How Effectively Did the Nazis Control Germany 1933-1945 PDF

Head to www.savemyexams.com for more awesome resources Cambridge (CIE) IGCSE History Your notes How Effectively Did the Nazis Control Germany, 1933–45? Contents Opposition to the Nazi Regime How Did the Nazis Deal with Op...

Head to www.savemyexams.com for more awesome resources Cambridge (CIE) IGCSE History Your notes How Effectively Did the Nazis Control Germany, 1933–45? Contents Opposition to the Nazi Regime How Did the Nazis Deal with Opposition? The Use of Culture and the Mass Media Why were Groups Persecuted in Nazi Germany? Was Nazi Germany a Totalitarian State? Page 1 of 51 © 2015-2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. · Revision Notes, Topic Questions, Past Papers  Head to www.savemyexams.com for more awesome resources Opposition to the Nazi Regime Your notes Did More People Support Than Oppose the Nazis? - Summary From 1933 to 1945, the Nazi Party received a high level of support, and there was conformity from the German people. Control over the distribution of information enabled the Nazis to communicate their beliefs and ideas to society. The Nazi Party used the police forces as a tool to spread fear and censor opposition. Hitler placed Nazi judges in court trials to fix the outcome of legal cases. The Nazis sent many political opponents to concentration camps. Resistance came from all areas of society, even from inside Hitler’s armed forces. The majority of the opposition was private. It was incredibly dangerous to openly oppose the Nazi regime. Both the Catholic and Protestant churches had members who opposed Nazi attempts to control Christianity. The Nazis sent many pastors and priests to concentration camps for speaking out against the Nazi Party. A section of the German Protestant community set up the Confessing Church in opposition to Nazi interference in the Church. While most of Germany’s young adults attended groups such as the Hitler Youth and League of German Maidens, some people hated the strictness and focus on military activities. The Swing Youth, Edelweiss Pirates and White Rose group demonstrated more physical, public and cultural resistance to the Nazi regime. 1943 marked a significant turning point. Germany was performing poorly in the Second World War. This increased opposition from more areas of society. Was There Active Opposition to the Nazis? Even before the Enabling Act removed political opposition, the Nazi Party were popular Hitler won 36% of the votes in the second 1932 presidential election The Nazi Party won 38% of the votes in the July 1932 election There was a high level of conformity towards Hitler and the Nazi regime after 1933: Four million people joined the Nazi Party from 1933 to 1939 Hitler’s policies reduced unemployment Young people joined youth groups and embraced Nazi ideology The Nazis rewarded women for getting married and having children Propaganda created a cult of personality about Hitler Page 2 of 51 © 2015-2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. · Revision Notes, Topic Questions, Past Papers  Head to www.savemyexams.com for more awesome resources Censorship banned criticism and only promoted success Hitler began breaking the Treaty of Versailles Your notes Millions of soldiers joined the German Wehrmacht after 1935 Germany remilitiarised the Rhineland in 1935 The Saar coalfields were returned in 1935 There were still groups who opposed the Nazi regime: Groups Who Opposed the Nazi Regime Type of Description opposition Trade unions Hitler banned trade unions in 1933. Some trade unions operated illegally. They encouraged workers to stay off work sick or damage factory machinery. Some trade unions distributed leaflets that encouraged strikes Political groups The Social Democrats campaigned against the Nazis from abroad. Some Communists and left-wing parties met in secret and spread pamphlets, anti-Nazi newspapers and jokes about Hitler The young Youth groups formed in opposition to the Hitler Youth. The Swing Youth listened to jazz music, which Hitler had banned. The Edelweiss Pirates passively and violently resisted against the Hitler Youth. They went on camping trips and sang folk songs. The White Rose group published anti-Nazi leaflets Conservatives Officers like General Ludwig Beck secretly communicated with the British. Businessmen and upper classes met in secret in opposition to the Nazis. An example of this was the Kreisau Circle The Church After the Concordat failed, the Nazis targeted Catholic priests and shut down Catholic schools. The Reich Church was created to ‘Nazify’ the Protestant Church. Pastor Martin Niemöller created the Confessing Church against the Reich Church. Cardinal Galen led the Catholic opposition against the Nazi’s T-4 programme. Pope Pius XI denounced the Nazis as anti-Christian German Some German citizens undertook small acts of opposition against the Nazis. Telling citizens anti-Nazi jokes was common, even with the risk of being reported to the Gestapo. Some people refused to do the straight-armed salute or say ‘Heil Hitler’ Page 3 of 51 © 2015-2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. · Revision Notes, Topic Questions, Past Papers  Head to www.savemyexams.com for more awesome resources Your notes An illustration showing Protestant Opposition to the Nazi Regime Page 4 of 51 © 2015-2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. · Revision Notes, Topic Questions, Past Papers  Head to www.savemyexams.com for more awesome resources Your notes An illustration showing Catholic Opposition to the Nazi Regime Why was Most Opposition Private? Page 5 of 51 © 2015-2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. · Revision Notes, Topic Questions, Past Papers  Head to www.savemyexams.com for more awesome resources Your notes A concept map showing what prevented some people from openly opposing Hitler’s dictatorship Opposition During the Second World War Most Germans publicly supported the Second World War because: They believed that Germany was right to invade Poland in 1939 The Nazis