Life in Nazi Germany, 1933-39 Flashcards
Reasons Hitler wanted to reduce the Church’s power
- 1930s most Germans Christian, Church influential. During Weimar state and Church workd closely, Church involved in education and other national matters
- Some prominent Nazis anti-Christian, Nazi ideology disagreed with role of Church
- Hitler thought religion should comply with state and wanted them to promote Nazi ideals. worried Christians might publicly oppose him
- Nazi party careful to maintain support from Catholic and Protestant Churches during rise to power because of their popularity. However as Hitler consolidated totalitarian state, control over Churches increased
How Catholic Church assuaded and then persecuted
- July 1933 Hitler signs Concordat with Pope. Hitler promised not to interfere with Catholic Church if Church stayed out of his politics
- Catholic Church now banned from speaking against Nazis but Hitler broke his side of deal
- 1937, Pope spoke against Hitler in letter to Germany Catholic Churches. stance of Church changed but many German Catholics too scared to speak against Nazis
Ways Hitler broke Concordat
- Nazis began to restrict Catholic Church’s role in education
- 1936 crucifixes removed from schools and 1939 Catholic education destroyed
- Nazis began arresting priests 1935 put them on trial
- Catholic newspapers suppressed and Catholic Youth group disbanded
Nazi control of Protestant Church
- 1933, 28 independent Protestant Churches, politically divided- some formed group ‘German Christians’. supported Hitler and favoured Anti-semitic version of christianity
- Nazis backed this version believing all churches should follow their principles. 1936 all Protestant Churches merged to form Reich Church
- Reich Church attempt to increase state control over Protestant Church and make a National Socialist version of Christianity
How Reich Church Nazified Christianity and Opposition to it
- Replaced symbol of cross with Nazi Swastika, Bible replaced by ‘Mein Kampf’. Only Nazis could give srmons and Church suspended non-Aryan ministers
- Not everyone supported this. opposed by Protestant group called the ‘Confessing Church’
Ways the Political Left opposed Hitler
- Nazis banned other political parties, including those on left, such as communist party (KPD) and Social Democratic Party (SPD)
- Members formed underground groups to try and oragnise industrial unrest. Networks often infiltrated by Gestapo and party members could be executed
- Impact limited because different parties divided with no cooperation
Martin Niemöller’s opposition to Nazis
Protestant pastor, former U-boat captain, one-time Nazi-supporter. Objected to Nazi interferance in Church, one of the founders of the Confessing Church. used a sermon 1937 to protest against persecution of Church members, as a result spent several years in concentration camps
Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s opposition to Nazis
Key member of the Confessing Church, Protestant theologian and pastor who opposed Nazis from beginning. Joined resistance, helped Jews escape Germany and planned assassination of Hitler. caught and imprisoned then executed weeks before the fall of the Nazis
Clemens August von Galen’s opposition to Nazis
Catholic Bishop of Münster, used sermons to protest against Nazi racial policies and ‘euthanasia’ of disabled. Protsests didn’t stop killing, but forced Nazis to keep them secret. Only need to maintain support of German Catholics stopped Nazis executing him.
The Edelwiss Pirates
- Name of rebellious youths who rejected Nazi values and opposed Hitler Youth
- Helped army deserters, forced labourers and escaped concentration camp prisoners
- At first ignored by Nazis but cracked down on after distribution of anti-Nazi leaflets. Many arrested, several publically hanged
The Swing Kids/Youth
Groups of youths who rebelled against tight Nazi control of culture, acting in ways considered ‘degenerate’ by Nazis (e.g. listening to American music and drinking alcohol). mostly considered nuisance rather than threat but some arrested and even sent to concentration camps
Effect of Opposition to Nazis
didn’t really threaten dominance but meant Gestapo kept busy tracking down people who distributed anti-Nazi leaflets, held secret meatings, committed acts of sabotage etc.
