iGCSE History Depth Study B: How Effectively Did the Nazis Control Germany, 1933-1945?

What forms of opposition existed in Nazi Germany?

Youth groups (e.g. Swing Youth, Edelweiss Pirates), political groups, religious leaders, and conservative elites.

What was the White Rose Group?

University students who distributed anti-Nazi leaflets; leaders Hans and Sophie Scholl were executed in 1943.

What was Operation Valkyrie?

A failed 1944 army plot to assassinate Hitler, led by Claus von Stauffenberg.

Why was most opposition private?

Because public dissent was dangerous; fear of the Gestapo and concentration camps.

What was the role of the SS?

Originally Hitler’s bodyguards, later controlled all police forces and concentration camps.

What was the Gestapo?

Secret police that spied on and arrested opponents; relied on public informants.

What was the SD?

Intelligence agency under Himmler and Heydrich; collected information on enemies.

What were concentration camps originally used for?

To imprison political opponents and minorities with harsh conditions.

How did the Nazis control the legal system?

Judges joined pro-Nazi organisations, juries removed, and trials were biased.

What was the People’s Court?

A court for treason cases with Nazi judges and no jury; harsh sentences.

What was the Concordat of 1933?

Agreement with the Catholic Church to avoid political interference.

How did the Nazis break the Concordat?

Closed Catholic schools, arrested priests, banned Catholic youth groups.

What was the Reich Church?

A Nazi-controlled Protestant Church with swastikas and anti-Semitic rules.

What was the Confessing Church?

Opposed Nazi influence in religion; led by Pastor Niemöller.

Who was Joseph Goebbels?

Minister of Propaganda; controlled media, culture, and messaging.

How did the Nazis use newspapers?

Controlled content; closed 1,600 papers by 1935; used Der Völkischer Beobachter.

What was the Volksempfänger?

‘People’s Receiver’ — cheap radio made to spread Nazi propaganda.

How did the Nazis use rallies?

Mass events like Nuremberg Rallies displayed power and unity.

How did Nazis influence cinema?

Approved scripts, censored foreign films, and produced propaganda like 'Triumph of the Will'.

How did the Nazis control art and literature?

Banned modern art, controlled artists via Reich Chambers, burned books.

What was Nazi-approved music?

Traditional German composers (e.g. Wagner); banned jazz and Jewish music.

What were the Nuremberg Laws (1935)?

Stripped Jews of citizenship and banned marriage between Jews and Aryans.

What happened on Kristallnacht (1938)?

Synagogues destroyed, 20,000 Jews arrested, Jews fined 1 billion marks.

What was the T-4 Programme?

Euthanasia program killing 250,000 disabled people with gas and injections.

What happened to homosexuals under the Nazis?

100,000 arrested, 10,000 sent to camps, wore pink triangles.

How were Roma and ‘asocials’ treated?

Sent to camps, forced sterilisation, black triangle IDs, many killed.

Was Nazi Germany a totalitarian state?

Yes: total control of media, law, religion, youth, culture, and opposition.

What shows Nazi Germany was not fully totalitarian?

Persistent youth opposition, public anger over T-4, and hidden dissent.