How did the Nazis use the SS as ‘tools of terror’?

Learning objective – to be able to assess the role of the SS in the Nazi State. I can describe some of the functions of the SS in the Nazi State. Grade D I can explain the impact of the SS in the Nazi State. Grade B I can explain and assess the impact of the SS in the Nazi State. Grade A

Starter – list the different ways that opposition towards a government can be dealt with.

What were the origins of the SS? The SS was created in 1925 as part of the reorganisation of the Nazi Party. Its aim was protect the Nazi leadership. Its full name – Schultzstaffel – meant ‘protection squad’. Heinrich Himmler became the leader of the SS in 1929 and reformed the SS by designing a new and distinct uniform and imposed strict entry standards and a code of behaviour.

What were the core beliefs of the SS? Himmler imposed high standards because he wanted to distance himself – and the SS – from the poor behaviour shown by the SA. As part of this he employed an education leader to teach SS members on the core fundamentals of the Nazi Party - A superiority of the German race. A hatred of the sub-humans, particularly the Jews. This education instilled a extreme loyalty to Hitler. Such was the popularity of the SS, its number continually grew from 52,000 in 1933 to 250,000 in 1939.

Why was the Night of the Long Knives a turning point for the SS? The SA, led by Ernst Röhm, had been a loyal group of paramilitaries for the Nazi Party during the 1920s. However, their taste for violence, corruption and bad behaviour led them to be viewed by many in the Nazis as a liability. Coupled with this, Röhm had designs on the Nazi leadership and the German army. Seeing them as a threat, Hitler ordered the SA to be eliminated, including his old friend, Röhm. This was done on the night of 29/30 June 1934 by the SS. Because of their willingness to wipe out the SA, the SS were now seen as the preeminent Nazi organisation.

How did the role of the SS develop in the Nazi State? From 1934, the SS became more powerful with Himmler as Hitler’s right hand man. Such was the extension of SS responsibilities, they were indispensable to the Nazi regime by The SS gained control of the police force and the Gestapo in These institutions enabled the SS to suppress internal opposition to Nazi rule and were given almost unlimited powers of search, arrests, interrogation and intimidation to seek out suspected opponents. This was augmented by the Sicherheitisdienst [SD], which was the intelligence branch of the SS. With the Gestapo, the SD gathered information through a sophisticated spy network.

How did the role of the spy network develop a sense of terror in the Nazi State? The SD and Gestapo built up a network of spies and informants, which they encouraged to inform the authorities if they suspected people of any anti-Nazi activities. This information gathering was used alongside the powers of listening in to phone calls and the ability to read private mail as well as searching houses and property without a warrant, arrests without charge and confiscate property. All this created a sense of fear as people distrusted neighbours, friends, colleagues and family.

How did the SS control concentration camps? Concentration camps were first set up by the SS in 1933 – the first being at Dachau. Its purpose was to imprison political opponents, although this definition was broadened to include any opponents. Himmler envisaged concentration camps not only as prisons but also as a deterrent to prevent people from opposing the Nazi regime. After 1934, the SS created the Death’s Head unit which has specific responsibility for running the concentration camps, which rapidly grew in number. The SS had complete control of the concentration camps system with no group able to review or challenge the system. Similarly, prisoners had no right to appeal and guards merely followed orders.

How did the Nazis justify concentration camps? Concentration camps were presented to the public as a vital way of keeping them safe from dangerous elements of society. They were also presented as centres of re-education. However, the truth was far more different, brutality and harsh conditions were the norm with untold numbers of prisoners dying under such conditions. The effects of the concentration camps up to 1939 were – 225,000 Germans were imprisoned for political crimes. Additional 162,000 Germans imprisoned for protective custody. This led to the concentration camps being a symbol of Nazi repression.

Tasks Use the information provided to complete the following – Read the different terms in the worksheet and write a definition for each term and how it relates to the role of the SS in Nazi Germany. Complete the main task of the worksheet in grouping the terms in to threes and explaining the common link between them.

Plenary – a touch of Scrabble What are the three key words from this lesson that sums up your learning? Which word has the highest value if you used in a game of Scrabble? Compare with the person next to you. Which word has the highest value?