Low Level ways some Germans opposed Nazis
Expressed dissatisfaction with Nazi regime in ‘Low Level’ ways- e.g. grumbling about government or spreading rumours. Not everyone considers this genuine opposition but was probably risky
Nazi expectations of Women
- Nazis didn’t want women to have much freedom. believed the role of women was to provide children and support family at home
- Women banned from being Lawyers 1936, Nazis did best to stop women following other proffessions
- League of German Maidens spread Nazi idea that it was honour to produce large families. Nazis gave rewards fro this and encouraged women to marry by offering financial aid.
- Women expected to dress plainly, discouraged from make-up and smoking. At school girls studied subjects such as cookery. stressed they should choose ‘Aryan’ husbands
How Public works and rearmament reduced unemployment
- Hitler started huge programme of public works, helped reduce unemployment, e.g. From 1933 jobs created as result of autobahns
- All men 18-25 could be recruited into National labour Service and given jobs
- Industry output increased, unemployment fell
- Hitler brought military conscription encouraging German industry to manufacture more ships, aircraft, tanks, and weapons for military. Rearmament meant falls in unemployment
- Trade Unions banned so workers had to join Nazi Labour Front. Workers weren’t allowed to strike or campaign for better conditions, wages relatively low
Invisible unemployment
Although unemployment fell after Depression, Nazis fiddled with statistics to make it look lower than it was- e.g. didn’t count women or Jewish people without jobs. Official unemployment stats didn’t include invisible unemployment
How Groups under Nazis felt better off
- Nazis amde efforts to maintain support of German workers. wanted workers to feel important and believe they were essential part of the Volksgemeinschaft
- many members of middle class felt better off, e.g. small-business owners able to advance more than previously
Despite many feeling they were better off, workers and small business owners lost out in some ways:
* Cost of living up 25%- wages didn’t go up
* Workers hadn’t right to strike nor resign
* Small businesses paid higher taxes
Meaning of Volksgemeinschaft
A community of people working hard towards the same aims
How Nazis made Workers feel important
- Nazis introduced ‘Strength through Joy’- scheme providing workers with cheap hoidays and leisure activities
- Scheme involved introduction of Volkswagen (the ‘people’s car’) as a luxury peple could aspire to own, involved a programme of paying money to eventually get one, no-one however got one.
- The ‘Beauty of Labour’ scheme encouraged factory owners to improve conditions for workers
Why Nazis used Youth groups
- Hitler knew loyalty from young people essential if Nazis were to remain strong
- Youth Movements were a way of teaching children Nazi ideas so they would be loyal to Nazis when they grew up
The Hitler Youth
- founded 1926. Boys aged 14 or over recruited to movement. became all but compulsory 1936 and lasted until 1945
- Boys wore military-style uniforms and took part in exercises preparing for war. High achieving boys sent to Hitler Schools to be trained as loyal Nazi leaders
- Also went on camping trips and sports competitions. Some who took part said it was fun, made them feel valued and encouraged a sense of responsibility
How and why membership of the Hitler Youth changed
After 1936 all other youth organisations banned making it almost impossible for children to avoid joining Hitler Youth so almost every boy was a Hitler Youth member
Towards end of 1930s attendance decreased as activities adopted a more military focus
The League of German Maidens
- female branch of the Hitler Youth, aimed at girls aged 14-18.
- trained in domestic skills like sewing and cooking
- sometimes took part in physical activities like camping and hiking. gave girls new opportunities that were normally reserved for boys
Ways education Nazified
- Education in schools learning Nazi propoganda. Most teachers joined Nazi Teachers’ Association and trained in Nazi methods. Children had to report teachers who didn’t use them.
- Subjects rewritten to fit Nazi Ideas. Children taught to be Anti-Semitic, Biology taught Jews inferior to Aryans. History explained WW1 lost because of Jews and Communists
- Universities, students burned Anti-Nazi and Jewish books, Jewish lecturers sacked. Jewish teachers dismissed from public schools
