Ordinary People and the Crimes Against Humanity

The governing concept is that Hitler’s rise resulted from several interacting causes rather than elections alone. The Nazis did gain substantial votes, especially during the Great Depression, but they also used mass propaganda, paramilitary violence and intimidation against opponents. The Reichstag Fire Decree restricted civil liberties, and the Enabling Act destroyed parliamentary checks. In addition, conservative political elites helped bring Hitler into the chancellorship because they believed they could control or use him. Therefore option D is correct. Option A is false because elections did occur; B ignores mass political mobilisation; and C is the opposite of the extensive propaganda campaign that helped build Nazi support.

Nazis persecuted innocent people in a planned way. Exam tip: link it with inhuman state violence.

The Holocaust refers to large scale genocide by Nazi rule. Exam tip: remember it through the destruction of Jews.

In this chapter, ‘ordinary people’ means common citizens, neighbours and members of local communities during the Nazi period. Some remained silent spectators, some supported persecution, and some even participated in it. The term does not refer only to rulers, judges or foreign soldiers. Exam tip: link ‘ordinary people’ with the role of wider society in Nazi crimes.

The yellow star was a mark of humiliation and separation for Jews. Exam tip: remember it as a symbol of discrimination.

Ghettos were areas made to keep Jews away from society. Exam tip: connect ghettos with isolation.

Concentration camps were a cruel system of Nazi repression. Exam tip: connect them with state terror.

Propaganda spread hatred against Jews. Exam tip: connect propaganda with control of public opinion.

Dehumanisation made cruelty against victims easier. Exam tip: see it as mental preparation for Nazi violence.

Nazi racism persecuted many communities as undesirable. Exam tip: remember both Jews and Roma.

Nazis treated disabled people inhumanly. Exam tip: understand it as part of Nazi racial thinking.

Under Nazi rule, fear of the Gestapo, surveillance, arrest, torture and punishment discouraged people from openly protesting. Some people also supported Nazi ideas or chose to ignore the crimes, but fear of repression was a major reason for ordinary people’s silence. Option B is incorrect because many people were aware of discrimination and violence. Exam tip: link public silence under Nazism with fear, surveillance and repression.

Some people joined injustice due to greed. Exam tip: identify reasons for participation of ordinary people.

Some people risked danger to help victims. Exam tip: remember different responses in society.

Diaries and testimonies became human evidence of atrocities. Exam tip: understand the importance of sources.

Anne Frank's diary shows the pain of life in hiding. Exam tip: treat it as personal testimony.

Inaction left victims alone. Exam tip: connect the role of bystanders with responsibility.

Nazi crimes were not limited only to leaders. Exam tip: write the role of society as a separate point.

Isolation weakened the rights and safety of Jews. Exam tip: see isolation as the beginning of persecution.

Gas chambers were a cruel system of planned killing. Exam tip: connect them with the Holocaust.