Nazi education and cultural policies Flashcards
What did Nazis believe children were central to?
Achieving the future ‘master race’
How did the Nazis attempt to achieve a future ‘master race’?
Through the indoctrination of children with Nazi policies
What did education serve as for the Nazis?
. A medium to enforce Nazi ideas to serve the state and Nazi
ideology
. Children should be conscripted to build the movement and to provide future soldiers and mothers
Who were removed from teaching children?
Jewish teachers and teachers who were considered to be politically dubious were removed in 1933
What were remaining teachers encouraged to join?
The Nazi Teacher’s League - taught teachers Nazi ideas on education
How was the curriculum altered?
To reflect Nazi values:
. A nationalist version of German history - presenting Germany as strong and powerful
. In biology, a focus on Nazi racial ideas, such as racial hierarchy and eugenics - enforced purity of Germans
What was the educational curriculum used to enforce?
Traditional gender roles:
. Boys were encouraged to participate in tough physical training
. Girls undertook classes in cookery - preparing for motherhood
What did the Hitler Youth offer?
Military training - membership was made compulsory in 1939 - yet popularity reduced due to its emphasis on militarisation during WW2
What was the result of Nazi educational policies on educational standards?
Caused a decline - curriculum had been affected by ideology and emphasis on physical fitness rather than intellectual success
Why were the Youth Organisations popular?
Provided children with expanded opportunities to participate in sport and social activities
Why did the Youth Organisations become increasingly unpopular?
. The compulsory and regimented nature of Nazi youth
organisations alienated some
. Groups were actively involved in rejecting Nazism - Edelweiss Pirates
How did Hitler use art and architecture?
As a means to promote Nazi ideas - embody the strength and triumph of the Nazi movement - Classical architecture was promoted such as those designed by Albert Speer
How was modern art regarded under the Nazi regime?
Was denounced as degenerative - seen as feeble and weak - contradicted a strong German nation which Hitler sought
What is evidence of Hitler destroying art which was unfavourable to the regime?
In 1933, in Berlin, books by Jewish authors or those considered to promote communism were burned
