For the popularity controversy: evidence that the regime was popular
1 the plebiscites: series of these held in Germany over various issues. The result of these tend to show that people supported hitler's policies. Hitler regularly renewed his mandate to rule by holding referenda in which his policies would receive overwhelming support, thus giving the apperance that his regime was legitimate and popular. For example 99% voted yes in the support for the Union of Germany and Austria (Anschluss). Even though the Saarland had been placed under the League of Nations after ww1, the plebiscite run by the league had similar results to the rest of Germany run by the nazis
2 lack of opposition: no significant attempts to overthrow the regime. There were plots to remove hitter but these came from lone individuals or groups in the elite such as a plan to remove hitter by General Beck in 1938 but these plots can not be said to represent public opinion. Also, underground opposition didn't have widespread support during this era. Opposition groups tended to have only a small number of supporters. It was very difficult to form a significant opposition after the first year of the consolidation of power.
Legality of the seizure of power- enabling act destroyed trade unions, forced the KPD and SPD to go underground and in exile, brought in loyal Gauleiters to run the lander. Civil service, police, lawyers and press all under nazi control. But the seizure of power also involved a great deal of violence at grass root level directed towards the political left, Jews and other minority groups which the majority of the population accepted.
3 collaboration: historian Gellately argues the regime was a consensus dictatorship because it heavily relied on collaboration from ordinary people who were supportive of the nazi regime. Support of ordinary people suggests that people believed in nazi ideas and wanted to workforce the nazis or at least people tolerated e and their persecution of minority groups. Can also be said that repression was not as extensive as sometimes thought with only 4000 people, mostly a-socials, put in concentration camps in 1935. The use of concentration camps was widely known about and supported. Historians agree tart the nazis secured acceptance and conformity through a combination of terror and propaganda as said by Alan Bullock.
4 impact of propaganda: goebbels was in charge of Ministry of Popular Enlightenment and Propaganda. Newspapers were censored, editors received daily press briefings, content of newsreels was controlled, radio was used to propagate nazi messages, the annual nazi Nuremberg rally became a showcase for nazi power, education and nazi organisations like the hitter youth and nazi women's league were also used to promote nazi ideas.
But propaganda undermines the argument that it was a consensus dictatorship because if people were subject to propaganda they may have Beene manioulated into supporting the regime and cannot have said to have freely consented. Furthermore, impact of propaganda was most effective when built upon people's existing ideas and prejudices. The nazis didn't succeed in creating a nation unified around the Nazi Volksgemeinschaft.
5 popular policies: some policies were genuinely popular and some improved the lives of the German people. In areas of economy and foreign policy Nazi policy did appear to be successful
In foreign policy the army managed to peacefully and successfully remilitarise the Rhineland in 1936 and unify Germany in 1938 overturning two terms of treaty of Versailles
Economic policy- unemployment was reduced to under 1 million by 1935 and economic growth returned, although it started to do this before hitter came to power but he reaped the benefits
6 legacy of the Weimar Republic: people supported the nazis also because they thought Weimar democracy had failed. People's memories of the economic and political crisis in the final years of the Weimar Republic would be likely to increase support for a regime that seemed to bring greater stability to the lives of many Germans. People were looking for strong leadership and a belief in the national revival of the nation to a great power.
7 hitler myth: goebbels worked hard to create an image of hitter as a saviour of Germany. Hitler was shown in poses reminiscent of Jesus or as a modern day Teutonic knight. Hitler myth associated hitter with the popular aspects of the regime such as foreign policy and the 1936 Olympics. Presented hitler as a representative of the whole nation who stood above politics. Positive view that many people had of Hitler contributed to the level of support the Nazi regime enjoyed in 1930s
Hope this helps, sorry about any errors
Feel free to add anything or correct me