Control & Opposition

Question 1

When they came into power, what did the Nazis do with the existing police forces and legal system?

Answer 1

They did not get rid of them, but the SS simply took control of them through terrorising and intimidating the German public into obedience. They were fanatically loyal to the Furher and were utterly ruthless.

Question 2

Who led the SS?

Answer 2

Heinrich Himmler

Question 3

What did the SS hold the power to do?

Answer 3

Arrest, detain and execute those suspected of acting against the state.

Question 4

After the Night of the Long Knives, what did the SS take over the responsibility of?

Answer 4

The police, security and intelligence in Germany.

Question 5

Which was the general policing branch of the SS?

Answer 5

The Kripo

Question 6

Who were the Gestapo?

Answer 6

The secret police force in Germany

Question 7

Describe the Gestapo:

Answer 7

The Gestapo used Block Leaders to report suspicious behaviour and had Provincial Leaders appointed in 42 districts. They were the most feared people in all of Mazi Germany due to their powers to arrest anyone they suspected, force them to go on trial & sentence them to concentration camps or execute them with little to no evidence. The Gestapo’s effectiveness lay within its ability to scare the public through listening to phone calls, intercepting letters and their overall omnipresence, leading to the public being frightened of 5e consequences they may face if caught. The Gestapo were put above the law and their work was legalised by the Gestapo law of 1936; they could do whatever they wanted within their line of duty. This allowed the Nazis to eliminate all opposition with torture, imprisonment and execution.

Question 8

What was the intelligence arm called and who was it lead by?

Answer 8

SD which was led by Heinrich Himmler’s right hand man Reinhard Heydrich

Question 9

How was bias shown in the judicial system and what did this display?

Answer 9

The highest-ranking jobs in the Police and the Courts were given to loyal & well connected Nazis. Any crimes committed by Nazis were ignored. The Nazis’ powerful and ruthless grasp on the judicial system made opposition to the regime very difficult. This was the end of the German people’s civil rights & the beginning of a dictatorship. The Nazis were determined that the legal system would not protect those who the state wanted to punish.

Question 10

What, presided over by Nazi judges, was established by Hitler in 1934?

Answer 10

A special People’s Court

Question 11

Describe the courts of Nazi Germany.

Answer 11

Hitler established the 1934 special People’s courts where there were no longer any juries & often defendants were simply accused of a crime and were unable to defend themselves. All judges had to swear an oath of loyalty to Hitler & were all expected act in the interest of the Nazi state. All lawyers had to join the Nazi Lawyers’ Association so that they could be controlled. The role of defence lawyers in criminal trials was weakened and the number of crimes that carried the death penalty increased from 3 to 46. “Protective custody” was introduced for those who might commit a crime. This meant people could be arrested & interned even if they had not broken the law. These changes broke the previously just legal system and people lost many of their civil rights.

Question 12

Who had to swear an oath of loyalty to Hitler?

Answer 12

Judges

Question 13

What did all lawyers have to join?

Answer 13

The Nazi Lawyers’ Association

Question 14

What was the previous and then amended amount of crimes to carry the death penalty?

Answer 14

The amount of crimes which carried the death penalty rose from 3 to 46.

Question 15

What is the meaning of ‘interned’?

Answer 15

Arrested, detained and put in prison without trial

Question 16

What was “Protective Custody”?

Answer 16

A measure introduced for those who may commit a crime. This meant that people could be arrested & interned even if they had not broken the law.

Question 17

Why did the Nazis decide to make concentration camps?

Answer 17

Prisons were overrun and they needed somewhere where they could concentrate other prisoners.

Question 18

Who were the first groups of people out in concentration camps?

Answer 18

Communists, Socialists, Jews, journalists, Trade Unionists and gay people,as well as anyone else who criticised the Nazi party.

Question 19

Where and when was the first concentration camp established?

Answer 19

Dachau in the state of Bavaria in March 1933

Question 20

By mid-1934, who ran concentration camps?

Answer 20

A part of the SS known as the Death’s Head Units

Question 21

By 1939, how many people had been sentenced to concentration camps?

Answer 21

6 million

Question 22

What was life like in concentration camps?

Answer 22

People were subjected to hard labour and were given very little food. This meant that many people died of malnutrition or overwork.

Question 23

What were people taught in the people’s community?

Answer 23

Charity and neighbourliness as well as that their primary duty was loyal to the Fuhrer and German state.

