Terror State

• Name 3 of the key individual state authorities of the German police system under Hitler’s rule. 

  -The SS 

  -The SD 

  -The SA 

  -The Gestapo 
• What was the main function of the SS? 

  They were Hitler’s personal bodyguards. After TNOFTL they became the main Nazi branch of police (although there was also a police force).  
• Who was the appointed chief of the German police and leader of the SS? 

  Heinrich Himmler  
• Name 2 of the requirements needed to be part of the SS. 

  -Strictly disciplined 

  -Racially pure 

  -Unquestionably obedient  

  -No disabilities  
• What was the role of the SD? 

  They were the internal security service of the Nazi Party. 
• Who were the SD staffed by? 

  Amateurs who were committed Nazis.  
• What was the role of the Gestapo? 

  They were the secret state police.  
• How many Gestapo officers were there in 1939? 

  Just 20,000 for the whole country. 
• Name 2 disadvantages the Gestapo actually had? 

  -Small in numbers- 20,000

  -Agents were mostly office based  

  -They relied on information supplied by informers  

  -Most informers were motivated by personal grudges  
• Who presided over the Nazi People’s Court?  

  Three Nazi judges and no juries.  
• What nickname were People’s Courts secretly given? 

  Kangaroo courts- since the trail was over so quickly before the next trial began.   
• What was the name of the Protestant resistance group? 

  Pastors Emergency Group (1933) which developed into the Confessional Church (1934). 
• Why did some protestant churches refused to follow the requests of the Nazi church? Give 2 reasons.  

  -They were trying to protect the independence of the Protestant Church from the Nazi regime 

  -They were resisting the attempt to impose the Aryan paragraph on the church (preventing Jewish conversions) 

  -They were trying to defend Lutheran theology, which was based purely on the Bible  
• Name two factor which allowed the Nazis to control the newspapers? 

  • Many newspapers were closed after the Reichstag Fire Emergency Decree 
  • The Nazi brought out 27 daily newspapers  
  • News agencies that supplied the press with information were all merged into one controlled by the state 
• Name 3 methods the Nazis used as propaganda. 

  • Newspapers 
  • Radios 
  • Films 
  • Parades  
  • Art
  • Book burnings
  • Posters
• What was the Hitler myth? 

  The way in which propaganda was created in order to present Hitler in a flattering light and as the savour of Germany.  
• Name 3 characteristics that the Hitler myth presented to the public? 

  -Hard working  

  -Uncompromising in fighting the nations enemies 

  -A political and military genius 

  -Dynamic and forceful 

  -Lived a simple traditional life  

  -Almost god-like  
• In reality, name 3 negative facts about Hitler’s leadership.  

  -Hitler liked people to compete for his attention 

  -He was usually never involved in decision making 

  -He was very lazy and slept in- often through meetings 

  -He disliked reading official documents 

  -His official often had difficulty in getting him to make decisions