controlled information about the war The Nazis harshly punished any sign of dissent After the failure of Operation Barbarossa, many Germans turned against the Nazi Party Opposition Within the Army Page 6 of 51 © 2015-2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. · Revision Notes, Topic Questions, Past Papers  Head to www.savemyexams.com for more awesome resources Cause Impact Your notes Admiral Hitler continually ignored military advice and Canaris delayed the planned coup Canaris invaded Poland in September 1939. Canaris due to the war's progress. He feared a repeat of the failure of the Schlieffen remained in the Abwehr until 1944 Plan. He attempted to persuade key army when he was arrested and executed officials to join in a coup against Hitler July 1944 By the summer of 1944, many army officials lost Hitler only survived the assassination Plot trust in Hitler’s leadership. They believed that attempt because von Stauffenberg killing Hitler would give Germany a better placed the briefcase behind the large (Operation negotiating position. On 29th July, army officer wooden leg of the conference table. Valkyrie) Claus von Stauffenberg brought a briefcase After the incident, Hitler ordered the containing a bomb into the key military execution of 4,900 Germans headquarters of Wolf’s Lair, Rastenberg “The assassination must be attempted, at any cost. Even should that fail, the attempt to seize power in the capital must be undertaken. We must prove to the world and to the future generations that the men of the German resistance movement dared to take the decisive step and to hazard their lives upon it. Compared with this, nothing else matters.” A telegram sent to von Stauffenberg from Tresckow, a key plotter in Operation Valkyrie A photograph of Admiral Canaris, taken in 1940 Youth Opposition Type of opposition Impact Page 7 of 51 © 2015-2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. · Revision Notes, Topic Questions, Past Papers  Head to www.savemyexams.com for more awesome resources Edelweiss The main youth opposition group in In 1942, the German state arrested over 700 Pirates Germany. Members of the group in members. In response to the murder of the Your notes Cologne killed the Gestapo chief in Gestapo chief, 12 members were publicly 1944 hanged White Rose Formed at Munich University in 1943. Its leaders, Hans and Sophie Scholl, were group They publicly opposed the Nazi arrested and executed by guillotine in 1943 government through leaflets and marches Worked Example Why was there some opposition to Nazi rule? 6 marks Partial answers: There was some opposition to the Nazis because not all young people wanted to conform (1). Some of them found the Hitler Youth too regimented. As a result, young people created alternative youth groups. An example of this was the Swing Youth. They rebelled against the Nazis by listening to jazz music (1). This shows that there was opposition because the Nazis banned jazz music. This shows some opposition as young people created groups outside of what Hitler and the Nazis wanted. They actively disobeyed laws to gain more freedom (1). Examiner Tips and Tricks In Paper One, ‘explain why’ questions are worth either six or ten marks. For full marks for this question, an examiner is looking for two fully explained reasons as to why there was some opposition to Nazi rule. Use the PEE structure in your answer: P - Make a point about the question E - Use evidence that supports the point that you have made E - Explain why this evidence made people oppose the Nazis. Avoid repeating the point again. Explain how this factor forced a particular group of people to rebel against the Nazi Party’s control Page 8 of 51 © 2015-2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. · Revision Notes, Topic Questions, Past Papers  Head to www.savemyexams.com for more awesome resources How Did the Nazis Deal with Opposition? Your notes The Aspects of the Nazi Police State - Summary Once the SA and army had sworn an oath of loyalty to him, Hitler wanted to transform Germany into a police state to ensure that there would be no obstacles to creating his Third Reich. As dedicated Nazis, the SS formed the backbone of Hitler’s police force and oversaw the roles of the Gestapo and SD. Their intimidating presence on the streets of Germany, combined with their ability to bypass legal proceedings, spread fear into those who thought about resisting or opposing Nazi policy. In the background, the SD gathered intelligence and information on enemies of the Nazi Party, informing the SS and other police groups of who to target. Of all the components of the police force, the Gestapo were perhaps the most infamous and feared. People worried about their late night visits to suspected opponents of the Nazi Party, as well as their ability to blend into public life and remain unseen. The Nazis created concentration camps in 1933 to imprison all opponents of the Nazi regime. Details of the poor living conditions and violence committed were leaked back to the public, creating fear and ensuring compliance. Changes to the legal system drastically increased the conviction rate and number of people executed due to treasonous crimes. With the removal of trial by jury, enemies of the state were at the mercy of pro-Nazi judges influenced to declare them guilty. With the majority of the population being either Catholic or Protestant, the Nazis were worried about the ideas and beliefs being taught in church and Christian schools. Ultimately, Hitler could not allow religion to challenge his authority. He made agreements with the Catholic Church and reformed the Protestant Church. Role of the SS The SS was created in 1925 to act as personal bodyguards to Hitler Members had to be both ‘racially pure’ and radically loyal to the NSDAP Heinrich Himmler became leader of the SS from 1929 The SS wore black uniforms to be easily identifiable from the SA The SS had several roles: Protect Hitler and other Nazi leaders Provide security during political meetings Page 9 of 51 © 