Repression & Concentration Camps

The Success of Nazi Repression

Hitler ran Germany as a police state. This means that the police controlled every aspect of daily life for German citizens. It was an extremely successful system.

The success of repression

Nazi tools for repression (control by force) were very successful.
The German population thought the Gestapo and SS were everywhere.
- This widespread fear meant that the German people did not oppose the Nazi regime.

Fear of the Gestapo

As the Gestapo had so many informants (people giving information), there was no dissent (people expressing beliefs different to the common beliefs).
- Everyone was careful about what they said about the Nazis in fear that they would be heard and reported.

Spying citizens

Many German citizens were encouraged to spy.
- While some were fervent (passionate) Nazi supporters, others used the opportunity for their personal agendas (plans).
- Spying could help solve a personal vendetta (where the family of a murdered person seeks revenge on the murderer or the murderer's family).
The Gestapo had 32,000 full-time employees and 200,000 casual or informal employees who informed on fellow Germans.

The importance of force

While repression (control by force) and propaganda (information designed to influence people) worked together to create gleischaltung, repression (control by force) was more important.

Concentration Camps and the Law

The Nazis used concentration camps to house Nazi opponents. The Nazis controlled the legal system to make sure that no one could oppose them.

Concentration camps

Opponents sent to the camps included political prisoners, ‘undesirables’ such as prostitutes or homosexuals, and ethnic minorities such as the Jews or gypsies.
The camps were isolated so no one could see the bad things that happened in them.
Mostly, the prisoners were forced to do hard labour and were ill-treated.

Control of the Law

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 favour of the Nazis.

1The Weimar Republic 1918-1929

1.1World War One

1.1.1WW1

1.1.2The Weimar Republic

1.1.3Early Challenges to Weimar

1.1.4Reparations & the Ruhr

1.1.5Weimar Recovery

1.1.6Weimar Living Standards

1.1.7Weimar Culture

1.1.8End of Topic Test - WW1 & Weimar

1.1.9Grade 9 - The Weimar Republic

2Hitler's Rise to Power 1919-1933

2.1Early Development of the Nazi Party

2.1.1Hitler & the Beginnings of the Nazi Party

2.1.2End of Topic Test - Start of the Nazi Party

2.2The Munich Putsch & the Lean Years

2.2.1The Munich Putsch

2.2.2The Lean Years, 1923-1929

2.2.3End of Topic Test - Putsch & Lean Years

2.2.4Grade 9 - Hitler's Rise to Power

2.3The Growth of Support for the Nazis

2.3.1The Impact of the Great Depression

2.3.2End of Topic Test - Great Depression

2.4How Hitler Became Chancellor

2.4.1Article 48 & Political Turmoil

2.4.2von Papen & Hindenburg's Pact

2.4.3End of Topic Test - Chancellory

2.4.4Grade 9 - How Hitler Became Chancellor

3Nazi Control & Dictatorship 1933-1939

3.1Creating a Dictatorship, 1933-1934

3.1.1The Rise of Hitler

3.1.2End of Topic Test - Dictatorship

3.2The Police State

3.2.1The Police State

3.2.2Repression & Concentration Camps

3.2.3The Nazis & Religion

3.2.4End of Topic Test - Police State

3.2.5Grade 9 - Dictatorship and Police State

3.3Controlling & Influencing Attitudes

3.3.1Propaganda & Censorship

3.3.2Nazi Art & Culture

3.3.3Church Opposition & Social Conformity

3.3.4Youth Opposition & the July Plot

3.3.5End of Topic Test - Controlling Attitudes

3.3.6Grade 9 - Controlling Attitudes

4Life in Nazi Germany 1933-1939

4.1Life in Nazi Germany

4.1.1Women in Nazi Germany

4.1.2Youths in Nazi Germany

4.1.3Employment & Living Standards

4.1.4End of Topic Test - Life in Nazi Germany

4.2The Persecution of Minorities

4.2.1Nazi Racial Beliefs

4.2.2The Persecution of the Jews

4.2.3The Death Camps

4.2.4End of Topic Test - Persecution

4.2.5Grade 9 - Life in Nazi Germany

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