Nazi control and dictatorship 1933-39 and life in Nazi Germany 1933-39.

What is a police state?

A country in which the government totally controls its people andd their freedom by using the police, especially secret police. This usually takes place in a totalitarian state.

When was the SS originally set up? What was it for?

It was set up in 1925 to act as Hitler’s bodyguard.

Who were the SS controlled by after 1929?

Henrich Himmler.

What were the SS given in 1932?

Their black uniform that became famous, and differentiated them from the SA, who wore brown uniforms.

What were the SS know as by the 1930s?

The Nazi private police force who were totally loyal to hitler- for example, it was them who warned hitler about Rohm in 1934. The SS were used to murder SA leaders in the night of long knives.

What were the requirements of being a member of the SS?

They had to be of pure German lineage, normally Aryan.

What were the SD?

A subsection of the SS formed by Hitler in 1931. They were used to monitor any opposition of the Nazi party.

What did the SD have to keep track of everyone?

They had a collection of cards with information of anyone suspected of opposing the Nazis.

What was the first concentration camp?

Dachau, built in 1933.

Why were concentration camps built?

To cope with the number of people being arrested by the Nazis.

Who were concentration camps run by?

The SA and the SS.

What were prisons used for?

People who hadn't committed criminal acts, but did things Nazis disapproved of, such as badmouthing hitler. By 1939, 150,000 people were under ‘protective arrest in prisons.

Concentration camps were then created to deal with the amount of people who were being arrested.

Who were the gestapo?

Hitlers non-uniformed, secret police.

When and why were the Gestapo set up?

In 1933 and put under SS control in 1934.

Who became the gestapo’s leader in 1936?

Heydrich.

What was the gestapo’s weapon.

Fear - civilians couldn’t tell them apart from the rest of the public. Anyone could be a member of the Gestapo.

What happened to people the Gestapo deemed ‘suspects’?

Gestapo agents often arrived early in the morning to arrest them. People were imprisoned without trial, many families received letters saying their family died in custody.

What were ‘blocks’?

The Nazi party had a strong local structure - towns were divided into local units called blocks. Block wardens visited each block to collect donations for the party. Block leaders wrote reports on residents which could determine whether they got good jobs or not.

Give two reasons as to why Hitler was able to consolidate his rise to power.

the reichstag fire (February 1933)

From passing the enabling act (23rd of March 1933).

How did existing attitudes towards the weimar Republic help Hitler become a dictator by 1934?

He capitalized on people’s long term bitterness towards the Republic.

How did the reichstag fire help Hitler become a dictator by 1934?

(reichstag fire 27th February 1933).

Hitler used the fire as a chance to blame the communists and cause an emergency election.

How did the 1933 enabling act help Hitler become a dictator by 1934?

(The enabling act 23rd of March.)

It gave Hitler the authority to pass alws without the approval of the reichstag and gave him democratically elected dictatorial power.

What was the night of the long knives?

A coordinated attack where nearly 100 of Hitler's political enemies were killed as a result of his orders. Hitler ordered his SS to kill a wide range of ‘traitors’ - most importantly, Ernst Rohm.

Why did hitler want Rohm killed on the night of the long knives?

Hitler felt Rohm may try and challenge him for power as he had control over the SA.

The public also hated the SA - many felt they caused trouble - by defeating Rohm, Hitler gained popularity.

What happened on the night of the long knives?

On June 30th at night, the SS imprisoned or killed hundreds of people - including many leaders of the SA. This showed people how far Hitler was willing to go to preserve power.

How did the German public react to the night of the long knives?

The Republic supported hitler, seeing this as a brave move against his own Nazi thugs, and saw it as a ‘strong leadership.’

What happened to the SA after the night of the long knives?

It was abolished - he made members of the SA join the army (which was against the T of V which said they could only have an army of 100,000 people.) All members of the army had to swear complete and utter obedience to Hitler - they would die for him.

How did the death of Hindenburg help Hitler become a dictator by 1934?

(August 2, 1934)

Hitler assumed the dual role of president and chancellor by combining them into 1 role - the Fuhrer. He took this position legally, realizing he would need public approval, and so called a plebiscite.

He got just over 90% (38 million) voted for him, and only 4 million were braved enough to vote against him.

What is a dictatorship?

Its a system of government in which a country is ruled by a single party or individual (a dictator), and power is exercised through various mechanisms to ensure the entity’s power remains strong and unchallenged.

What hindered Hitler from taking complete power in 1933 when he was chancellor?

The weimar constitution, president Hindenburg, not enough NSDAP members of the cabinet and only 1/3 of the reichstag being NSDAP.

What was the reichstag fire?

