terror + oppression

SS

est 1925 as part of SA but made independent after NoLK 1934

led by Himmler

highly educated + physically elite members

acted independently of government

roles:

• police functions

• enslavement of foreign labour

• running of CCs + carrying out of racial policy

einsatgruppen killed enemies of the state in foreign territories

waffen SS

combat arm of the SS est start of WW2

resisted by wehrmacht but were tactically put under their control during war

900 000 soldiers @ peak

gestapo

est 1933 and under control of Himmler

responsible for internal security of Reich

made up of men from various police forces across state

investigated + suppressed anti-state activities

were able to summon + indefinitely detain people as per DftPoPaS

reality of the gestapo

wasn’t as widespread + brutal as suggested in propaganda

only 15 000 personnel to 69M population

heavily dependent on reports from citizens (60 - 90%)

homosexuals

declared illegal under s175 of CC

15 000 sent to CCs

Himmler declared death penalty for any homosexuals in SS

death rate 60% in CCs

forced to wear pink triangles

charges were used as a justification of KoLN

romani

regarded as untermenschen as not aryan

seen as antisocial due to nomadic lifestyle → challebged volksgemeinschaft

all romani living in G and conquered territories were deported to CCs over the course of the war

>200 000 killed

physically/mentally disabled

under leadership of Philipp Bouhler in 1939

275 000 killed by 1945