I would say that they feared what he was capable of, no doubt, but also accepted him simply because they were vulnerable enough after the Treaty of Versailles and the Crisis of 1923, etc. to accept the loss of some their liberties in order to keep some economic well being. I guess he could command some respect, but groups such as the Hitler Youth were no doubt also built on a small sense of fear of not being accepted. But Goebbels and co. built his aura up enough to warrant some respect for Mein Fuhrer I suppose. Interesting question.