The Terror State

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Instruments of the Police

Instruments of the police were vital for maintaining control over Germany.

The police

Ordnungspolizei: (Orpo) conventional, municipal uniformed police.
Kriminalpolizei: (Kripo) plain clothes police investigating ordinary crimes.
1936: all Länder police forces were unified into a national force under Himmler, who was answerable only to Hitler.
A new division, Sipo (Security Police) combined the Kriminalpolizei and Gestapo.
Reinhard Heydrich oversaw it and answered to Himmler.

The SS

The SS was the main instrument of terror, with a wide a range of roles. By 1939, the SS had 240,000 members across various organisations.
Waffen SS (elite military units) grew to rival the Wehrmacht.
Death’s Head Units ran concentration camps and Panzers (tank) units.
SS-WVHA (economic branch) ran over 150 firms.
The SS organised extermination camps and controlled much of Germany’s conquered territories in World War Two.

The Gestapo

The Gestapo investigated crimes against the Third Reich including treason, spying, sabotage, and sent thousands to concentration camps without trial (‘protective custody’).
It acted against Jews, left-wingers, trades unionists, homosexuals, undesirables, critics of the regime. As racial legislation developed, the Gestapo’s role grew.
Its agents infiltrated suspected opposition groups and monitored non-conforming individuals but also relied heavily on informants and denunciations.

The SD

The SD was the internal security or secret service, considered an elite. The SD was responsible for the security of the Third Reich.
The SD focused on information gathering. It investigated and rooted out enemies (real or potential) of the Third Reich. There was no right of appeal.
The SD reported on public opinion and could investigate or monitor anyone it suspected of being an ‘enemy of the state.’ It had an extensive network of informants.
Reinhard Heydrich, and therefore Himmler oversaw the SD.

Assessment of instruments of police

Sax (1992) on the SS:
- ‘The SS was not merely a police, surveillance, and paramilitary organisation. Its main objective…was to make great the racially pure Volksgemeinshcaft.’
Best (chief legal advisor to the Gestapo) on the Gestapo:
- ‘As long as the “police” [Gestapo] carries out the will of the leadership, it is acting legally.’
Himmler on the SD:
- 'The SD will discover the enemies of [National Socialism] and it will initiate counter-measures through the official police authorities.'

Historical assessment

Historian Robert Gellately (2001) has sampled Gestapo case files from three different regions in Germany. He found that 73% of cases concerning listening to foreign radio (an illegal activity) originated with reports from the population.
People's reasons for denouncing were rarely affective (based in a belief in National Socialism or Hitler) and were more often instrumental (for personal gain and reward).
- One woman informed on her sister's husband because he was abusive.
- One girl denounced her brother for listening to foreign radio because he was pigheaded.

The Courts

Under Hitler's dictatorship, the courts were manipulated to favour the Nazi regime.

Oath of loyalty

Existing judges had to take an oath of loyalty to Hitler. Under a new penal code their decisions must reflect the will of the people. They could be replaced.

New courts

New People’s courts and special courts were set up alongside traditional courts.
So judges who went against the government’s wishes were easily bypassed.

Agencies outside the law

New specialist agencies were given their own powers to enforce policies.
The Gestapo and SS operated outside the legal system.

Punishments

Punishments were arbitrary and there was no right of appeal in some courts.

1The Weimar Republic 1918-1933

1.1Establishment Of The Weimar Republic 1918-1924

1.1.1Post WW1

1.1.2Weimar Constitution

1.1.3Peace Settlement

1.1.4End of Topic Test - Germany Post WW1

1.1.5Economic Issues

1.1.6Economic Issues 2

1.1.7Social Issues

1.1.8End of Topic Test - Economic & Social Issues

1.1.9Extremist Threats

1.1.10Extremist Threats 2

1.1.11End of Topic Test - Extremist Threats

1.1.12Political Instability & The Invasion of the Ruhr

1.1.13Weimar Government by 1924

1.1.14End of Topic Test - Weimar Government by 1924

1.1.15A-A* (AO3/4) - Germany Post WW1

1.2The 'Golden Age' Of The Weimar Republic 1924-1928

1.2.1Economic Developments

1.2.2Industry & Agriculture

1.2.3End of Topic Test - Economic Developments

1.2.4Social Developments

1.2.5Social Developments 2

1.2.6End of Topic Test - Social Developments

1.2.7Political Parties

1.2.8Political Stability

1.2.9End of Topic Test - Weimar Politics

1.2.10Germany's International Position

1.2.11Germany's International Position 2

1.2.12End of Topic Test - International Position

1.2.13A-A* (AO3/4) - The Weimar 'Golden Age'

1.3The Collapse of Democracy 1928-1933

1.3.1The Impact Of The Depression

1.3.2Politics After The Depression

1.3.3The Appeal Of Extremism

1.3.4End of Topic Test - The Depression & Politics

1.3.5'Backstairs Intrigue'

1.3.6'Backstairs Intrigue' 2

1.3.7End of Topic Test - Backstairs Intrigue

1.3.8Political Developments

1.3.9The State by March 1933

1.3.10End of Topic Test - Political Developments

1.3.11A-A* (AO3/4) - The Collapse of Democracy

2Nazi Germany 1933-1945

2.1The Nazi Dictatorship 1933-1939

2.1.1Hitler's Consolidation Of Power

2.1.2The Terror State

2.1.3End of Topic Test - Consolidation of Power

2.1.4Opposition

2.1.5Propaganda

2.1.6A-A* (AO3/4) - Terror State & Propaganda

2.1.7End of Topic Test - Propaganda

2.1.8Economic Policies

2.1.9Economic Policies 2

2.1.10Impact Of Economic Policies

2.1.11Impact Of Economic Policies 2

2.1.12End of Topic Test - Economic Policies

2.1.13Social Policies

2.1.14Social Policies 2

2.1.15Volksgemeinschaft

2.1.16End of Topic Test - Social Policies

2.1.17A-A* (AO3/4) - Economic & Social Policies

2.2The Racial State 1933-1941

2.2.1The Radicalisation Of The State

2.2.2Anti-Semitism

2.2.3Development Of Anti-Semitic Policies

2.2.4Development Of Anti-Semitic Policies 2

2.2.5End of Topic Test - Anti-Semitism

2.2.6Treatment of the Jews in the Early Years of War

2.2.7Deportation & Anti-Semitism Evaluation

2.2.8End of Topic Test - Early Treatment of the Jews

2.2.9A-A* (AO3/4) - The Racial State

2.3The Impact Of War 1939-1945

2.3.1Home Front

2.3.2Impact On Society

2.3.3Impact On Society 2

2.3.4End of Topic Test - Impact of the War

2.3.5War Economy

2.3.6War Economy 2

2.3.7Policies Towards The Jews & Untermenschen

2.3.8A-A* (AO3/4) - Impact of the War

2.3.9End of Topic Test - War Economy

2.3.10Opposition

2.3.11Opposition 2

2.3.12Nazi State by 1945

2.3.13End of Topic Test - Opposition

2.3.14A-A* (AO3/4) - Opposition & The State in 1945

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