germany- part 3, experiences of germans under nazis Flashcards
chapters 7-9 (economic changes, social policy and practice, control and resistance)
as soon as the Nazis came to power (1933), what schemes did they set up to get people back to work
- the national labour service (RAD)
- public work schemes
- rearmament
- ‘invisible’ unemployment
describe the National Labour Service (RAD):
- all men aged 18-25 had to spend 6 months in the RAD
- they planted forests, mended hedges, dug drainage ditches on farms
- men in the RAD had to wear uniforms and live in camps
- they were given free meals
- they were paid only pocket money, but at least it was a job - and because more people were working, unemployment began to drop rapidly
describe the public work schemes:
- in June 1933, the Nazis ordered the creation of a new network of autobahns (motorways) to links Germanys major towns and cities
- this gave work to nearly 100,000 people
- by 1938 around 3800km of highway had been built
- at the same time, a huge number of new schools and hospitals were built, again giving work to more people
describe the rearmament work scheme:
- rearmament is when a country rebuilds its armed forces
- Hitler was determined that Germany should become a great military power again, so he ordered the building of new tanks, battleships, fighter planes and guns
- thousands of jobs were created, and huge government contracts made factory owners and bosses of large businesses a fortune
-> these were the people Hitler promised to help if he got to power - Hitler also introduced conscription
-> from 1935, all men aged 18-25 were forced to join the armed forces for at least 2 years
-> within five years the army grew from 100,000 to 1,400,000, giving even more people jobs
describe the ‘invisible’ unemployment work scheme:
- the Nazis used a variety of methods to reduce unemployment figures
- for example, women who gave up work to have a family did not count in the official figures
- part time workers were counted as full time
- Nazis created jobs by sacking people
- many jews lost their jobs and were replaced by unemployed non-jews
-> by Jan 1939 unemployment was at 302,000, not inlcuding these newly unemployed jews in the figures
when did Hitler come to power
1933
when Hitler first came to power, who did he appoint as Minister of Economics
Hjalmar Schacht
what was the economy like under Schacht?
- Schacht realised that Hitlers plans to build more weapons would cost a lot of money and need a lot of raw material, such as iron, steel, rubber and wood
- Germany didn’t have these goods so they had to be brought from other countries, which could be very expensive
- so Schacht signed deals with countries in south america and eastern Europe to supply Germany with raw materials in return for German made goods
- for a short time things went well - weapons production increased and unemployment fell
- but Germany was still too dependent on other countries and the changes were happening too slowly for Hitler - so he fired Schacht and appointed Hermann Goering
when did Goering introduce the ‘Four Years Plan’
1936
what was the ‘Four Year Plan’
- a scheme to get Germany ready for war
- main priority was to increase military production, so the Nazis ordered huge amounts of weapons, equipment and uniforms
- this created jobs in steel factories, textile mills and shipbuilding yards
- very high production targets were set (and achieved) in industries like steel and explosives production
- targets were not met in other key industries, like oil production
- despite the huge amount of extra goods and material produced under the four year plan, Germany was still not ready for the long war it would become involved in from 1939
- also Germany still needed raw materials from abroad so Goering attempted to make Germany ‘self-sufficient’
how did Goering attempt to make Germany self-sufficient
- self sufficient meant that they wanted to stop trading with other countries and rely entirely on their own resources
- if Germany was unable to find particular goods or resources, they would find alternatives to the things it needed, or develop artificial substitutes
-> for example, German scientists found ways to make petrol from coal, artificial wool and cotton from pulped wood, makeup from flour, and coffee from acorns - used the slogan: ‘arms not butter’
- by 1939, 1/3 of Germany’s raw materials came from abroad
what % of the German population were involved in agriculture and forestry
30%
in the late 1920s why were the farmers unhappy
they were suffering, while other people were doing well
why did Hitler need farmers
he needed them to produce more if the country was to become self-sufficient
how did Hitler try to help the farmers
he tried to reward them and save them from the worst effects of the depression
he cut the taxes they had to pay + guaranteed they would not be thrown off their land if they got themselves into debt
why did some Nazi policies annoy farmers
- had a policy that stopped farmers dividing up their land and giving a part to each of their children
->this was an attempt to keep the farms large and under the control of the same family for years to come
->didn’t like this as some of the children who were no longer allowed to inherit land left the farms to look for jobs in the cities
what organisation replaced trade unions
the German Labour Front (DAF)
what did the German Labour Front promise to do?
