The People and the State (J410/02) - Nazi Germany and its people…

The idea

This topic examines how the Nazi regime controlled and shaped German society between 1933 and 1939. Learn the elements of the terror state and what each body did: the SA, SS, Gestapo, SD, courts and police. Understand Nazi use of culture and propaganda, the personal popularity of Hitler, and attempts to create a National Community. Study the regime's economic policies and their uneven effects, identifying winners and losers in German society. Cover Nazi social policies, including policies on women and youth, and explain the lack of effective opposition. Finally, learn about persecution of Jews and other groups, including Roma, Jehovah's Witnesses and homosexuals, and eugenics policies. Match each example to the correct body, policy or group.

What earns the marks

• Identifies the role of a terror-state body such as the SA, SS, Gestapo, SD, courts or police.
• Explains how Nazi culture and propaganda were used to influence the population.
• Describes the personal popularity of Hitler and attempts to create a National Community.
• Explains an economic policy and its effects on a section of German society, identifying winners and losers.
• Describes a Nazi social policy on women or youth.
• Explains the lack of effective opposition to the regime.
• Identifies persecution of Jews and other groups, including Roma, Jehovah's Witnesses and homosexuals.
• Describes eugenics policies and their purpose.

Common mistakes and how to put them right

• Treats the SA, SS, Gestapo and SD as interchangeable.

  Put it right: Match each body to its distinct role.

• Assumes all Germans benefited from economic policies.

  Put it right: Identify both winners and losers.

• Treats the National Community as fully achieved.

  Put it right: Recognise it as an attempt.

• Overlooks persecution of groups beyond Jews.

  Put it right: Include Roma, Jehovah's Witnesses and homosexuals.

• Assumes widespread effective opposition existed.

  Put it right: Recognise the lack of effective opposition.

• Confuses propaganda with terror.

  Put it right: Keep persuasion and coercion as separate elements.

Exam tips

• Build a table matching each terror body to its function so options are easy to eliminate.
• Learn one clear example of a winner and a loser from Nazi economic policy.
• Keep the named persecuted groups in mind; a question may test a group other than Jews.
• Distinguish social policy (women, youth) from economic policy when choosing an answer.