2015-2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. · Revision Notes, Topic Questions, Past Papers  Head to www.savemyexams.com for more awesome resources Urge people to subscribe to the Nazi newspaper, Der Völkischer Beobachter Marry ‘racially pure’ wives to create ‘racially pure’ children Your notes Manage and control other police forces, including the SD and Gestapo The SS were responsible for carrying out the arrests and murders of SA members during the Night of the Long Knives in 1934 Year SS Membership 1925 240 1933 52,000 1939 290,000 1944 800,000 Role of the SD The SD was created in 1931 by Heinrich Himmler Reinhard Heydrich was placed in charge They gathered intelligence on anyone they suspected or knew opposed the Nazi Party, which included: Existing and new Nazi Party members Leaders and activities within other political parties Minority groups such as Jewish people, Jehovah’s Witnesses and Freemasons Government officials Heydrich and the SD compiled a list of SA members during the Night of the Long Knives The SD became the only police agency to collect and manage intelligence from 1934 They continued this work during the war Year SD Membership 1932 33 Page 10 of 51 © 2015-2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. · Revision Notes, Topic Questions, Past Papers  Head to www.savemyexams.com for more awesome resources 1934 850 Your notes 1939 4,000 Role of the Gestapo Hermann Goering initially created the Gestapo to “investigate and combat all attempts to threaten the state” By 1934, Reinhard Heydrich led the Gestapo They wore plain clothes so they could not be easily identified The Gestapo had several roles: Tapping phones and spying on opponents Arresting, questioning and torturing suspects Around 160,000 people were arrested in 1939 for political crimes Sending people directly to concentration camps using protective custody Releasing information about concentration camp conditions to spread fear They relied on denunciations from the public to target suspects: Only around 10% of political crimes committed were discovered by the Gestapo, compared to 80% reported by ordinary citizens Towns such as Hamburg and Frankfurt only had 40-50 Gestapo agents, which demonstrates the reliance on fear to reduce opposition Year Gestapo membership 1937 6,500 1939 20,000 1944 32,000 The Development of Concentration Camps Most arrests were for ‘political crimes’ Page 11 of 51 © 2015-2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. · Revision Notes, Topic Questions, Past Papers  Head to www.savemyexams.com for more awesome resources Political crimes involved speaking out against the Nazi Party Dachau was opened in 1933 and became the first concentration camp in Nazi Germany Your notes Concentration camps were created to imprison many groups: Minority groups such as Jewish people and Jehovah’s Witnesses ‘Undesirables’ such as homosexuals, prostitutes and Romani Political opponents, including journalists, writers, intellectuals and Communists Concentration camps had poor living conditions and inmates had to do hard labour During the Second World War, the Nazi strategy changed Concentration camps did not reduce the number of ‘undesirables’ in Germany Germany’s progression into Eastern Europe increased the number of ‘undesirables’ under Nazi occupation Hitler and the Nazis developed the ‘Final Solution’ in 1942 This led to the development of six extermination camps The most notorious camp was Auschwitz-Birkenau Page 12 of 51 © 2015-2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. · Revision Notes, Topic Questions, Past Papers  Head to www.savemyexams.com for more awesome resources A concept map showing a comparison between concentration and extermination camps Your notes Examiner Tips and Tricks Many students get confused between concentration and extermination camps. Use the diagram above to see the similarities and differences between the two types of camps. The camps had very different purposes for the Nazis. Controlling the Legal System Control of the legal system allowed the Nazi Party to remove opposition under the illusion that it was fair and just However, cases were often pre-determined and biased in favour of a conviction Judges and Lawyers Judges and lawyers were required to prioritise the interests of the Nazi Party above all else: Judges joined the National Socialist League for the Maintenance of the Law Judges were dismissed if they did not join Lawyers joined the German Lawyers Front Judges had to wear the swastika from 1936 Judges decided the outcome of cases, not the jury Examiner Tips and Tricks Don’t confuse judges with lawyers: Judges are responsible for overseeing the case and deciding the outcome Lawyers should represent their client involved in the case Law Courts The Nazis removed trial by jury so that judges could decide the outcome of the case The People’s Court was introduced to hear cases of treason Page 13 of 51 © 2015-2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. · Revision Notes, Topic Questions, Past Papers  Head to www.savemyexams.com for more awesome resources The Nazis selected judges radically loyal to them Trials were held in secret Your notes The right to appeal was removed Control of the legal system led to a rapid rise in the number of political opponents executed: Between 1930 and 1932, only eight people were executed Between 1934 and 1939, this increased to 534 people How did the Nazi Party control the legal system? Controlling Religion The Concordat With the Catholic Church Page 14 of 51 © 2015-2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. · Revision Notes, Topic Questions, Past Papers  Head to www.savemyexams.com for more awesome resources Your notes How Christian was Germany in 1933? Germany had high levels of Christianity Most of the country was either Protestant or Catholic Christianity was a threat to Hitler and the Nazi Party because the Christian Church held different beliefs from the Nazi Party: Page 15 of 51 © 2015-2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. · Revision Notes, Topic Questions, Past Papers  