The police state - control by terror and repression

What was used in the system Himmler was in charge of

intimidation, intelligence gathering and policing

What was Himmler’s main job

remove any threat to Nazi rule

What did the Gestapo do

spied on people they thought might be a threat to the Nazis

What power did the Gestapo have

arrest people without trial, torture them, and imprison them in concentration camps

What were ordinary Germans’ feelings towards the Gestapo

they feared them and believed they were everywhere

How many Gestapo officers were there to cover a population of over 60million

15,000 Gestapo officers

How did the Gestapo gain information

relied a lot on informants
they built up a large network of people who would pass on information to them and report people they believed were anti-Hitler

How many members of the SS were there in 1939

250,000 members by 1939

What responsibility did the SS have

responsibility of destroying opposition to Hitler

What could the SS do ?

arrest people without trial, search houses, take control of property

What was the Waffen-SS

special SS regiments who fought alongside the German Army

How many companies that used slave labour was did Himmler control

150 companies

Who were in the concentration camps

jews, communists, socialists, trade unionists, church leaders, anyone who was anti-nazi

What were conditions in the concentration camps

very harsh and brutal

How were towns divided so Nazis could check on everyone

Towns were divided into units called blocks

How did Nazis keep tabs on everyone in towns

Towns were divided into units called blocks
a Nazi would be the block leader and would visit every home each week collecting donations to the Nazi Party and checking up on everyone

What would Nazi block leaders write about

write a report on everyone
the report could affect whether or not someone got a job
would note any signs of disobedience to Hitler
(not hang flag on celebration days or not being enthusiastic enough about Hitler achievements)

Who had the top jobs in the police force

high ranking Nazis

What happened to all the ordinary police

police became part of the network of informers collecting info on everyone and ignoring crimes committed by Nazis

Did Nazis control the courts too (law)

yes

Who were the judges in court

all Nazis

What did Judges have to wear

swastika and Nazi eagle

What happened to the number of offenses that lead to the Death Penalty

went from 3 in 1933 to 46 in 1943
3 offenses to 46 offenses would lead to Death Penalty

What were some of the new offenses that lead to the Death Penalty

listening to foreign radio stations, telling and anti-Nazi joke, having a sexual relationship with a Jew, being a habitual criminal (commit multiple crimes)