Evans _The Police State_ pp. 42-116

The Police State in the Third Reich

Rise of Hitler's Power

  • Hindenburg's health deteriorated, leading to his death on August 2, 1934.

  • Cabinet merged the roles of President and Chancellor, transferring all powers to Hitler immediately upon Hindenburg's death, solidifying his authority over the state.

  • Military oath changed to pledge unconditional obedience to Hitler.

Dual State Concept

  • Normative State: Bound by laws, comprised of formal institutions (Reich Chancellery, Ministries).

  • Prerogative State: Extra-legal authority emanating from Hitler; executed his personal will.

The SS and Policing Power

  • SS Origins: Began as Hitler's bodyguard, transformed under Heinrich Himmler into a disciplined elite force aimed at creating a racially pure order.

  • Security Service (SD): Established to combat internal Nazi dissidents, led by Reinhard Heydrich; critical in creating a system of control.

  • Gestapo (Secret State Police) emerged under Himmler, further consolidating authority and diminishing the rule of law.

Complicity of Judiciary and Legal Systems

  • Judiciary cooperated in the subversion of laws, bypassing legal procedures through mass arrests and confinement in concentration camps.

  • Political norms were enforced by the state rather than solely by SA (stormtroopers) and SS.

Concentration Camps Evolution

  • Camps shifted focus from political repression to racial and social engineering, targeting habitual criminals, asocials, and deviants.

  • Identification systems introduced with colored badges to categorize prisoners by offenses, with Jews marked by a yellow triangle.

  • Brutality of SS training led to harsh treatment of camp inmates, mirroring their indoctrination to uphold Nazi ideology.

Fear and Denunciation

  • The Gestapo cultivated a reputation as an omnipresent force, relying heavily on public denunciations and informants.

  • Everyday conversations became fraught with fear; ordinary citizens reported on perceived malcontent to avoid suspicion.

  • Block Wardens monitored public compliance with Nazi regulations, further entrenching a climate of fear.

Terror as Control Mechanism

  • By 1935, organized opposition was crushed; terror shifted focus towards smaller minority groups perceived as threats.

  • Public knowledge of repressive measures, although daunting, aimed to deter dissent rather than directly intimidate the general population.

  • The regime's propaganda emphasized support for its policies, but terror kept dissent in check, fostering a climate of self-surveillance among the populace.