politically supporting class within the German people and the encouragement of those political tendencies which make a man a political leader.  To educate to political creativeness is just as impossible as to educate to genius.  Education can only furnish the spiritual atmosphere, can only prepare the spiritual living-space for the politically creative personality by forming a uniform political consciousness in the socialistic personality, and in the development of politically creative personalities it can at the most give special attention to those values of character and spirit which are of decisive importance for the development of this personality.[68]

Goebbels in The Nature and Form of National Socialism (document 2, post p. 170) emphasizes the responsibility of the party for the leadership of the state: 

The party must always continue to represent the hierarchy of National Socialist leadership.  This minority must always insist upon its prerogative to control the state.  It must keep the way open for the German youth which wishes to take its place in this hierarchy.  In reality the hierarchy has fewer rights than duties!  It is responsible for the leadership of the state and it solemnly relieves the people of this responsibility.  It has the duty to control the state in the best interests and to the general welfare of the nation.[69]

Dr. Frick, German Minister of the Interior, in his chapter in Germany Speaks indicates the exclusive position of the party in the Third Reich: 

     National Socialist Germany, however, is not merely a unitary
     state:  it is also a unitary nation and its governance is
     based on the principle of leadership ...

In National Socialist Germany, leadership is in the hands of an organized community, the National Socialist Party; and as the latter represents the will of the nation, the policy adopted by it in harmony with the vital interests of the nation is at the same time the policy adopted by the country ...  The National Socialist Party is the only political party in Germany and therefore the true representative of the people ...[70]

To Dr. Ley, the party is identical with the Fuehrer.  As he wrote in the Angriff on April 9, 1942 (document 6, post p. 184), “The National Socialist Party is Hitler, and Hitler is the party.”

The role of the party in legislation, in political matters, and in the appointment of Government officials is indicated by the Fuehrer’s decree of May 29, 1941,[71] as amplified by the order of January 16, 1942, concerning its execution.[72] (Document 9, post p. 212).  This order provides that all legislative proposals and proposed laws and decrees, as well as any proposed changes therein, must pass through and receive the approval of the Party Chancelry.

2.  Party Membership

Details concerning the qualifications and duties of party members are contained in the Party Organization Book for 1940 (document 7, post p. 186).