Control and Opposition

machinery of terror

the SS

Himmler was the leader of this elite group
black uniform
after proving it’s worth during night of the long knives, and once the SA was abolished it because an independent organisation
over the next few years the SS controlled spies, police, courts and camps

the SD

main intelligence gathering
focused on opposition to the party
led by Heydrich
only a few hundred agents

the Gestapo

focused on political opponents
never officially controlled by the party
15,000 officers
tapped phones and opened mail
used interrogation and torture

informants

people who gave tips
the SD or Gestapo would investigate
the block leaders job was to deliver news but also to inform on people in their block

the Orpo/Kripo

these were the German police and they continued to work as before but they also rounded up enemies, e.g. Jews
in 1936 the police were put under control of the SS

the justice system

judges had to swear an oath of loyalty to Hitler
in 1933, three crimes were punishable by death. in 1943 it was 46
the people’s court

early concentration camps

used to keep enemies of the state together
strict rules
in 1937 Himmler announced guards couldn’t be punished for their actions in the camps

propaganda

technique	explanation
newspapers	Reich press chamber controlled newspapers closed or bought existing papers Der Sturmer - antisemitic, Nazi newspaper journalists had to join the Reich Association of the press and were highly censored
radios	all radio stations controlled by Reich Radio Company the People’s Receiver - cheap radio’s for everyone 1.5 million made in 1933
posters	portrayed Hitler as god-like portrayed Aryans
rallies	large rallies to show Nazi strength Nuremburg was largest, 250,000 in 1934
culture	the Reich Culture Chamber abstract culture was not allowed German culture shown as superior
film	Reich Film Chamber only allowed German films films spread Nazi ideals
Berlin Olympics	the games promoted Aryan superiority the Germans won exception was Jesse Owens who won four gold medals

opposition

the most political resistance was from the Communists and Social Democrats, however the two refused to join forces which made them weaker

social democrats	after 1933 most leaders fled to Prague many who stayed formed resistance groups who produced posters and leaflets many were hunted by the Gestapo
communists	meetings, propaganda and newsletters the red flag was their main newspaper - 100,000 copies per month also easy targets for Gestapo due to their visibility

the Nazis also interfered in the churches and many religious people resisted their ideas. the church was huge with almost 65 million religious people.

at first Hitler had agreed to leave the church alone, even making a Concordat with Pope Pius

by 1939 all church schools were closed and Priests who spoke out were arrested and a new Reich church was formed, with pastors swearing an oath to Hitler

Martin Niemoller

refused to join the Reich church and formed the confessional church

by 1934, 6000 pastors had joined

he preached against the Nazis and was sent to a concentration camp

Pope Pius XI

wrote a letter ‘with burning anxiety’ which was read in all catholic churches

it condemned the Nazis but the next day the Gestapo raided all churches and took any copies of the letter

Jehovah’s Witnesses

refused to give the Hitler salute and refused military service

started writing anti-Nazi leaflets

6000 sent to concentration camps

lots of young people opposed the Nazis for various reasons

group	why	what
young communists	opposed politically	dressed differently anti-Nazi flyers joined into gangs
Christian youth	church organisations were forbidden by Nazis	illegal pilgrimage
Swing kids	angry at the Nazis imposing German culture	listened to Jazz music long hair
Edelweiss pirates	opposed to the politics and Nazi youth groups	wore a white edelweiss flower beat up Hitler Youth

there was also a lot of passive resistance, for example continuing to say good morning instead of Heil Hitler