Handout 13:
A)
1. There is good evidence that Hoss was "evil" presented in this chapter. Most persuasive to this argument is his ruthless and coldblooded examination of exterminating the Jews. He talks about more "efficient" ways to kill people, brags about the short time in which they die, and is proud of the fact that his gas chambers can kill up to 2,000 people at a time, rather than only 200. In general, he has a methodical look at genocide that suggests a certain inhumanity.
2. Despite the things he did at Auschwitz, Hoss could be considered not evil because of the indoctrination and propaganda the Nazis used. Jews were dehumanized; it doesn't make it acceptable, but the fact is that Hoss probably truly saw the Jews as less than human and as an actual threat. It's hard to call a person "evil", because if they are doing something it is most likely because they feel it's truly justified. Hoss probably thought he was doing something heroic, something that would save Germany and even the world. Indoctrination and propaganda may be more to blame here than simple "evil".
B)
I don't think I am either an intentionalist or a functionalist, and I think the answer lies somewhere between the two beliefs. I don't think that Hitler was a "weak dictator", but I do believe that he had a lot of his work done by his underlings. He dictated the bigger things (i.e. the extermination of the Jews), but didn't attend to the details. He was in charge, though. I don't know that I believe that Hitler didn't have the intention to kill the Jewish people of Germany. He did use them as scapegoats and breed a lot of hatred for them, but the concentration camps were mostly kept a secret from the public. So this means that HItler either started out with the intention of doing this and with the sincere belief that it was for the better, or he was pushed into it by circumstances, or he was taking some kind of strange psychological vengeance (self hatred complex). IN the end, its hard to answer without knowing Hitler's personal motives.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
HW 25
Here's HW 25, pretty simple: Complete questions A-B from Chapter 14.
A)
1. America was a rich, strong nation that could assist Germany's enemies hugely. America had a huge army to deploy against Germany and Japan, and could also assist Britain and Russia, which were both fighting Germany as well. The assistance of America, Russia was able to form a new army that defeated the German army in the battle of Stalingrad, for example. America also joined forces with Britain on D-Day, making raids with bomber plains on German cities.
2. I do think that had Germany not declared war on America, the outcome of WWII might have been significantly different. Up until 1941, when Hitler declared war upon America, he was in control of most of Europe and Germany was doing very well in the war. However, after he declared war on America, he gave his other enemies the means to defeat him. Britain and Russia couldn't have done it themselves, but with America's power and assistance, the three teamed up into a far stronger unit. Without America's contribution, it is plausible that Germany could have defeated Britain and Russia.
B)
I find it hard to argue that NOT killing Hitler would be the "right" thing to do. From the perspective of Stauffenberg, I think it was the right thing to do as well. From the perspective of somebody who would have wanted Germany to win WWII, it would be a tough choice to make, because Hitler was the charismatic leader that glued the country together (on most accounts); however, he was making poor military decisions. It was obvious that at this point he could not win the war, yet he insisted on sending what remained of his men into battle only to be slaughtered. If Hitler could not be reasoned with, it might have been that the only option was to take him out before he doomed the entire German army, and possibly nation. I think that if the plot succeeded Germany probably would have surrendered sooner and perhaps would have gotten slightly better treatment at the hands of the Allies. I don't think that it would have been possible for Germany to regroup at that point, though, so ultimately in both situations Germany probably would not have won the war.
A)
1. America was a rich, strong nation that could assist Germany's enemies hugely. America had a huge army to deploy against Germany and Japan, and could also assist Britain and Russia, which were both fighting Germany as well. The assistance of America, Russia was able to form a new army that defeated the German army in the battle of Stalingrad, for example. America also joined forces with Britain on D-Day, making raids with bomber plains on German cities.
