriginalPaper | Buchkapitel

4. Vertical Trust Networks in the Nazi Bureaucracy

verfasst von : Franklin G. Mixon Jr.

Erschienen in: A Terrible Efficiency

Verlag: Springer International Publishing

Einloggen

Aktivieren Sie unsere intelligente Suche, um passende Fachinhalte oder Patente zu finden.

search-config

KI-gestützte Suche

Aus

Abstract

This chapter discusses the role of vertical trust—the trust that governs the relationship between superiors and subordinates in an organization—in determining both the capacity for efficient behavior within a bureau and the level of productivity of the subordinates within the bureau. Vertical trust is determined by a number of factors that are measurable, such as the frequency of promotions within the bureaucracy and the perquisites available to subordinates in the bureaucracy, which include bonuses and other benefits and awards. Examples of the factors present in the Nazi bureaucracy that are discussed in this chapter include advancement and perquisites in the SS, and rewards to those who orchestrated the Reichstag fire, which established Adolf Hitler’s dictatorship in 1933.

Sie haben noch keine Lizenz? Dann Informieren Sie sich jetzt über unsere Produkte:

Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik"

Online-Abonnement

Mit Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik" erhalten Sie Zugriff auf:

über 102.000 Bücher
über 537 Zeitschriften

aus folgenden Fachgebieten:

Automobil + Motoren
Bauwesen + Immobilien
Business IT + Informatik
Elektrotechnik + Elektronik
Energie + Nachhaltigkeit
Finance + Banking
Management + Führung
Marketing + Vertrieb
Maschinenbau + Werkstoffe
Versicherung + Risiko

Jetzt Wissensvorsprung sichern!

Jetzt informieren

Springer Professional "Wirtschaft"

Online-Abonnement

Mit Springer Professional "Wirtschaft" erhalten Sie Zugriff auf:

über 67.000 Bücher
über 340 Zeitschriften

aus folgenden Fachgebieten:

Bauwesen + Immobilien
Business IT + Informatik
Finance + Banking
Management + Führung
Marketing + Vertrieb
Versicherung + Risiko

Jetzt Wissensvorsprung sichern!

Jetzt informieren

Vorheriges Kapitel Bureaucratic Competition in the Third Reich

Nächstes Kapitel Horizontal Trust Networks in the Nazi Bureaucracy

Nur mit Berechtigung zugänglich

Again, this is because the main impediment to subordinate investments in specific capital is the presence of high transactions costs or mistrust between superiors and subordinates (Breton and Wintrobe 1982: 134).

It seems straightforward how, at this point, the Breton and Wintrobe (1982, 1986) theses regarding bureaucratic organization are applicable to other organizations that constitute what is (and was) known as Nazi Germany.

Warlimont would later write an account of his experiences in Hitler’s military headquarters (Warlimont 1991).

Himmler’s position of Reichsführer-SS was equivalent to the rank of General of the Army in the case of the U.S. Army (Snyder 1989: 280).

Mixon et al. (2004a) indicate that SS ranks ranging from SS-Hauptsturmführer up through SS-Standartenführer (see Table 4.1) constitute, from a statistical perspective, the median range of ranks in that organization. As such, appointments ranging from the 30th percentile through the 70th percentile represent median-level appointments.

Goeth is one of the primary characters in the seven-time Academy Award-winning motion picture, Schindler’s List (Zaillian 1993), wherein he is portrayed by Ralph Fiennes.

Dates and events regarding the careers of officials in the SS often conflict from source to source. This discussion relies on data from Snyder (1989), Mixon et al. (2004a, 2004b), the Holocaust Encyclopedia (United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, www.ushmm.org), and elsewhere, including, but not limited to, Cesarini (2005) and www.historyplace.com

Only Eichmann, Franz, and Paul Blobel, the Commander of Einsatzkommando C who led the Babi Yar massacre, failed to ultimately rise above a median-level position. Of course, the relatively low starting point in each case is an important consideration regarding this result (Mixon et al. 2004a: 862).

Von dem Bach-Zelewski’s ranking in 1939 exceeds Heydrich’s 1941 ranking by one level.

In computing these percentages, Mixon et al. (2004b) include only Heydrich’s end-of-year 1931 rank of SS-Sturmbannführer (see Table 4.3), and not the ranks he held in the eight days preceding his promotion to that end-of-year rank. Thus, the percentages in Mixon et al. (2004b) at least slightly underestimate the speed of advancement.

See TL Editors (1990: 5).

See TL Editors (1990: 5–6).

According to d’Almeida (2011: 78), “[w]ithin such practices, a penchant for luxury dovetails with the idea of rareness and selection, which themselves were imbricated with notions of racial selection and superiority.” See Mixon (1993) for historical accounts of the importance of accolades, including medals, to honor the accomplishments of German Luftwaffe aces during World War II.

See TL Editors (1990: 64).

Hitler designed a badge that was awarded to officers who were injured in the July 1944 assassination attempt against Hitler that was carried out by the resistance movement (TL Editors 1990: 164–165).

See TL Editors (1989a: 121).

See TL Editors (1989a: 122–123).

See TL Editors (1989b: 70–71).

See TL Editors (1989a: 29).

Most new designs were created by students and masters at the state trade schools, and once a pattern had been selected, it was submitted to the Reich Goods Center for final approval (TL Editors 1989a: 29).

See TL Editors (1989a: 29).

The SS dagger was awarded to officers in the SS (TL Editors 1988: 40).

The SS swords were worn only at ceremonies (TL Editors 1988: 41). The SS ring, which was awarded to SS officers and ordinary members “in good standing,” displayed a death’s head and asterisk-like rune on the outside signifying heil (i.e., hail) and Himmler’s signature on the inside (TL Editors 1988: 40).

See TL Editors (1988: 40).

A seminal study in this particular stream of research by Merton (1973) asserts that one key function of awards is to curb acute self-doubt.

This finding is supported in more recent studies by Levitt and Neckermann (2014), Neckermann et al. (2014) and Kosfeld et al. (2016). Adding to their importance in the above regard, awards also often provide remuneration (for their recipients) that is not taxed in the same way as traditional work-related compensation (Frey and Neckermann 2009).

Studies by Chan and Torgler (2012) and Chan et al. (2014) focusing on awards in academia support the prior research by showing that academic awards induce greater motivation and effort in their recipients. For additional, related work see Faria et al. (2016, 2017) and Chan et al. (2018).

Hitler committed suicide inside his bunker in Berlin on April 30, 1945.

The newsreel cameras were also present (TL Editors 1992: 118), presumably in an effort to inspire similar loyalty from others fighting to defend Berlin.

Goering typically offered a token payment (or promise thereof) for stolen art in order to give the appearance of honest acquisition (Rothfeld 2002).

It took fire engines hours to quell the fire, which destroyed the debating chamber and the Reichstag’s gilded cupola, ultimately causing over $1 million in damage (Boissoneault 2017).

See Holocaust Encyclopedia (United State Holocaust Memorial Museum, www.ushmm.org).

As a result of the Decree, Germany became a police state in which citizens enjoyed no guaranteed basic rights and the SS wielded increasing authority through its control over the police (Holocaust Encyclopedia, United States Holocaust Memorial, www.ushmm.org).

On May 7, 1933, Oberfohren reportedly committed suicide in Kiel, Germany (Snyder 1989: 257).

As a successful fighter pilot in the German Luftwaffe during World War I, the rank of Haupsturmführer, which is equivalent to captain in the U.S. armed forces hierarchy, represented Goering’s position in that organization in 1933.