TERROR, CENSORSHIP & PROPAGANDA

Question 1

Who was made Minister of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda?

Answer 1

Goebbels.

Question 2

What were there departments for? What did they censor?

Answer 2

Departments to run press, the film industry, radio and theatre.
Censored all non-nazi culture and media.

Question 3

What was the impact of radios?

Answer 3

The nazis produced their own cheap radio sets to spread ideology. Ownership increased from 25% to 70% by the outbreak of war.

Question 4

What law ensured newspapers only published Nazi views? What year was this law implemented?

Answer 4

Editor’s Law of 1933.

Question 5

What were raids carried out on?

Answer 5

Libraries and second-hand bookshops, with seized books burnt at rallies.

Question 6

Give examples of social rituals the Nazis attempted to implement into society.

Answer 6

Heil Hitler greeting, the Nazi salute, the Horst Wessel anthem and the wearing of uniforms.

Question 7

What does Kershaw mean by the ‘Hitler myth’?

Answer 7

There was widespread belief that Hitler was not to blame for issues with the party, local officials and policies. Showed the power of the leader-oriented propaganda.

Question 8

What significant role did the courts play in the Nazis implementing terror?

Answer 8

Enabled the regime to remove its opponents while giving the semblance of legality to Nazi actions.

Question 9

What significant role did the courts play in the Nazis implementing terror?

Answer 9

Enabled the regime to remove its opponents while giving the semblance of legality to Nazi actions.

Question 10

What were judges in Nazi Germany instructed to do?

Answer 10

Issue harsher sentences, which it was hoped would discourage others and new laws regarding political offences were brought in.

Question 11

What were the two branches of the SS?

Answer 11

1. The Waffen-SS

2. Death Head’s Unit

Question 12

By 1939, what were all police and security organisations under?

Answer 12

The Reich Security Office RSHA. Which was overseen by Himmler.

Question 13

What did the RSHA include?

Answer 13

• Kripo: the criminal police.
• Gestapo: secret police.
• SD: Party Security agency.
• SIPO: State Security.

Question 14

What did the Gestapo have a reputation of being?

Answer 14

The all-seeing and knowing element of the police state.

Question 15

How many agents did the Gestapo have?

Answer 15

20,000 to 40,000.

Question 16

What is an evaluation of the Gestapo?

Answer 16

Given its numerical weakness, it appears unlikely that they were able to impose a regime of terror, even if fear of them acted as a powerful deterrent.

Question 17

What were concentration camps used for?

Answer 17

Questioning and torturing. In order to re-educate and inflict hard labour on so-called enemies of the state.

Question 18

How many people were being held in concentration camps in 1934, when Himmler took over?

Answer 18

3000.

Question 19

From 1936, until the outbreak of war, who was put in concentration camps?

Answer 19

Anyone who did not fit into the Nazi ideal. For example, asocials, beggars, gypsies and those who were ‘work shy’.