2. I do think that had Germany not declared war on America, the outcome of WWII might have been significantly different. Up until 1941, when Hitler declared war upon America, he was in control of most of Europe and Germany was doing very well in the war. However, after he declared war on America, he gave his other enemies the means to defeat him. Britain and Russia couldn't have done it themselves, but with America's power and assistance, the three teamed up into a far stronger unit. Without America's contribution, it is plausible that Germany could have defeated Britain and Russia.
B)
I find it hard to argue that NOT killing Hitler would be the "right" thing to do. From the perspective of Stauffenberg, I think it was the right thing to do as well. From the perspective of somebody who would have wanted Germany to win WWII, it would be a tough choice to make, because Hitler was the charismatic leader that glued the country together (on most accounts); however, he was making poor military decisions. It was obvious that at this point he could not win the war, yet he insisted on sending what remained of his men into battle only to be slaughtered. If Hitler could not be reasoned with, it might have been that the only option was to take him out before he doomed the entire German army, and possibly nation. I think that if the plot succeeded Germany probably would have surrendered sooner and perhaps would have gotten slightly better treatment at the hands of the Allies. I don't think that it would have been possible for Germany to regroup at that point, though, so ultimately in both situations Germany probably would not have won the war.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
HW 21
HW 21 -
1. Read Hitler's Germany Chapter 10 and answer questions A-B.
1.
Rearmament: The process of expanding the armed forces of a country; in the case of Germany, building it back up after the Treaty of Versailles ruined Germany's armed forces. The army expanded from 100,000 to 300,000 men, the navy built new ships and submarines, and an air force was supposed to be built.
Remilitarization: Hitler's process of rebuilding his military into something powerful enough to attack another country (i.e., the Rhineland).
Anschluss: The union of Germany and Austria as a single, large country.
B)
1934: Hitler violated the Treaty of Versailles by rearming Germany, expanding the armed forces, starting and air force, and building new naval ships and submarines.
1935: Hitler publicly announced that there would be a compulsory military service and that the army would be built up to 550,000, causing panic amongst Germany's neighbors.
1936: Hitler ordered his army to march into the Rhineland, which violated the part of the V.T. that said Germany's armies were not to go within 50 KM of the River Rhine.
1938: Hitler began planning Anschluss, which was forbidden by the Versailles Treaty.
1. Read Hitler's Germany Chapter 10 and answer questions A-B.
1.
Rearmament: The process of expanding the armed forces of a country; in the case of Germany, building it back up after the Treaty of Versailles ruined Germany's armed forces. The army expanded from 100,000 to 300,000 men, the navy built new ships and submarines, and an air force was supposed to be built.
Remilitarization: Hitler's process of rebuilding his military into something powerful enough to attack another country (i.e., the Rhineland).
Anschluss: The union of Germany and Austria as a single, large country.
B)
1934: Hitler violated the Treaty of Versailles by rearming Germany, expanding the armed forces, starting and air force, and building new naval ships and submarines.
1935: Hitler publicly announced that there would be a compulsory military service and that the army would be built up to 550,000, causing panic amongst Germany's neighbors.
1936: Hitler ordered his army to march into the Rhineland, which violated the part of the V.T. that said Germany's armies were not to go within 50 KM of the River Rhine.
1938: Hitler began planning Anschluss, which was forbidden by the Versailles Treaty.
