Seven key structures

The Nazi party aimed to control every aspect of people's political, social and working lives. It maintained control through a mixture of propaganda [Propaganda: A type of advertising for an idea or cause, produced by supporters or opponents of that idea or cause. It is usually produced to influence how the people of a nation think. ] and intimidation.

• 

  Government

  1. Government (political)

  The way Hitler consolidated power in 1933-1934 meant that the Nazis had absolute control of national and local government.

• 

  Religion

  2. Religion (social)

  Hitler believed that religion was a threat to the Nazis' control over people's minds, so he tried different ways to reduce the power of the church over people.

• 

  Culture

  3. Culture (social)

  Hitler ordered Nazification - the imposition of Nazi values - on all aspects of German life.

• 

  Work

  4. Work (working)

  Dr Robert Ley, head of the DAF [DAF: German Labour Front ], boasted that he controlled workers' lives from the 'cradle to the grave'.

• 

  Education and youth

  5. Education and youth (working)

  The lives of young people were controlled both in and out of school to turn them into fanatical Nazis.

• 

  Terror

  6. Terror (method of control)

  Germany became a country where it was unsafe to do or say anything critical of the government.

• 

  Propaganda

  7. Propaganda (method of control)

  Josef Goebbels controlled the Propaganda Ministry, which aimed to brainwash people into obeying the Nazis and idolising Hitler.

This page summarises the main aspects of life where the Nazis took control, and the methods they used to maintain control. The rest of of this Revision Bite will look into these aspects in more detail.