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< NAZI ECONOMICS
PROPAGANDA & CENSORSHIP >
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LIFE IN NAZI GERMANY

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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'
                         
                 Nazi Minister of Education
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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.
HOW DID THE NAZIS CONTROL EDUCATION?
  • From 1933 all schools were controlled by the Nazi party. 
  • There was a picture of Hitler and Nazi flag in every classroom.
  • Jewish children and teachers were persecuted and then excluded from school
  • School teachers had to belong to the NAZI TEACHERS LEAGUE (Teachers who disagreed and Jews / Communists were dismissed) 97% of teachers were in the Nazi Teachers League
  • Education was all about INDOCTRINATION (Brainwashing) 
  • Pupils would be taught lessons based around Nazi ideology (thinking) Textbooks were given out with Nazi thinking
  • Subjects were also altered as you can see below
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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.E

PE 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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HISTORY

History 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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BIOLOGY

Children 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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GEOGRAPHY

Children 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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MATHS

Children 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)
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.


  • For boys clubs started with the Pimpfen ~(cubs) at age 6.
  • The YOUNG GERMAN FOLK are next between 10-14 
  • Finally after they reach 14 they can stay in the Hitler Youth until age 21 

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:
  • To make young German males battle ready - Ready to fight, march, fire guns. 
  • They wanted to indoctrinate them in Nazi beliefs and make them unquestionly loyal to Hitler
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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.


  • Clubs for girls started with the JM (Jung Madel) at age 10.
  • They can stay in the BDM until age 17 

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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  • Membership of the Hitler Youth was hugely popular. It went from 108,000 to 8 million in 1938! 
  • Most young people did not oppose indoctrination - there was too much pressure to fit in.
  • Many German children and young people welcomed the adventure offered by the youth programmes
  • Many parents valued the Hitler Youth for showing pride in the country and teaching their children new skills
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  • The Hitler Youth was beginning to lose members by 1938
  • It was made COMPULSORY to be in the Hitler Youth in 1939 forcing all German young people to join
  • Standards of education went down as the focus was often on the ideology and not the teaching.
  • There were rival secret youth organisations set up against the Hitler Youth like the EDELWEISS PIRATES
  • Many did not like being told what to do, listen to or believe. They would rebel in small ways like listening to Jazz, growing their hair long or smoking.
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DOWNLOADABLE RESOURCES

hitler_youth.ppt
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hitler_youth.pub
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youth.pub
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young_people.doc
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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

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Women had did well in Weimar Germany BEFORE Hitler!
  • 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:
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children

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church

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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:
  • 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:

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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?
  • German women were even encouraged to give up their husbands so they could father more children to other women! 
  • Couples who were childless were encouraged to DIVORCE!
  • Some women were STERILIZED if they were seen as 'unfit' to have children. Up to 350,000 women were forcibly sterilized by 1939!
  • Disabled or mentally handicapped children were even killed by the Nazis in the 1930's to 'protect' the purity of the German race. 
  • One of Himmler's ideas was to open up special 'Homes' where specially selected aryan women were sent. Aryan SS men would then be able to father children with these women - thereby producing an Aryan Master race of children. This was called the LEBENSBORN (Fountain of Youth) project.
  • Thousands of 'aryan' children were even kidnapped when the Germans siezed a country with the hope of Germanizing them in Lebensborn homes
  • Up to 12,000 children were born under the Lebensborn project.
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download resources

women_in_nazi_germany.ppt
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DID NAZI GERMANY BENEFIT WOMEN?
 

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  • Nazi Germany gave out LOANS to couples for each child they had. They gave 1000 Marks per couple, which was almost 9 months average wages in 1930s Germany!  Up to 800,000 people took these loans
  • Family allowances were introduced for low paid workers
  • Mothers day was made a National holiday and many women enjoyed the respect shown to them as mothers
  • A special Motherhood medal was given to mothers of over 5 children.
  • Welfare schemes encouraged families and healthy children
  • Childcare facilities were very advanced in Germany
  • There was a lot of pride among many German mothers
  • Organisations like the BDM gave women an increased role in German life.
  • Traditional parts of Germany such as in the countryside would have supported Hitlers policies on women. 
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  • The Nazis encouraged couples to have more children for ideological reasons. - They needed more children to grow their armies. They wanted to rule the areas in the East through LEBENSRAUM (Living space) and wanted to have enough Germans to complete this
  • Abortion was illegal and contraceptives hard to obtain
  • Up to 350,000 women were FORCIBLY STERILISED by the Nazis. 
  • Disabled children were killed in a Euthanasia programme. 
  • Childless couples were encouraged to divorce
  • Women were encouraged to let their husbands go have children elsewhere. 
  • Restrictions on fashion annoyed many women
  • Many women really resented the loss of freedom, jobs and financial independence under the Nazis
  • Only 10% of University students could be female
  • Marriages levelled out after 1935
  • The Nazi policies did lead to a population boost from 1933-39 but then it slowed. Euthanasia programmes, sterilization of women, higher divorce rates and the war later led to the population actually decreasing! 

