Hitler's Methods to Cement Power

Creation of the Police State

• By August 1934, Hitler established a Police State in Germany to control the population.
• Key Components:
  • Schutzstaffel (SS): Led by Heinrich Himmler, the SS numbered 200,000 by 1935 and ran concentration camps.
  • Gestapo: Nazi secret police led by Himmler, responsible for identifying opposition.
  • SD: Intelligence agency led by Reinhard Heydrich, protected Hitler and other Nazis.

Legal System Reform

• Judges swore loyalty to Hitler and courts acted in Nazi interests.
• Defense lawyers’ roles diminished; all lawyers joined the Nazi Lawyers' Association.
• Peoples Courts were created for political crimes.
• Protective custody allowed detention without crime.
• Death penalty crimes increased from 3 to 46.

Concentration Camps

• First camp opened in 1933 at Dachau.
• Run by Deaths Head Unit; housed criminals, political opponents, Jews, and asocials.

Impact of Police State

• Limited opposition and increased compliance through fear.
• Society became tense; public criticism and informant culture grew.
• Justice was compromised; unfair trials and increased imprisonment.

Propaganda and Censorship

• Led by Dr Joseph Goebbels, head of Ministry of Enlightenment and Propaganda.
• Media controlled, reinforcing Nazi ideology and racial superiority.

Censorship Details

• Newspapers only printed Nazi-approved news.
• Editors required to join the Nazi Party.
• Radio controlled by the Reich Broadcasting Corporation.

Public Events

• Mass rallies like Nuremberg Rally showcased Nazi power.
• Sports events promoted Aryan superiority; 1936 Olympics highlighted regime success.

Cultural Control

• Art and literature heavily censored; modern art removed.
• Albert Speer played a significant role in architecture.
• Literature faced book burnings; 20,000 books destroyed in 1933.

Music and Film

• Films promoted German greatness; many foreign films banned.
• Jewish composers banned; traditional German music favored.

Impact of Propaganda

• Successes: Reinforced existing beliefs and ensured constant Nazi presence.
• Failures: Limited acceptance of new ideas; cultural quality suffered.

Opposition in Nazi Germany

• Factors for Limited Opposition: Fear from the police state, political rivals suppressed, indoctrination, and perceived achievements.
• Forms of Opposition: Grumbling, non-compliance, and some open defiance.

Church Opposition

• Protestant Church: Divided opinions; some formed pro-Nazi German Christians while others formed anti-Nazi Confessional Church.
• Catholic Church: Initially cooperative but grew critical, leading to tension with the Nazi regime.

Youth Opposition

• Edelweiss Pirates: Working-class youths opposing Nazi control through anti-Nazi activities.
• The White Rose: University students who distributed anti-Nazi materials, leading to their execution.
• Swing and Jazz Youth: Middle-class groups rejecting Nazi values through banned jazz music.

Conclusion

• Despite efforts, significant cultural and youth opposition existed amid the Nazi regime's control.