Law and Order

Nazis in PowerPart 1:

Consent and Popularity

Law & Order in Nazi Germany

• So far we have looked at election results and the economy in this unit.

• Today we will look at Law and Order.

Remember!• The Nazi Party received a great deal

of support for doing the things Weimar could not. For example:

• Putting people to work• Restoring law and order• Defending the country

Strong Authoritarian Government

KU• Many people were thankful for the return to

what they believed was a strong government – one strong leader, one Führer

• Germany now had a totalitarian government – one political party who controlled every aspect of life

• Trade Unions were being strictly controlled by the German Labour Front – many middle classes preferred this to the liberal years of Weimar

Law and Order - KU

• Law and order had pretty much broken down in Weimar Germany – eg. Spartacist Revolt, riots in streets and the Reichstag fire.

• The Nazis made correction of this a top priority.

• They quickly stopped violence in the streets mainly because the other parties were now gone – there was no one for the SA Brown shirts to fight

• In order to ensure the obedience of the people and the acceptance of his will, Hitler and his associates set about creating the apparatus of a police state.

• The SS was the state’s internal security service, its purpose being to root out any opposition, real or imagined, to the will of the Fuhrer. Led by Heinrich Himmler.

• The SS were now in charge of the police and created the infamous GESTAPO.

• These were secret police who spied on the German people looking for anyone who opposed the Nazi regime.

• Through their system of informers they arrested anyone the Nazis considered anti-socials (people who didn’t fit in) e.g.communists, socialists, homosexuals, criminals and Jews.

• Often these groups were unpopular in society – so people felt the Nazis were improving German society

Law and Order - Analysis• Many Germans had been frightened by the

apparent chaos of the Weimar years – The Nazis were creating a more disciplined and punitive society

• Many were willing to sacrifice some rights and civil liberties for a strong government which they felt was better for Germany

• Many Germans were happy to see ‘undesirables’ being punished – many felt Criminals or Communists etc were not a great loss to German society

Nazis in Power Essay Planwe will now add today’s information on to the plan for this

essay

Law & OrderKU:A:KUA:

Consent/Popularity

Video Clips• http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningzone/cli

ps/hitler-becomes-chancellor/3270.html

• http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningzone/clips/nazi-germany-opposing-views/3272.html