Gleichschaltung

The German word Gleichschaltung {{Audio|De-Gleichschaltung-pronunciation.ogg|listen}} (literally "synchronising", synchronization) is used in a political sense to describe the process by which the Nazi regime successively established a system of totalitarian control over the individual, and tight coordination over all aspects of society and commerce. Another possible translation may be "to make equal". One goal of this politics was to enforce a specific way of doctrine and thinking to everybody, eliminating individualism. The term itself is a typical Nazi euphemism.

Sources; further reading

• Karl Kroeschell, Deutsche Rechtsgeschichte 3 (seit 1650), 2nd ed. 1989, ISBN 3-531-22139-6
• Karl Kroeschell, Rechtsgeschichte Deutschlands im 20. Jahrhundert, 1992, ISBN 3-8252-1681-0
• Lebendiges virtuelles Museum Online: Die Errichtung des Einparteienstaats 1933, http://www.dhm.de/lemo/html/nazi/innenpolitik/einparteienstaat/index.html