promised to protect the rights of workers and improve
what 2 schemes did the German Labour Front run
Beauty of Labour (SDA)
Strength through Joy (KDF)
what was the Beauty of Labour scheme
tried to improve the working environment by installing better lighting, safety equipment, new wash-rooms, low-cost canteens and sports facilities
what was the Strength through Joy scheme
organised leisure activities to encourage hard work. it was a reward scheme that offered cheap holidays, trips to the theatre, and tickets to football matches if workers met their target
work scheme to help workers save for a car:
Hitler himself designed a ‘people’s car’, a Volkswagen, that ordinary people could afford
were workers better off or not with the work schemes of the DAF
- although Nazis fulfilled promises to provide work, workers lost their rights because trade unions were banned
- workers could not quit without gov permission and were banned from striking
- people could also be forced to work as many hours as the Nazis required
- the KDF did provide rewards for Germans, with free trips to the cinema and concerts
-> however, some of the holidays, such as cruises around Italy or skiing in Switzerland, were still too expensive for working class Germans
what happened to food due to Germany becoming self sufficient
food prices increased
Germany was trying to be self sufficient and not rely on imports from other countries
as a result, there was less food in the shops, so shopkeepers charged more because of high demand
what happened nearer the start of WW2 that resulted in Germany becoming richer + what imports were made
- the German military won many battles and defeated six European countries within a few weeks of each other
- luxury goods, such as fur coats and perfume, from conquered countries began to find their way back into Germany
-> however, most of these goods went to high ranking Nazi officials
when did it become clear that Germany was doomed to lose WW2
- in 1941, Hitlers armies attacked USSR (Russia)
- at first, German forces did well, but a freezing Russian winter forced the Germans to stop
-> their guns wouldn’t fire and they were poorly clothed - soon the huge Russian army began to push them back to Germany
- in one great battle at Stalingrad, over 80,000 Germans died and 90,000 surrendered
- there were defeats elsewhere too, and then america joined in on Britain and Russia’s side
- by the beginning of 1944 it was clear Germany was doomed to defeat
what problems did ordinary Germans face during WW2
- rationing
- bombing
- severe labour shortages and refugees
problem of rationing in Germany during WW2:
- German people soon began to realise how difficult war was when they were not winning
- supplies were needed for the soldiers, so sacrifices had to be made at home
- there were severe food shortages and by November 1939, food and clothing were rationed
- for example, people were limited to one egg per week
- goods like soap and toilet paper were in very short supply and this led to some interesting alternatives
-> it was suggested that soggy, stewed pine needles could be used in a bath instead of soap - hot water was rationed to two days per week
- the Nazis responded to these hardships by asking the German people to completely commit themselves to winning the war
problem of severe labour shortages and refugees in Germany during WW2:
- in 1942, Albert Speer was made Armaments Minister and was told to organise the country for Total War
-> this meant everything was entirely focused on making weapons and growing food for soldiers - anything that didn’t contribute to the war was stopped
-> for example, beer houses, dance halls and even sweet shops were closed. letterboxes were boarded up - factories were forced to stay open longer, but because male workers were now soldiers fighting in the war, great numbers of women were drafted in to work in them
- by 1944, around 7 million foreign workers had been brought in from countries Germany had conquered to work as slave labour in the factories
problem of bombing in Germany during WW2:
- from 1942, Britain and America began pounding German cities with bombs
- due to the impact of the bombs, there was no electricity, water or transport, and panicked people left their homes to look for refuge (as refugees) in safer places
- there were thousands of deaths and injuries and people had to be retrieved from their homes, by the medical services, which were at full stretch
- the bombing caused flooding, and gas explosions, and there was a constant danger of unexploded bombs
- unsurprisingly, support for the Nazis began to weaken
examples of some of the rations in Germany during WW2:
by Nov 1939:
- food and clothing was rationed and in short supply - needed for soldiers more
- limited to 1 egg per week
- goods like soap and toilet paper were in short supply
- hot water was rationed to 2 days per week
what was ‘Total War’
everything and everyone in the country were entirely focused on making weapons and growing food for soldiers
by 1944, how many foreign workers had been bought in from countries Germany had conquered to work as slave labour in factories
7 million
