Consent is permission for something to happen or agreement to do something. While it is true that it played a role in initiating Hitler's power and then maintaining it, it was not the most important element. Terror was the most important element in maintaining his power. The other important elements for Hitler's maintenance of power include propaganda, the need for an economic depression, and the removal of other political parties in Germany. Interpretations A and B refute the idea that consensus was the most important element in keeping Hitler's regime in power. Interpretations C and D however support the idea that consensus played an important element, although interpretation C was consensus through propaganda. Hans Rothfels provides the most convincing evidence to show that consensus was not the reason Hitler's regime was maintained for 12 years, but actually was. because of terror, the necessity of the terrible economic situation and also propaganda. The mixture of terror and propaganda in particular was what kept Hitler's regime in power; Rothfels defines them as having "widespread effectiveness". Rothfels expresses his view on the importance of terror as he states; "fear of the regime's overt and hidden weapons, "provoked a rush to join the party." Thus demonstrating that the "hidden weapons" of terror aroused a reaction in the population and encouraged them to join the party initially out of fear. It is true that Rothfels only really focuses on terrorism in the early years of Hitler's power; however there is much evidence to show that terrorism continued for years within the regime even after the National Socialist Party (NSDAP) had secured security the initial power. This was done through the continuous publication of pro...... means of paper ...... penetrated the minds of the people for several years encouraging them to accept the regime and not speak out against it over a long period of time. Fear caused the German people to conform to Nazi ideology and beliefs. Therefore, the regime never received any significant opposition worldwide as the true brutal reality of Nazi Germany and the his faithful mercenaries were unknown abroad. Terror crept into the minds of the population for several years, which made it so significant compared to the successes, consensus and Nazi propaganda. The terror began with the formation of the Gestapo in 1933, until Kristallnacht in 1938 and then continued until 1944 with the Warsaw Uprising, where the German army killed 250,000 Jews. Terror ensured long-term conformity and obedience of the people, while consent only initiated Hitler's regime in power.