Head to www.savemyexams.com for more awesome resources Your notes How did the Nazi Party conflict with Christianity? However, Hitler was not sure what to do about the churches: Should Hitler Destroy or Keep Christianity? Destroy Keep Christianity had more followers than the Many Christians had voted for Hitler during important Nazi Party elections Christian beliefs conflicted with Nazi They shared similar beliefs on the importance of family beliefs Page 16 of 51 © 2015-2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. · Revision Notes, Topic Questions, Past Papers  Head to www.savemyexams.com for more awesome resources Churches could spread anti-Nazi ideas If the Nazis could control the churches, they could control the population Your notes Hitler initially wanted the Christian churches to work with the Nazi government The Catholic and Protestant churches reacted differently to Nazi interference Catholics represented several challenges for Hitler: They were loyal to the Pope They supported the Catholic Centre Party before the Enabling Act They had their own Catholic schools, which taught different beliefs to Nazi schools Hitler signed an agreement known as a Concordat with the Pope in July 1933 on behalf of the Catholic Church: It allowed Catholics to worship freely and to continue with Catholic schools In return, Catholic priests would not interfere in politics and would swear loyalty to the Nazi regime Persecution of Catholics continued throughout the 1930s: Around 400 priests were sent to the Dachau concentration camp Catholic schools were controlled or closed This broke the Concordat Youth groups like the Catholic Youth League were banned Monasteries were closed down By 1937, the Concordat had failed: The Pope released a statement known as ‘With Burning Anxiety’, which criticised the Nazi regime The Pope called Hitler a “mad prophet” Examiner Tips and Tricks If you are asked about Nazi policies towards the churches or Christianity, make sure you refer to both Catholics and Protestants. The Protestant Reich Church Page 17 of 51 © 2015-2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. · Revision Notes, Topic Questions, Past Papers  Head to www.savemyexams.com for more awesome resources Many Protestants supported the Nazi Party by 1933 as the party had promised protection from Communists, who were anti-Christian Your notes Ludwig Müller became Reich Bishop of a unified Protestant Church called the Reich Church: Around 2,000 individual churches joined The swastika was displayed in some churches Jewish people were not allowed to be baptised in the Reich Church Pastor Martin Niemöller resisted Nazi intervention and set up the Pastors’ Emergency League (PEL) The Confessing Church was created in 1934 and 6,000 churches joined Worked Example How far were the Nazis able to maintain control over the German people between 1933 and 1945? Explain your answer 10 marks Partial answer: Some historians argue that the Nazis maintained control of the German people. They did this by terror (1). They used the SS and the Gestapo to establish the police state. They spied on people and sent them to concentration camps. People like Communists and Social Democrats were sent there (1). This kept people in control because many Germans were scared. They did not want to face this harsh punishment. They also did not know where the Gestapo or Nazi informers were. This made the majority of people conform to the Nazi regime (1). Examiner Tips and Tricks A strong response for this Paper One question needs to examine both sides of the argument. The next paragraph would explain evidence that the Nazis did not maintain control. You could use the youth groups like the Edelweiss Pirates as an example of the Nazis’ lack of control. Continue to use a clear PEE structure as shown above. You would then need to write a conclusion explaining how far the Nazis kept control of the German people. Remember to use phrases like ‘fully’ or ‘partially’ to explain how much control they had. Page 18 of 51 © 2015-2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. · Revision Notes, Topic Questions, Past Papers  Head to www.savemyexams.com for more awesome resources The Use of Culture and the Mass Media Your notes How Did the Nazis Try to Influence German Culture? - Summary Fear and intimidation was not enough for the Nazis to guarantee compliance with their totalitarian regime. The Nazis - championed by Joseph Goebbels - used propaganda and censorship to control and influence the attitudes of the German people. They objected to many modern aspects of culture and arts. The Weimar Republic had embraced new ideas during the Golden Years of Germany such as the Bauhaus movement. The Nazi Party believed in restoring traditional values and the family structure. These were beliefs that Goebbels could communicate through art, film, music and literature. Therefore, the Nazis quickly set about reforming the culture and arts sector. In the 1930s, newspapers and radio were the most popular media outlets. The Nazis embraced these mediums to distribute information. Demonstrating to the German people the power and strength of the Nazi regime was very important. Rallies such as that at Nuremberg in 1934 were opportunities to present the unity and organisation of this new Nazi-led Germany. This contrasted with the disorganised and helpless Weimar Republic. Through the Reich Chamber of Culture, Goebbels ensured that occupations such as artists, musicians and authors all adhered to strict rules and laws. Failure to follow the regulations set out often led to persecution and interference by the SS or Gestapo. As a result, throughout the 1930s there was a complete overhaul of cultural ideas. Who was Joseph Goebbels? Goebbels was a loyal member of the Nazi Party His work helped gain the Nazi Party election success by 1932 As Minister for People’s Enlightenment and Propaganda, Goebbels was responsible for ensuring the Nazis controlled all areas of German life: The best propaganda is that which works invisibly, penetrating every cell of life Page 