give some examples of things that didn’t contribute to ‘Total War’ that were stopped in Germany
beer houses, dance halls, sweet shops were closed. letterboxes were boarded up
when did Britain and America start bombing German cities
from 1942
what did the bombing from Britain and America from 1942 lead to in Germany
- no electricity, water or transport
- meant that people left their homes to look for refuge as refugees in safer places
- thousands of deaths and injuries
- caused flooding, gas explosions and a constant danger of unexploded bombs
- weakened support for the Nazis
when did Hitler introduce conscription and how much did the army grow to
- 1935- all men ages 18-25 were forced to join the armed forces for at least 2 years
- within 5 years, grew from 100,000 to 1,400,000
who organised ‘Total War’ in Germany, and when
- Albert Speer (Armaments Minister)
- 1942
why did the Nazis go to great lengths to control young people’s lives
as they believed that if young people were bought up to believe in Nazi ideas, they would become good Nazis who would never rebel against the regime
describe how the Nazis controlled schools
- teachers had to join the German Teachers League and teach what the Nazis wanted, or be sacked
- every subject was used to put forward Nazi propaganda and beliefs
- textbooks were rewritten to present Nazi beliefs as facts
- Eugenics was taught
- PE became important to prepare boys for the army, girls studied domestic skills (cooking, sewing) to prepare for being wives and mothers
- students identified as potential Nazi leaders were sent to Napolas
describe how the Nazis controlled universities
- universities had to change their courses to reflect what the Nazis believed
- top university professors were hand-picked by the Nazis
- many lecturers were sacked, either for radical or political reasons
- all students had to train as soldiers for a month each yet
- Nazis did not regard university education as important, so fewer Germans attended
how were German boys affected by the Hitler Youth Organisation
- boys went to Hitler Youth meetings several times a week after school, and to special weekend camps every month
- they learned how to march, fight with knives, fire a gun and keep fit
- activities were based on competition, struggle, heroism and leadership
- the Nazis wanted to prepare the boys for their future role as soldiers
how were German girls affected by the Hitler Youth Organisation
- the emphasis was on how to keep fit, cook good meals and care for babies to prepare for motherhood
- they also went on tough marches and attended weekend camps
describe the timeline of the Hitler Youth Organisation
(1922, 1933, 1939)
- 1922- Hitler Youth Organisation founded
- 1933- all other youth groups banned, of 7.5 million members, 2.3million were aged 10-18
- 1939- membership made compulsory, of 8.8 million members, 7.2million were aged 10-18
what was the German Teachers League
- a Nazi organisation to which all teachers had to belong
- teachers had to teach what the Nazis wanted, or be sacked
what were eugenics
- Race Studies
- was a new school subject that taught students that the Aryan race was superior to others
what was the Hitler Youth Organisation
a series of youth groups for young germans that educated and trained them in Nazi principles
what were Napolas
- National Political Educational Institutions
- was a special academy where students that were identified as potential future Nazis were sent
describe women in weimar germany
- in the 1920s German women had many rights and freedoms that women in other countries did not have
- many women attended university and became lawyers and doctors
- the birth rate fell as more women worked
describe women in nazi germany
- Nazis were worried about the declining number of births- felt that a low birth rate and smaller population didn’t fit with their plans to expand German territory and settle in other areas of Europe
- Nazis felt it was a women’s patriotic duty to stay at home, have lots of children and support their husbands
- should stick to the 3 Ks (Kinder, Kirche and Kuche - children, church and cooking)
what were the Nazi policies towards women
- work
- behaviour
- organisations
- sterilisation
- family
describe the nazi ‘work’ policy towards women
- many female doctors, teachers, lawyers and judges were sacked
- working was discouraged as it might hinder producing children
describe the nazi ‘behaviour’ policy towards women
- in many cities, women were banned from smoking because it was ‘unladylike’
- wearing trousers or high heels was frowned upon for the same reason
- slimming was discouraged because it might make it harder to get pregnant
describe the nazi ‘organisations’ policy towards women
- the German Women’s League coordinated all adult women’s groups, and representatives travelled around giving advice on cooking, childcare and diet
- the Nazi Women’s Organisation was an elite female group dedicated to Nazi beliefs and ideas
describe the nazi ‘sterilisation’ policy towards women
- the Nazis thought that some women were unfit to be mothers
- the Law for the Prevention of Diseased Offspring allowed forcible sterilisation of women with a history of mental illness, hereditary diseases or antisocial behaviour (like alcoholism)
