Nazi Domestic Policies 1933-39 Flashcards
(26 cards)
What changes did the Nazi’s make to education?
Race studies was introduced (informing them on who to discriminate)
Mein Kampf became a compulsory school text
Domestic science (cookery, needlework ect.) became compulsory for girls
All subjects were altered to support and push Nazi views
What were the Youth Movements?
Outside school nationwide groups for children
Pimpf was for boys age 6-14 where they did camping and hiking
The Hitler youth was for boys 14 onwards wheee they trained like the SA did to breed a new generation of fighters
The League if German Maidens was the girls version where they learnt health care and trained for motherhood
Why was socialism clear through the youth movements?
Young people came together regardless of class and had no distinction
What were the Edelweiss Pirates?
With 2000 members by 1939, it was a youth group which rebeled against the Nazi party by growing their hair long, involving modern art in there group and having mixed-sex groups
What happened to women whilst the Nazi’s were in power?
From experiencing the most freedom in history under the Weimar, women were looked upon as house wives and mothers by the Nazis, they were encouraged to focus on children, kitchen and church.
Good German women would not wear trousers or make up and not dye their hair
What Nazi policies intended to increase marriage and childbirth?
1933- the Encouragement of Marriage law was introduced (financial benefits if women leave work and get married)
‘The mothers cross’ was an award given to women for the number of children they had (4-5=bronze, 6-7=silver and 8 or more was gold) - the medals were handed out once a year on Hitlers mothers birthday
Why were some of the women and childbirth policies reversed by the late 1930s?
The German industry was growing so fast that women were needed in the workplace again
What was Hitlers beliefs about gender equality?
Speech from 1935: ‘both sexes have their rights, their tasks. These tasks are equal in dignity and value’
What did some women think about the new gender regimes?
They showed women to be inferior, they wanted the Weimar’s regimes back
What was the DAF (German labour front)?
Set up to replace trade unions in 1933, it’s key role was to ensure the best interests of the state were at hand when working in Germany
It controlled the power of employees by setting out new employment rights, it also had the right to punish workers
Actually protected workers from being exploited, but made them work very hard
Why was unemployment a key issue for Hitler?
Unemployed workers would be likely to start supporting communism, he also had strong nationalistic views that men need to service their country in some shape or form
What was RAD? (1933)
The national labour service which provided manual work for the unemployed, started out voluntary however from 1935 it was compulsory for young men to serve for at least 6 months
It was set up a lot like the military with drills, work camps where they lived, conditions were poor. They were used to build and for agriculture
A key job was building autobahns (motorways)
Why was the military the top priority for the Nazi party?
They believed the health of the nation depended on a constant struggle with other nations, they believed the German people needed more space and that Germany was a strong force to be feared
What was Hitlers secret memo? (1936)
He declared the economy must be reorganised to wage war within the next four years, became known as the ‘four year plan’
What economic changes were made after Hitlers four year plan was put into action? (1936)
Government spending on rearmament (3.5billion marks in 1933 to 26billion marks by 1939)
Iron and steel production trebled from 1933 to 1939
Began autarky (self sufficiency) where they increased the production of plastic, oil and rubber so naval blockades would not affect them
The army grew by 800,000 from 1933 to 1939
Why might people say the standard of living increased under Nazi rule?
Unemployment went down and the sales of consumer goods went up because people had more money
The Volkswagen was introduced meaning car ownership was for the masses
What were the organisations set up to help working conditions?
SdA - (beauty of labour) tried to ensure good standards at work of safety, cleanliness, lighting, noise levels and ventilation
KdF - (strength through joy) provided leisure activities for workers or even impressive holidays such as cruises
Why might people say the standard of living decreased under Nazi rule?
The banning of trade unions and political opposition reduced freedom
Impressive unemployment figures did not include those they arrested such as Jews
Prices rose which canceled out the wage increase
Hitlers economic plan was unsustainable as they spent more than they earned
What was anti-semitism like before the nazi’s? (Anti Jewish views)
Very much around, people discriminated against them long before the Nazi’s came about.
Their religion and customs appear unusual
Christians blamed Jews for the execution of Jesus Christ
What was Hitlers race hierarchy according to Mein Kampf?
The Arian race was superior
Other white races were lesser races
Africans and coloured people were sub-human
Gypsies and Jews were unworthy of life and the worst
What were the Nuremberg laws? (1935)
Only those of German blood could be German citizens (Jews lost the right to vote, be a politician or have German passports)
Jews could not marry German citizens
How were the Nuremberg laws adapted? (1938)
Jews had to register all possessions (make it easy for the government to confiscate them)
Jews had to carry an identity card
Jewish doctors, dentists and lawyers could not work with white Aryan Germans
What were the events of Kristallnacht? (1938) -
night of the broken glass
A polish Jew shot a German (involved with the government) in Paris because he had grievances against Germans as his parents were being mistreated.
It was printed in a Nazi newspaper that if people wanted to take revenge on the Jews, the government would not prevent them.
People and also SA members (organised by SA leaders) smashed up Jewish property and attacked people, killing some.
What happened after Kristallnacht? (1938)
Goebbels blamed the Jews for the mess and fined them 1billion marks and made them clear it up.
Jews were banned from running shops or business’s and also from German schools or universities
The Reich office for Jewish emigration was set up, an organisation focused on ridding the Jews from Germany
1939 - Ghettos were created in Poland after it was Germany occupied where Jews were fenced off from society
