Life in nazi germany

Nazi Germany was a totalitarian state, meaning all aspects of Germans’ lives were controlled by the government. It was also one in which those deemed ‘enemies of the state’ were ruthlessly persecuted.

Police State

A government that maintains control over its citizens through surveillance, intimidation, and repression.

Schutzstaffel (SS)

The most important organization in Nazi Germany, initially Hitler's bodyguard, later responsible for concentration camps and enforcing loyalty to the Führer.

Gestapo

The secret police of Nazi Germany tasked with monitoring the population for opposition to the regime.

Sicherheitsdienst (SD)

The intelligence agency of the SS, responsible for gathering information and ensuring the security of Nazi leaders.

Nazi control of the legal system

The manipulation of the judiciary to suppress opposition, requiring loyalty oaths from judges and controlling lawyers.

Ministry of Propaganda

The government department led by Joseph Goebbels, responsible for disseminating Nazi ideology and controlling public information.

Censorship

The suppression of free press and control over media to ensure only favorable stories about the Nazi regime were published.

Hitler Youth

A youth organization aimed at indoctrinating German children into Nazi ideology, preparing boys for military service and girls for motherhood.

Autarky

The Nazi policy aimed at making Germany self-sufficient, which ultimately failed as the country continued to rely on imports.

Law for the Encouragement of Marriage

A policy that provided financial incentives for newlyweds to have children, promoting Aryan population growth.

Edelweiss Pirates

A youth opposition group that resisted Nazi control by engaging in anti-Nazi activities and promoting pre-1933 culture.

Nuremberg Laws

Legislation that institutionalized anti-Semitism by stripping Jews of citizenship and civil rights.

Kristallnacht

A violent pogrom against Jews in November 1938, marking a significant escalation in anti-Jewish violence and persecution.

Euthanasia program

The Nazi policy of systematically murdering individuals with disabilities, justified by their belief in genetic superiority.

Final Solution

The Nazi plan for the extermination of the Jewish people, culminating in mass killings during World War II.