HW 22
HW 22 -
1. Read Hitler's Germany Chapter 11 and answer questions A-C.
2. Read Modern World History pages 77-87 and be prepared to answer the following questions in class:
1. Define "Appeasement"
2. How could appeasement be justified? Put it in historical context!
3. To what extent did appeasement help cause WWII?
4. How did Hitler use propoganda to justify his invasion of Czechoslovakia?
A)
Dearest Friend,
I write to inform you of the terrible things that are happening in Czechoslovakia; you have been gone a long time, and you do not know what suffering we are going through here. I am sorry to say that I believe Czechoslovakia is being slowly taken over by the despicable Germans and Hitler, and France and England do nothing about it! It started when the riots did; Hitler was planning to invade to stop all the riots in Sudetenland, but I believe he purposely riled up the Germans who were living there. At any rate, when we found out that the German army was gathering on the borders, of course we Czechs got ready to fight, and he backed off. I thought perhaps then we were safe; but then only months later, Hitler was practically given permission to take Sudetenland by Neville Chamberlain of Britain. The filthy appeaser! He was so frightened of what Hitler might do, that he forgot his duty to protect the sovereignty of people all over the world. He agreed with France that Hitler should indeed have our land, and our representative was never so much as consulted! I cannot describe the rage and sorrow that our country feels right now, my friend. I fear that the future hold more of this; Hitler knows now that Chamberlain will not stop him, and the greedy man already has his eyes on the rest of Czechoslovakia. I can only watch and wait and hope. I wish sincerely that things might not be so bleak for you where you are now: and for the first time, I hope that you don't come home to this ruined shadow of your beloved homeland.
Sincerely,
Rabushnygiva Vodianova
B)
1. The Nazi-Soviet Pact of 1939 - An agreement between Germany and Russia that they would not fight each other, and that they would secretly attack Poland and divide it amongst themselves. This meant that Hitler could invade the Polish Corridor without fear of attack from Russia.
2. People were likely surprised by this political maneuver because the Nazis and Communists hated each other. Hitler had spent years trying to eradicate Communists entirely from Germany, and surely the Soviet Union could not have taken kindly to this. I do not think that any country would have suspected the two to team up to work around their inability to attack Poland without retaliation from England and France; the handout describes Russia as Hitler's "hated enemy".
1. Read Hitler's Germany Chapter 11 and answer questions A-C.
2. Read Modern World History pages 77-87 and be prepared to answer the following questions in class:
1. Define "Appeasement"
2. How could appeasement be justified? Put it in historical context!
3. To what extent did appeasement help cause WWII?
4. How did Hitler use propoganda to justify his invasion of Czechoslovakia?
A)
Dearest Friend,
I write to inform you of the terrible things that are happening in Czechoslovakia; you have been gone a long time, and you do not know what suffering we are going through here. I am sorry to say that I believe Czechoslovakia is being slowly taken over by the despicable Germans and Hitler, and France and England do nothing about it! It started when the riots did; Hitler was planning to invade to stop all the riots in Sudetenland, but I believe he purposely riled up the Germans who were living there. At any rate, when we found out that the German army was gathering on the borders, of course we Czechs got ready to fight, and he backed off. I thought perhaps then we were safe; but then only months later, Hitler was practically given permission to take Sudetenland by Neville Chamberlain of Britain. The filthy appeaser! He was so frightened of what Hitler might do, that he forgot his duty to protect the sovereignty of people all over the world. He agreed with France that Hitler should indeed have our land, and our representative was never so much as consulted! I cannot describe the rage and sorrow that our country feels right now, my friend. I fear that the future hold more of this; Hitler knows now that Chamberlain will not stop him, and the greedy man already has his eyes on the rest of Czechoslovakia. I can only watch and wait and hope. I wish sincerely that things might not be so bleak for you where you are now: and for the first time, I hope that you don't come home to this ruined shadow of your beloved homeland.
Sincerely,
Rabushnygiva Vodianova
B)
1. The Nazi-Soviet Pact of 1939 - An agreement between Germany and Russia that they would not fight each other, and that they would secretly attack Poland and divide it amongst themselves. This meant that Hitler could invade the Polish Corridor without fear of attack from Russia.
2. People were likely surprised by this political maneuver because the Nazis and Communists hated each other. Hitler had spent years trying to eradicate Communists entirely from Germany, and surely the Soviet Union could not have taken kindly to this. I do not think that any country would have suspected the two to team up to work around their inability to attack Poland without retaliation from England and France; the handout describes Russia as Hitler's "hated enemy".
Monday, October 19, 2009
HW 19
HW 20 - For Tuesday, read Chapters 8 and 9 and complete questions A-B for Ch. 8 and A-C for Chapter 9.
