3.2 The Nazi police state Flashcards
What is a police state?
A police state is when a government uses the police to control everyone’s lives.
Which groups did the Nazis use to create a police state?
SS, SD and the Gestapo
Why did Hitler set up his own security forces?
He knew not all existing German police supported him. Hitler’s security forces were run by the Nazi party and their main weapon was fear.
Who set up the SS in what year?
Heinrich Himmler set up the SS in 1925.
Who was the SS led by?
Heinrich Himmler
What did the SS wear?
Black uniforms
What was the role of the SS?
- Controlled all Germany’s police and security forces.
- Ran the concentration camps
Who did members of the SS have to marry?
Racially pure wives
What was the maximum number of SS members?
240,000
What was the SS also known as?
The Protection Squad
Who set up the SD in what year?
Heinrich Himmler set up the SD in 1931
Who led the SD?
Reynhard Heydrich
What did the SD wear?
Uniforms
What was the role of the SD?
They spied on all opponents of the Nazi party at home and abroad.
What were the SD also known as?
The Security Force
Who was the Gestapo set up by in what year?
Goering set up the Gestapo in 1933
What did the Gestapo wear?
Plain clothes
What was the role of the Gestapo?
- Spy on people
- Prosecute people for speaking out against the Nazis
- Sent people to camps and used torture
What were the Gestapo also known as?
The secret police
When and where was the first concertation camp built?
Dachau 1933
Why was the first concentration camp built?
To house the growing number of arrested people.
Why were camps built in isolation?
So that nobody could see what was going on.
Who did the inmates involve?
Political prisoners, undesirables, prostitutes and homosexuals.
What was the treatment of inmates like?
Inmates were treated badly and forced to do hard labour.
Why did Hitler want to control the legal system?
He realised that his opponents stood little chance of success if trumped-up charges could be brought against them, so he wanted to control the legal system.
What were three ways the Nazis controlled the legal system?
- All judges had to belong to the Nationalist Socialist league for the Maintenance of the Law
- All judges had the favour the Nazi Party in any decision
- Hitler abolished trial by jury - so that only the biased judges could decide if someone was innocent
What was the People’s Court?
The People’s Court was set up in 1934 to hear all treason cases. Trials were held in secret and judges were hand-picked. Punishments were harsh and hardly anyone was found innocent.
Why did Hitler think that the Catholic Church might oppose him?
- Catholics were loyal to the Pope
- They usually voted for the Catholic centre party
- They sent their children to Catholic youth camps instead of Hitler Youth
What was the Concordant that Hitler agreed with the Pope?
In July 1933, the Pope and Hitler signed a Concordant to stop Nazi proseution of Catholics.
