LIFE IN NAZI GERMANY
When Hitler came to power, Germany was transformed. Every aspect of its society was changed and altered. As a history student you will be expected to know just how far Hitler changed society. What policies he caried out and you should be able to give a BALANCED ACCOUNT of these changes.
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Young people were highly valued in Nazi society. Hitler had recognised how important they would be since the start of the party in the 1920's. The HITLER YOUTH was one of the first organisations he set up in 1926.
Young people were important for a number of reasons: 1. They could be easily indoctrinated to become devoted Nazis.The earlier they were indoctrinated, the less likely they would be to question Nazi ideas in adulthood 2. They could also form key parts of Hitlers ideology - such as boys building up the army and girls being future housewives and mothers |
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'The whole Purpose of education is to create Nazis' |
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Schools were of course KEY to the Nazis controlling Young people completely. They aimed at INDOCTRINATING (Brainwashing) young people into being unquestioning, devoted Nazis.
This meant that school was changed completely in many ways. The teachers who taught ; the subjects offered were all controlled by the Nazi party.
This meant that school was changed completely in many ways. The teachers who taught ; the subjects offered were all controlled by the Nazi party.
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HOW DID THE NAZIS CONTROL EDUCATION?
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 Jewish children being mocked in class During the war Hitler Youth were even used to fight in the last few months of the war!
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HOW SUBJECTS CHANGED UNDER THE NAZIS:
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P.EPE was very important to the Nazis. The ideal Aryan was fit and active. They also needed to build up the strength for a fighting army or to have lots of children. It made up 15% of the timetable
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HISTORYHistory concentrated on the injustices Germany has faced such as the treaty of Versailles as well as the glories of German history. They were taught how the Jews and Communists were Germanys enemies
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BIOLOGYChildren were indoctrinated about Eugenics - how only the fit survive ; how the 'Aryan' is supposed to be the supreme example of the master race. Jewish children were sometimes brought to the front of the class to be made fun of.
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GEOGRAPHYChildren were taught about how much land was removed from Germany after Versailles. They were also taught the dream of Lebensraum in the East. Land to help house Germany's excess population.
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MATHSChildren were given problems based on Nazi ideas. The amount of fuel a bomber would need to bomb Warsaw in Poland for example
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The Nazis goal was TOTAL INDOCTRINATION and CONTROL OF YOUNG PEOPLES LIVES.
Therefore even the leisure time of young people was tightly controlled.
The HITLER YOUTH MOVEMENT aimed to control the activities of young people outside school. This started off with pressure to join and by 1939 it was COMPULSORY (Forced to join)
Therefore even the leisure time of young people was tightly controlled.
The HITLER YOUTH MOVEMENT aimed to control the activities of young people outside school. This started off with pressure to join and by 1939 it was COMPULSORY (Forced to join)
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HITLER YOUTH : BOYS
Boys were key to Hitler's vision. He wanted to capture their minds when young to make them brainwashed, committed Nazis as well as his future soldiers for the army, air force and Navy.
WHAT ACTIVITIES DID THEY DO IN HITLER YOUTH? - Sports and Keep fit - Hiking in the mountains - Political lectures and indoctrination. - Community work - Military games - They wore uniforms and learnt to march and drill. - They even learnt to fly gliders in preparation for the air force. THEIR AIM:
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BDM (LEAGUE OF GERMAN MAIDENS) : GIRLS
Girls were also keenly targeted by the Nazis - They wanted them to be indoctrinated into Nazi beliefs too. They also had a role for them as Nazi mothers and nurses in time of war.
WHAT ACTIVITIES DID THEY DO? - Sports and Keep fit - Hiking in the mountains - Political lectures and indoctrination - Community work - Skills - eg first aid WHAT WERE THEIR AIMS To make young German females ready for war - to help the wounded ; to keep them tied to the 3 K's. It was even hoped that young people would report their parents if they were disloyal to Hitler. |
 
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DOWNLOADABLE RESOURCES
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What changes did the Nazis bring to women in Nazi Germany? |
The lives of WOMEN were completely changed by the nazis
Women had did well in Weimar Germany BEFORE Hitler!
This was all to change under the Nazis. The freedom of women to dress and act how they wanted was restricted. Their access to education was reduced. Their chanced of a job were very poor.
HOWEVER There were also positive aspects for some women - especially those starting a family.
- They were given a lot of freedom in comparison to other countries.
- They could vote at an early age - and the same age as men!
- They also had greater opportunities with a greater amounts of women attending universities and getting jobs such as teachers and lawyers.