Please bring Modern World History textbooks to class.
Chapter 8:
A)
1. This liner might have been going to the Canary Islands, one of the locations that the Nazi cruise lines went (for a price of 62 marks).
2. The people on this liner were all likely regular workers, but also very loyal, dedicated members of the Nazi party.
3. Generally these trips were inexpensive so that the average worker could afford to go, at a cost that was similar to two weeks' wages.
4. The reason that Hitler was spending money on liners when Germany had been at war for 4 years was probably that he felt one of the best ways to keep himself in power was making sure the people were happy. He had his fear tactics, which he used, but using fear exclusively to rule the people would likely mean having to constantly struggle against resistance for control. By making the workers happy, he made them more willing to serve the Nazi machine and made Germany a stronger, more unified country.
5. This picture was probably taken as propaganda, to encourage workers to put in more effort so that they could enjoy a similar cruise experience.
B)
1. This joke means that the Volkswagon company was not truly for making cars, or for the people; it was merely a front for spending more money on the military, while making it seem as if the government was doing something for the people. In fact, workers contributed the money, but not a single person got a car as the Volkswagon company was converted into a weapons company at the start of WWII.
2. This joke shows that the Germans were not ignorant of the unscrupulous things that were going on in the government, as a person might assume since they were willing to allow such terrible things to happen right under their noses. The attitude seems almost nonchalant, as if the problem is recognized but also acknowledged as unchangeable.
Chapter 9:
1.
Propaganda: A form of advertisement, the aim of which is to persuade large numbers of people to think what one wants them to think, and believe what one wants them to believe.
Rally: Gatherings that could hole up to 400,000 people, had army parades, gymnastics, choirs, brass bands, fireworks, etc. A from of propaganda to ensnare people.
Censorship: The banning of information or entertainment which the government perceives as dangerous or harmful to their cause.
2. I would think that the joke that would not be permitted would be the first joke. The second two jokes might seem slightly hostile towards the Nazis and what they did; however, the first one blatantly casts Hitler as being cruel, which the Fuhrer would not allow.
3. The pictures from chapter 4, which portray Nazi officers trying to keep people from shopping in a Jewish store, and two small Jewish children being forced to stand in front of a classroom with slander about Jews written on the board. Although surely a good number of Nazis were in favor of purification and Hitler did a good job of turning the Jews into scapegoats, some people might feel uncomfortable seeing images of innocent children being persecuted.
Please bring Modern World History textbooks to class.
Chapter 8:
A)
1. This liner might have been going to the Canary Islands, one of the locations that the Nazi cruise lines went (for a price of 62 marks).
2. The people on this liner were all likely regular workers, but also very loyal, dedicated members of the Nazi party.
3. Generally these trips were inexpensive so that the average worker could afford to go, at a cost that was similar to two weeks' wages.
4. The reason that Hitler was spending money on liners when Germany had been at war for 4 years was probably that he felt one of the best ways to keep himself in power was making sure the people were happy. He had his fear tactics, which he used, but using fear exclusively to rule the people would likely mean having to constantly struggle against resistance for control. By making the workers happy, he made them more willing to serve the Nazi machine and made Germany a stronger, more unified country.
5. This picture was probably taken as propaganda, to encourage workers to put in more effort so that they could enjoy a similar cruise experience.
B)
1. This joke means that the Volkswagon company was not truly for making cars, or for the people; it was merely a front for spending more money on the military, while making it seem as if the government was doing something for the people. In fact, workers contributed the money, but not a single person got a car as the Volkswagon company was converted into a weapons company at the start of WWII.
2. This joke shows that the Germans were not ignorant of the unscrupulous things that were going on in the government, as a person might assume since they were willing to allow such terrible things to happen right under their noses. The attitude seems almost nonchalant, as if the problem is recognized but also acknowledged as unchangeable.
Chapter 9:
1.
Propaganda: A form of advertisement, the aim of which is to persuade large numbers of people to think what one wants them to think, and believe what one wants them to believe.