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
 

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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. 




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' 
  • They were difficult to control. They were also secret organisations due to the fear of arrest and death.
  • Their slogan was 'Everlasting War on the Hitler Youth'
  • These groups of young people wanted alternative organisations to the Hitler Youth. 
  • They were rebellious and would often grow their hair long and listen to banned American Jazz music.  


 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

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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'

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. 

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. 

6. RELIGIOUS OPPOSITION

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The Bishop of Munster opposed Nazi Euthanasia
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Pastor Bonhoeffer was a strong critic of the Nazis - and died as a result
The Churches - both Catholic and Protestant both remained silent on Hitler when he first took power. 
  • Many in fact liked his policies as being traditional and family based. 

However as time went on and the war broadened, the churches both took stands against the Nazis. 

  • The CATHOLIC church first of all signed a deal CONCORDAT with Hitler recognising  his power IF he would not persecute Catholics. 

  • PROTESTANT churches too were almost supportive of Hitler when he took power! However both would make their stands.

  • The Pope denounced the Nazis for their Euthanasia policies. 

  • Protestant Pastors including Pastor Niemoller took a strong anti nazi stand and were jailed or indeed executed for it. 


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WHY WAS RELIGION IMPORTANT TO THE NAZIS?

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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:
  1. 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.
  2. Both Catholic and Protestant churches shared the Nazis deep dislike of Communism.- which was anti-religious  
  3. Both churches also shared the Nazis strong conservative views and belief in the Family. 



The Nazis and the Protestant church

  •  The Protestant churches were all united into 1 church - the GERMAN CHRISTIAN CHURCH.
  • A PRO NAZI BISHOP was installed called Ludwig Muller.
  • He accepted all Nazi policies
  • He tried to have the Hitler salute at the start and end of church services

    BUT these policies were only partially successful:
    Many Protestant churches refused to join the new united church.
    Some joined the Anti Nazi CONFESSIONAL CHURCH under PASTOR NIEMOLLER - who was persecuted for being an outspoken opponent of the Nazis. He was sent to a concentration camp in 1937


The Nazis and the Catholic church

The 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! 


  • In 1933 he made a CONCORDAT (deal) with the Pope. Hitler would not persecute Catholics or interfere with their schools or churches IF the Catholic church did not criticise the Nazi Government. 

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.
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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. 

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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  • The church was hard to control. The Catholic church for example was controlled from Rome. The Pope could say what he liked and did criticise the Nazis in 1937
  • The German Faith Movement did not succeed and had few members
  • There was opposition from parts of the church. The Confessional church did not agree with Nazi ideas. Pastors Niemoller and Bonhoeffer were vocal opponents of Hitler
  • Bishop Galen managed to stop the Nazi euthanasia programme showing the power of the church
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  • Yes there was a Concordat with the Catholic church in Rome. But Hitler easily broke this agreement later
  • The Nazi movement successfully incorporated many of the Protestant churches in the German Christian church
  • Euthanasia had been happening for many years before Bishop Galen brought it to attention
  • The Confessional church and key anti Nazi pastors were held in concentration camps and even killed

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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BBC BITESIZE: Controlling Nazi Germany
BBC BITESIZE: TEST YOURSELF

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

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PRESENTATIONS

9._nazi_ideas_about_women_and_children.ppt
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13._opposition_to_nazism.ppt
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women_in_nazi_germany.ppt
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women_posters.ppt
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were_the_nazis_popular.ppt
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germanyrevision4.ppt
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DOCUMENTS/ HANDOUTS

women_and_family_mindmap.pub
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women_and_nazis.pub
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women.doc
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opposition.doc
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what_opposition_was_there.doc
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QUIZLET: Test Yourself: Religion and the Nazis
< NAZI ECONOMICS
PROPAGANDA & CENSORSHIP >
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