History GCSE

• Who were the SS and what did they do?

  Schutzstaffel. Hitler’s bodyguard, led by Himmler. They were made up of the SD (security) who could arrest anyone they wanted, search homes and seize property, The Waffen SS who were the elite army unit and the Death’s Head Units who ran the concentration camps.
• Who were the Gestapo and what did they do?

  The Secret Police who didn’t wear uniforms so had anonymity and tapped phone calls, opened mail and arrested and tortured people without trial. They encouraged children to report on their parents and teachers
• How did propaganda help the Nazis control the German people?

  The Nazis used radios, newspapers, magazines, posters literature, music, theatre and film as propaganda and led by Joseph Goebbels with the Reich Ministry of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda. It encouraged support for Hitler and tailored messages to different sections of society to appeal to them specifically. It was intended to manipulate the public to actively support the governments’ actions, ideas and policies.
• How did censorship help the Nazis control the German people?

  Any media that conveyed anti-Nazi ideas were censored. Censorship of newspapers, radio, cinema and the theatre was enforced. Only books which agreed with the Nazi point of view were allowed. All other books were banned and many were publicly burned from May, 1933.
• How were the arts and culture of Germany affected by Nazi rule?

  Art: Hitler saw modern art as ‘degenerate’ and over 6 500 works of art were removed from displays across Germany. Hitler encouraged ‘Aryan art’ which showed the physical and military power of Germany and the Aryan race. Literature: only books which agreed with the Nazi point of view were allowed. All other books were banned and many were publicly burned from May, 1933. Music: Classical music by Jewish composers like Mendelssohn and Mahler were banned and Nazis opposed Jazz music as it had African-American origins.
• What was passive resistance towards the Nazis?

  Refusing to co-operate with regulations, such as not joining the Nazi Party, reading banned books, listening to forbidden music and not using the “Heil Hitler” salute.
• How did the groups like the swing youth openly oppose the Nazis?

  Swing Youth refused to join Hitler Youth clubs and went to parties and listened to Jazz music etc. 
• How did the groups like the Edelweiss pirates openly oppose the Nazis?

  Edelweiss Pirates were gangs made up of boys, girls and Jewish people who made fun and fought the Hitler Youth.
• How did the groups the White rose group openly oppose the Nazis?

  White Rose Group were made up of student who advocated nonviolent resistance as a means of opposing the Nazi regime. They published their anti-Nazi opinions in leaflets under the name ‘the White Rose’ and used German literature and Christian religious teachings to support their views
• What attempts to assassinate Hitler were made by the German people and army?

  In 1944, a group of army officers tried to assassinate Hitler. A bomb was planted by Colonel Stauffenberg at a meeting attended by Hitler. It exploded, but Hitler survived. In retaliation, Stauffenberg was shot the same day and 5,000 people were executed in the crackdown on opposition that followed.