This was all to change under the Nazis. The freedom of women to dress and act how they wanted was restricted. Their access to education was reduced. Their chanced of a job were very poor.
HOWEVER There were also positive aspects for some women - especially those starting a family.
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WHAT DID THE NAZIS BELIEVE THE ROLE OF WOMEN WAS? |
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The role of women in Nazi Germany was summed up as looking after the 3 K's:
children |
church |
cooking |
The Nazis regarded women as inferior (weaker) to men BUT they also thought they had an important role in Nazi society.
The ideal German women should:
The ideal German women should:
- Be a HOMEMAKER.
- Have as many children as possible! - The Nazis even gave a GERMAN MOTHERHOOD MEDAL for mothers of over 5 children!
- They should NOT smoke, dye their hair or wear their hair short as this was considered unladylike
- They should devote their lives to their husband and children
- They should not have a job
- They should wear flat shoes
- They should not be too slim - as this discouraged pregnancy
THE PERFECT GERMAN WOMAN:
WHAT WAS LEBENSBORN?As you should know by now, Hitler wanted Germany to be ruled by a MASTER RACE of ARYAN Germans.
He also wanted the population of Germany to grow so they could dominate the world. To do this the Nazis tried to boost the birth of Aryans through a policy called LEBENSBORN. What was it?
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download resources
| women_in_nazi_germany.ppt |
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Women in Germany ironically,after 1939, actually ended up having to work very hard and very long hours in Germanys factories due to the war and their men being away |
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in this section we must know and understand which groups opposed the nazis - why and how
The short answer is YES there were groups opposed to Hitler but for a number of reasons they made little real impact.
There is no doubt that Hitler and the Nazis were overwhelmingly popular in Germany.. BUT there were many individuals and organisations that bravely opposed him.
There is no doubt that Hitler and the Nazis were overwhelmingly popular in Germany.. BUT there were many individuals and organisations that bravely opposed him.
1. EDELWEISS PIRATES
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Not all YOUNG people were controlled by the Nazis. Many HATED the control the Nazis placed on them. Some formed their own groups. The Nazis called these alternative groups the 'Edelweiss Pirates'
WHAT DID THEY DO TO OPPOSE THE NAZIS? - Writing anti Nazi graffiti on walls - Helping prisoners of war escape - Fighting with the Hitler Youth. - Carrying out small acts of sabotage WHAT HAPPENED IF THEY WERE CAUGHT? The price was high for such groups. 700 were arrested in 1942 and sent to Labour camps. In 1944 12 were publicly hanged in Cologne |
2. SWING TYPES |
These were groups of mostly rich upper- middle class young people who loved Jazz and would meet up to listen and play it. Jazz music was banned in Germany for being African American and therefore 'degenerate'
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3. WHITE ROSE
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This was an Anti-Nazi STUDENT GROUP. They were against the War and especially the attacks against the Jews and Poles. Two students, Sophie Scholl and her brother Hans :
- Handed out Anti Nazi leaflets - Encouraged PASSIVE RESISTANCE. They were caught in 1943 and beheaded |
4. MILITARY OPPOSITION |
Despite such a close cooperation with the military, Hitler and the Nazis still had a great deal of opposition from parts of the army. This intensified when the war started to go badly for the Germans.
Some blamed Hitler, others saw the chance of peace slipping away with him in charge. In 1944 the JULY BOMB PLOT aimed at blowing up Hitler in his front line headquarters in Poland. The bomb was planted by Colonel VON STAUFFENBERG and exploded! However Hitler miraculously survived! The huge conference table protected him. He had the plotters hunted down and hanged by piano wire. |
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5. GRUMBLING
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Of course many more Germans did not agree with Hitler- But were afraid to stand out. There were anti Nazi jokes and a low level degree of 'GRUMBLING' or complaining about the Nazis.
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6. RELIGIOUS OPPOSITION
The Bishop of Munster opposed Nazi Euthanasia
Pastor Bonhoeffer was a strong critic of the Nazis - and died as a result
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The Churches - both Catholic and Protestant both remained silent on Hitler when he first took power.
However as time went on and the war broadened, the churches both took stands against the Nazis.
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WHY WAS RELIGION IMPORTANT TO THE NAZIS?
Religion was very important in Germany. Roughly 1/3rd of the population, mainly in the South, were Catholic and 2/3rds, mainly in the North, were Protestant. The church was extremely important as a form of opposition as it was the only part of German society that the Nazis could not easily control - as most Germans were religious.
Hitler and the Nazis shared little beliefs in the Christian faith and in fact followed many PAGAN practices. But Hitlers aim was to:
1) control the churches and....
