Terror and Intimidation in Nazi Germany Why did the Nazis use terror and intimidation in Germany? Do you think these methods will be effective? Do you think these methods can last indefinitely (forever)?

What methods do you know the Nazis already use? What methods do you think they might use?

We are learning to… I can… Identify the methods used the control people in Nazi Germany Explain the role of each in helping the Nazis stay in power Evaluate which method was the most important I can… Complete a table analysing how these groups helped the Nazis.

What is a “Police State”?

What is a “Police State”? A country that maintains repressive control over the people by means of police (especially secret police) .

The Nazi Police State Nearly 17 million people in Germany had not voted for Hitler and the Nazis. These people were likely to be a constant thorn for Hitler unless they were dealt with. For these people, the Nazis developed a policy of intimidation. Hitler’s police state worked on the rule that if you said nothing, no harm, would come to you. If you had doubts about the way the country was going, you kept them to yourself - or paid the price The wrong comment overheard by a Nazi official could have very serious consequences.

Terror & Intimidation - Adolf Hitler “Terror is the best political weapon for nothing drives people harder than a fear of sudden death.” - Adolf Hitler

Task: Totalitarian State Organisation/ Group/ Person How did it help the Nazis stay in power? The SS The Gestapo Spies and Informers Concentration Camps Josef Goebbels

Yellow star or triangle – Jewish prisoner Green triangle – Criminals Red triangle – Political prisoners Black triangles – ‘asocials’, (non-conformists, vagrants, the mentally ill), Roma & Sinti (Gypsies – later assigned a brown triangle Brown triangles – Roma & Sinti (Gypsies) Pink triangles – Gay men Purple triangles – Jehovah’s Witnesses Blue triangles – foreign prisoners

Use this video clip to help you complete your table

The Gestapo The Gestapo were the secret police. They tapped phones and read mail. Anyone suspected of being against the Nazis was instantly arrested. They also used torture to gain confessions from suspects. They wore ordinary clothes. There were around 45,000 Gestapo agents in Nazi Germany.

The population of Germany at the time was 80 million How many Gestapo agents were there per person? How did the Gestapo control the public with so few agents? Do you think the Gestapo were actually that effective in Nazi control of Germany?

Spies and Informers They informed The Gestapo of any Jews trying to hide, anyone who spoke out against the Nazis or showed anti- Nazi behaviour. Sometimes people spied on their own families and friends. Around 160,000 Germans informed on others.

The SS The SS were the state security service. It was their job to eliminate all opposition in Nazi Germany. They were ruthless and violent and people were terrified of them.

Concentration Camps Run by SS. Jews, homosexuals, political prisoners and other ‘undesirables’ were taken here. The first was Dachau, near Munich (1933). These were the most feared tool of the Nazi government.

Sachsenhausen ‘model’ concentration camp in Berlin

Josef Goebbels: Propaganda He controlled all Nazi propaganda. ‘Minister for public enlightenment’. He publicised Hitler’s successes eg, building the autobahn (motorway system). He censored the press.

Evaluation Which factor do you think was the most effective method of Nazi control? Explain your answer with 2 reasons Give 2 reasons why other factors are less effective

How did Hitler keep control of Germany? The Terror State Propaganda Secret police called the Gestapo would spy on and arrest enemies of the state. Mass Rallies, Posters and Propaganda films. Keeping Control of Germany The Nazis controlled and censored the radio & newspapers. SS were responsible for running the concentration camps. Education School children were indoctrinated with Nazi ideas at school. Popularity Everyone was scared of being arrested by the Gestapo and being put in a concentration camp. Ripping up the Treaty of Versailles. Hitler Youth & the Young Maidens. Creating Jobs

The Terror State Both the Gestapo and the SS were run by Heinrich Himmler. The Gestapo employed an army of spies who would inform on people. Who were “Enemies of the State”?

Enemies of the State Communists Social Democrats Jews Trade Unionists. Work Shy Homosexuals Gypsies Germans who bought from Jews Pacifists Radical Christian Organisation Anyone who criticised Hitler or the Nazi Party.

Enemies of the State A list of German women who were still purchasing goods from Jewish shops. Printed to scare or terrorise other people into not buying from the Jews.

Fear How did the Terror State Work? You are imprisoned for up to six months doing hard physical labour. When you are released you tell everybody what has happened to you Gestapo Spies inform on you Fear You are handed over to the SS who run the concentration camps. You are woken up by the Gestapo at 1 am in the morning and told that you have 5 minutes to pack your bags. By signing this form you are giving your consent to be put into a concentration camp. Days or maybe weeks later you are interviewed and asked to sign form D11 You are arrested and thrown into a cell at the police station

Pastor Martin Niemoller Martin Niemoller was a German pastor who initially supported the Nazis He held some slight anti-semitic views but opposed Nazi Aryan ideology and criticised the Nazification of Protestant churches For his opposition, he was sent to Sachsenhausen and Dachau Concentration camps from 1938-1945, narrowly escaping execution After the war he became a pacifist and anti-war campaigner, regretting that he had not done more to oppose the Nazis

What is the message to be taken from this poem? First they came for the Communists and I did not speak out, for I was not a Communist. Then they came for the Socialists and I did not speak out, for I was not a Socialist. Then they came for the Trade Unionists and I did not speak out, for I was not a Trade Unionist Then they came for the Jews and I did not speak out, for I was not a Jew. Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak out for me. What is the message to be taken from this poem?

Question Describe how the Nazis created a Police State. (5) Explain why there was very little resistance to the Nazis. (6)