describe the nazi ‘family’ policy towards women
- contraception and abortion were banned
- generous loans (equivalent of a year’s wages) were given to newly married couples to encourage them to have children- on the birth of a first child they could keep 1/4 of the money, on the birth of another they could keep the second 1/4, and so on
- the Motherhood Medal (awarded every year on 12th August- Hitler’s mother’s bday) was awarded to women with the most children- having 8 received the ‘Gold Cross’
what were the impact of the nazi policies
- thousands of women were prevented from following their chosen career path
- the birth rate increased- around 970,000 babies were born in 1933, rising to 1,413,000 by 1939
- when WW2 started there was a labour shortage as men were joining the army- thousands of women were needed to work in factories for the war effort, taking on the joint role of main wage earner and mother. unlike in GBR tho, women were still not called up to work
what is an example of the freedom and rights that women had in Weimar Germany
- they could vote
- if they worked for the government, pay was equal to men
what were the 3 Ks the Nazis wanted the women to stick too
- Kinder (children), Kirche (church) and Kuche (cooking)
- was what the Nazis wanted women to focus on
what were motherhood medals
- awarded to women with the most children
- having 8 children received the ‘Gold Cross’
what was the German Women’s league
- coordinated all adult women’s groups
- representatives gave advice on cooking, childcare and diet
what did the Nazis teach young people in history at school
- they would learn mainly about key German military victories
- would learn about how badly Germany was treated at the end of the first world war
by 1939, how many university lectures were dismissed
over 3000
what did the Nazis teach young people in geography at school
geography lessons outlined areas in the world Germany would soon conquer
what did the Nazis teach young people in maths at school
e.g. asking students to calculate how much money Germany would save if there were no disabled people
what did Hitler say the ideal teenager should be like in a speech in 1935
‘young men and women who can suffer pain. they must be as fast as a greyhound, as tough as leather and as hard as steel’
what was the birth rate like in Weimar Germany
- fell as more women worked
- in 1900 there was over 2 million births per year
- in 1933 there was under 1 million (970,000)
what movement did the Nazis set up in an attempt to increase the birth rate
- Lebensborn movement
- an estimated 8000 children were born as a result of this
between 1933 and 1934, how many university lectures or professors were replaced
15%- a third for racial reasons, and half for political
by March 1939, how many women had attended one of the German Women’s League motherhood training courses
1.7 million
what religion were most Germans
Christians
why did the Nazis and Christianity clash
- because the beliefs and values of Christianity were very different from those of the Nazis
- traditional Christianity did not prosper under Nazi rule
what were the two main Christian groups in Germany
- 20million Catholics (1/3 of population)
- 40million Protestants (2/3 of population)
- therefore the Nazis had to be careful with how they dealt with religion because it was an important feature of German society
describe the key differences between Nazism and Christianity
NAZISM
- thought strength and violence were glorious
- hated the weak and vulnerable
- believed some races were superior to others
- Hitler was a God-like figure
CHRISTIANITY
- believe in love and forgiveness
- help the weak and vulnerable
- believe all people are equal in God’s eyes
- believe in God and the teachings of Jesus Christ
why did some Christians support the Nazis
- as the Nazis believed in the importance of marriage, the family and moral values- most Christians believe in the importance of these too
- Hitler had sworn to destroy communism- this appealed as communism was anti-religious
- Hitler promised to respect the Church
describe what happened with the Nazis and the Catholic Church
- Hitler cooperated with Catholic leaders at first- a 1933 Concordat with the Pope said that the Catholic Church and the Nazis would not interfere with each other
- Hitler soon broke this agreement- Catholic priests were harassed and arrested and Catholic youth clubs and schools were shut down
- 1937 Pope issued his ‘With Burning Anxiety’ statement read out in Catholic Churches- said that the Nazis were ‘hostile to Christ and his Church’ (had little effect)
- the Nazis continued to persecute Catholic priests
- August 1941 Catholic Archbishop Galen (one of Ger’s best known religious leaders) openly criticised the Nazis for their use of terror tactics, euthanasia and concentration camps and was put under house arrest until the end of the war
describe what happened with the Nazis and German Protestants (german christian ones)
- Hitler was admired by some Protestants, known as ‘German Christians’ who wanted to see their church under Nazi control
- their leader Ludwig Muller became the first ‘Reich Bishop’ of the German Christians in September 1933