When the reichstag was set on fire on the 27th of February, 1933. A communist called marinus van der lubbe was caught with the firefighters.

What happened to marinus van der lubbe?

He was put on trial for starting the reichstag fire in 1933 with four others and was later executed.

How did Hitler react to the reichstag fire?

He saw it as an opportunity to attack the communists, and immediately arrested 4000 of them, including those in the reichstag.

How did hitler gain more power as a result of the reichstag fire in 1933?

He was able to issue an emergency election where the won 288 seats in the reichstag. However, there still weren’t enough seats for a majority due to the coalition with the Catholic party. (ZDP)

What was the Nazis next step after gaining power as a result of the reichstag fire?

To pass the enabling act.

What was the enabling act?

An act that allowed Hitler to bring all German society into line with Nazi pilosophy - this policy was called Gleichschaltung.

It meant every aspect of social and political life was controlled by the Nazis.

How was the enabling act passed?

They discounted the communist party’s result (as they were blamed for the fire), thus reducing the total numbers of votes needed for the Nazis.

SA members intimidated members of the reichstag as they entered the chamber to vote.

Absentees were counted as present.

Communist members were not allowed to vote.

What did the Nazis do once they passed the enabling act?

On may 2, 1933, all trade unions were banned. They argued they were no longer needed how they were in power.

The Nazi German labour front (DAF) replaced trade unions and employer’s groups. The DAF decided on wages - all workers had to own a DAF workbook which recorded all details of employment.

Strikes were illegal - anyone opposing these were sent to new prisons called concentration camps.

What happened to the Lander when the Nazis passed the enabling act?

It was abolished. Previously in Germany, there was 18 lander districts with their own governments.

The lander had previously made life difficult for the Weimar Republic by disagreeing with laws.

What were courts like after the nazis passed the enabling act?

New people’s courts were introduced to hear all cases of treason. Judges were hand picked and trials were held in secret.

What was the right to appeal in courts like after the nazis passed the enabling act?

People now had no right to appeal against the verdict of the peoples courts. This meant in 1934-9, around 534 death sentences were haded out for ‘political offences'.’

How did the Nazis change trial by jury after they passed the enabling act?

It was abolished - judges now decided guilty or innocence and the punishments.

How did the Nazis change the role of judges after they passed the enabling act?

They set up the ‘National socialist league for the maintenance of the law’ and insisted all judges be members.

Judges who displeased the Nazis were denied membership.

Judges were instructed to put the interests of the Nazis above the law.

Was germany religious before the Nazis took total control? (Around 1933)

About 1/3 was catholic.

About 2/3 was protestant.

Why did christians support the Nazis?

Many Christians believed the Weimar Republic was becoming immoral. Nazism became more favorable as it supported traditional values such as the importance of family.

Hitler expressed support for the church in his speeches.

Communism was another major party - communists would destroy the church - Hitler appeared as the only alternative.

How did the Nazis control the protestant church?

Protestant ministers had o swear their loyalty to the reich church.

The Nazis insisted Jews shouldn't be baptized into the reich church and Jewish teachings of the old testaments should be excluded from christian teachings.

Who was the reich bishop (leader of the reich church)?

Ludwig Miller.

What did hitler initially promise the Catholic Church?

In July, 1933, Hitler reached a concordat (agreement) with the pope. Hitler agreed to confirm freedom of worship for catholic schools in Germany.

The catholic church agreed its priests would not interfere in politics and ordered German bishops to swear their loyalty to Hitler and the nationalist socialist regime.

How did protestant pastors oppose the Nazis?

In 1934, the PEL set up the confessing church. This meant ther were 2 protestant churches - the reich church that accepted Nazi interference, and the confessing church which opposed nazi interference.

About 2000 protestant pastors remained in the reich church, but about 6,000 joined the confessing church.

About 800 pastors spoke out. Some were arrested and sent to concentration camps.

What was the PEL?

The pastors emergency league. It was set up in 1933 by Martin Niemolle who spent 7 years in concentration camps.

Name the Nazi tactics that forced people to conform to Nazi ideology. (7)

The gestapo

Nazi youth

Concentration camps

Informers

The SS and SD

Courts and judges.

What is censorship?

The act of restricting and banning information and ideas.

How did Nazis use censorship?

It was commonly used by the Nazis to remove non-nazi messages and silence opposition. It was used in newspapers, books, radios and the arts.

How did the Nazis censor films?

Goebbels oversaw every film produced and had to approve them. Over 100 films a year were made.

By 1933, 100 million people were cinema-goers.

Every film had a 45 minute ‘newsreel’ before the film, with subtle messages to glorify Nazism.

