The Police State Flashcards
Who was Heinrich Himmler
Figure in charge of the Gestapo, SS, SD and the Nazi’s tools for repression
Enthusiastic supporter of Aryan supremacy
How was the legal system reorganised in this police state?
Trials were done by judges alone, not jurys
All Judges had to join the National League for the Maintenance of Law
All Judges must rule in Nazi favour
Berlin’s “People’s Court” tried political criminals who opposed hitler
What was the Gestapo and when was it created?
Gestapo was Hitlers secret police service, set up by Herman Goerring in 1933 and led by Heydrich
How many members did the Gestapo have
50,000 police men
200,000 informants
What was the purpose of the Gestapo
To spy on German citizens and prosecute those who spoke against the Nazi regime
Punishment for such a crime was torture or being sent to a concentration camp (160,000 arrested by 1939)
What was the SS? When was it set up?
SS was Hitlers’ protection squad (bodyguards)
- set up in 1925
- In charge of Germany’s police force
- wore black uniforms
- Lead by Himmler
- Ran concentration camps
- 50k members, Aryan race and expected to have racially pure wives
What was the SD? When was it set up?
SD were Hitler’s security service who spied on Nazi opposition domestic and foreign
Set up by Himmler in 1931.
Lead by Heydrich
Concentration Camps conditions?
- inmatess originally forced to do hard and pointless work, eg breaking stones
- inmates then made to work in quarries, construction and armanents
- underfed
- high mortality rate
- familiies of killed inmates were given a note claiming it was “disease” or they were “shot trying to escape”
Why was the German repression successful?
People thought the Gestapo and SS were everywhere so feared to oppose the Nazi Regime
Who were sent to concentration camps?
Religious groups who opposed Naziism Political prisoners Foreign groups seen as a threat "work-shy" - unwilling to work, eg gypsies or alchoholics sexual offenders professional criminals jews
Why did German citizens help inform the Gestapo?
Patriotism/dedication to Nazi cause Personal vendettas (Eg revenge for someone killing your family member, you would report them for treason)
What was the People’s court?
Court established in 1934 to try cases of treason. Minister of Justice would make sure the sentences werent lenient
What was the German Faith Movement?
Hitlers attempt at using Germany’s large protestant community to weaken the power of the Church and spread Nazi propaganda. Only 5% of the population joined the movement.
Why did Hitler see the Catholic Church as a threat?
- Members swore allegiance to the Pope, not Hitler
- Catholic schools and youth groups had a message which did not comply with the Nazis
- Catholics consistently supported the Centre Party (which dissolved in 1933)
What was the concordat that Hitler signed with the Catholic Church?
Hitler said he would not interfere with the Church if they did not interfere with politics