2) Reduce their influence slowly before replacing them.
The churches had a mixed reaction to the Nazis.
Both churches initially WELCOMED the Nazis for a few reasons:
Hitler and the Nazis shared little beliefs in the Christian faith and in fact followed many PAGAN practices. But Hitlers aim was to:
1) control the churches and....
2) Reduce their influence slowly before replacing them.
The churches had a mixed reaction to the Nazis.
Both churches initially WELCOMED the Nazis for a few reasons:
- Weimar Germany with all its freedoms and nightclubs and new art and culture had seemed decadent to many Christians. They were conservative (didnt like too much change) and liked the policies of the Nazis.
- Both Catholic and Protestant churches shared the Nazis deep dislike of Communism.- which was anti-religious
- Both churches also shared the Nazis strong conservative views and belief in the Family.
The Nazis and the Protestant church
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The Nazis and the Catholic churchThe Catholic church, because of its worldwide nature centred in Rome, was harder to control. Hitler realised this and as soon as he gained power but he had a plan!
BUT the Nazis did not keep to this agreement. They were getting involved in church affairs by 1936 and by 1939 most church schools were closed. Also by the late 1930's many Catholics were deeply concerned by Nazi treatment of the mentally disabled. They began to speak out. In 1937 Pope Pius condemned the Nazis. Bishop Galen also spoke out against Nazi policies. |
DID THE CHURCHES OPENLY OPPOSE HITLER?
Although many Christian churches across Germany disliked or distrusted the Nazis few stood up to openly criticise - due mostly to the danger. Some did however.
PASTOR NIEMOLLER spoke out against the Nazis and was arrested in 1937 and imprisoned in a concentration camp until the end of the war
PASTOR BONHOEFFER encouraged his pastors to reject Nazism from the start. His college was closed in 1940 and he was arrested in 1943 for helping Jews to escape and plotting to get rid of Hitler. He died in a concentration camp in 1945 weeks before the end of the war.
POPE PIUS XI - Made the Concordat with the Nazis in 1933 but was annoyed at how the Nazis had went back on their word. In 1937 he had letters read out across Germany criticising the Nazis and their policies.
The Catholic bishop of Munster (Germany) Clemens Von Galen publicly denounced the Nazi euthanasia programme - causing it to be suspended. This shows what determined opposition to Hitler could do. It also shows the continued power of religion in Germany - even when faced with the Nazis.
PASTOR NIEMOLLER spoke out against the Nazis and was arrested in 1937 and imprisoned in a concentration camp until the end of the war
PASTOR BONHOEFFER encouraged his pastors to reject Nazism from the start. His college was closed in 1940 and he was arrested in 1943 for helping Jews to escape and plotting to get rid of Hitler. He died in a concentration camp in 1945 weeks before the end of the war.
POPE PIUS XI - Made the Concordat with the Nazis in 1933 but was annoyed at how the Nazis had went back on their word. In 1937 he had letters read out across Germany criticising the Nazis and their policies.
The Catholic bishop of Munster (Germany) Clemens Von Galen publicly denounced the Nazi euthanasia programme - causing it to be suspended. This shows what determined opposition to Hitler could do. It also shows the continued power of religion in Germany - even when faced with the Nazis.
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THE GERMAN FAITH MOVEMENT (NAZI CHURCH)
The Nazis GOAL was to replace christianity altogether ! They wanted to replace it with the GERMAN FAITH MOVEMENT.
- This was a PAGAN based religion based on ancient ceremonies.
- Some eager Nazis were attracted to this movement. Some even got married or remarried using the movement to show their devotion to the cause!
- It remained however a minor religion and it was clear throughout Hitlers leadership that the churches remained open and popular.... and to an extent beyond his control.
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WHY WAS THIS OPPOSITION UNSUCCESSFUL?
- To oppose Hitler and the Nazi movement was highly dangerous.
- The Gestapo, police, informers and SS made life very difficult.
- The main problems with these groups were that they were not united.
- The use of terror prevented this ever happening.
Nevertheless up to 800,000 people were arrested in Nazi Germany between 1933-45 Only 300,000 survived the war.
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WEBLINKS
http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/Women_Nazi_Germany.htmweeblylink_new_window
http://www.educationforum.co.uk/womennazi.htmweeblylink_new_window
http://www.educationforum.co.uk/opp_2.htmweeblylink_new_window
KEY OVERVIEW TO THIS SECTION
PRESENTATIONS
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DOCUMENTS/ HANDOUTS
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