Nazi Germany : Workings On The State Flashcards
Decree of protection of the people and the state
Hitler given emergency powers
Police given increased powers to arrest and detain without charges, anyone considered a threat to the state
This was when Hitler was chancellor and shows his views from early on
Police can search private premises
Gov can censor publication
Points against terror state
Influence of the SS limited pre 1939 (still needed to win support)
Concentration camps not extermination camps pre 1939. Most inmates were freed
Gestapo small in number and not efficient locally
Those who disliked Nazi’s free to leave Germany relatively few Germans killed pre 1939 by Nazi’s
Hitler seems to have genuine popularity, strange if Nazi’s were apparently such a terror state (counter by saying people loved him out of fear)
Concentration camps first established and their purpose at the time
1933 by Himmler for political opponents
By summer 1933 almost 30000 people taken into ‘protective custody’ without trial
Intended to break spirit of inmates
By 1939, three new camps (after takeover of Austria) and 25000 prisoners
Nazi judges and the courts
Any opposition to Nazi’s considered criminal
Series of harsh laws for those who conspired against the third Reich
Why was their popular support for Nazi’s even without propaganda
Many Germans supported the idea of a national community
Many proud of Hitler foreign policy success like union with Austria 1938 which treaty of Versailles banned
Germans in Austria keen to join third Reich
Why was radio effective method of propaganda
Gave Hitler opportunity to speak directly to Germans
1933 alone he made over 50 broadcasts
Loudspeakers et up in towns and factories so everyone could listen
Mass production of cheap radio parts meant 70% of German households had radios by 1939
Highest proportion in the world
Circulation of Nazi newspapers a day
2.4m
