Klemperer detected a certain hysteria of language in the new flood of decrees, alarms, and intimidation-This perpetual threatening with the death penalty!-and in strange, inexplicable episodes of paranoid excess, like the recent nationwide search. In all this Klemperer saw a deliberate effort to generate a kind of daily suspense, copied from American cinema and thrillers, that helped keep people in line. He also gauged it to be a manifestation of insecurity among those in power. In
Klemperer noted a certain hysteria surrounding the language used in the barrage of decrees and intimidation he observed, including the constant threat of the death penalty. He pointed out the unusual paranoia visible in widespread searches and similar episodes, which he believed were designed to instill fear and control people. This crafting of daily suspense resembled themes from American movies and thrillers, implying a concerted effort to maintain order through fear.
Furthermore, Klemperer interpreted these tactics as reflective of the insecurity among those in positions of power. The constant state of alarm and scrutiny not only aimed at keeping citizens compliant but also revealed the desperation of the authorities to assert dominance amidst their own fears.
