C14, Terror State Flashcards
Who was Heinrich Himmler
Leader SS
How did Himmler gain control over SS, SD and Gestapo in 1936
Exploited tensions between Goering and Flick, shift of power
How Himmler’s position was strengthened in 1939
Reich Security Department Headquaters, all party and police under SS control
Role of SS
Hitler Personal Bodyguards
Ran conc camps
Eventually took over Gestapo 1936
Role of Gestapo
Small no agents
Relied on informants and ‘myth’ over surveillance to find enemies
Role of SD
Internal security service
Monitor Public opinion
Led by Heydrich
What were ‘Block Wardens’
In charge of Mazi loyalty in local area
Collected donation, wrote reports ext
When were concentration camps first used?
1933
How many informers were part of the Gestapo
160,000
How the courts were manipulated
Front of German Law (April 1933) those in legal professions dependant on Nazis
Nazi Special Courts (1933)
Peoples court (1934) dealt with pol crimes, Nazi judges no jurie
Overall view on Nazi support v resistance
Support through propaganda and Gestapo
Was resistance which demonstrated failure of volksgemeinschaft
SPD resistance + extent
Voted against enabling act
but suffered violence from SS, party support limited
KPD resistance + extent
More active, factory cell establishments
but oppression from party, 10% members killed
Resistance by workers + extent
1935 37 strikers in Rhineland ext, sabotaged machines
but German Labour front, 1938 penalties for strikes
Resistance by Protestant Church + extent
Confessional church, protect independence and resist Aryan paragraph
but 1937 700 pastors imprisoned, many members loyal to Hitler
Resistance by Catholic Church + extent
More united centralised power, 1937 Pope message
but nothing more than narrow resistance
Resistance by the youth
Did not attend weekly parades
Formed ‘youth cliques’
Meuten Gang, flourished in Communist areas in Leipzig
Resistance by Elites + extent
1939 escalation of foreign policy meant scared of unprepared war, Generals considered Hitler threat to ‘old’ Germany
but many shared racial views and supported
Nazi Newspaper stats
4700 privately owned
27 Daily newspapers
Failures of newspaper reports
Limited circulation due to repetitiveness
Nazi radio importance
Directly speak to people
In homes and public spaced
Reich Radio company
What percentage of people had Radios in homes
70%
Importance of parades and spectacles
Good discipline
Physical proof of support
Failures of parades and spectacles
People felt forced to comply, not willing
It was not showing support but more to gain support
