Life in Nazi Germany, 1933-1939 Flashcards
1
Q
Treatment of women in Weimar era vs Nazi era- marriage
A
- Women could marry who and when they wanted- less pressure
- Purpose of life to have Aryan children- marry racially pure ancestry, marriage loans given out if woman left her job
2
Q
Treatment of women in Weimar era vs Nazi era- work
A
-Women took up teaching (100,000), doctors (5,000), musicians (13,000) and politicians (1/10 Weimar)
- No work/ gave up work when married to stay at home and focus on Kinder, Kuche and Kirche, jobs given to men
- When conscription started (1937), women were encouraged to get back to work, and do a duty year of work with no pay
3
Q
Treatment of women in Weimar era vs Nazi era- family
A
-Women could choose when and how many children they had- less pressure
- Birth rate falling meant less powerful Germany, so encouraged to have lots of children, loans given out, awards given to mothers with many children (gold cross for 8 children)- 30% rise in birth rate by 1936
- Made contraception and abortion illegal, and allowed divorces if a husband or wife couldn’t have children
- Single women could go to a Lebensborn to become pregnant by an Aryan man and donate it to a family
- Classes put on to show women how to cook nutritional food- had to cook one leftovers meal per week so no food was wasted
- Children brought up to have Nazi values- daughters as mothers, sons as soldiers, Fuhrer, Aryan race etc.
4
Q
Treatment of women in Weimar era vs Nazi era- rights
A
- Freedom- went out unescorted, drank and smoked, wore make up and fashionable clothes
- Women over 20 could vote
- Very little freedom- no opinions of her own, not to smoke, drink, or get involved in politics
- Ideal women was blonde, heavy hipped, athletic, naturally feminine, dressed in long skirts or dresses with flat shoes, no trousers, heels, or make up
5
Q
Young people- education
A
- Teachers had to swear oath of loyalty to Hitler and join Nazi teachers’ league
- Promoted Nazi ideas in the classroom- learnt about German history- Weimar stabbing them in the back etc., questions would have featured Nazi policies, biology showcased Aryan race, textbooks rewritten, race studies introduced
- Race studies taught every day
- 15% dedicated to physical education- healthy
- Curriculum prepared students for future roles- boys prepare for military, girls prepare for being wives and mothers- needlework and cookery
- Lessons began and ended by saluting and saying ‘Heil Hitler’
6
Q
Young people- oranisations
A
- Set up Hitler Youth for boys to control them in their spare time- learnt Nazi songs and ideas, athletics, practised military skills, and map reading
- Set up League of German Maidens for girls- learnt domestic skills and Nazi songs and ideas
- All other youth organisations banned and membership made compulsory in 1936- 7 million members by 1939
- Popular because children were kept out of trouble
7
Q
Young people- opposition
A
- Edelweiss pirates- group who opposed Nazi ideas
- Swing movement played banned swing music, grew hair long, and wore what they wanted
- Graffitied walls with ant-Nazism
- Badge was an edelweiss or skull and crossbones
- Some hunted down Hitler Youth members and beat them up
8
Q
Why did the Nazis persecute minorities?
A
-Believed Aryan race was superior, so persecuted Gypsies (5/6 killed by Nazis), homosexuals, mentally and physically disabled people, Jews and other races
9
Q
Why did the Nazis persecute Jews?
A
- Always been a strong hatred for Jews- blamed for T of V, economic depression, seen as greedy bankers
- In Mein Kampf, Hitler wrote about how Jews had corrupted Germany and they should be dealt with
10
Q
Key features in persecution of Jews- 1933
A
- Boycott of Jewish shops and businesses- many became unemployed- no money, no home etc.
- Jewish civil servants and university lecturers sacked- no job, no money, no home etc.
- Jewish books burned and banned from inheriting land
11
Q
Key features in persecution of Jews- 1934
A
-Banned from public places
12
Q
Key features in persecution of Jews- 1935
A
- No longer drafted into army or allowed in restaurants
- Nuremburg laws- Jews no longer German citizens, marriages between Jews and Aryans forbidden (also broke up existing marriages), forced to wear a yellow star
13
Q
Key features in persecution of Jews- 1936
A
-Jewish professionals banned- unemployed, no money etc.
14
Q
Key features in persecution of Jews- 1938
A
- Jews had to carry identity cards and have red letter ‘J’ stamped on passports
- Men had to add Israel to their first names, women had to add Sarah
- Jews excluded from schools and universities
15
Q
Date of Kristallnacht
A
November 1938
16
Q
Causes of Kristallnacht
A
- A Polish Jew shot a German diplomat in Paris, so Hitler ordered an attack on Jews and their property in Germany (Nazis hadn’t attacked Jews physically so far, but a Jew had attacked a Nazi now, so they had the upper hand)
- Blamed Jews for Treaty of Versailles and depression
17
Q
Key features in persecution of Jews- 1939
A
- Reich Office for Jewish emigration set up to promote emigration
- Forced to surrender precious metals and radios
- Evicted from homes and forced into ghettos
- 30,000 Jewish men and boys sent to concentration camps
18
Q
Gains under Nazi rule- employment
A
- Labour service corps set up- men aged 18-25 had to serve for 6 months to build motorways (autobahns), railways, houses, and other public services
- Introduced conscription in 1935 and a four year plan in 1936 to prepare for wartime economy- reduced unemployment due to need for weapons, equipment, and uniforms
- Introduction of air force (Luftwaffe) gave jobs to engineers and designers
19
Q
Gains under Nazi rule- standard of living
A
- Better off -Brought national pride and made Germany feel on par with other great powers
- Schemes such as Strength through Joy gave cheap theatre and cinema tickets, low priced cruises, and organised trips- boost Hitler’s popularity
- Set up scheme to save 5 marks per week for Volkswagen beetle (no one received one because no cars were made in war)
- Worse off -Labour front replaced trade unions- not allowed to leave jobs without govt permission, strikes made illegal, hours increased but not opposed due to higher pay
- Volkswagen money not refunded
- Nazi unemployment figures didn’t include Jews or married women so were dubious
20
Q
Why did the Nazis target the youth?
A
- Convert them to Nazi ideas
- Future of Germany
- Girls to be good cooks and wives, boys prepared for military
21
Q
Key features of Kristallnacht
A
- Thousands of Jewish businesses attacked and 200 synagogues burnt down
- 100 Jews killed, 30,000 arrested and sent to concentration camps
- Police told not to get involved
- First physically violent attack on Jews
22
Q
Effects of Kristallnacht
A
- Jews fined 1 billion to compensate for damage, and were blamed for it, even though Nazis did the damage
- No longer allowed to manage businesses or shops
