On 30 January 1933, Adolf Hitler was appointed Chancellor of Germany. Within eighteen months, he had abolished democracy, imprisoned political opponents, and made himself the absolute dictator of a modern industrial nation of 66 million people.
What was it like to actually live under Nazi rule? The answer depended entirely on who you were. For many ordinary Germans — white, non-Jewish, politically conformist — daily life continued with surprising normality, even prosperity, in the mid-1930s. But for Jews, disabled people, political opponents, Roma, and homosexuals, Nazi rule meant persecution, dispossession, and ultimately industrial murder on a scale the world had never seen.
Understanding how the Nazis controlled Germany — through terror, propaganda, youth indoctrination, and economic recovery — is essential to understanding one of the darkest chapters in human history.
This introduction covers Setting the Scene: Germany's Twelve-Year Nightmare 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 1 of 18 in this topic. Use this introduction 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.