Life in Nazi Germany: 1933 - 1939 Flashcards
What did the ideal Nazi woman look like?
- Having a natural appearance and be Aryan race
- To have long hair tied back in a bun/plaits
- To be sturdily built (for child bearing)
What were the three Nazi aims for women?
- Increase birth rate of the Aryan race
- Reduce number of women in work
- Encouraging women to be housewives
What law in 1933 did the Nazis implement to increase the birth rate?
In 1933, they passed the Law for the Encouragement of Marriage. This loaned up to 1000 marks to newly-wed couples, if the wife stopped working. The loan was let off by ¼ each time the couple had a baby.
What were mothers awarded to motivate them to have more children?
Women were awarded the Mother’s Cross medal for the number of children they had. Gold medal = 8 children. They also became highly valued members in society and often had the opportunity to meet Hitler.
How successful were the Nazis in increasing the birth rate?
The birth rate did increase, however this change could have been due to the economy stabilising.
How did the Nazis increase the births of the racially pure?
In 1935, they introduced the Lebensborn Programme, which encouraged unmarried women to have children with SS men. They were provided with a home and financial aid.
How did the Nazis reduce the number of women in work through propaganda?
Propaganda posters showed womens as mothers and speeches encouraged women to focus on the 3 KS: Kinder, Küche and Kirche. (Children, Kitchen, Church.)
How did Nazi laws reduce the number of women in work?
In 1933, women were banned from being teachers, doctors and civil servants. In the following years, women were barred from more professions.
How successful were the Nazis in reducing the number of working women?
By the end of 1934, 360,000 women had given up work.
Why were the youth so important to the Nazis?
The Nazis wanted to create a ‘Thousand Year Reich’ (a Nazi empire). In order to achieve this, they believed it would be the future generation that ensured Nazi Germany’s survival.
What were the names of the two youth groups aimed at boys and girls aged 14 - 18?
Boys: Hitler Youth
Girls: League of German Maidens
What were the Nazi Party’s aims for boys?
They wanted boys to be strong and healthy in order to work for the German economy and fight in the army.
What are four examples of activities done in the Hitler Youth?
- Camping and hiking
- Military drills
- Learning about Nazi ideologies
- Sport
What were boys in the Hitler Youth expected to act like?
They were trained to be obedient, but also ruthless to the enemy. The Hitler Youth also taught them to report anyone who was anti-Nazi.
What were the Nazi Party’s aims for girls?
To prepare to be wives and healthy mothers to increase the birth rate.
What are three examples of activities done in the League of German Maidens?
- Hiking and camping
- Housework
- Sports competitions
What were girls in the League of German Maidens expected to learn?
They were taught about racial hygiene and childcare.
How successful were the Nazi Youth Groups?
In 1939, there were 8 million members of the Nazi youth groups.
What was some opposition towards Nazi youth groups?
- Some youth formed opposition groups
- Some parents opposed the groups as their children were more loyal to the state, rather than their family
How were some subjects altered under the Nazi regime?
- Traditional subjects were made to glorify Germany
- Maths problems dealt with social issues
- Time for PE doubled
What were two new subjects added to the curriculum by the Nazis?
Race Studies - which taught students how to classify racial groups and the superiority of the Aryan Race.
Eugenics - using controlled breeding to create the ‘perfect’ human being
What were some subjects specifically taught to boys and girls in schools under the Nazis?
- Boys were taught military skills
- Girls were taught domestic skills
What two things did the Nazis make compulsory for teachers?
- All teachers had to be part of the Nazi Teachers League
- Forced to attend courses about Nazi ideas
How did education adopt the customs of the Nazi Party?
- All lessons began and ended with the Hitler salute
- There were swastikas around the classroom
What four policies did Hitler use to reduce unemployment from 1933 - 39?
- The Labour Service
- Autobahns
- Rearmament
- Invisible unemployment
What was the Labour Service?
In 1935, it was made compulsory for men aged 18-25 to serve for 6 months. During this time, they did public work such as reparing roads.
How did the Labour Service reduce unemployment?
Those who joined the Labour Service were not counted in unemployment figures.
What was the autobahn construction project?
In 1933, the first autobahn (motorway) construction began. By 1935, 12,500 men were employed building motorways.
How did autobahn construction reduce unemployment?
This project created many jobs for the unemployed. Better roads also meant that goods were transported more easily, boosting sales at home. This further created jobs.
What was rearmament?
Hitler introduced military conscription in 1935 (ignoring the Treaty of Versailles) and by 1939, there were 1.36 million men in the armed forces.
How did rearmament decrease unemployment?