19 of 51 © 2015-2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. · Revision Notes, Topic Questions, Past Papers  Head to www.savemyexams.com for more awesome resources Your notes A timeline of Joseph Goebbels The Nazi Use of Media Newspapers The Nazis told journalists what they could and could not publish Control of newspapers allowed the Nazis to spread their messages to the public: They controlled most newspapers by 1939, compared to 3% in 1933 Around 1,600 newspapers were closed down in 1935 Der Völkischer Beobachter (The People’s Observer) was the official newspaper of the Nazi Party and was published daily: Page 20 of 51 © 2015-2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. · Revision Notes, Topic Questions, Past Papers  Head to www.savemyexams.com for more awesome resources It reached 1.1 million people by 1941 Radio Your notes Radios were an increasingly popular tool to communicate political messages: Goebbels had relied on radio during the election years of 1932 and 1933 After 1933, Goebbels censored most radio stations. Nazi-controlled stations spread propaganda The Nazis insisted that employers placed radios in workplaces The introduction of the Volksempfänger (The People’s Receiver) in 1933 was hugely important for several reasons: What was the People’s Receiver? The 1936 Berlin Olympics Hitler and Goebbels believed that success in sport was essential: To “Strengthen the character of the German people” Page 21 of 51 © 2015-2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. · Revision Notes, Topic Questions, Past Papers  Head to www.savemyexams.com for more awesome resources To promote the Nazi belief that the Aryan race was superior The 1936 Berlin Olympics was an opportunity for Hitler to show the might of Nazi Germany: Your notes Key features of the 1936 Berlin Olympics Jesse Owens angered Hitler and the Nazis by winning four gold medals and becoming the most successful athlete at the games Leni Riefenstahl directed the filmOlympia, which was released in 1938 and documented the events of the 1936 Berlin Olympics Worked Example Why were the 1936 Olympic Games important to Hitler? Page 22 of 51 © 2015-2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. · Revision Notes, Topic Questions, Past Papers  Head to www.savemyexams.com for more awesome resources 6 marks Partial answers: Your notes The 1936 Berlin Olympics were important to the Nazis because it was a perfect propaganda opportunity (1). A new stadium had been built in Berlin that could hold up to 110,000 spectators. The film-maker Leni Riefenstahl directed the film Olympia, which showed the scale of the event (1). This created positive propaganda for the Nazis. The Olympics was an international event with many countries sending their athletes to compete. This allowed the Nazis to show the whole world how modern, strong and successful Nazi Germany was (1). Examiner Tips and Tricks In Paper One, ‘explain why’ questions are worth either six or ten marks. For full marks in this question, an examiner is looking for two fully explained reasons as to why the 1936 Olympics were important to Hitler. Use the PEE structure in your answer: P - Make a point about the question E - Use evidence that supports the point that you have made E - Explain why this evidence made the Olympics important. Avoid repeating the point again. Explain how this factor caused the Nazi Party to gain an important positive outcome from hosting the event Nazi Rallies The Nazi Party had used rallies throughout the 1920s and early 1930s The declaration of Hitler as Führer in 1934 allowed him to merge the identity of the Nazi Party with that of Germany: Rallies became more frequent and created a sense of unity They celebrated important occasions such as Hitler’s birthday They were used to advertise the strength of the German army This broke the military restrictions of the Treaty of Versailles The Nuremberg Rallies Nuremberg is a city in the centre of Germany and was chosen to host annual rallies from 1933 to 1938 Hitler’s favourite architect, Albert Speer, designed the grounds where the rallies took place The 1934 Nuremberg rally had 200,000 in attendance: Page 23 of 51 © 2015-2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. · Revision Notes, Topic Questions, Past Papers  Head to www.savemyexams.com for more awesome resources 152 searchlights were used as pillars of light around the audience, known as the Cathedral of Light Films like Triumph of the Will by Leni Riefenstahl presented the strength and power of the Nazi Your notes Party at the Nuremberg rallies Page 24 of 51 © 2015-2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. · Revision Notes, Topic Questions, Past Papers  Head to www.savemyexams.com for more awesome resources Your notes Page 25 of 51 © 2015-2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. · Revision Notes, Topic Questions, Past Papers  Head to www.savemyexams.com for more awesome resources Your notes Key features of the 1934 Nuremberg Rally Nazi Control of Culture and Arts The Nazis objected to the Weimar Republic’s focus on modern art and culture They instead favoured romantic ideas about Germany’s past, the importance of family and strong values The Reich Chamber of Culture was set up in 1933 to make sure that all aspects of culture and the arts aligned with these Nazi beliefs Several Chambers formed the Reich Chamber of Culture: Chamber Jobs affected Reich Chamber of Architects, decorators, sculptors, painters, engravers, dealers in works of Creative Art art and antiques Reich Chamber of Music Composers, performers, conductors, teachers and instrument manufacturers Reich Chamber of Authors and book dealers Literature Reich Chamber of Film Anyone involved in film production Nazi Art Page 26 of 51 © 2015-2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. · Revision Notes, Topic Questions, Past Papers  Head to www.savemyexams.com for more awesome resources All those involved in art were required to join the Reich Chamber of Creative Art: Those who didn’t or couldn’t join were forbidden