Nazi Germany

1933 - 1945

By Mr Osborne
www.SchoolHistory.co.uk
The use of Terror

• The SS
– an elite group of committed Nazis,
used to eliminate the SA in June 1934
– charged with internal security
– guarded concentration camps
– hunted political enemies
– commanded by Heinrich Himmler
The use of Terror

• The Gestapo
– The secret state police. Used to
suppress hostility to the regime at
home and in occupied territories.
– Commanded by Himmler
The use of Terror

• Concentration Camps
– run by the SS to detain enemies of the
state
– Dachau 1933
– Prisoners Jews, political, priests, anti-
socials
– By 1939 six camps were operating.
– Extermination Camps Auschwitz-Birkenau
Role of Propaganda

• The Press
– all non Nazi newspapers and
magazines were taken over or closed
– all content was strictly controlled

Radio
All stations under state control. Cheap mass
produced radios sold. Sets installed in cafes and
factories. All Hitlers speeches broadcast.
Role of Propaganda

• Films : Over 100 000 made all

approved by Goebbels. All films
given a pro Nazi stance
Ministry for Public Propaganda
and
Enlightenment
Role of Propaganda Joseph
Goebbels

• Rallies and Campaigns

– Annual rally at Nuremburg
– 1936 Olympic Games, used as
propaganda
– Local rallies and fund raising led by
the Hitler Youth and local party
organisations
– Posters used to promote Nazi ideals
Role of Propaganda

• Books and Art

– writers, and composers persuaded or
forced to produce works in praise of
Hitler
– Books written by Jews, Communists etc
were banned and many destroyed in
public book burning in 1933
– Jazz music banned because of its black
origins
 Religion

Protestant Churches: 1933

Nazi Part Attitudes attempt by Hitler to gain
Claimed to approve control and establish a Reich
of Christianity and Church. Reich Church was
offer religious anti-Christian and promoted
freedom. In fact Nazism.
attacked Churches Confessional Church founded
and religious sects in defiance of Nazis
Catholic Church : Concordat 1933 in theory allowed
Catholic Church to operate freely in return for an oath of
loyalty. 1937 after a steady erosion of its influence Pope
condemns Nazi’s. Never take a stand on Jewish persecutions
Persecution of the Jews

• Hitler blamed the Jews for

– Treaty of Versailles
– Inflation 1923
– Economic collapse 1929 -32
Persecution of the Jews

• 1933 - Unsuccessful boycott of Jewish

shops
• Jews excluded from Government jobs
• Thousands of professional Jewish
people were dismissed from jobs
• 1934 - Jews banned from public
places, parks, swimming pools etc.
Persecution of the Jews

• 1935 - The Nuremburg Laws 15 September

• 1 - The Reich Law on citizenship - only those
of German blood can be citizens, and have the
right to vote.
• 2- Law for the protection of German Blood
and Honour - forbids marriage or sexual
relations between Jews and German citizens
Persecution of the Jews

• 1936 - 37
– The professional activity of Jews is
banned or restricted - includes vets,
doctors, dentists, accountants,
teachers and nurses

– 1938 Qualifications of Jewish doctors

is cancelled
Persecution of the Jews

• 1938 - Riechkristalnacht 9th November

– Following the murder of a German diplomat
in Paris by a Jew a campaign is started
which last 3 days and targets Jewish shops,
homes and synagogues. 90 killed 20 000
arrested and sent to concentration camps
– Jewish children excluded form schools and
Universities
Persecution of the Jews

• 1939 - Jews no longer allowed to run

businesses and shops
– forbidden to own radios and to buy
cakes and chocolate
– 1940 - 42 Jews deported from Germany
Jews in occupied territories moved into
ghettos and used as slave labour.
Special SS groups formed to deal with
the Jews. Gassing in vans starts
Persecution of the Jews

• The Wannsee Conference Jan 1942

• Decision taken by Nazi leaders led by Heydrich

meet to discuss the final solution
• Decision to evacuate all Jews to extermination
camps in Poland is taken
• Over 4.5 million Jews killed in death camps
Persecution of minorities

• Homosexuals, Gypsies and other undesirables sent to

concentration camps
• Mentally ill sent to concentration camps
• The Euthanasia programme
– people judged worthless to the regime were killed.
– 5,000 children 71, 000 adults
– Stopped in 1941 after protest from Pope
– Forced Sterilisation programme to prevent
contamination of the Aryan race