Question 24

What was clan responsibility?

Answer 24

The Ida that, if one member of the family broke the law, all the family was guilty & could be punished.

Question 25

Who were regarded as ‘enemies of the state’?

Answer 25

People who went against rules set out by the Nazis and showed any sort of opposition, e.g. speaking negatively of the government.

Question 26

Why did most people approve of eliminating‘enemies of the state’?

Answer 26

It made them feel safer, many people joined the Nazi Party and were eager to follow most rules.

Question 27

What is meant by the phrase to ‘speak through a flower’?

Answer 27

This meant to select words carefully and in such a way which could not offend the state and the Fuhrer .

Question 28

What was the change in the number of criminal offences by 1939?

Answer 28

It had halved, though the number of people in prison increased.

Question 29

By 1939,how many people were in prison or concentration camps?

Answer 29

By 1939, there were over 600 000 people in prison or concentration camps.

Question 30

Why did society become more suspicious and tense?

Answer 30

Some people publicly criticised or informed on others to make themselves look more loyal. Children were also encouraged to report their parents and teachers.

Question 31

Why did most people comply with the new regulations?

Answer 31

They were fearful of being arrested without reason, particularly due to protective custody. Justice had disappeared. Many people did not receive fair trials due to the amendments to the defence regulations whilst convicted Nazis had their sentences quashed by the intervention of Hitler.

Question 32

What Ministry was headed by Joseph Goebbels?

Answer 32

The Ministry of Propaganda & Enlightenment

Question 33

Who could work in the media?

Answer 33

Only journalists approved by Nazis

Question 34

By 1939, what percentage of newspapers in circulation were owned by the Nazis?

Answer 34

69%

Question 35

What happened to newspapers who printed stories which the Nazis disapproved of?

Answer 35

They were shut down

Question 36

_______ & ______ were held at different stages of the year to glorify Germany, Hitler himself or important anniversaries, e.g. ________ ________

Answer 36

Parades, Rallies, Hitler’s Birthday

Question 37

Which were the most spectacular rallies and when were they held?

Answer 37

The Nuremberg Rallies, annually during August

Question 38

What, in 1936, were staged and why?

Answer 38

The Olympic Games; to show off Germany at its best when Germany won more medals then other countries- this was to create a grand vision of efficiency, power, strength and achievement which gave Germans something to be proud of.

Question 39

Knowing the power of radio, the affordable and mass-produced _________ was created by the _______ _______ _________.

Answer 39

People’s Receiver, Reich Radio Company

Question 40

By 1939, what percentage households owned a People’s Receiver?

Answer 40

70%

Question 41

When were loudspeakers pit up in public places?

Answer 41

1938

Question 42

Who were employed to ensure that everyone listened to important speeches?

Answer 42

Radio wardens

Question 43

Listening to _______ _______ ________ was banned

Answer 43

Foreign radio stations

Question 44

Where and when were Nazi propaganda films shown?

Answer 44

In cinemas, Nazi propaganda films and newsreels were shown at the beginning of a show, with no admittance to the cinema once the showing had begun.

Question 45

Anti-_____ and anti-_____ films were shown before feature films

Answer 45

Anti-semitic and anti-communist

Question 46

Give one example of a Nazi feature film:

Answer 46

‘Triumph of the will’ which was about the 1934 Nuremberg Rally was used to promote the Nazi Regime.

Question 47

Give 4 examples of things which were censored by the Ministry of Propaganda and Enlightenment:

Answer 47

Music, literature, cinema & theatre

Question 48

To convey Nazi messages through slogans and images, what type of propaganda was used?

Answer 48

Posters

Question 49

What law outlawed anti-Nazi stories and jokes?

Answer 49

A 1934 law against malicious gossip

Question 50

________ and _________ of young people led to changes in the school curriculum. _________ were _________.

Answer 50

Education, indoctrination, textbooks, rewritten

Question 51

When did students in Berlin burn books?

Answer 51

May 1933

Question 52

How many books were burnt in the Berlin students’ May1933 book burning?

Answer 52

20 000 which were written by Jews and Communists

Question 53

How was literature censored ?

Answer 53

It was controlled to ensure it only reflected Nazi thinking and could not be published without the approval of Joseph Goebbels

Question 54

Give 2 examples of artists whose modern artwork was thrown out of galleries:

Answer 54

George Grosz and Otto Dix

Question 55

________ music and unacceptable dancing including the __________ were banned because they had originated from ______ ______.