Rally: Gatherings that could hole up to 400,000 people, had army parades, gymnastics, choirs, brass bands, fireworks, etc. A from of propaganda to ensnare people.
Censorship: The banning of information or entertainment which the government perceives as dangerous or harmful to their cause.
2. I would think that the joke that would not be permitted would be the first joke. The second two jokes might seem slightly hostile towards the Nazis and what they did; however, the first one blatantly casts Hitler as being cruel, which the Fuhrer would not allow.
3. The pictures from chapter 4, which portray Nazi officers trying to keep people from shopping in a Jewish store, and two small Jewish children being forced to stand in front of a classroom with slander about Jews written on the board. Although surely a good number of Nazis were in favor of purification and Hitler did a good job of turning the Jews into scapegoats, some people might feel uncomfortable seeing images of innocent children being persecuted.
Nazi Domestic Policy Chart
Nazi Policy: Hitler Youth - Young people belonged to youth groups that taught them loyalty to Hitler and trained them in military skills
Year: 1934
Effect: Indoctrination of youth; helps prevent any future uprisings because children are raised to worship and support the Nazi party. Effects were physical and psychological; they were trained in military
Nazi Policy: Adolf Hitler Schools - Took boys from the Jungvolk (Hitler youth organization of children 10-14) at 12 and gave them 6 years of training and then sent them either to university or the army; the best students were sent on to Order Castles where they were put through rigorous training and pushed to the limits of endurance. Those who survived graduated to become the model for ideal Hitler Youth.
Year: Entirety of regime.
Effect: Again, indoctrination of the youth, crushing all opposition before it starts and therefore ensuring Hitler's dominance. Also found Hitler the most loyal and talented young people in Germany; worked as a talent discovery.
Year: 1934
Effect: Indoctrination of youth; helps prevent any future uprisings because children are raised to worship and support the Nazi party. Effects were physical and psychological; they were trained in military
Nazi Policy: Adolf Hitler Schools - Took boys from the Jungvolk (Hitler youth organization of children 10-14) at 12 and gave them 6 years of training and then sent them either to university or the army; the best students were sent on to Order Castles where they were put through rigorous training and pushed to the limits of endurance. Those who survived graduated to become the model for ideal Hitler Youth.
Year: Entirety of regime.
Effect: Again, indoctrination of the youth, crushing all opposition before it starts and therefore ensuring Hitler's dominance. Also found Hitler the most loyal and talented young people in Germany; worked as a talent discovery.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
HW # 18
As of today, it seems that I will never be able to go outside showing my true self; all freedom is lost here, I can see now that it is undeniable. As a Communist, a working man trying to make a living for his family and get what he deserves, I am naturally not loved by our so-called Chancellor, Hitler. I have seen the way he changed the country over the past couple years, and from the beginning I knew it was no good that he could be appointed to the position of Chancellor. He won his seat with violence and used fear as a weapon -- his Storm Troopers frightened Hindenburg into allowing it to happen, the president was too afraid of civil war to take a stand. Perhaps Hindenberg thought he could control the monster, but it is clearer every day that it was not so. Soon he convinced the Reichstag to give him authority to do what he wanted without its consent; then he outlawed other political parties in Germany, took away our human rights! And all I could do was watch in horror as Germany as I knew her crumbled around me, turning quickly into a dangerous machine operated by a more dangerous criminal. I held on to the hope that things might be turned around, and that Hindenberg might reclaim control -- a foolish hope, but I had nothing else to cling to -- but once word that President Hindenberg was dead, I knew it was over. And soon after, Hitler named himself Fuhrer and President over Germany. I am so angry that such a thing was allowed to happen; surely the people saw it coming, but nobody stopped it, and the Nazis silenced my party. Now everyone is too afraid to try to dissent. I myself have not had dealings with the SA or the SS, thankfully, but they have touched my life. In the election of 1933, when we still held on to the illusion of democracy in this country, I knew several people who were beaten by the Storm Troopers, in an effort to keep them from voting. One of them died. All this, when Hitler was not so firmly in power! How could this happen? I have been hiding, ever since Hitler became our Fuhrer; I have heard many stories, and I know that as long as I am visible, I will be a target for the Gestapo. I am determined that my life will not end in Hitler's concentration camp, even if it means that I must keep myself hidden in an old barn, coming out only at nights. I try to have secret meetings with my friends who feel similarly, but we have no chance of changing things now; and besides, it is dangerous enough to be a communist without having meetings. The rise of the Nazi party has ruined me. I have lost my job, my home, my family, and my freedom. I am reduced to crouching in the dark, waiting for the end to come, of either the Nazis or of myself. I am trying to hold onto hope, but it is slipping away like a ghost.
