Fear and State Terrorism

Fear and State Terrorism

Introduction

The Nazis' ability to maintain their hold on power in Germany was deeply intertwined with the use of fear and state terrorism. This atmosphere of fear was created through various means, ensuring that most Germans dared not challenge Hitler's government. Here are some key aspects related to this:

The SS

The Schutzstaffel (SS) was Germany's internal security service, known for its various sections, including Hitler's personal bodyguards. The SS was notorious for its violence and played a leading role in attacks such as Kristallnacht.

Concentration Camps

The SS operated concentration camps where inmates were subjected to grueling forced labor, often in dangerous conditions like mining. They were also underfed and kept in deplorable conditions.

The Gestapo

The Gestapo, or secret police, held the authority to investigate crimes such as treason and spying. The pervasive belief among Germans that the Gestapo was everywhere contributed to an atmosphere of constant fear, even though their actual numbers were limited.

People's Courts

The Gestapo often sent arrested individuals to People's Courts controlled by the Nazis. These courts denied defendants the opportunity to defend themselves properly, and death sentences were frequently handed down.

Fear and State Terrorism

The Night of the Long Knives

Hitler perceived disloyalty within some Nazi ranks, particularly within the SA and its leader, Ernst Rohm. This led to the Night of the Long Knives in 1934 when SA leaders, including Rohm, were killed or arrested by the SS, cementing the terror in Germany.

This climate of fear, reinforced by the actions of these organizations, made it virtually impossible for any organized opposition to Hitler to emerge. Ordinary Germans were too terrified to voice anti-Nazi sentiments openly.

Jews in Germany

The Nazis' hatred and control were particularly directed at Jews. Over time, they implemented increasingly restrictive laws, such as banning Jews from various professions and passing the Nuremberg Laws in 1935, which stripped Jews of their German citizenship and prohibited sexual relations and marriage between Jews and non-Jews.

Kristallnacht

After a German diplomat was killed in Paris by a Jew in 1938, the Nazis endorsed Kristallnacht, during which Jewish shops and homes were attacked, and Jews were targeted for violence.

Jews were systematically removed from German society, isolated, boycotted, and denied access to various aspects of public life. Many chose to leave Germany, including through efforts like the kindertransports, which rescued Jewish children.

This persecution of Jews found support among segments of the German population, further reinforcing the regime's hold on power.

Conclusion

Not all Germans supported these attacks and persecutions. Some individuals, though a minority, resisted in various ways. Nevertheless, without organized opposition groups and in the face of pervasive fear, many Germans remained passive or chose not to act against these atrocities.