As most men had to join the military, most men were technically at work. The demand for military equipment also increased causing industries to expand, making more jobs available.
What was invisible unemployment?
When Jews and women weren’t counted as unemployed.
How were the Nazis successful in reducing the unemployed?
Figures showed that unemployment had dropped by over 4 million.
Why was the Nazi’s success in reducing the unemployed limited?
- Figures didn’t actually reflect reality as Jews and women weren’t recorded
- Some jobs were temporary
- Some jobs were supported by high government spending
What three Nazi organisations were set up to improve the standard of living for workers?
- German Labour Front (DAF)
- Strength through Joy programme
- Beauty of Labour programme
What was the German Labour Front (DAF) and why did it improve living standards?
It was the only trade union in Germany. It helped increase wages by 20% from 1933 to 1939.
Why were the benefits of the DAF limited?
Food prices also rose by an equivalent 20%, cancelling out the wage increase. Also, due to other trade unions being banned, the working week had risen by 6 hours by 1939.
What was the Strength through Joy programme and how did it improve worker’s lives?
It was set up in 1933 to give benefits to workers. It offered leisure activities such as theatre shows.
What did the Strength through Joy programme also offer?
They encouraged workers to pay 5 marks a week to buy the ‘people’s car’ or Volkswagen.
Why were improvements in standard of living minimal for the Strength through Joy programme?
The factories that made the car switched production to make arms for the war. Therefore, the workers didn’t see their money or the Volkswagen.
What was the Beauty of Labour programme and how did it benefit workers?
This aimed to improve conditions by providing canteens and better facilities.
Why was the Beauty of Labour programme unsuccessful?
Workers were expected to make the improvements themselves with no extra pay.
What did the Nazis believe about eugenics and racial hygeine?
Nazis believed that the Aryan race (blonde-haired and blue eyed) was the most superior and pure. Therefore, they supported selective breeding to create the ‘perfect’ human.
How did Nazi beliefs on race affect their policies?
- Eugenics was taught in schools
- Racial hygiene was taught in youth groups
- Aryan couples were encouraged to have children through the Lebensborn Programme
What five minority groups were persecuted in Nazi Germany?
- Slavs
- ‘Gypsies’
- Homosexuals
- People with disabilites
- Jews
Why did the Nazis persecute the Slavs?
They were people who migrated from Eastern Europe. As they were of a different origin to the Germans, the Nazis believed they should be treated differently.
What is one way that Slavs were persecuted?
- Propaganda described Slavs as Untermenschen (sub-human)
Why were ‘gypsies’ persecuted?
‘Gypsies’ were the name for Roma people who travelled from place to place. Nazis believed that they were lazy.
How were ‘gypsies’ persecuted?
- From 1933 they were arrested and sent to concentration camps
- From 1939 they were deported from Germany
Why were homosexuals persecuted in Nazi Germany?
Nazis believed that they spoiled the purity of the German race.
How were homosexuals persecuted?
- Laws were passed against homosexuality
- By 1938, 8000 homosexuals were imprisoned
Why were people with disabilities persecuted?
Nazis believed they were a burden on society and weakened Germany.
How were people with disabilities persecuted?
- In 1933, a law was passed making it compulsory for the disabled to be sterilised
- T4 Programme authorised the killing of children under 17 with severe mental/physical disabilities
Why were Jews persecuted?
They were used as scapegoats for Germany’s defeat in WW1 and the Great Depression. This caused people to hate Jews and be suspicious of them.
How were Jews persecuted in 1933?
There was an official boycott of Jewish businesses. The SA painted yellow stars on their shops and discouraged people from going in.
How were Jews socially isolated from the public?
In 1934, Jews were banned from attending school and going to public places like parks.
What happened to Jews in 1936?
They were banned from working as vets, accountants, dentists and teachers.
What 1935 Nuremburg Law affected Jewish people’s citizenship?
The Reich Law on Citizenship: Jews were no longer seen as German citizens and they had to wear a yellow star to identify themselves.
What 1935 Nuremburg Law affected relationships for Jews?
The Reich Law for the Protection of German Blood and Honour: forbade Jews from marrying/ having sexual relations with German citizens.
What event caused Kristallnacht?
A young Polish Jew shot a German official in Paris.
When was Kristallnacht and what does it mean?
Kristallnacht or the ‘Night of Broken Glass’ happened on 9 November 1938.
What happened on Kristallnacht?
- 100 Jews were killed
- 191 synagogues were destroyed
- Jews were fined 1 billion marks for the damage
What happened after Kristallnacht?
From 1939, Jews were forced to leave Germany and were sent to concentration camps.
