The Nazi state combined propaganda and incentives with systematic terror. The two operated together — most Germans never needed to experience the terror directly because they knew it was there.
The Gestapo (Geheime Staatspolizei — Secret State Police):
The Gestapo was the Nazi secret police, controlled by Heinrich Himmler and his deputy Reinhard Heydrich. It had the power to arrest, imprison, and interrogate anyone suspected of disloyalty, without legal restraint — no warrant, no trial, no appeal. The Gestapo has been mythologised as an all-seeing organisation; in reality it was relatively small (around 32,000 agents in 1939 for a population of 80 million) and relied heavily on a network of informers. Ordinary Germans reported on neighbours, colleagues, and even family members. The atmosphere of mutual suspicion was itself a control mechanism.
The SS (Schutzstaffel):
Founded in 1925 as Hitler's personal bodyguard, the SS (under Himmler's leadership from 1929) became the Nazi state's instrument of terror. By 1939 it had over 240,000 members. The SS ran the concentration camp system, controlled the Gestapo, and later commanded Einsatzgruppen (mobile killing units) in occupied territories. SS members were selected for "racial purity" and total ideological commitment — they saw themselves as an elite racial vanguard.
Concentration Camps:
The first concentration camp opened at Dachau, near Munich, in March 1933 — just weeks after Hitler became Chancellor. Initially used to imprison political opponents (Communists, Social Democrats, trade unionists), the camps quickly expanded. By 1939, around 25,000 people were imprisoned in camps. Conditions were brutal: forced labour, starvation, beatings, and executions. The camps were instruments of terror directed at society as a whole — their existence was widely known, and that was the point.
Block Wardens and Informers:
The Nazi Party organised German society into blocks (Blocks) of about 40-60 households, each with a Block Warden (Blockwart) responsible for monitoring political loyalty. Block Wardens reported suspicious behaviour, complaints about the regime, or failure to display Nazi symbols. This created a structure of surveillance penetrating to street level.
This deep dive covers How the Nazis Controlled Germany: Terror within Living under Nazi Rule, 1933-1945 for GCSE History. Revise Living under Nazi Rule, 1933-1945 in Component Group 5 — World Depth Studies for GCSE History with 14 exam-style questions and 18 flashcards. This topic shows up very often in GCSE exams, so students should be able to explain it clearly, not just recognise the term. It is section 3 of 18 in this topic. Use this deep dive to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
Practice questions for Living under Nazi Rule, 1933-1945
Describe two features of the Enabling Act of March 1933.
Write a clear and organised summary that analyses how the Night of the Long Knives helped Hitler consolidate his power in 1934.