to teach, produce or sell art Your notes Around 42,000 artists were accepted Art that did not conform with Nazi beliefs was removed: Expressionist artwork produced by Picasso and Van Gogh was seen as too modern In 1936, over 12,000 paintings and sculptures were removed from galleries Gestapo members would visit art studios to monitor the art being produced Artists were rewarded for producing art the Nazis did approve of: The Greater German Art Exhibition featured 900 exhibits in 1936 Nazi Architecture The Nazis disliked the modern designs of the Bauhaus movement during the era of the Weimar Republic Hitler’s favourite architect was Albert Speer, who designed some of Nazi Germany’s most important buildings: The Zeppelinfeld, the parade ground for the Nuremberg rallies Helped to add to the design of the Berlin Olympic Stadium Many buildings were never completed because Nazi Germany was defeated in 1945 Page 27 of 51 © 2015-2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. · Revision Notes, Topic Questions, Past Papers  Head to www.savemyexams.com for more awesome resources Your notes Key features of Nazi architecture Nazi Music The Nazis promoted music that represented traditional aspects of German culture Wagner, Beethovan and Bach were liked for their focus on folk music The Nazis censored music produced by Jewish composers A monument dedicated to the composer Mendelssohn was removed in 1936 Jazz music was disliked because it was associated with Black people Many jazz artists at the time were also of Jewish origins Nazi Literature Page 28 of 51 © 2015-2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. · Revision Notes, Topic Questions, Past Papers  Head to www.savemyexams.com for more awesome resources The Chamber of Culture approved books before they were published The Nazis banned around 2,500 writers because they did not conform to Nazi beliefs: Your notes Works by Einstein and Oppenheimer were banned because of their Jewish origins Lenin's work was banned because it spoke about Communism, an ideology hated by the Nazis Nazis removed millions of books from libraries and universities and burned them on bonfires: In May 1933, students in Berlin burned 20,000 books by anti-Nazi authors Books from 34 cities in Germany were burned for being “unwanted” Joseph Goebbels delivered a speech encouraging the burning of books to an audience of 40,000 Nazi Cinema The Nazis embraced the ‘modern’ and popular technology of film The Nazis had to approve all film plots and foreign films underwent censorship Newsreels showing Germany’s achievements were played before the start of films Films like Triumph of the Will by Leni Riefenstahl presented the strength and power of the Nazi Party Films like Hitlerjunge Quex were used to spread political messages about the threat of communism In total, the Nazi Party made 1,300 films Worked Example Describe how the Nazis used the mass media 4 marks Answer: Radios were in public places and work places so that everyone could hear Hitler’s speeches (1). Newspapers like Der Völkischer Beobachte were used to spread support for the Nazi government (1). Theatre, cinema and music were used to support Nazi values (1). Books were censored or burnt (1). Examiner Tips and Tricks Page 29 of 51 © 2015-2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. · Revision Notes, Topic Questions, Past Papers  Head to www.savemyexams.com for more awesome resources For a ‘Describe’ question, you should aim to complete the question in four minutes, one minute per point. This will give you one minute to read through your answer. Your notes Page 30 of 51 © 2015-2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. · Revision Notes, Topic Questions, Past Papers  Head to www.savemyexams.com for more awesome resources Why were Groups Persecuted in Nazi Germany? Your notes The Treatment of Minorities - Summary To establish a Third Reich, Hitler and the Nazis focused on creating a strong and ‘pure’ society that followed Nazi beliefs. Germany in the 1930s was home to multiple minority groups. Many of these minorities considered themselves to be German. However, the Nazis believed in a hierarchy of races with the Aryan race at the top. Policy soon became directed towards the persecution of other minorities. The Nazis wanted to ensure that they did not reproduce or intervene with Hitler’s vision for Germany. Homosexuals and people with disabilities were also targeted. Jewish people faced increased discrimination and persecution throughout the 1930s in Germany. Beginning with the boycotts of 1933, the Nazis soon stripped away the German citizenship of thousands of Jewish people through the Nuremberg Laws of 1935. Following 'Kristallnacht' in 1938, Jewish communities were no longer safe in Germany. The Nazis sent them to ghettos and extermination camps. This only increased in the Second World War, where German expansion eastwards increased the number of Jews in Nazi-occupied territory. While many German citizens disliked what was happening to Jewish communities and other minorities, the use of censorship and the secret police reduced the level of opposition. The Aryan Race and Eugenics The Nazis aimed at making Germany as ‘strong’ as possible: Policies towards women, children, the Church and culture were all to strengthen the state Their beliefs in eugenics and racial hygiene showed that they also wanted to increase the strength of the ‘German’ population Page 31 of 51 © 2015-2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. · Revision Notes, Topic Questions, Past Papers  Head to www.savemyexams.com for more awesome resources Your notes What did Nazis believe about race? In Mein Kampf, Hitler stated about a racial hierarchy: Aryans were the superior race - blonde, blue-eyed and athletic Hitler blamed Germany’s defeat in the First World War on the ‘pollution’ of the Aryan race Other white Western races were respected, but lower than Aryans Races of Eastern Europe like Slavs were seen as Untermenschen (sub-humans) Hitler considered Jewish people and Black people as the lowest