INTRODUCTION·THE NATIONAL SOCIALIST STATE: the NSDAP take-over of government from 1943 – Administration (ministries and general commissions) – the Party leadership structure·LAW AND THE PENAL SYSTEM: The courts – prisons – concentration camps; the Police (Ordnungspolizei; Sicherheitspolizei und Sicherheitsdienst – Sonderpolizei·THE PERSECUTION OF THE JEWS IN GERMANY: progressive introduction of anti-Semitic measures, 1933–41·EMPLOYMENT: The State Labour Service – the Four-Year Plan – the crisis of January 1942 – foreign workers – child labour – the crisis of January 1943 – 'total war' measures – women in the labour force·CIVIL LIFE: public health – rationing and shortages – compulsory collections – propaganda and censorship (radio broadcasting; films) – postal and telephone services·THE AIR WAR AGAINST GERMANY: summary of the bombing campaign·FIRE DEFENCE: Fire Protection Police – Volunteer Fire Brigades·CIVIL DEFENCE: Organization (ministerial and Luftwaffe responsibilities; national services; local services; State Air Protection League; industrial premises; railways, post office and waterways) – Air Protection Warning Service – Air Protection Police – Self-Protection and Extended Self-Protection services – Works Air Protection Service – post-raid services – evacuation·PLATE COMMENTARIES·INDEX