The Nazis carried out one of the most atrocious crimes against humanity during the holocaust. Their anti-semitic views were realised through a ruthlessly efficient system by which 6 million Jews lost their lives. So how exactly did the Nazis maintain such control over a population, such that they could convince others to participate in their twisted world?
1. Indoctrination
The Nazis were driven by an ideology - devised by Hitler in his book Mein Kempf - and it was their goal to disseminate the ideology to the people.
Facts:
1. The nazis were effective in their use of the radio. In fact, they had a special one built so that Hitler's ideas and speeches could be brought to an even greater audience. This resulted in the or the "people's radio".
2. There were two versions, costing a mere 35 marks and 76 marks. By 1932, 25% of the population had a radio and by 1939, it is estimated that roughly 70% of the population owned a radio. 50 speeches were broadcasted in 1933 with an average audience of 56 million.
Historiography
John Hite and Chris Hinton say, the radio was meant to "indoctrinate the people with his Weltanschauung, to turn them into committed members of the Volksgemeinschaft"
2. Gestapo
The Gestapo were Hitler's secret police and managed to exert power through the creation of fear. This was done through a series of measures, but mostly terror and violence.
Facts
1. On february 10th, 1936, the Gestapo Law was passed in Germany, stipulating that the Gestapo were not subject to judicial review. This essentially gave them free reign to perpetrate whatever terror they deemed necessary with no repercussions, giving them ultimate power.
2. The gestapo numbered roughly 40,000 by 1936 and were responsible for some of the greatest attacks against the Jews. Kristallnacht would be the perfect demonstration. Also known as the night of "broken glass", kristallnacht was a pogrom against the Jewish that saw 91 killed, 1000 synagogues burned and 7000 jewish businesses destroyed.
Primary Source:
1. Werner Best, head of Gestapo said, "As long as they are carrying out the will of the leadership, it is legal."
3. Education and Youth
Nazis recognised the importance of controlling future generations and this was done through constricting the Youth.
1. 97% of German teachers joined the National socialist teacher's league, whereby teachers were put through a 3 month course educating them on the new syllabus which was to be taught in school. Such new classes included eugenics and cooking (for girls only).
2. In 1932, there were 107,000 youths enrolled in the Hitler Youth. In 1933, rose to 2.3 million. 1936 there were 5 million. 1939 there were 7 million. The Hitler youth program required 4 hours of physical activity a day.
Primary source:
1. Hitler, "No boy or girl should leave school without a complete understanding of the importance and necessity for blood purity"
2. Hitler, "A Nazi boy must be as swift as a greyhound, as hard tough as leather and as tough as krupp's steel."
Economy
Under Hitler, the nazi economy flourished after suffering the great depression in 1929-1932.
Facts:
1. Hitler started the "Reinhardt Program", a construction program for the railway and autobahn which saw 666,000-2 million jobs created.
2. In addition, Hitler started conscription and by 1936, there were 600,000 men in the army, in direct violation of the treaty of versailles. By 1939, the army was at 2 million.
3. Hitler implemented several programs as well to entice people to work harder. For example, the volkswagen beetle was known as the "people's car" and 5 marks were taken from everyone's wages supposedly so that they could purchase a beetle after a certain time. The funds went straight into armament, however this carrot approach can be seen through the "strength through joy" program as well. For example, with 62 marks (2 weeks wages) , the nazi party would subsidise a trip to the canary islands.
1. Indoctrination
The Nazis were driven by an ideology - devised by Hitler in his book Mein Kempf - and it was their goal to disseminate the ideology to the people.
Facts:
1. The nazis were effective in their use of the radio. In fact, they had a special one built so that Hitler's ideas and speeches could be brought to an even greater audience. This resulted in the or the "people's radio".
2. There were two versions, costing a mere 35 marks and 76 marks. By 1932, 25% of the population had a radio and by 1939, it is estimated that roughly 70% of the population owned a radio. 50 speeches were broadcasted in 1933 with an average audience of 56 million.
Historiography
John Hite and Chris Hinton say, the radio was meant to "indoctrinate the people with his Weltanschauung, to turn them into committed members of the Volksgemeinschaft"
2. Gestapo
The Gestapo were Hitler's secret police and managed to exert power through the creation of fear. This was done through a series of measures, but mostly terror and violence.
Facts
1. On february 10th, 1936, the Gestapo Law was passed in Germany, stipulating that the Gestapo were not subject to judicial review. This essentially gave them free reign to perpetrate whatever terror they deemed necessary with no repercussions, giving them ultimate power.
2. The gestapo numbered roughly 40,000 by 1936 and were responsible for some of the greatest attacks against the Jews. Kristallnacht would be the perfect demonstration. Also known as the night of "broken glass", kristallnacht was a pogrom against the Jewish that saw 91 killed, 1000 synagogues burned and 7000 jewish businesses destroyed.
Primary Source:
1. Werner Best, head of Gestapo said, "As long as they are carrying out the will of the leadership, it is legal."
3. Education and Youth
Nazis recognised the importance of controlling future generations and this was done through constricting the Youth.
1. 97% of German teachers joined the National socialist teacher's league, whereby teachers were put through a 3 month course educating them on the new syllabus which was to be taught in school. Such new classes included eugenics and cooking (for girls only).
2. In 1932, there were 107,000 youths enrolled in the Hitler Youth. In 1933, rose to 2.3 million. 1936 there were 5 million. 1939 there were 7 million. The Hitler youth program required 4 hours of physical activity a day.
Primary source:
1. Hitler, "No boy or girl should leave school without a complete understanding of the importance and necessity for blood purity"
2. Hitler, "A Nazi boy must be as swift as a greyhound, as hard tough as leather and as tough as krupp's steel."
Economy
Under Hitler, the nazi economy flourished after suffering the great depression in 1929-1932.
Facts:
1. Hitler started the "Reinhardt Program", a construction program for the railway and autobahn which saw 666,000-2 million jobs created.
2. In addition, Hitler started conscription and by 1936, there were 600,000 men in the army, in direct violation of the treaty of versailles. By 1939, the army was at 2 million.
3. Hitler implemented several programs as well to entice people to work harder. For example, the volkswagen beetle was known as the "people's car" and 5 marks were taken from everyone's wages supposedly so that they could purchase a beetle after a certain time. The funds went straight into armament, however this carrot approach can be seen through the "strength through joy" program as well. For example, with 62 marks (2 weeks wages) , the nazi party would subsidise a trip to the canary islands.