Nazi Consolidation Of Power: Terror And Repression

Question 1

Nazi Consolidation of Power: Terror and Repression
Background Fact

Answer 1

By 1936, German state police forces were organised into one national force and were under the control of Heinrich Himmler.

Question 2

Nazi Consolidation of Power: Terror and Repression
The SS - brown shirts

Answer 2

• The SS became an auxiliary police force who were made to look organised and strong to entice the German public. To do this they wore brown shirts and marched in German streets.

✔ This built the trust between the SS and the public, as it showed that they force could protect the German population.

Question 3

Nazi Consolidation of Power: Terror and Repression
The SS - camps

Answer 3

• The SS also ran concentration camps and could easily send anyone there for various reasons.

✔ This was used as a methos of intimidation, to scare people into submission to the Nazis to keep themselves out of concentration camps.

x However, it also caused distrust between the SS and the rest of Germany, showing that most did not actually support the Nazis but were too scared to be against them.

Question 4

Nazi Consolidation of Power: Terror and Repression
Gestapo and SS - secret

Answer 4

• The Gestapo were a secret police force who also had the ability to arrest passers on street if they were found or accused of opposing the Nazis.

✔ This stopped people from opposing the Nazis openly and stopped the spread of opposition.

Question 5

Nazi Consolidation of Power: Terror and Repression
Gestapo and SS - political prisoners

Answer 5

• The Gestapo arrested thousands of people and by 1933 had accumulated 26,000 political prisoners.

✔ This effectively eliminated political competition and opposition

x However, the Gestapo were also easily misused by the public, specifically as revenge on other people. People could falsely accuse others of opposition and send them to concentration camps.

Question 6

Nazi Consolidation of Power: Terror and Repression
Historians - SS influence

Answer 6

David Evans and Jane Jenkins - Although there were limits to the power of the SS, its influence was varied and extensive.

Question 7

Nazi Consolidation of Power: Terror and Repression
Historians - Gestapo

Answer 7

Robert Gellately - Most Gestapo denunciations came from personal factors, not political ones, including wanting rid of a husband or neighbour.