- they often wore Nazi uniforms and used the slogan ‘the swastika on our chests and the Cross in our hearts’
describe what happened with the Nazis and other religious groups
- Jehovah’s Witnesses were pacifists who refused to serve in the army- one third of Germany’s J.W were killed in concentration camps
- members of other groups (Salvation Army, Christian Scientists and the Seventh Day Adventist Church) were also persecuted
- Jewish people suffered relentless persecution in Nazi Germany
describe what happened with the Nazis and German Protestants (confessional church ones)
- some Protestants were totally opposed to the Nazis
- Pastor Martin Niemoller formed the Confessional Church, which openly criticised the Nazis
- the Nazis arrested around 800 pastors of the Confessional Church
- Niemoler was sent to a concentration camp and the Confessional Church was banned
what did Hitler believe about Germans
- that they were the superior master race (Aryan race) with the right to dominate ‘inferior’ races and groups of people
- he feared that such groups would mix with Aryans and wanted to rid Germany of them
- he had a particularly obsessive hatred of Jews
what Nazi group would a boy join aged 6-10
‘Little Fellows’
what Nazi group would a boy join aged 10-14
‘Young Folk’
what Nazi group would a boy join aged 14-18
‘Hitler Youth’
what Nazi group would girls join aged 10-14
‘Young Girls’
what Nazi group would girls join aged 14-17
‘League of German Girls’
what were both boys and girls encouraged to do during the Nazi period
encouraged to report their parents or teachers f they criticised Hitler or told jokes about the Nazis
what was the ‘Law for the Incorporation of German Youth’
- passed in 1936
- gave the Hitler Youth ‘equal status’ to school and home (Hitler Youth club was legally just as important as a child’s school and home life)
describe the persecution of racial groups
- Nazis classed Jews, Gypsies, Slavs, black and Indian people as ‘inferior’
- Hitler wanted to cleanse Germany of these people
- the Nazis began to persecute and later, murder members of these groups
describe the persecution of the ‘undesirables’
- Hitler wanted to get rid of them as he believed they weakened society
- about 350,000 physically and mentally disabled people were forcibly sterilised by the Nazis
- from 1939 the Nazis began to kill them- about 200,000 people (including 5000 children) were murdered in specially built ‘nursing homes’
- around 1/2 million homeless people, beggars and alcoholics were sent to concentration camps in 1933, many were worked to death
- thousands of prostitutes, homosexuals and ‘problem’ families were sent to camps too
what were the early policies against Jews affect
shops, laws, Kristallnacht, work, school
describe the Nazi policy of ‘laws’ against Jews
- e.g. the Nuremberg Laws of 1935
- banned marriages between Jews and non-Jews
- German citizenship was also removed
describe the Nazi policy of ‘shops’ against Jews
- from January 1934 all Jewish shops were marked with a yellow Star of David or the word Juden (German name for Jew)
- Soldiers also stood outside shops turning people away
describe the Nazi policy of ‘school’ against Jews
- Jewish children were forced out of German state schools
- Eugenics was introduced
describe the Nazi policy of ‘work’ against Jews
from March 1933 all Jewish lawyers, judges, teachers (and later doctors) were sacked
describe the Nazi policy of ‘Kristallnacht’ against Jews
- in November 1938, Jewish homes, synagogues and businesses were attacked all over Germany and Austria
- about 100 Jews were killed and 20,000 sent to concentration camps
- known as Kristallnacht (Night of Broken Glass)
what happened to Jews after the war broke out in 1939
persecution of Jews intensified:
-> Jews were rounded up in some of the countries under Nazi occupation and forced to like in ghettos in major cities or sent to work in labour camps
-> execution squads (Einsatzgruppen) went out into the countryside and shot or gassed Jews
describe the death camps in the journey to the ‘Final Solution’
- 6 death camps (extermination camps) were built
- they contained gas chambers to carry out the murders and large crematoriums to burn the bodies
- Jews from all over German occupied Europe were transported to these camps (total 6million killed)
- this attempt to wipe out the Jewish race is commonly known as the Holocaust
- thousands of Gypsies, homosexuals, political opponents, the disabled and any other groups whom the Nazis considered unfit to live were also killed in the camps
give some examples of Jewish resistance
- some Jews fought back from this final solution- they formed resistance groups, attacked German soldiers and blew up railway lines that the Germans were using
- in some ghettos there was resistance- e.g. the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising of 1943 which lasted 43 days
- there were occasional rebellions in death camps- e.g. in Treblinka camp in 1943, 15 guards were killed and 150 prisoners escaped
give a timeline showing how the Nazis persecuted Jewish people
(March 1933, April, September, January 1934, September 1935, January 1936, July 1938, August, November, December, April 1939, September 1939)