Protagonists and heroes were Aryan, whilst villains were Jewish. (Subtle and slow indoctrination.)

How did the Nazis censor art?

Art was controlled by the reich chamber of culture set up in 1933.

The Nazis saw Weimar art as immoral, so instead art had to show Nazi ideals of loyalty and sacrifice and romantic ideas of country life and family ideas.

How did the Nazis censor literature?

All books and poems were carefully controlled by the chamber of culture.

Over 2,500 writers were banned from publishing.

20,000 Jewish and communist books were burned publicly like Einstein and freud.

How were rallies used to indoctrinate German citizens?

Lots of people came together for a singular purpose - showed strength and unity.

Very effective propaganda tools as they can give people a sense of belonging.

In 1934, at Nurembug, there were thousands of banners, flags and a 100 foot Nazi eagle. Over 200,000 supporters crowded to hear him.

Hitler had the rally filmed which was very innovative for the time, and people could see it without having to be there.

How did the Nazis censor the press?

1,600 newspapers were closed down in 1935 for not following rules.

Newspapers had to provide news which the ministry agreed with or they would face consequences.

Journalists were told what they could/ couldn’t publish.

Government sometimes said they had to publish certain events (propaganda)

How were sports used to indoctrinate German citizens?

All teams gave the Nazi salute, even visiting countries for respect.

Sports stars became heroes.

The Nazis built 110,000 stadiums, presenting a strong German front.

They hosted and won the 1936 Olympics.

They were used to showcase Nazi organisation and power to the world.

How did the Nazis censor the radio?

After 933, Goebbels put all radio stations under Nazi control.

Hitler and Goebbels made frequent broadcasts.

Radios were cheap and mass produced so most people had them - 70% in 1939.

It was sometimes enforced to listen to speeches - factories / work stopped.

What were Nazi policies towards the young like?

New schools were made for the most physically and academically gifted.

The very best students were sent to order castles and would be expected to attain very high positions in the SS.

After 1935, Jewish childrens were banned from schools.

The sole purpose of education was to make a future generation that was blindly loyal to hitler.

What was the Nazis reason for banning Jewish children from schools?

They said they could contaminate other children by sitting next to them at school.

What did nazis do to women's groups?

They decided to bring all of them under the control of one group - the women's front.

Groups were told to ensure Jews couldn't be members.

How did the Nazis encourage women to have more children?

Loans were given to couples (to be eligible for this, women had to leave their jobs). Couples were allowed to keep (not pay back) ¼ of the loan for each child born - free money.

On Hitler's mothers birthday, medals were given out to women for the number of children they had. For example, bronze = 4, silver = 6.

Those with low incomes were given allowaneces so women didn't have to work and could focus on being a mother.

Divorce laws changed so infertility of your spouse was grounds for divorce.

What was the lebensbornn programme?

Where women could ‘donate a baby’ to the Fuhrer by becoming pregnant by SS men. To do this, the women had to be racially pure.

How did the Nazis encourage women out of work?

Loans were given to encourage women to have children, but she had to leave work to do this.

Low income households were given allowances so the woman didn't need to work.

University enrollment for women was limited so they couldn't get good jobs.

How did the Nazis influence women’s work and appearance?

Women's group taught certain things, such as to have your hair in buns and plaits, to wear no makeup and to not wear trousers.

Who was Magda goebbels?

Propaganda head goebbels’ wife who was held up as the ‘ideal’ woman. She had 7 children.

What level of opposition did hitler face from the army?

Some generals criticized Hitler openly - these men werrre more powerful than everyday German citizens, but Hitler did eventually remove 16 of them in 1938.

There was an army plot to overthrow Hitler during 1938, but this was put aside when he took over Czechoslovakia - the army was in favor of war.

(Overall, not much - the army generally supported him because Hitler made it clear he wanted to re-arm Germany. They were also made to swear an oath of allegiance.)

How did young people show their opposition to the Nazis?

Most opposition was against the restrictive nature of life under the Nazis. Young people who wanted to grow their hair long, or wear trendy clothes, so despised the fact Nazis wanted Germans dressing, looking, and acting a certain way.

Who were the edelweiss pirates?

A group of rebellious children who listened to forbidden music, daubed walls with anti-nazi graffiti and wore distinctive skull and cross bone baddges. They purposely wore clothes disliked by the Nazis, such as dark short trousers.

At their peak, they had a membership of around 2000 people at their peak.

Despite this, the Nazis didn't deem them a serious threat and no effort was made to stop them.

Who were the swing youth (and jazz youth)?

Young people who took part In activities frowned upon by the Nazis. Inparticular, they were interested in swing music, which the Nazis hated because they saw it as ‘black’ music.

