Nazi Control of Germany Flashcards
How did Hitler make sure everyone showed complete obedience to him?
By creating a one-party state
What were the four methods used to keep the Nazis in control?
- Terror
- Propaganda
- Youth
- Economic success
How did Hitler use the SS to keep control?
The SS terrorised Germans into obedience, officers arrested people and imprisoned them without trial
What happened to Jews, communists and others who opposed the Nazis?
They were taken to concentration camps where they were tortured and forced to do hard labour
What did the Gestapo do that made Germans fear them?
- Tapped telephones and spied on people
- Arrested anyone who criticised Hitler
- They had a network of informers across Germany
How did Hitler gain control of Germans’ minds?
He appointed Joseph Goebbels as Minister for Propaganda and he introduced strict controls over what the German people read, heard and saw
How was propaganda used?
- No books were to be published without Goebbels’s permission
- Anti-Nazi newspapers were closed down
- Only films carrying the Nazi message were shown in the cinemas
- No one was allowed to listen to foreign radio stations
- The Nazis displayed posters all over Germany showing how great they were and attacking their enemies
- Rallies and parades were organised to show the strength of the Nazi party
What lessons were changed at schools to support the Nazis?
- History lessons concentrated on the rise of the Nazis and the evils of communism
- In biology, pupils how the Aryans were superior to other races
What happened to teachers who didn’t support Nazi ideas?
They would be sacked
What did all young people have to belong to by 1936?
The Hitler Youth
What activities did young people do in the Hitler Youth?
- Marched in parades and played in bands
- Went to camps where they played sports, worked on farms and sang songs
What was actually happening in the Hitler Youth?
- Boys were being trained for obedient service and loyalty in the armed forces
- Girls were being prepared for their role as perfect German mothers of perfect German children
How did Hitler control the 6 million Germans who were unemployed?
- After 1934 he created a number of schemes to provide work
- New roads and buildings were constructed all over Germany
- More people were given jobs in the armed forces
What were workers not allowed to do?
Strike
What was the Strength through Joy scheme?
A scheme set up to organise the leisure time of the workers