bold= key ones
- all Jewish lawyers and judges sacked
- all Jews banned from any sports clubs and teachers sacked
- Race Studies introduced in schools
- all Jewish shops to be marked with a yellow star of david or ‘juden’, soldiers stood outside shops turning people away
- Nuremberg Laws
- no Jews allowed to own any electrical equipment including cameras, bicycles, typewriters or music records
- Jewish doctors sacked
- male Jews must add the name ‘Israel’ and females ‘Sara’ to their first names
- Kristallnacht (Night of Broken Glass)
- Jewish and non-Jewish children forbidden to play together, Jews banned from swimming pools
- Jews can be evicted from their homes for no reason
- Jews no longer allowed out of their homes between 8pm and 6am
how many Gypsies and Jews from across Europe died in death camps as a result of the Nazi persecution in the years up to 1945
- over 1/2 a million Gypsies
- over 6million Jews
what does the term ‘undesirables’ mean
- was Hitler’s term for people with mental and physical disabilities and those who (in his view) did not contribute to society
- he believed they weakened Germany and wanted to get rid of them to create a stronger nation
who oversaw the ‘Final Solution’
Heinrich Himmler, Head of the SS
what was the ‘Final Solution’
- was planned at the Wannsee Conference in 1942 by the Nazi leaders, with what they called ‘a final solution to the Jewish questions’
- was the mass murder of every Jew in Nazi controlled territory
what was Hitler called when he became dictator
Fuhrer
what were the different parts of the Nazi police state
- concentration camps
- the SS
- the gestapo
- the regular police and law courts
describe the role of concentration camps in the Nazi police state:
- lots were set up as soon as Hitler came to power
- were largely prisons where any ‘enemies of the state’ could be held for any length of time
- were set up to ‘correct’ people who were not doing what the Nazis wanted
- anyone the Nazis didn’t like were sent there - jews, gypsies, political opponents and anyone who criticised Hitler
- inmates were forced to work hard and some were tortured or worked to death
describe the role of the SS in the Nazi police stat:
- set up in 1925
- black-shirted
- were originally Hitlers personal bodyguards
- gradually the group was built up over the years to become the most feared organisation in the country
- SS members were tall, strong, athletic and totally loyal to Hitler
- overtime, they were divided into three sections:
-> the SD looked after ‘security’ - they could arrest anyone for any reason, search homes and seize property. They even spied on and policed the Nazi party itself
-> the Waffen SS were an elite unit in the army
-> the Death’s Head Units ran the concentration camps, and later, the death camps
what different sections were in the SS in the Nazi police stat?
- the ‘SD’ -> looked after ‘security’ - they could arrest anyone for any reason, search homes and seize property. They even spied on and policed the Nazi party itself
- the ‘Waffen SS’ -> were an elite unit in the army
- the ‘Death’s Head Units’ -> ran the concentration camps, and later, the death camps
describe the role of the regular police and law courts in the Nazi police state:
- the ordinary police carried on their regular work, but ignored crimes committed by Nazis
- all the top jobs in ordinary police went to Nazis
- law courts and judges were under control of Nazis
- new laws meant the death penalty could be given for, among other things, telling an anti-Hitler joke, having sex with a jew and listening to a foreign radio station
describe the role of the Gestapo in the Nazi police state:
- the secret police
- they didn’t wear uniforms, and spied on people they thought might be a threat
- they tapped telephone calls and opened mail
- they had the power to arrest, imprison without trial, and torture anyone
- they set up a huge network of ‘informers’ who would report anyone who even moaned about the nazis
- they encouraged children to report their parents or teachers
- there were not many gestapo officers, but because people didn’t know who they were, ordinary Germans informed on each other because they thought the gestapo would probably find out anyway
what methods of control did the Nazis use (other than fear and terror from the police state)
- propaganda
- censorship
who did Hitler employ as Chief of Propaganda for the Nazis
Joseph Goebbels
what was the point of Nazi propaganda
to persuade large numbers of Germans to think and believe what Hitler wanted them to think and believe
what did Goebbels understand about propaganda
he understood it only worked best if people were repeatedly given some basic ideas with short messages and powerful images
what were the key messages of Nazi propaganda
- blaming jews for Germanys problems
- criticising the Treaty of Versailles
- making Germany great again
how did the Nazis get propaganda across to people
posters, newspapers, speeches, films, radios
describe propaganda and censorship that the Nazis used:
- propaganda is the art of persuading other people that your version of the story is correct