races Group Reason for Nazi persecution Roma There were around 26,000 Roma in Germany in the early 1930s. The Nazis did not believe they worked enough or contributed enough taxes Homosexuals The Nazis believed that homosexuals lowered moral standards as they could not procreate or be part of a traditional family unit Page 32 of 51 © 2015-2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. · Revision Notes, Topic Questions, Past Papers  Head to www.savemyexams.com for more awesome resources Slavs The Nazis wanted to invade Slavic countries like Russia to achieve Lebensraum for the German people Your notes Jewish people Anti-semitic feelings had been common for centuries across Europe. Anti-semitism was strong in Germany throughout the 1920s and 1930s. They were blamed in part for the surrender of Germany during the First World War and the two economic depressions ‘Asocials’ The Nazis claimed that certain people were a drain on the German economy and ruined society People with The Nazis believed that people with disabilities were a burden on society disabilities Examiner Tips and Tricks Students struggle to understand how the Nazis viewed Jewish people. Hitler and the NSDAP considered Jewish people as a race, not a religion. A race is a permanent state that you are born in. A religion can be changed if the person desires. Therefore, the Nazis wanted to view Jewish people as a race. This means that no Jewish person could escape persecution, whether they practised Judaism or not. How Did the Nazis Persecute Minorities? Page 33 of 51 © 2015-2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. · Revision Notes, Topic Questions, Past Papers  Head to www.savemyexams.com for more awesome resources Your notes Timeline of persecution against minorities Group Methods of persecution Page 34 of 51 © 2015-2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. · Revision Notes, Topic Questions, Past Papers  Head to www.savemyexams.com for more awesome resources Racial minorities Propaganda to turn the German public against the Jewish and Roma communities Your notes Sent to concentration camps and, from 1942, extermination camps Homosexuals Banning of gay organisations The arrests of 100,000 people 10,000 people were sent to concentration camps. They had to wear a pink triangle for identification Physically and Forced sterilisation of 700,000 people mentally disabled The T-4 Programme killed disabled people through carbon monoxide. The Einsatzgruppen developed techniques that the Nazis would use in the Final Solution Public outrage caused the official end of the T-4 Programme in 1941. However, it continued secretly throughout the war. Historians estimate the T- 4 Programme killed 250,000 people ‘Asocials’ The Gestapo and the SS arrested many ‘asocials’ and sent them to concentration camps. They were forced to wear black triangles for identification Many people died in concentration camps due to exhaustion, beatings and executions Theresia, aged 12, had been paralysed by polio when she was two. On 13th January 1941, she was one of 59 people transported to Hartheim Castle, where she was murdered. Page 35 of 51 © 2015-2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. · Revision Notes, Topic Questions, Past Papers  Head to www.savemyexams.com for more awesome resources Your notes Richard Grune – the artist was arrested in a gay bar in Berlin in 1934. Released from prison in 1937, he was immediately rearrested by the Gestapo. By 1945, Richard had spent more than a decade in concentration camps or prisons.​ Rita Prigmore – born in 1943, with her twin Rolanda, Rita was a Sinti (Gypsy). In April 1943, her parents faced deportation and the Nazis took Rita and Rolanda. Her mother attempted to rescue the girls. Rolanda was found dead with a bandage around her head. The girls had both been experimented on. Rita and her mother survived the Second World War. Rita continued to experience severe health problems as an adult due to the experiments. Worked Example Describe how the Nazi regime treated minorities other than the Jews 4 marks Page 36 of 51 © 2015-2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. · Revision Notes, Topic Questions, Past Papers  Head to www.savemyexams.com for more awesome resources Answers: Many Roma and Sinti gypsies were sent to concentration camps (1). Homosexuals were arrested and Your notes forced to wear pink triangles in concentration camps (1). The Nazis sterilised physically and mentally disabled people (1). The T-4 Programme, which began in 1939, killed 250,000 people by carbon monoxide poisoning (1). Examiner Tips and Tricks In four-mark questions, ensure each detail you select is as specific as possible. The worked example above provides dates for and number of casualties from the T-4 Programme. Anti-Semitism and the Persecution of Jewish People There were only 437,000 Jewish people in Germany by 1933, less than 1% of the population When Hitler became chancellor in 1933, persecution against Jewish people began immediately: Jewish persecution in 1933 The Nazis used propaganda and censorship to target Jewish culture Children were taught in schools: How to identify Jewish people That Jewish people were Lebensunwertes (unworthy of life) Page 37 of 51 © 2015-2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. · Revision Notes, Topic Questions, Past Papers  Head to www.savemyexams.com for more awesome resources More restrictions on Jewish people followed: From 1934, some councils banned them from parks and swimming pools Your notes From 1935, Jewish people could not join the army The Nuremberg Laws, 1935 The Nuremberg Laws of 1935 included two laws that drastically increased the persecution of all Jewish people in Germany: The Nuremberg Laws Anyone with three or four Jewish grandparents was considered Jewish, regardless of whether they practised Judaism Many people who had converted to Christianity still faced persecution From 1938, Jewish people had to register their possessions and also had to carry identity cards The Events of ‘Kristallnacht’ Persecution of Jewish people became much worse in November 1938 following an event known as ‘Kristallnacht’ (Night of Broken Glass): Page 38 of 51 © 2015-2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. · Revision Notes, Topic Questions, Past Papers  Head to www.savemyexams.com for more awesome resources Your notes ‘Kristallnacht’ The Night of Broken Glass Jewish people were punished for causing ‘Kristallnacht’ They had to pay a combined total of 1 billion marks to repair the damage By 12th November, around 20,000 Jewish people had been sent to concentration camps like Dachau Worked Example What impact did Kristallnacht have on the Jews? Page 39 of 51 © 2015-2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. · Revision Notes, Topic Questions, Past Papers  Head to www.savemyexams.com for more awesome resources 4 marks Answer: Your notes Around 800 Jewish businesses were attacked and their windows broken (1). 