Chapter 2: The Road to Dictatorship
A.
Chancellor - Prime Minister.
Reichstag - The German parliament.
Enabling Law - Law that Hitler persuaded the Reichstag to pass in 1933; allowed Hitler to make laws without asking for Reichstag consent, essentially making him Dictator of Germany.
One Party State - A state in which the ruling party is the only political party allowed (for example, Russia under Communism, Germany under Naziism, etc)
Gaulteirs - District leaders in the Nazi party; got orders from Hitler, and reported to him.
Block Leaders - Lowest member of the Nazi party structure, but very important. They were in charge of one "block" of flats or houses. They listened to local gossip and found out who the critics of the Nazis were, and got them arrested.
B)
23 March 1933 - Hitler gets the Reichstag to pass the Enabling Law --> Essentially makes him dictator of Germany.
7 April 1933 - Put Nazi officials in charge of the local governments that ran Germany's provinces --> Gives more power to the federal government, eliminates possible competition for leadership.
2 May 1933 - Closed down the trade unions, took away their funds and put their leaders in prison --> Got rid of more potential dissenters, weakened the workers making them dependent on the goodwill of the government.
14 July 1933 - Made a Law Against the Formation of New Parties, made Nazis the only party allowed in Germany -->
Nobody could break the law, because they could be sentenced to 3 years in a prison labor camp. Got rid of any dissenters legally.
30 June 1934 - Ernst Roehm and the SA leaders were arrested, taken to prison, and shot; over the next few days, 400 people met the same fate, at the hands of Hitler's SS (protection squad) --> Hitler eliminates any groups that might pose a threat from within the Nazi party.
C)
1. The authority of Hitler, who was able to pass laws without the consent of the Reichstag at this point, so if he commanded that the communists be rounded up, it was legal.
2. Obviously this is unfair, because it is a restriction of free speech.
Chancellor - Prime Minister.
Reichstag - The German parliament.
Enabling Law - Law that Hitler persuaded the Reichstag to pass in 1933; allowed Hitler to make laws without asking for Reichstag consent, essentially making him Dictator of Germany.
One Party State - A state in which the ruling party is the only political party allowed (for example, Russia under Communism, Germany under Naziism, etc)
Gaulteirs - District leaders in the Nazi party; got orders from Hitler, and reported to him.
Block Leaders - Lowest member of the Nazi party structure, but very important. They were in charge of one "block" of flats or houses. They listened to local gossip and found out who the critics of the Nazis were, and got them arrested.
B)
23 March 1933 - Hitler gets the Reichstag to pass the Enabling Law --> Essentially makes him dictator of Germany.
7 April 1933 - Put Nazi officials in charge of the local governments that ran Germany's provinces --> Gives more power to the federal government, eliminates possible competition for leadership.
2 May 1933 - Closed down the trade unions, took away their funds and put their leaders in prison --> Got rid of more potential dissenters, weakened the workers making them dependent on the goodwill of the government.
14 July 1933 - Made a Law Against the Formation of New Parties, made Nazis the only party allowed in Germany -->
Nobody could break the law, because they could be sentenced to 3 years in a prison labor camp. Got rid of any dissenters legally.
