Germany Fear and Terror

• What was the phrase on many posters after Hitler came to power?


  'Ein volk, Ein Reich, Ein Fuhrur' as Hitler combined President, Chancellor and commander in chef of all armed forces
• How did Hitler appear?

  Charismatic and demanding. He portrayed himself as a normal person and often had himself photographed with families. He used the propaganda machine with full intentions of changing the country. But in reality he was quite lazy and his commands were often given through word of mouth
• What were the 3 parts of the SA?


  -SA was established as an elite bodyguard unite for Hitler and eventually played a lead role in terrorising and upholding the regime

  -the Waffen SS an armed military unit that played an increasing role in WW2

  -The SS Totenkopfverbande (Death's head unit) who ran the concentration camps
• What was the RSHA?


  Reich Security Office, all police ad security organisations had been amalgamated which was overseen by Himmler.
• What did the RSHA include?

  -Kripo; the criminal police who were responsible for maintaining law and order

  -Gestapo

  -SDL the party security

  -SLPO state security
• What was the real reason the Nazi power expanded?

  It was really due to the war and conquest of land in 1939 and the creation of the New Order that the Nazis imposed on occupied Europe that its power expanded and developed
• What was the SS responsible for?


  The creation of the 'New order.' Himmler became 'commissioner for consolidating German nationhood' which gave him responsibility for the resettling of ethnic Germans from conquered territories and the elimination of groups such as the Jews and gypsies
• The Gestapo


  -Had the reputation of being all-seeing and knowing element of the police state.

  -This view was put forward by the Gestapo in order to encourage people to not or they wouldn't be caught

  -They had 20,000- 40,000 agents. Large cities therefore had 40-50 agents

  -Many of these were no more than office workers who relied on informers or block wardens for info much of which was little more than gossip and brought few rewards for the regime
• In the gestapo what were the wardens responsible for?

  50 houses or apartments and ensured that Nazi flags were displayed and rallies were attended. There were about 2 million block wardens in Germany
• Concentration camps in 1933


  Concentration camps were prisons where opponents of the regime were questioned and subjected to torture, hard labour and re-education in Nazi ideals. They were established as part of a campaign against communists and socialists. Many were closed as they were offensive to nationalists. When Himmler took control there was only 3000 inmates suggesting that the campaign to silence opponents had been successful
• Concentration camps 1936


  Focused on asocials , criminals and homosexuals
• Concentration camps 1937


  Any prisoner who did not fit into the Volksgemeinschaft were imprisoned, including beggars, gypsies and the long term unemployed
• Wansee Conference (1942)


  Meeting attended by 15 senior German government and SS officials where Gen. Heydrich was commanded by Hitler, by 2 degrees of separation, to confirm cooperation from other 14 attending to implement the "Final solution to the Jewish question" Kill all 11 million Jews in Europe
• What happened to concentration camps in 1942?


  Into extermination camps and were ran by a section of the Waffen SS
• Concentration camps 1942


  Regular prisoners and foreign workers were transferred to camps as a source of labour. The camps subsequently became extermination camps for Jews.
• September 1939 vs January 1945 numbers


  25,000-714,211
• What other method did the Nazi's use to keep power?


  Considerable resources were given to Goebbels and the Ministry of Propaganda and enlightenment.
• What were the aims of Nazi propaganda?

  -To glorify the regime

  -to spread the Nazi values and ideology

  -to win over the people
• Radio


  Radio stations were taken over by the Nazis and broadcast pro-Nazi programmes. Cheap radios were given to people so they could tune in. 6,000 speakers were set up in streets to hear government announcements. Foreign stations were made hard to tune in to
• Marches/Rallies


  These were massive displays marching and colourful parades making the German people feel part of something important. Every September a huge rally at Nuremberg was held. The event lasted several days. Leni Riefenstahl glorified the event in her films.
• Books


  Many were burned if Hitler saw them as anti-German. One huge bonfire organised by the Nazi youth burnt 20,000 books in May 1933. In all 2500 writers were banned
• Press


  Hitler brought all broadcasting under one 'Reich Radio Company
• Posters


  These are placed everywhere often blaming the Jews for Germany's problems and criticising the TOV
• Olympic Games Berlin 1936


  The largest propaganda event. Everything was carefully organised. They had the largest stadium in the world. News reports and the filming of the games were carefully controlled. Anti-Jewish slogans were removed from the streets of Berlin and people wet away with a positive opinion of Germany
• Photographs


  Hitler was shown as a powerful, friendly and caring leader and so was photographed with woman and children. Women admired his achievements and promises
• Films/Cinema


  Foreign ones were banned. The propaganda department led by Joseph Goebbels made films describing Germany's achievements. The most recognised was a film called 'Triumph of the Will' about the 1934 party rally at Nuremburg. Leni Riefenstahl was paid to produce films that glorified the Nazis
• Newspapers


  Those controlled by Jews and Communists were shut down. There were over 4700 daily newspapers in 1933. The Nazi publishing house Eher Verlag brought up 2/3 of the German Press. Many news agencies were merged and guidance was provided about editorial policy from the ministry of Propaganda and Goebbels.
• What was the Editors Law of October 1933?


  Meant editors and newspapers had to follow the guidance of the Ministry of Propaganda or face consequences. The editors job was to censor
• Nazi ritual


  Hitler managed to create a new social ritual or greeting the Nazi Salute/ hail Hitler. Also he managed to incorporate the Horst Wessel anthem