The Nazi Justice System Flashcards
(7 cards)
What motivated Hitler to reform the Court System?
Judges, lawyers, and the court system were independent and began prosecuting SA and SS members for violent crimes. Hitler was angered by the Supreme Court acquitting most defendants in the Reichstag Fire trial.
This independent judiciary was seen as a threat to Hitler’s power and control.
What is the Front of German Law?
An association formed by merging various judges and lawyers with the League of National Socialist Lawyers in April 1933.
It was established to ensure judges and lawyers’ careers depended on their loyalty to the Nazi state.
How did the layout of the Courts System change?
New courts were introduced, including Special Courts in 1933 and the People’s Court in 1934, running alongside the existing system.
These courts dealt with political crimes and had a specific structure of judges.
What was the structure of the People’s Court?
It had 3 ‘Nazi’ judges and 2 professional judges, with no juries and no rights of appeal for defendants.
This structure was designed to ensure that political outcomes favored the Nazi regime.
How did the changes to the Court System contribute to Hitler’s new Terror State?
Judges and lawyers either fell in line or were replaced by loyal Nazis; the justice system could not interfere with Nazi terror.
This led to a significant increase in political trials and sentences, including death sentences.
How many people were tried by the People’s Court between 1934 and 1939?
3400 people, mostly former socialists and communists.
The court’s primary function was to eliminate political opposition to the Nazi regime.
What was the frequency of death sentences during the period of the People’s Court?
Death sentences were used much more frequently.
This reflected the regime’s harsh approach to dissent and opposition.
