1. Germany 1918-39 Issue 3 – Nazi Control
National 5 History
Germany
Issue 3 – Nazi Control

2. Issue 3 – Nazi Control of Germany
Overview:
Between 1933 and 1939, Hitler created a totalitarian dictatorship. This meant that the Nazis had total power over everything that happened in Germany.
Key Questions to consider:
Did Germans accept Nazi rule because they supported it or because they were too scared to do anything about it?
What happened to those people who did not accept Nazi rule?

3. Learning Outcomes
Describe how the Nazis used fear and intimidation to keep control
Explain why people were afraid to oppose the Nazis.

4. The German Labour Front The German Labour Service
Strength through Joy (KDF)
Volkswagen
Falling Unemployment
The Gestapo
The SS (Schutzstaffel)
Concentration Camps
FEAR & INTIMIDATION
ECONOMIC RECOVERY
(We’ll look at this (later)

5. Totalitarian State Below is a Nazi saying: What do you think it means?
“Nothing outside the State,
Everything within the State,
Nothing against the State.”

6. Questions
Use the questions on the following slides to answer the following questions about the Gestapo.
What does it mean to live in a police state?
What was the Gestapo?
How did the Gestapo help Hitler maintain control of Germany?

7. Police State Government has total control over people’s lives.
Nazi Germany was also a police state- this meant there was a secret police who were used to ensure total obedience to the state.
The police state used fear and punishment to enforce obedience.
For most people it was just too dangerous to do anything to show you were against the Nazis

8. Police State
The Nazi Government controlled the lawmakers, courts and the police.
This meant they had the power to make laws, enforce laws and decide who was guilty of breaking the laws.
Ordinary Germans could say and do nothing against the state.

9. The Gestapo
Aim:
To round up enemies of the state e.g. Jews + Communists
Who:
Up to 45,000 members
Ordinary clothes
Power = number of informers and special agents
160,000 employed to spy
What:
Spied on everyday life
Disappearances
Known for torture techniques
Est. 1933
Secret Police Force
Led by Hermann Goering

10. The Gestapo may be listening…

11. Some Examples…
The Gestapo was the secret police force in Nazi Germany. They were effective in maintaining control as people were too scared to speak out against the party through fear of being arrested and tortured. The Gestapo was effective in maintaining control in Germany as they wore ordinary clothes and operated in secret. They would arrest people who challenged the party and torture them. Try one on your own…

13. The SS (Schutzstaffel)
Aim:
Hitler’s personal bodyguard
Control of the German People
Who:
Selected as “master race” specimens
52,000 members by 1933
What:
Dressed in black uniforms
Prominent role in Nazi Germany
Rallies – intimidating sight
Est 1925
Led by Heinrich Himmler

15. How effective was the SS in maintaining control in Nazi Germany?
REMEMBER TO MAKE A LINK BACK TO THE QUESTION. It can be at the beginning or in the middle…just make sure you do it!

16. Concentration Camps Aim: Re-education centres
SS – described it as concentrating enemy in one area
Who:
Early years – political opponents and trade unionists.
Conditions – cold and harsh
What:
Wooden Barracks
Colour coded – red= political prisoners; green = criminals; black = anti-social and pink = homosexuals.
Place of fear – intimidated German people into causing no trouble.
Dachau nr Munich
1st Concentration Camp
WATCH ME!

17. Source A is from the memoirs of George Blanch, Germany 1965
Life was miserable, almost overnight the country I loved had become a prison. I will never forget the night of June 20th I heard a loud banging at the door and I was met by two gentleman. They didn’t say much, just bundled me into their car. Apparently I had been reported for making anti Hitler comments to my children. They used a wooden stick to beat me and pulled three of my fingernails off. Evaluate the usefulness of source A as evidence of Nazi control in Germany. (5)

18. How Fully question How fully Source A describes the use of fear
It was the first day I met the camp commander. He lined us up and said, “You are fortunate to have come here. This is a good camp. Here you will work and get fed. If you hand over your valuables you will not be punished” Just at this moment, someone moved in the ranks. The commander whipped out his gun and shot dead the man who moved, the continued talking without a pause. “Now, when I finish speaking, I want you to give me all your valuables”.
How fully Source A describes the use of fear
and intimidation as part of Nazi control of Germany marks