The radicalisation of the state: Nazi racial ideology; policies towards the mentally ill, asocials, homosexuals, members of religious sects, the Roma and Sinti
The Nazis used racial ideology to justify persecuting many groups beyond Jewish people. They targeted the mentally ill, Roma and Sinti, homosexuals, and others through laws, forced programmes, and violence.
Real World
The Law for the Prevention of Hereditarily Diseased Offspring (1933) resulted in the forced sterilisation of around 400,000 people by 1939, targeting those deemed mentally ill, deaf, or alcoholic — demonstrating how racial policy began with bureaucratic law before escalating to mass murder.
Exam Focus
Avoid listing victims as a catalogue; instead show how each group's persecution escalated over time to demonstrate the radicalisation process examiners want.
Essay Framework
Use PEEL to structure every paragraph. Tap each step for guidance and an example.
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