History- Nazi Germany

How did Hitler create a police state using fear

How did Hitler create a police state using fear

SS- private police force used in the Night of the Long Knives, In charge of all police and security services so were above the law

SD- Kept card indexes of everyone suspected of opposing the Party at home and abroad

Gestapo- Own clothed police so people cautious of what they said and did as they were being watched, also tapped telephones and intercepted letters to gather info.

Concentration camps- First one opened in Dachau,1933 and ran by SA and SS. Imprisoned opposition, minority groups (Jews), and undesirables (gays and prostitutes)

How did Nazis control the Legal system

Judges had to be part of National Socialist League for Maintenance of Law
Judges decided innocence and punishment (abolished trial by Jury)

Set up People’s court to hear all cases of treason
Judges picked by Hitler
No right to appeal verdict

How did Nazis control the Religion

Catholic church- priests harassed and arrested, Catholic schools and youth activities banned

Protestant Church- Pastors who supported Hitler were allowed to continue, Protected from communism, formed the Reich church

How did Nazis control the Media

Published views the ministry agreed with
Journalists given guidelines to follow
Briefings with government on what you’re allowed to show

Radios broadcasted Nazi propaganda, Hitler often broadcasted himself
Cheap, mass-produced radios given to everyone to hear propaganda
Short range so couldn’t access foreign stations

How did Nazis use rallies and sports to establish control

Rallies held yearly to show unity
Surrounded by spotlights to highlight supporters and Nazi decorations everywhere

Olympic stadium built to hold 110k people and decorated with Nazi propaganda
Hosted Olympics to show German strength internationally

How did the Youth oppose Nazi regime

Edelweiss Pirates- rejected strict control and ideology of Hitler Youth, Distributed anti-nazi propaganda, armed resistance and beat up Hitler Youth on a small scale, 4/10 effectiveness

Swing Youth- Sought to create own cultural space that celebrated freedom, listened to banned music and wore non-conforming clothing, Did very little so 3/10 effectiveness

How did the Church oppose Nazi regime

Pastors Emergency League- Wanted religious freedom and didn’t want Nazis controlling church as they didn’t uphold Christian values.

Confessing Church- Found in 1934 and rejected idea of merging Christianity with Nazi principles. 6/10 effectiveness

Martin Niemoller- Initially supported Hitler but affirmed independence of Church by creating PEL in 1933 and Confessing Church in 1934

What were Nazi policies on appearance for women

Never created legislation that forced them to look certain way but was encouraged
Encouraged modest clothing with hair tied back in plaits or a bun
Discouraged from dyeing hair and wearing makeup

What were Nazi policies on employment for women

Reduced number of women in work by propaganda- tried to persuade women to behave differently and stay at home
Speeches encouraged women to leave work

1933- Women banned from professional posts such as teachers, doctors and civil servants (360k not in work)
1936- Women couldn’t become a judge or lawyer

What were Nazi policies on education for women

Schoolgirls trained for motherhood, not work
Taught housework and other domestic tasks
Grammar schools closed in 1937 which prepared them for university
Number of female students starting higher education dropped from 17k to 6k by 1939

What were Nazi policies on the family for women

Law for encouragement of marriage- Loans up to 1000 marks for young couples to marry if wife stopped work. Every child born meant 250 marks paid off so encouraged childbirth

Lebensborn- Provided nurseries and financial aid for women who had children with SS men. Encouraged breeding with SS men for “genetically pure “children

Mother’s cross- medals given to women for how much children they had. Bronze- 4/5 Silver- 6/7 and Gold- 8+, Hitler Godfather of 10th child

What were Nazi policies on male children

Joined Young Folk at 6 and Hitler Youth at 14
Taught marching, bayonet drill, grenade throwing etc
Designed to mould youth characters, stressing need for comradeship and loyalty
Political training important so they believed in Nazi ideals

Made compulsory joining in 1939

What were Nazi policies on Female children

Joined Young Girls at 10 and League of German maidens at 14
Shown how to be good housewives and mothers through learning household skills
Promoted ideas of keeping Germans pure by only marrying Aryan men

Made compulsory joining in 1939

What was education in Nazi Germany like

Altered to reflect Nazi ideology and aims.
Fitness believed to be vital so students often had 2 hrs a day. Students taught to worship Hitler

Race studies- students learnt Aryan a superior race, “Facts” about how Aryan brains are bigger and how Jews and other races inferior

History- Taught about German victories and heroes, Modern history taught anti-semitism eg. how Jews caused the Wall Street crash

Biology- Learnt about “worthy and unworthy” races, breeding, hereditary diseases, measured if they’re Aryan

How did Nazis deal with unemployment?

Labour Service- Compulsory programs requiring young men to work on public projects. 422k working in 1935

Rearmament- Introduced conscription and established air force. 72K working in aircraft construction in 1935

Public works- Spending increased to 38 billion marks in 1938 (20 bil+), 125k men employed building motorways

Women and Jews forced to give up work so didn’t count as unemployed

How did Living standards improve under Nazis?

+KdF- provided leisure activities for workers so they found work more enjoyable and make nation stronger
+Employment- Most of the working force employed so living standards naturally increased

-Working hours increased to 49 hrs a week from 43
-Prices of goods rose by 20% between 1933-39

How were Jews punished in Nazi Germany

1933- Banned from government jobs and inheriting land and swimming pools
1935- Jews banned from the army
Nuremberg laws 1935- no longer considered German citizens and had to wear yellow star, Forbade German relationships with Jews

Kristallnacht, 9th Nov 1938- Nationwide attack on Jews where property burnt and Jews physically attacked, Police told to do nothing so 191 synagogues, 814 shops, 171 homes destroyed, 100 Jews killed

20k Jews sent to concentration camps and Jews fined 1 billion marks

How were other minority groups treated in Nazi Germany

Slavs- Slavs labelled as Subhuman, Threatened to invade slav countries

Gays- Would be sent to concentration camps if caught, encouraged voluntary castration

Disabled people- Were sterilised if disabled in any way, Disabled children would be killed by starvation or injection

“Gypsies”- Often sent to conc. camps but from 1936, forced to live in special camps which weren’t fit for life, 1938- banned from travelling in groups and had to register as gypsies, 1939- all gypsies deported

What were the studies of Eugenics and Racial Hygiene

Eugenics- Selective breeding, used theory of evolution to produce “better humans”, “Unsuitables” sterilised

Racial Hygiene- Only allowed to breed with those of the same race, Passed laws to prevent mixed-race marriage to keep races pure