Learn more about the Nazi police state as part of our learning series on Germany between the wars. This slide set covers the totalitarian nature of the Nazi regime, resulting in the SS, the Gestapo and Concentration Camps.
The Nazis wanted to create a totalitarian state. In a totalitarian state there are no political rivals and no political debate. The ordinary citizen diverts all their time and attention into serving the state and the demands of their leader.
The rest of these slides will demonstrate the various ways and means the Nazis used to control the German population.
Formed in 1925 from fanatics loyal to Hitler
Huge organisation from 1934 onwards - By 1939, 240,000 members and 1 million members by 1944
Leader of the SS was Heinrich Himmler
Highly trained and loyal to Hitler, the SS had primary responsibility for destroying opposition and carrying out Nazi racial policies
SD was the internal security service of the SS
The Death's Head units looked after the concentration camps and the transportation and eventual murder of Jews
As it grew in power, the SS set up its own courts and carried out many activities similar to the Gestapo
Around 200,000 Germans were sent to concentration camps by these courts
The Gestapo were the secret state police
Their commander was Reinhard Heydrich
Gestapo agents had sweeping powers, which meant they could arrest and send citizens to concentration camps without trial
Perhaps, the organisation that was most feared by ordinary citizens
Top jobs in the local police force were given to high-ranking Nazis who reported to Himmler
The police were under strict instructions to ignore crimes that were committed by Nazi agents
The Nazis also controlled magistrates, judges and courts
They appointed judges they approved of and sacked those that they disapproved
Due to their influence in the magistrate, opponents of Nazism rarely received a fair trial
Set up as soon as Hitler came into power
1933 - The first concentration camps were makeshift prisons in disused factories and warehouses
Soon, purpose-built camps were constructed, mainly in isolated rural regions
These were run by the SS Death's Head units
Prisoners were forced to do hard labour
Food was limited
Prisoners suffered beatings, discipline and random executions
Jews, socialists, communists, trade unionists, churchmen and anyone who criticised the Nazis end up in these camps
Historians estimate around 1.3 million Germans spent some time in concentration camps between 1933-1939
By the late 1930s, deaths were very common and few people came out alive from the camps
These camps were harsh and many died, but they were not built with the purpose of killing people the same way later camps were
The aim of these camps was to 'correct' opponents of the regime