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A group of 18 men pose for a photograph with Hitler in the middle left wearing a dark suit.

Gleichschaltung: Coordinating the Nazi State

The Nazi Party came to power in 1933 and quickly began trying to control all aspects of society. This internal consolidation of power to remake Germany as a Nazi state was known as Gleichschaltung. The term is a German word that means “coordination” or “synchronization.” Under Gleichschaltung, German political, social, and cultural life were rearranged to serve Nazi goals.