The Terror State

When the government uses the institutions of law and order to maintain compliance with the wishes of the state.

In Nazi Germany terror was used as a means of control. /but it was by no means used on everybody nor was it used all the time.

The SS-Gestapo complex

The Gestapo originally was the Prussian secret police. In 1933 Himmler controlled the SS and the Gestapo.

The SS was Hitler's bodyguard but grew to be a massive body of terror. It had additional roles to the Gestapo.

Kershaw says that t was the 'idealogical powerhouse of the Third Reich and executive organ of the Furher will'.

when the two were brought together, 'the most powerful agency (the Gestapo) of repression thus merged with the most dynamic ideological force in the Nazi movement'.

Organisation of the Police in Nazi Germany

SA: After the Night of the Long Knives, it became less powerful, but was still an intimidating force. It was still very much a force on the streets.

SS: Became the main source of terror. It had many different purposes. Formed in 1925 with only 250 members until Himmler became its leader in 1929. By 1933, the members had numbered 52,000. Its reputation was of total obedience and commitment to the Nazi cause. Following the Night of the Long Knives, they became an independent organisation within the Party. All police powers were unified under Himmler's control as the Reichsfurher SS and Chief of all German Police. E. Kogon said that the SS-Police system was 'a state within a state'.

Security: They were given more power to crush opposition.

Military: The Waffen SS grew from only 3 divisions in 1939 to 33 in 1945, which developed into a second army.

Economy: It was responsible for the creation of the 'New Order' in the occupied lands. They had created massive commercial organisations over 150 by using slave labour to gain raw materials.

However, there was still rivalries and disagreements particularly with Gauleiters.

GESTAPO: was the Prussian secret police. It was the most important security agent of the state.

The traditional view is that the Gestapo was 'all seeing and all knowing'. This was upheld through propaganda.

However, revisionist historians have found that this view is not as it seems.

The Gestapo only had 40,00 agents throughout Germany. This meant that in large cities such as Berlin, there were as little as 40-50 Gestapo agents.

The majority of their arrests ad work was due to public informers. People in Germany actually 'told' on their neighbours. This happened between 50-80% of the time in different areas.

They had few top agents.

SD: The internal security/intelligent service of the SS. This acted as the Party's internal security service. It was controlled by Heydrich. Its responsibilities grew as occupied lands spread.

RHSA: To draw together state and party securing apparatus.

The purpose of the SS Police system

To gather intelligence form the SD.

Policing carried out by the Gestapo and Kripo. The Kripo was in charge of general law and order. It was linked with the Gestapo in 1936. The Gestapo was key in upholding the regime through surveillance and repression. It could arrest and detain without a trial.

Military action by the first units of the Waffen SS (the Armed SS. During the war, divisions rose from 3 to 35) Following 1938, its influence grew due to the Blomberg Fritsch affair.

With new territory gained in 1939, the New Order began (This was the term used by the Nazis to describe the economic political and racial integration of Europe under the Third Reich.