- Goebbels knew he couldn’t rely on just propaganda to do this -> he needed to control and limit other ideas and beliefs too, so he used censorship
- this meant the gov tightly controlled (or censored) what German people heard, saw or read
- so anything was banned (such as books, films, news articles, even jokes) if it was viewed as harmful to the Nazis or Hitler
describe newspaper propaganda that the Nazis used:
- only stories that showed the Nazis doing good things were allowed to be printed
- were also many negative stories about jews
- newspapers that printed stories that Goebbels hadn’t approved of were closed down
describe mass rallies propaganda that the Nazis used:
- spectacular parades (called mass rallies) were held often to celebrate Hitlers greatness
- special arenas were built that could hold half a million people
- choirs, bands, speeches, fireworks and air shows were performed to showcase how impressive and well organised the Nazis were
describe books, theatre and music propaganda that the Nazis used:
writers were forced to write books, plays and songs that praised Hitler and the Nazis
describe film propaganda that the Nazis used:
- all films were shown to Goebbels before the actual film was made
- all films had to show the Nazis in a good way, and their ‘enemies’ in a bad way
describe the radio propaganda that the Nazis used:
- Nazis controlled radio stations which were used to put across Nazi ideas
- cheap radios were produced that could only tune in to Nazi controlled stations
- more Germans owner radios in the 1930s than Americans
- loudspeakers were placed in the streets, in factories and cafes to air radio broadcasts
who was Himmler
- Head of the SS
- all police forces were under the control of him
- personally reported to Hitler
- loyal Nazi since 1923
what was the Chamber of Culture
- an organisation set up by the Nazis
- led by Joseph Goebbels
- all musicians, writers, artists and actors had to be members
-> anyone who refused would not be allowed to work - some people, such as jews, were banned from joining
- it ruled that all cultural activities, such as art, theatre, music, film and literature all had to give the same ‘message’: that Nazi beliefs and ideas were correct, and everything that Hitler did was in the best interests of the country
how did the Nazis control cinema
- Goebbels realised how popular cinema was and how powerful it could be
- Nazi supporters, such as Alfred Hugenberg, owned film studios, so the Nazis had a direct influence on exactly which films were made
- Goebbels made sure he read and approved all film scripts, and all films - thrillers, comedies, factual films and dramas - had to carry a pro-Nazi message
-> e.g. German soldiers were always shown as heroes while jews were portrayed as mean and nasty - he made sure news reports of Hitlers achievements was always shown before the main film
how did the Nazis control music
- Goebbels ruled that music should be Austrian or German
- marching music, old folk songs and classical music by Bach, Beethoven, Mozart and Wagner were popular
- some music that was popular in Weimar Germany was banned -> Jewish composers like Mahler and Mendelssohn were banned, and so was jazz music because it had its origins among the black people in america
how did the Nazis control theatre
- before the Nazis took over, they set up a group (Militant League for German Culture) that protested against some of the more ‘modern’ plays and films they didn’t approve of
-> e.g. Jewish writer Kurt Weill’s hit musical, The Threepenny Opera, came under attack -> set among a group of beggars in Victorian London, the play contained lots of jazz music - it was banned by the Nazis as soon as they took power - the Nazis ruled that plays should mainly focus on German history and politics, and allowed the work of some ‘older’ playwrights like Goethe and Schiller to be performed
- the Nazis also shut Germanys cabaret clubs
-> these noisy, smoky theatre bars were places where songs about sex and politics were common
how did the Nazis control literature
- Goebbels created a list of banned books which were removed from libraries and bookshops- they were classified as ‘un-German’ or were by Jewish authors
- burnt books from 1933
- Mein Kampf was the best selling book in Germany
- Goebbels encouraged books about race, the glory of war and the brilliance of the Nazis
-> he even wrote a book himself that showcased this - popular books written in Weimar Germany were banned, including Erich Remarque’s anti-war novel ‘All Quiet on the Western Front’
- around 2500 writers left Germany between 1933 and 1945
-> e.g. Thomas Mann, a strong critic of the Nazis who had written Magic Mountain, one of the best-known German novels of the time
how did the Nazis control art
- in Weimar Germany during the 1920s, art tended to show everyday life and could be classified as ‘modern’ or ‘abstract’
- artists like Otto Dix and George Grosz were popular
- Hitler hated modern art and referred to it as ‘degenerate’ (perverted)
- in 1936, the Nazis publicly burned 5000 paintings they disapproved of
- in 1937, they put on another exhibition of unacceptable art and opened another showing their officially approved paintings
