Machinery of Terror Flashcards
(10 cards)
What does “machinery of terror” refer to in Nazi Germany?
The network of organisations and laws used by the Nazi regime to instil fear, suppress opposition, and enforce loyalty.
What were the main organisations in the Nazi terror system?
The SS, Gestapo, SD, concentration camps, and the People’s Court.
What was the role of the SS in the Nazi police state?
Led by Heinrich Himmler, the SS enforced Nazi ideology, ran concentration camps, carried out racial policy, and acted as a paramilitary force.
What was the Gestapo and what powers did it have?
The secret police, allowed to arrest, detain, and interrogate people without trial; central to surveillance and suppression of dissent.
What was the SD (Sicherheitsdienst)?
The intelligence service of the SS, responsible for monitoring opponents and spying on the population, including within the Nazi Party.
How did concentration camps function in the terror system?
Used to detain political opponents, Jews, and “undesirables” without trial; symbolised fear and repression.
What were the People’s Courts (Volksgerichtshof)?
Nazi-run courts for political offences where defendants often had no fair trial, and sentences were predetermined, often death or long imprisonment.
How did informants and denunciations support Nazi terror?
Citizens were encouraged to report neighbours, family, and colleagues, leading to widespread paranoia and self-censorship.
What role did the legal system play in the machinery of terror?
Judges swore loyalty to Hitler and implemented Nazi ideology, often bypassing traditional rule of law.
How did the machinery of terror help Hitler maintain power?
It created a climate of fear, removed political opposition, and ensured that obedience to the regime became the norm in society.
