One of the first things the Nazi regime did when it came to power in 1933 was to establish concentration camps for its political opponents to suppress opposition. The Nazis used these camps, together with other measures that terrorized Germany’s population, to ensure that the atmosphere in Germany would be one of fear, terror, and conformity. In addition, antisemitism existed in Germany prior to the rise of the Nazis, and Nazi propaganda exploited this antisemitism to marginalize Jews. Nazi legislation progressively isolated and stripped Jews of their rights. The combination of terror, propaganda, and pre-existing prejudice against Jews created a situation where Germans were afraid to speak out in general, and were even less likely to speak out on behalf of the Jews. Moreover, there was not a significant and clear moral authority (like the Church) that encouraged people to voice their dissent. Lastly, there was a significant element of the German population that agreed with what the Nazis were doing.