191 Synagogues were destroyed (1). Jewish people were made to pay 1 billion marks for the damage (1). Around 20,000 Jewish people were sent to concentration camps (1). Examiner Tips and Tricks This style of question does not require you to explain your answer. The Cambridge IGCSE gives you a point for each relevant piece of information that you write in your answer. How Did Germans React to Jewish Persecution by 1939? All Germans knew how the Nazis were treating Jewish people Acts of violence and discrimination towards Jewish people shocked many Germans They were too scared to help because of groups like the SS and Gestapo Other people took part in acts of persecution, like during the boycotts in 1933 and ‘Kristallnacht’ in 1938 Some Germans chose to ignore Jewish persecution Persecution in the Second World War Page 40 of 51 © 2015-2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. · Revision Notes, Topic Questions, Past Papers  Head to www.savemyexams.com for more awesome resources Your notes A flow diagram showing the development of Jewish and non-Jewish persecution during the Second World War Page 41 of 51 © 2015-2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. · Revision Notes, Topic Questions, Past Papers  Head to www.savemyexams.com for more awesome resources Was Nazi Germany a Totalitarian State? Your notes Totalitarianism is a government that has complete control over its citizens Arguments That Support That Germany was a Totalitarian State Page 42 of 51 © 2015-2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. · Revision Notes, Topic Questions, Past Papers  Head to www.savemyexams.com for more awesome resources Your notes Page 43 of 51 © 2015-2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. · Revision Notes, Topic Questions, Past Papers  Head to www.savemyexams.com for more awesome resources Your notes An illustration showing evidence that supports that the Nazis established a totalitarian state Page 44 of 51 © 2015-2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. · Revision Notes, Topic Questions, Past Papers  Head to www.savemyexams.com for more awesome resources Your notes Page 45 of 51 © 2015-2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. · Revision Notes, Topic Questions, Past Papers  Head to www.savemyexams.com for more awesome resources Your notes An illustration showing evidence that supports that the Nazis established a totalitarian state Arguments That Challenge That Germany was a Totalitarian State Page 46 of 51 © 2015-2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. · Revision Notes, Topic Questions, Past Papers  Head to www.savemyexams.com for more awesome resources Your notes Page 47 of 51 © 2015-2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. · Revision Notes, Topic Questions, Past Papers  Head to www.savemyexams.com for more awesome resources Your notes An illustration showing evidence that argues that the Nazis did not have a totalitarian state Page 48 of 51 © 2015-2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. · Revision Notes, Topic Questions, Past Papers  Head to www.savemyexams.com for more awesome resources Your notes Page 49 of 51 © 2015-2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. · Revision Notes, Topic Questions, Past Papers  Head to www.savemyexams.com for more awesome resources Your notes An illustration showing evidence that argues that the Nazis did not have a totalitarian state Worked Example How effective was Nazi control over Germany? Explain your answer 10 marks Partial answer: In some ways, the Nazis did not have full control over Germany (1). Although many people were afraid to speak out against the Nazis, some people did publicly object to Nazi policy. For example, many Germans spoke out against the T-4 Programme that killed many physically and mentally disabled people (1). As a result of the public’s anger towards the T-4 Programme, the government publicly stopped the policy in 1941. The Nazis continued to secretly murder disabled people. However, the incident shows that the public could oppose Nazi actions if they collectively challenged it (1). Therefore, this example shows that the Nazis still relied on public support to rule, showing that they lacked full control (1). Examiner Tips and Tricks A strong response for this Paper One question needs to examine both sides of the argument. The next paragraph would explain why the Nazis did have control. You could use the Nazi use of the Gestapo and concentration camps as evidence that the Nazis ruled by fear. Continue to use a clear PEE structure as shown above. You would then need to write a conclusion explaining how effective was Nazi control over Germany. Remember to use phrases like ‘fully’ or ‘partially’ to explain how much control Hitler and Page 50 of 51 © 2015-2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. · Revision Notes, Topic Questions, Past Papers  Head to www.savemyexams.com for more awesome resources the Nazi Party had over Germany. Consider how this level of control changed between 1933 and 1945. Your notes Page 51 of 51 © 2015-2025 Save My Exams, Ltd. · Revision Notes, Topic Questions, Past Papers