How did the Nazis use the SS as ‘tools
of terror’?
Learning objective – to be able to assess
the role of the SS in the Nazi State.
I can describe some
of the functions of
the SS in the Nazi
State.
Grade D
I can explain the
impact of the SS in
the Nazi State.
Grade B
I can explain and assess
the impact of the SS in
the Nazi State.
Grade A
Starter – list the different ways that opposition
towards a government can be dealt with.
What were the origins of the SS?
The SS was created in 1925 as
part of the reorganisation of the
Nazi Party. Its aim was protect
the Nazi leadership.
Its full name – Schultzstaffel –
meant ‘protection squad’.
Heinrich Himmler became the
leader of the SS in 1929 and
reformed the SS by designing a
new and distinct uniform and
imposed strict entry standards
and a code of behaviour.
What were the core beliefs of the
SS?
Himmler imposed high standards because he
wanted to distance himself – and the SS – from
the poor behaviour shown by the SA. As part of
this he employed an education leader to teach
SS members on the core fundamentals of the
Nazi Party • A superiority of the German race.
• A hatred of the sub-humans, particularly the
Jews.
This education instilled a extreme loyalty to
Hitler.
Such was the popularity of the SS, its number
continually grew from 52,000 in 1933 to 250,000
in 1939.
Why was the Night of the Long
Knives a turning point for the SS?
The SA, led by Ernst Röhm, had been a loyal
group of paramilitaries for the Nazi Party during
the 1920s. However, their taste for violence,
corruption and bad behaviour led them to be
viewed by many in the Nazis as a liability.
Coupled with this, Röhm had designs on the Nazi
leadership and the German army.
Seeing them as a threat, Hitler ordered the SA to
be eliminated, including his old friend, Röhm. This
was done on the night of 29/30 June 1934 by the
SS.
Because of their willingness to wipe out the SA,
the SS were now seen as the preeminent Nazi
organisation.
How did the role of the SS develop
in the Nazi State?
From 1934, the SS became more powerful with
Himmler as Hitler’s right hand man. Such was
the extension of SS responsibilities, they were
indispensable to the Nazi regime by 1939.
The SS gained control of the police force and
the Gestapo in 1934. These institutions enabled
the SS to suppress internal opposition to Nazi
rule and were given almost unlimited powers of
search, arrests, interrogation and intimidation
to seek out suspected opponents.
This was augmented by the Sicherheitisdienst
[SD], which was the intelligence branch of the
SS. With the Gestapo, the SD gathered
information through a sophisticated spy
network.
How did the role of the spy network
develop a sense of terror in the Nazi State?
The SD and Gestapo built up a network of spies
and informants, which they encouraged to
inform the authorities if they suspected people
of any anti-Nazi activities.
This information gathering was used alongside
the powers of listening in to phone calls and the
ability to read private mail as well as searching
houses and property without a warrant, arrests
without charge and confiscate property.
All this created a sense of fear as people
distrusted neighbours, friends, colleagues and
family.
How did the SS control concentration
camps?
Concentration camps were first set up by the SS in
1933 – the first being at Dachau. Its purpose was to
imprison political opponents, although this definition
was broadened to include any opponents.
Himmler envisaged concentration camps not only as
prisons but also as a deterrent to prevent people from
opposing the Nazi regime.
After 1934, the SS created the Death’s Head unit
which has specific responsibility for running the
concentration camps, which rapidly grew in number.
The SS had complete control of the concentration
camps system with no group able to review or
challenge the system. Similarly, prisoners had no right
to appeal and guards merely followed orders.
How did the Nazis justify concentration
camps?
Concentration camps were presented to the public as
a vital way of keeping them safe from dangerous
elements of society. They were also presented as
centres of re-education.
However, the truth was far more different, brutality
and harsh conditions were the norm with untold
numbers of prisoners dying under such conditions.
The effects of the concentration camps up to 1939
were –
• 225,000 Germans were imprisoned for political
crimes.
• Additional 162,000 Germans imprisoned for
protective custody.
• This led to the concentration camps being a
symbol of Nazi repression.
Tasks
Use the information provided to complete the following –
• Read the different terms in the worksheet and write a
definition for each term and how it relates to the role of
the SS in Nazi Germany.
• Complete the main task of the worksheet in grouping the
terms in to threes and explaining the common link
between them.
Plenary – a touch of Scrabble
What are the three key words
from this lesson that sums up
your learning?
Which word has the highest
value if you used in a game of
Scrabble?
Compare with the person
next to you. Which word has
the highest value?