To what extent were the SS and GFestapo the most improtant reason for Hitler's-consolidation of power? Flashcards
Inrto:
The SS and Gestap were an imoporant factor as they dealt with opponents fot he regime such as Communists and socialsits, but in consolidating his power among the orinary people, his propoganda was just as imortant and with the youth his educatinal polcies were vital to their indoctrination. Similairl;y his policy of Gleichschaltung helped to puta ll other instituios under his control
The SS and Gestap were improtant in..?
killed his opponents
crucial in upholding the regime thorugh violence ansd terror
power to arrest without trial and their repuation of brutality was able to isntil fear into many
Gestapo were also useful in ensuring the populariy of policiesbeing the ‘eyes nd ears’ of the regime- checking on the populations reaction and ensuring they still maintianed supprot through itnimidatin
Gestap was only 40,000 out of a population of 80 million so they were not as efective on their own.
Their success did depend on active co-operation from the people (50-80% of arrests depended on insidiers infromation)
The SS- worked in conjunction with the Gestapo to limit resistance
-brutal running of concentration camps e.g. Dachaeu, oppostion groups like communists were killed
The Night and Fog Act meant they could arrest without question>this removed most of the oppostion outside party
-Night of the Long Knives- Rohm and other leading SA members were killed ended any possiblity of a second revolution
BUT it also showed Hitler’s power depend on co-operaton with army and big businenesses
Howver, propoganda was a crucial part of this as Hitelr had to justify actions fot hr SS to the public
The importance of the SS progressed over time>having to instil policies in the ‘New Order’
Howver, nt jsut terro alone but propoganda..?
Hitler releid on the use of propoganda to justify the regime and promote its benefits- work with Goebbels- exploited propoganda oppurtunities
-did a lot to crerate th myht of this saviour figure afett he Depression
-emphsised on HItler’s economi success (e.g. reduciton in unemplyment) so people concentrated on that more than brutality
-Messages were hammered hope- cheap radio (everyone
-contorl over press=- newspapers promoting Nazi values
Judgement: However, in a totalrian society it si diffcult to assess effectivness of propoganda- there were limits to it>faield o successfuly change chrisitian beliefs, failed to change working-class views to Nazi culure, ect. Althogh it was used to jsutify many of Hite;r’s policies, due to its failings it was less important than the SS/Gestapo
Indoctrination of the youuth helped to consoldiate his pwoer..?
winning supportnof the youth/diminishing future threats
Syllabus was Nazifieid/97% of teachers belionging to NSLB in 1937, relgious schoos banned
Howver success was mixed- ,many disliked the non-academic curriculm, enforced- hard to say how successful it was. The Hitler YOuth depsite being amde compulsory in 1939 faield in its aims as there was still opppostion liek the Edelweiss Pirates (depsite beinga minority)
Judgement: It was less important as the regime didn’t surivve long enough for the policies to make a difference. NEw curriculm never reall setin and most of young had not reahce dadulthood by the end of the war
Gleichschaltung (co-ordination)helped to consolidate Hitler’s power..?
all aspects of German life were put under Nazi control should ahve beent eh most important as ti gave him compelte control
e.g. Von Schirach, appnte Reich Youth Leader- all exisitng youth organsiations were taken over by rhe Hitkler Youth
Hans Frank- took over exisitng associations of lawyers and out them all under one body
It was used to exlude, democratic and non-Aryans
Howver, his willingless to allow insittutions liek the Hurch, army, big nusinnses to surivvie independantly for the earlier years shows it was a less important factor
Althouugh the juriciary were quicly boihgt under NAzi contorl, civil servie/educaion took a lot longer
Hitler had to avod annoying powerful itnerests so he had to abandon th SA to get amry supprot and allowed big busisnesses to contine until 4-year plan in 1936
Judgement: As Hitler was heavily depdnant on these he didn’t try to contorl them directly thereofre making ti a less improtnat factort han the SS/Gestapo
Overall, there wer elimtis to all the methods used by the Nazis..?
howver, the SS/Gesapo were th msot important reaosn as they destroyed any oppoents msot liely to overthrow Hitler. Prooganda was imortna tin winning over the support of the public/jutisiyign acts fo cruelness butn it didn't always achive it aims with the w.class Indoctination fo the youth didn't have a chance to take hold and the willingless to allow certain isntiions to carry on undermines the importance of co-ordiantion Hover, all ft hese elements had to play a part
