The Police State

• The Nazis created 'Gleichschaltung' through repression (control by force).
  • This means that the Nazi regime combined force and fear to achieve conformity (obedience).

• Heinrich Himmler was in charge of the Nazi’s tools for repression (control by force), the Gestapo, SS and SD.
• Himmler was one of Hitler’s closest colleagues. His career in the Nazi Party began when he led the SS in 1929.
• Himmler enthusiastically supported the idea of Aryan superiority and the inferiority of the untermenschen (sub-humans).
• As Himmler was in charge of police and security services, he could act how he wanted to and not fear legal punishment.

• As the Nazis controlled the legal system, they had no opposition.
  • The Nazis got rid of trials by jury and instead all decisions rested with the judge alone.
  • It was compulsory for all judges to join the National Socialist League for the Maintenance of the Law.
  • All judges had to rule in the Nazis favour.
• The People's Court in Berlin tried "political criminals" who opposed Hitler. Most people were found guilty.

• The Gestapo was Hitler’s secret police service, set up by Hermann Goering in 1933 and led by Reynhard Heydrich (centre) in 1934.
  • The Gestapo did not wear uniforms as they were secret investigators.

• The Gestapo was a small unit of 50,000 police men who relied on informers to identify opponents. There were up to 200,000 informers in the Gestapo during the Nazi regime.
• They spied on German citizens and prosecuted people who spoke against the Nazi regime.
  • Punishment for such a crime was torture or being sent to a concentration camp.

The SS was Hitler’s Protection Squad (bodyguards).

• It was set up in 1925. Heinrich Himmler led it.
• The SS wore black uniforms.
• The SS were in charge of Germany’s police force.
• The SS ran the concentration camps.

• The SD were Hitler’s Security Service.
• It was set up by Heinrich Himmler in 1931. Reinhard Heydrich led the SD.
• The SD spied on Nazi opposition in Germany and in other countries.