30 June 1934 - Ernst Roehm and the SA leaders were arrested, taken to prison, and shot; over the next few days, 400 people met the same fate, at the hands of Hitler's SS (protection squad) --> Hitler eliminates any groups that might pose a threat from within the Nazi party.
C)
1. The authority of Hitler, who was able to pass laws without the consent of the Reichstag at this point, so if he commanded that the communists be rounded up, it was legal.
2. Obviously this is unfair, because it is a restriction of free speech.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Homework 17
A)
Gestapo:Hitler's secret State Police, a branch of the SS. It had the authority to do whatever it wanted, dealt with potential "enemies of the state".
Protective Custody: A Nazi codeword for prison; people who were arrested under suspicion of being enemies of the state were forced to sign an Order of Protective Custody, and would be brought to prison.
Concentration Camps: Where potential enemies of the state were brought, until the Gestapo felt like releasing them.
Death Head Units: Branch of the SS, , who wore skull and crossbones on their uniforms.
B)
People likely to be in the concentration camps:
-"Politicals": Communists, geunuine political prisoners, people who had spoken against Hitler.
-"Work-Shy": People who lost jobs and then applied for unemployment benefits, but might have turned down a job they were offered.
-"Bibelforscher": Religious sect that refused military service
-Homosexuals
- 'Professional Criminals"
C)
1. Judging by the evidence of Part B, I would say that the purpose of these camps was to start Hitler's process of weeding out the "undesirables" from German society, and start his master race. Here he gets rid of the "lazy" people - those who aren't working, those who aren't willing to fight; he gets rid of the homosexuals; he gets rid of the criminals; and he gets rid of those who oppose him politically. Ideally, if Hitler were to get every person fitting this description into the concentration camps, he would practically have his perfected Aryan race.
2. I think that the prisoners were treaty so poorly because these were Hitler's undesirables. He didn't want these people infecting his Aryan race anyways, and probably would consider it a bonus that they died while in the camps. It also gave him an excuse for murdering people, because if somebody dies due to punishment for not working, it sounds like they weren't completely undeserving of that fate. Also, the harshness of the treatment in the prison camps probably kept people who weren't in concentration camps in line, out of fear.
Gestapo:Hitler's secret State Police, a branch of the SS. It had the authority to do whatever it wanted, dealt with potential "enemies of the state".
Protective Custody: A Nazi codeword for prison; people who were arrested under suspicion of being enemies of the state were forced to sign an Order of Protective Custody, and would be brought to prison.
Concentration Camps: Where potential enemies of the state were brought, until the Gestapo felt like releasing them.
Death Head Units: Branch of the SS, , who wore skull and crossbones on their uniforms.
B)
People likely to be in the concentration camps:
-"Politicals": Communists, geunuine political prisoners, people who had spoken against Hitler.
-"Work-Shy": People who lost jobs and then applied for unemployment benefits, but might have turned down a job they were offered.
-"Bibelforscher": Religious sect that refused military service
-Homosexuals
- 'Professional Criminals"
C)
1. Judging by the evidence of Part B, I would say that the purpose of these camps was to start Hitler's process of weeding out the "undesirables" from German society, and start his master race. Here he gets rid of the "lazy" people - those who aren't working, those who aren't willing to fight; he gets rid of the homosexuals; he gets rid of the criminals; and he gets rid of those who oppose him politically. Ideally, if Hitler were to get every person fitting this description into the concentration camps, he would practically have his perfected Aryan race.
2. I think that the prisoners were treaty so poorly because these were Hitler's undesirables. He didn't want these people infecting his Aryan race anyways, and probably would consider it a bonus that they died while in the camps. It also gave him an excuse for murdering people, because if somebody dies due to punishment for not working, it sounds like they weren't completely undeserving of that fate. Also, the harshness of the treatment in the prison camps probably kept people who weren't in concentration camps in line, out of fear.
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