Swing boys began by growing their hair long and girls wore makeup and used bright nail varnish going against the natural Aryan ideal.

These groups were closely monitored by the Nazis.

Why were the Nazis not threatened by the jazz and swing youth and the edelweiss pirates?

There was a very high membership of the Nazi youth which made their opposition seem incompatible.

Why wasn’t there widespread opposition?

The police state created fear, many of Hitlers political rivals were in exile, prison, or dead.

When was hitler youth set up?

In 1933.

What did hitler youth replace?

All youth movements except catholic ones which were removed in 1936.

When did children enroll in the Hitler youth group?

Boys enrolled in the movement at 6 but joined Hitler youth at 14.

By 1939, 90% of German boys 14+ were members.

When did girls enroll in the league of German maidens?

They enrolled in the movement at 10 and joined the league at 14.

What was the role of hitler youth?

To control activities.

Make boys loyal to hitler.

Train boys to be soldiers.

What was the role of the league of German maidens?

To train girls to be wives and mothers.

Why did children join hitler youth?

Peer pressure.

They were attracted by the novel activities, such as camping.

It was a chance to reject the authority and value of their parents, who may disagree with Nazi ideology.

Memebership could help the to get university places and better jobs in the future.

How did the Nazis influence women's appearance?

Through women’s groups that were established to enforce traditional gender steryotypes. For example, they taught then not to wear trousers and keep their hair in a bun or plaits.

How did Nazi attitudes towards women in work alter in 1937?

After 1937, Hitler new a major war was coming and started to increase numbers in their army. They needed women to fill positions that men had but were now in the army.

Marriage loans were now abolished.

Women had to do a ‘duty year's of work, eg. Farm work.

How many boys were in Hitler youth in 1932, 1935 and 1939?

1932 - 100,000

1935 - 3.5 million

1939 - compulsory for all

Why was the indoctrination of young people so successful?

Anti-nazi teachers and educational material were removed

How was German history changed in schools?

Old history books were destroyed and replaced with the Nazi accounts of events.

How were children used to find out about adults who opposed hitler?

They had been so heavily indoctrinated that many willingly gave up names of even their parents.

What was the purpose of hitler youth summer camps?

Activities prepared children for war - boys learned to throw hand grenades and went on long marches. They were made to fight each other and developed the aggression they needed to fight in a war.

How did lessons change to indoctrinate children?

Began and ended with students saluting and saying heil hitler.

Nazi themes presented in every subject - geography lessons were used to show how Germany was surrounded by hostile neighbours.

How was the Nazism of teachers ensured?

All teachers had to be vetted by local Nazi officials - if they weren't loyal, they lost their jobs.

975 of all teachers joined the Nazi teachers association.

How was antisemitism encouraged in schools?

Teachers were expected to attack the lifestyle of Jewish people at every opportunity

Children were taught 1923 hyperinflation was caused by Jewish saboteurs.

German defeat in 1918 was blamed on Jews and marxists.

How was the curriculum used to prepare boys for war?

Pe took up 15% of a schools timetable.

In science, boys were taught bridge building, shooting, and the impact of poisonous gases.

How many men were in the reich labour service?

In July 1935, it was made compulsory for all men aged 18-25 to serve 6 months.

100,000 men were involved in their autobahn project.

What did the reich labour service involve?

They provided men to build the autobahns project, and other projects such as building coastal walls, planting trees or draining marshes used for farming.

They removed thousands from the nations unemployment figures.

Workers had low wages, and put up with uncomfortable tented camps and long hours.

When was the Nazi job creation scheme?

A number of schemes were introduced by the Weimar government between 1933-39.

How many marks were spent on job creation schemes (1933-39)?

In 1933 18.4 billion marks and 37.1 billion marks in 1938.

What did people on job creation schemes do / build?

Germany built around 7000km of autobahns (motorways) which provided many jobs and allowed geographical mobility and increased speed of transportation of goods.

Big public buildings were also built - eg. Stadium for 1936 Olympics

Produced the Volkswagen “peoples car”

How many people were unemployed in Germany in 1933?

6 million - this fell to under half a million six years later.

What is invisible unemployment in Nazi Germany?

From 1933 onwards, more jews were forced out their jobs, especially eg. Doctors and lawyers.

Many women were dissmissed, especially professional jobs.

Other women were tempted to take state marriage loans to leave their jobs.

Many oponents of the state, eg. Communists were taken to concentration camps.

These groups were no longer counted as ‘unemployed.’ (unmarried men under 25, women, Nazi opponents.)

Which groups of people in Nazi Germany weren’t counted as unemployed even if they were?

Unmarried men under 25.

Women.

Nazi opponents.