Police State & Legal System

The Maintenance of the Police State

Hitler ran Germany as a police state. This means that the police controlled every aspect of daily life for German citizens. Heinrich Himmler was the key figure who ran the Nazi repression system.

Gleichschaltung

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

Henrich Himmler

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.

The legal system

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.

1Dictatorship

1.1Hitler & The Nazi Party in 1933

1.1.1The Origins of the Nazi Party

1.1.2Hitler & The Growth of the Party

1.1.3The 1932 Election

1.2Establishing Dictatorship, 1933-1934

1.2.1Establishing Dictatorship

1.2.2Achieving Total Power, July 1933 - August 1934

1.2.3End of Topic Test - Dictatorship

1.2.4Grade 9 - Dictatorship

2Control & Opposition

2.1The Machinery of Terror

2.1.1Police State & Legal System

2.1.2The Gestapo & SS

2.1.3Concentration Camps

2.1.4End of Topic Test - Control & Opposition

2.2Nazi Propaganda

2.2.1The Effectiveness of Nazi Propaganda

2.3Opposition to Nazi Rule

2.3.1The Left

2.3.2Church Leaders

2.3.3Youth Groups

2.3.4Support for Nazi Rule

2.3.5End of Topic Test - Propaganda & Opposition

2.3.6Grade 9 - Propaganda & Opposition

3Changing Lives, 1933-1939

3.1Work & Home

3.1.1Work

3.1.2Home

3.2The Lives of Young People

3.2.1Education

3.2.2Youth Movements

3.3Nazi Racial Policy

3.3.1Racial Policy

3.3.2Persecution of the Jews

3.3.3End of Topic Test 0 Changing Lives

3.3.4Grade 9 - Changing Lives

4Germany in War

4.1The Impact of War

4.1.1Impact of the War Economy on the People

4.1.2Impact of Total War on the People

4.2Growing Opposition from the German People

4.2.1Opposition from the People

4.2.2Opposition from the Army

4.2.3End of Topic Test - Germany in War

4.2.4Grade 9 - Germany in War

5Occupation

5.1Nazi Rule in Eastern and Western Europe

5.1.1The Start of World War 2

5.1.2Western Europe

5.1.3Eastern Europe

5.1.4End of Topic Test - Occupation

5.2The Final Solution

5.2.1Ghettos & Executions

5.2.2Death Camps

5.2.3End of Topic Test - The Final Solution

5.3Responses to Nazi Rule

5.3.1Collaboration

5.3.2Accommodation

5.3.3Resistance

5.3.4End of Topic Test - Responses to Nazi Rule

5.3.5Grade 9 - Occupation

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