Living under Nazi Rule, 1933-1945 Study Guide

The period between 1933 and 1934 was crucial for the Nazi Party's consolidation of power in Germany, transforming the country from a democratic republic into a totalitarian dictatorship. This process, often referred to as Gleichschaltung ('coordination' or 'synchronisation'), involved a series of legislative acts, political manoeuvres, and the suppression of opposition. Key events included the Reichstag Fire Decree, which suspended civil liberties; the Enabling Act, which granted Hitler dictatorial powers; the suppression of trade unions and political parties; and the Night of the Long Knives, which eliminated perceived threats within the Nazi Party itself, particularly from the SA. Finally, upon President Hindenburg's death in August 1934, Hitler merged the offices of Chancellor and President, becoming Führer and solidifying his absolute control. Understanding these events is vital for comprehending how a democracy could be dismantled and replaced by a one-party state in such a short period.

Nazi Germany's expansionist policies led to the occupation of numerous European countries between 1939 and 1945. This occupation was not uniform; it varied significantly in its severity and the level of local collaboration or resistance encountered. For instance, in Western Europe, countries like France experienced direct German military administration, while in Eastern Europe, particularly Poland, the occupation was far more brutal, involving widespread terror and the systematic extermination of populations deemed 'undesirable' by Nazi ideology. The Holocaust, the state-sponsored persecution and murder of six million Jews by the Nazi regime and its collaborators, was a central feature of this occupation. It evolved from initial discrimination and ghettoization to forced labour, and ultimately to mass extermination in death camps across Eastern Europe. Non-Jewish Poles, Roma, Soviet prisoners of war, disabled people, and political opponents were also victims of Nazi atrocities. European responses to these events were diverse, ranging from active collaboration with the Nazi regime (e.g., Vichy France, local police forces assisting in deportations) to various forms of resistance. Resistance included armed guerrilla warfare, sabotage, espionage, rescue efforts (hiding Jews and other persecuted groups), and non-violent acts like civil disobedience and maintaining cultural identity. The differing responses were influenced by factors such as geographical proximity to Germany, pre-existing antisemitism, political structures, and the presence of resistance movements. Understanding these complexities is crucial to grasping the full scope of this dark period in European history.