- the Nazis wanted art to be simple and clearly understandable to ordinary people
-> it should show healthy, heroic German figures, family scenes of happy, strong, ‘pure’ Germans and lots of images of Hitler in heroic poses
how did the Nazis control design
- the Bauhaus movement was an important architectural and design development in Weimar Germany
-> Bauhaus architects used new technology to design simple, practical, modern buildings and objects - Hitler did not approve of such modern design and closed down this movement in 1933
- he instead had clear ideas about the design of big, public buildings like libraries, gov buildings and parade grounds
- he favoured huge, stone structures, often copies of buildings from ancient Greece or Rome
how did the Nazis control sports and leisure
- health and fitness was important to Nazi culture, so success in sport was used to promote the Nazi regime
- the Olympic games were held in berlin in 1936 and the Nazis used the opportunity to show the world how splendid Nazi Germany was
- for a while, antisemitic posters and newspapers were stopped
- the games were wildly popular and, to Hitlers great joy, the German Olympic squad came top of the medals table
-> this, Hitler claimed, showed how talented and strong the German race was and how it was superior to the other ‘inferior’ races - world respected German film-maker Leni Riefenstahl filmed the entire games and pioneered the use of ‘tracking shots’ to follow an athlete’s movements in slow motion
-> the Germans used this as a change to show the brilliance of German technology
what was the lowest type of opposition to the Nazis
moaning or grumbling
what were all the resistance groups to the Nazis (6)
Jazz Swing Youth
White Rose Group
Edelweiss Pirates and Navajos
Protestant and Catholic Church
Kreisau Circle
Beck Goerdeler Group
what did the Jazz Swing Youth do
listened to Jazz and had Jewish friends
what did the White Rose Group do?
persuade Germans to get rid of Hitler, put out anti Nazi leaflets, posters and graffiti
who were the White Rose group led by?
Hanz and Sophie Scholl (both beheaded in 1943)
what did the Edelweiss Pirates and Navajos do?
beat up Nazi officials and helped army deserters, sabotaging railway and spying giving info to other countries
what did the Protestant and Catholic Church do
in 1941 spoke out of the killing of physically and mentally disabled people
what did the Kreisau circle do
Army officers and uni professors discussed assassination of Hitler, but didn’t actually do anything
what did the Beck Goerdeler group do?
- contacted the British about removing Hitler, but no agreement was reached
- made attempts on Hitler’s life in March and November 1943
- were behind the failed July Bomb plot in 1934 -> attempted to take Hitlers life but only burst his ear drums and burned his hair
where would grumbling or moaning resistance usually occur
in the privacy of their own homes- people might tell an anti-Hitler joke or complain about the way their Jewish friends were being treated
why did many Germans like what Hitler was doing
- many teenagers enjoyed the adventures they had in the Hitler Youth
- wealthy businessmen and factory owners were pleased to help the Nazis mass-produce weapons and equipment for war
- employed people were motivated by the Strength through Joy movement and the work conditions improved by the German Labour Front
- supported the Nazis because of what they were achieving
why did some Germans not like what Hitler and the Nazis were doing
- were uncomfortable with the concentration camps and the dreaded Gestapo
- shocked at the treatment of Jews or the physically or mentally disabled
- hated the restrictions and limits put on their lives
- however it was very difficult to actually show that you didn’t support Hitler
why was it difficult to show that you didn’t support Hitler?
- you couldn’t vote for someone else in an election as there were no elections
- risk of being arrested or punished if you publicly spoke out
what was passive resistance to the Nazis
when Germans publicly showed they didn’t support the Nazis, by refusing to do exactly as they were told
what are some examples of passive resistance to the Nazis
- refusing to give the ‘Heil Hitler’ salute
- refusing to give money to the Hitler Youth members who went from house to house collecting funds
examples of open opposition groups
- swing youth
- white rose group
- edelweiss pirates
- protestant and catholic church leaders
what was the July Bomb Plot, 1944
- was the closest any Germans got to assassinating Hitler
- army officer Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg was part of a group that detonated a bomb where Hitler was meeting other Nazi leaders
- they hoped to take over, end the war, and change Germany for the better
- despite killing 4 men, burning Hitler’s hair, bursting his eardrums and blowing some of his clothes off, the bomb failed to kill Hitler
- the group leaders were executed for their role in the plot
- around 5000 others were executed in revenge for the attack
how many attempts were there on Hitler’s life
around 50
what types of resistance were there to the Nazis
- grumbling/ moaning
- passive resistance
- open opposition
- attempts to kill Hitler
