Terror in Nazi Germany

Question 1

Who were the SS created by? Consisted of?

Answer 1

• Created by: Adolf Hitler

- Consisted of: Aryan men, yet became less picky as war started

Question 2

When were the SS created? Numbers?

Answer 2

• Created when: 1939

- Numbers: Unknown

Question 3

Aims of the SS?

Answer 3

Aimed to cleanse Germany of the ‘untermenschen’, or ‘sub-humans’. In the end they ended up playing part in the torture and murder of about 12 million people.

Question 4

What was Himmler’s intent regarding SS and the police?

Answer 4

Himmler’s intent was a complete fusion of the SS and the German police and utilise the executive authority of the police to impose the Nazi ideals.

Question 5

What was the Einsatzgruppen?

Answer 5

The death squad, a branch of the SS, formed only when needed. They officially came into being in 1939 and were preceded by the Einsatzkommando.

Question 6

How many deaths are the Einsatzgruppen approximately responsible for?

Answer 6

Raul Hilberg estimates 2 million

Question 7

What were Einsatzgruppen’s purpose?

Answer 7

To ‘enter occupied areas, seize vital records, and neutralise potential threats’. This meant murdering all people Hitler deemed ‘unfit’. Played a vital part in the Final Solution.

Question 8

Who were targeted by the Einsatzgruppen?

Answer 8

Included Jews, Soviet state/Communist party officials, gypsies, and people who were either mentally or physically disabled.

Question 9

What were the S.A also known as?

Answer 9

Stormtroopers, Brownshirts, Sturm abteilung

Question 10

Who were the S.A created by? Lead by who?

Answer 10

Created by Hitler. Lead by Ernst Rohm.

Question 11

S.A numbers? When were they created and who did they consist of?

Answer 11

• Numbers by 1934: 2,000,000

- Created in 1921 and consisted of ex-Freikorps members

Question 12

Why was Hitler concerned w/the S.A by 1934?

Answer 12

By 1934 Hitler was worried by the size and influence of the SA.

Question 13

What were the S.A along military lines?

Answer 13

Along military lines, described as ‘Hitler’s Private Army’. They would protect Nazi Speakers, such as Hitler.

Question 14

What did the SA do at rallies? What did this help do?

Answer 14

• They would march, sing, play drums and carry banners/flags. It helped promote a strong, proud Nazi identity during tough times.
• It helped promote a strong, proud Nazi identity during tough time

Question 15

How did the S.A interact with opposition?

Answer 15

Would disrupt the meetings of political opponents. This would discredit and intimidate them and would also frighten opposition voters during election periods.

Question 16

Who did the S.A often target?

Answer 16

They would often target Jews and Communists.

Question 17

What was Heydrich’s nickname? When did he join?

Answer 17

Known as: The hangman

Date Joined: Part of the original freikorps

Question 18

What was Heydrich’s part in the Final Solution?

Answer 18

Chaired the January 1942 Wannsee Conference, which formalised plans for the Final Solution.

Question 19

What was Heydrich’s main position?

Answer 19

Heydrich served as president of the International Criminal Police Commission, later known as Interpol

Question 20

Himmler + The SS?

Answer 20

Made head Of SS. Main task was to protect Hitler. The gestapo became a terror symbol for the Hitlers non-supporters. Through the terror of the Gestapo and Himmler’s role in the order, this limited the amount of people who spoke out against Hitler

Question 21

How was Himmler involved with the Holocaust?

Answer 21

The idea of the holocaust was Himmler’s and it was him who controlled the camps as well as him who formed the SS and was leader of the inner and outer police including the Gestapo.

Question 22

Why did Himmler design the Holocaust?

Answer 22

The Jews were used as a scapegoat for Germany’s problems and antisemitism was a part of Nazi culture. To solve this problem, Himmler designed the holocaust. However it wasn’t just jews put into concentration camps but enemies to the Nazi party, anyone who speaks against them or anyone who goes against the views of the party.

Question 23

What did the Nazi court system consist of?

Answer 23

Sondergericht, People’s Courts, Roland Freisler (Reich Ministry of Justice)

Question 24

Outline the People’s Court

Answer 24

The People’s Court, which operated outside of the constitutional frame of law was created in 1934 in response to the Reichstag fire because Hitler was dissatisfied that all but one of the defendants were acquitted.

Question 25

What was the Sondergericht?

Answer 25

Political courts ran by nazi Officials called Sondergericht, which ensured that any opponents of the nazis were charged w/treason and always guilty . Intimidated public.

Question 26

How many Germans were executed between 1933-45?

Answer 26

12,000 Germans were executed on the orders of the Sondergericht.

Question 27

Effects of executions?

Answer 27

They had a “strong deterrent effect” against opposition in their first few years of existence and the German public were intimidated through “psychological terror”