Answer 55

Jazz, jitterbug, black people

Question 56

In particular, who never fully accepted Nazi ideals?

Answer 56

Working class Germans in urban areas

Question 57

Who were the Nazis hugely popular with?

Answer 57

Rural Protestants areas and lower middle class people, including small businessmen and shopkeepers.

Question 58

In 1933, most of the German population were Christians. Roughly, what fraction were Catholic and Protestant?

Answer 58

Roughly one third Roman Vatholic and roughly two thirds Protestants

Question 59

Why did Hitler choose not to provoke conflict with the churches?

Answer 59

In 1933, most Germans were Christians. This meant that the churches held a very powerful influence which meant that provoking conflict with them could mean the Nazis would lose support from the public. Therefore Hitler chose not to provoke conflict with the churches until he was sure that he could win.

Question 60

What is a Concordat?

Answer 60

An agreement or treaty between the Catholic Church and a sovereign state.

Question 61

When did Hitler sign a Concordat?

Answer 61

July 1933

Question 62

What was the conditions of the Concordat?

Answer 62

The Catholic Church would stay out of politics in return for the Nazis promising to let the church run services, youth groups and schools. Furthermore, the Pope the bishops to take an oath of loyalty to Hitler.

Question 63

When did the Concordat break down and what happened?

Answer 63

The Concordat started to break down in 1936 and the Nazis started to target the Catholic Youth League and schools. In 1937, Pope Pius XI condemned the Nazi regime in an encyclical read out on Catholic Churches. However., this had no effect and the Nazis continued to dishonour the agreement through attacking the church and arresting priests.

Question 64

Germany’s Protestants or __________ belonged to __ church groups.

Answer 64

Lutherans; 28

Question 65

Under pressure from the Nazis, the Protestant churches agreed to unite to form what? Who was it lead by?

Answer 65

They formed the Reich Church which was led by Ludwig Müller who became the first Reich Bishop in 1933.

Question 66

Describe the Reich Church

Answer 66

They are lead by Ludwig Müller who became the first Reich bishop in July 1933. They adopted Nazi-style uniforms, salutes and marches. Their slogan was, ‘The swastika on our chests and the Cross in our hearts’. Its symbol was a Christian cross with a swastika in the centre. The Bible was altered to remove many references to Jews.

Question 67

What was the Confessional Church?

Answer 67

In 1934, those Lutherans who disagreed with Nazism set up the Confessional Church. More than 6000 pastors joined the Confessional Church and 800, including Martin Niemoller, were arrested by the Nazis and were sent to concentration camps.

Question 68

What was the German Faith Movement?

Answer 68

A Nazi Church based on Pagan beliefs (e.g.worshipping the sun). Its main symbol was a swastika and they replaced the Bible with Mein Kampf. It fully supported the Nazi state and they Volksgemeainschaft, but it was never popular.

Question 69

Give one example of a refused to cooperate with the Nazis and briefly explain what happened to them:

Answer 69

Some groups, e.g. Jehovah Witnesses, refused to cooperate with the Nazis. They followed the teachings of the Bible not to take up arms and as a result refused to serve in the army. Most Jehovah Witnesses ended up in concentration camps where one third of them died.

Question 70

By 1938, how many puppy members were in the Hitler Youth?

Answer 70

Over 7 million

Question 71

Before 1933, the _______ _______ and _________ Parties had youth wings and these continued (as ‘_________ __ _______’ hiking clubs) until ____ when the government made it compulsory to join the _____ _____ ________.

Answer 71

Social Democrats Communist; Friends of Nature; 1936; Hitler Youth Movement

Question 72

How many didn’t join the Hitler Youth movement?

Answer 72

Some figures suggest about 1 million.

Question 73

What did the Swing Youth do?

Answer 73

Rebel by growing their hair long and dance to jazz music.

Question 74

What did the Edelweiss Pirates do?

Answer 74

They rebelled by wearing check shirts, shorts, white socks & a lapel pin of the edelweiss flower. They hung around in parks and committed acts of vandalism. These were toy people who rejected Nazi values, drank alcohol, and danced to jazz.

Question 75

Who were the Leipzig Hounds?

Answer 75

A rebelling youth group who were communist.