action.[126]

As its parliamentary strength increased, the party was able to achieve
these aims:

It was in a position to make the formation of any positive
majority in the Reichstag impossible.... Thus the NSDAP was
able through its strong position to make the Reichstag
powerless as a lawgiving and government-forming body.[127]

The same principle was followed by Germany in weakening and
undermining the governments of countries which it had chosen for its
victims. While it was Hitler's policy to concentrate on only one
objective at a time, German agents were busy throughout the world in
ferreting out the natural political, social, and economic cleavages in
various countries and in broadening them in order to create internal
confusion and uncertainty. Foreign political leaders of Fascist or
authoritarian persuasion were encouraged and often liberally
subsidized from Nazi funds. Control was covertly obtained over
influential newspapers and periodicals and their editorial policies
shaped in such a way as to further Nazi ends. In the countries Germany
sought to overpower, all the highly developed organs of Nazi
propaganda were utilized to confuse and divide public opinion, to
discredit national leaders and institutions, and to induce an
unjustified feeling of confidence in the false assertions of Nazi
leaders disclaiming any aggressive intentions.

One of the most important features introduced by the Nazis into German
foreign policy was the appreciation of the value of Germans living
abroad and their organization as implements of the Reich for the
attainment of objectives in the field of foreign policy. This idea was
applied by the Nazis to all the large colonies of Germans which are
scattered throughout the world. The potential usefulness of these
colonies was early recognized by the men in Hitler's immediate
entourage, several of whom were so-called _Auslandsdeutsche_ who had
spent many years of their life abroad and were familiar with foreign
conditions and with the position and influence of German groups in
foreign countries. Of particular importance in this group were Rudolf
Hess, the Fuehrer's Deputy, who was primarily responsible for
elaborating the policy which utilized the services of Germans abroad,
and Ernst Wilhelm Bohle, the leader of the Foreign Organization, who
was responsible for winning over these Germans to Naziism and for
their organization in groups which would serve the purpo