Police State Flashcards
Who was Hienrich Himmler
Himmler was the head of the SS and he took over responsibility for police, security and intelligence in Germany he also was in charge of enforcing Nazi rules
Name the three branches of the SS
The Kripo who were the day to day police force
The Gestapo who were the secret police service
The SD, the intelligence arm of the SS headed by Reiner Heidrich. It monitored the security of the Reich
The SS
Potential SS members were trained in Junker schools so they could be taught to be ruthless and cruel. They were Hitler’s personal body guards and were told they were the master race and the forces of light. They had total unquestioning loyalty.
What was Himmler’s purge?
In 1935 Himmler conducted a purge to get rid of unfit officers, alcoholics, homosexual people and members who could not prove that they didn’t have Jewish ancestors. Even so in 1939 they were still nearly a quarter of a million members in the SS.
Describe the law courts
The judicial system came under state control. In 1934 Hitler set up a “People’s Court” which would give the right to verdict on those accused of crimes against the state. Trials had Nazi judges, no juries and defendants were were often just accused and not allowed to defend themselves.
Concentration camps
The decree for the protection of the people and the state allowed opponents to be arrested and placed in “protective custody” in concentration camps. The first one was constructed in Dachau in the state of Bavaria in 1933. By mid 1934 these camps were being run by a part of the SS called the Death’s Head Units. While most inmates were political prisoners other groups were held there such as jews, communists, gypsies, homosexuals, alcoholics and prostitutes.
The impact of the Police state
The Nazis controlled everything and everyone was watched. The Nazis sought to create a people’s community. Here alongside charity and neighbourliness people were taught their primary primary duty was to the German state and Hitler. People would report troublemakers to the Gestapo. Who would imprison and brutally torture the person who committed the “crime” which could be as little as saying business was bad or reading a banned book. Germans leant to “speak through a flower” The Nazis also believed in clan responsibility which mea32nt if one member of a family did something the whole family would pay for the crime.
