Answer:
- The use of the SS, or Schutzstaffel, was a crucial factor in maintaining control of Germany after 1933. The SS was a paramilitary organization that was initially created to serve as Hitler's personal bodyguard, but it quickly expanded its role to become a powerful tool for the Nazi regime.
- One of the primary functions of the SS was to suppress opposition and enforce Nazi ideology. The SS carried out mass arrests and executions of political dissidents, Jews, and other groups deemed undesirable by the Nazi regime. The SS also played a key role in implementing the policy of "Gleichschaltung," or the coordination of all aspects of German society under Nazi control. This involved the purging of non-Nazi officials from government and the establishment of a totalitarian state.
- The SS was also responsible for maintaining order and discipline within the Nazi party and the military. The SS had its own separate legal system and was accountable only to Hitler himself, which gave it immense power and influence. SS officers were also heavily involved in the administration of concentration camps, where millions of people were imprisoned and subjected to forced labor, torture, and death.
Overall, the use of the SS was essential in maintaining control of Germany after 1933. The SS provided the Nazi regime with a powerful tool for suppressing opposition, enforcing Nazi ideology, and establishing a totalitarian state. Without the SS, it is unlikely that the Nazi regime would have been able to maintain its grip on power for as long as it did.