Nazi Social Policies

Question 1

How did Hitler try to ‘coordinate’ German society and fulfil his policy of Gleichschaltung?

Answer 1

Nazi aimed to create a new German man and woman where there were no independent organisations standing between the Nazi state and an individual. Every member of the Volksgemeinschaft had to conform to the norms of the Nazi regime

Question 2

What were the two main ways that Nazi established control over the school system?

Answer 2

. Control over teachers
. Control over the curriculum

Question 3

How did the Nazis control the teachers?

Answer 3

. Law for the restoration of the professional civil service dismissed many teachers due to them being politically unreliable or because they were Jewish
. Teachers pressurised to join the National Socialist Teachers’ league (NSLB), many of them were willing to comply to the regime’s commands, probably mostly out of fear of the terror state.
. The vetting (review and editing) of textbooks was controlled by local Nazi communities after 1933
- 1935 - central directives issued by ministry of education on what could be taught
- 1938 - Nazi rule on what could be taught and the curriculum reached every school year and almost all subjects

Question 4

How did the Nazis control the school curriculum?

Answer 4

. Aim to promote ‘racial health’ on the basis of social Darwinism (survival of the fittest) led to increased emphasis on PE (possibly also Hitler having an end goal to train for struggle and war)
- military-style drills
. In maths, studies into angles etc would be focused on wartime efforts such as what angle would I have to throw a grenade to…
. In Biology, stressed race and heredity. Social Darwinism was engrained into the students through emphasis on evolution and survival of the fittest
. Geography was geared towards educating on Lebensraum, ‘blood and soil’ and German racial superiority

Question 5

What happened to number of people attending uni under Nazi rule and why?

Answer 5

Between 1933-39, number of people attending uni decreased as the emphasis was now on political indoctrination and physical education to prepare for war, the importance of academic education was dulled down
- Nazis didn’t want Germans thinking for themselves, needed them to stay easily brainwashed

Question 6

How was accessed to higher education (uni) very stringent under Nazi rule?

Answer 6

Selection was based on political reliability e.g if you were a Jew you certainly wouldn’t get this educated as an educated Jew was seen as a threat to the Aryan race
. Women restricted to 10% of available uni places
. Jews restricted to 1.5% (this was their proportion within the population as a whole)

Question 7

How was ‘coordination’ carried out in universities?

Answer 7

. Professional civil service law dismissed around 1200 uni staff on racial or political grounds, which was around 15% of the total university staff
. November 1933 - all uni teachers had to sign a ‘Declaration in support of Hitler and the National socialist state’ (had to promise to follow Nazi policy)
. Students had to join the German Students’ League (DS), but 25% managed to avoid this
. Students had to do four months’ labour service and two months in an SA camp so they weren’t blinded to the fact that real life and struggle was more important than academic achievement
. All students have to train as a soldier for a month of the year

Question 8

Why didn’t the Nazis face much resistance to bringing unis under their control?

Answer 8

. The voluntary self-coordination of many universities faculties in line with Nazi policy made it easier, not having to enforce much.
. The Weimar period had unis dominated by nationalist and anti-democratic attitudes, traditional student ‘fraternities’ were a breeding ground for reactionary (returning to an old state) politics
- there was already a pre-existing culture of extreme nationalism, Nazis just had to infuse their extreme ideology into it
. The students knew that if they supported the regime openly, after graduating, their graduate prospects would be much better

Question 9

When was the Hitler youth created?

Answer 9

1926, initially not very successful at all

Question 10

What happened to youth organisation once the Nazis rose to power in 1933?

Answer 10

All youth organisations except those linking to the Catholic Church were banned or taken over by the Hitler youth
- this allowed the Hitler youth (Nazis’ own youth movement) to flourish

Question 11

How did the Hitler youth gain leverage by 1936?

Answer 11

. Law for the incorporation of German youth gave Hitler youth the official status of an official education movement, equal in status to schools and the home
. Catholic youth organisations banned, HJ were the only permitted youth org now
. Hitler youth granted a monopoly over all sports facilities and competitors for children need age of 14

Question 12

How did the Hitler youth reach maximum capacity in 1939?

Answer 12

It was made compulsory in Germany

Question 13

How was the Hitler youth used to ‘brainwash’ the German youths?

Answer 13

. Fed a diet of political indoctrination and physical activity that was expressed through entertaining and fun activities, allowing the children to get on board with Nazi ideology
. The youth were the future of the Nazi state so the Nazis had to focus on indoctrinating them
. The youth were also seen as easier to brainwash through simple activities and messages than educated adults

Question 14

What was the enticing motto that the Hitler youth were taught from age 10?

Answer 14

‘Live faithfully, fight bravely and die laughing’
- promoting loyalty to the Nazis through ‘living faithfully’
- creating the idea of becoming a warrior through ‘fighting bravely’
- made the whole process of nazification seem enjoyable through ‘die laughing’

Question 15

How were the emphasis in youth activities for the Hitler myth in line with Nazi ideology?

Answer 15

Focused on:
. Competition and struggle (survival of the fittest, struggle and war)
. Heroism and leadership (preparing for future role as warriors in the Nazis preparation for war)

Question 16

Was the Hitler youth well structured for Nazification?

Answer 16

Yes, there was a set syllabus for political indoctrination that all members had to follow, with a big emphasis on military drills

Question 17

How did the Nazis incorporate entertainment in the Hitler youth to encourage the youth to get on board with Nazi ideas?

Answer 17

. Sang Nazis songs
. Taken on hikes or camping trips
. Often physical play fighting in the military drills
. Ceremonies (sense of unity)
. Read Nazi political pamphlets (maybe not as fun)

Clearly the Nazis made it seem as though the youth were just having a bit of fun, but they were really being trained for the future of the Nazi state, with an emphasis on the upcoming war

Question 18

How did the Hitler youth successfully brainwash German youths?

Answer 18

. Their entire growing up was shaped by the Hitler youth due to having to start so early, meaning Nazi emphasis on struggle, sacrifice, loyalty and discipline became the norm
. The parents of these youths had grown up in a non-Nazi era and didn’t really want their children to join the Hitler youth
- the children of these parents could let their teenage rebelliousness shine through with the Hitler youth

Question 19

Did enthusiasm for the Hitler youth ever begin to go down?

Answer 19

. By the very late 1930s, when the organisation became extremely rigid due to the absolute focus on the war that was quite literally imminent
- reports of poor attendance to weekly parades
- boys resented the harsh punishments imposed for minor breaking of the rules

Question 20

What was Hitler youth membership like at the start of 1933 to 1939?

Answer 20

1933: 2.3 million
1936: 5.4 million
1939: 7.3 million (mostly due to it being compulsory)

Question 21

Who were the league of German girls (BDM)?

Answer 21

The female equivalent of the Hitler youth

Question 22

How did the BDM’s motto follow the intended future role of women in Nazi society?

Answer 22

‘Be faithful, be pure, be german’
- big emphasis on idea of racial purity in establishing the Aryan race, as well as emphasis on role as mothers and housewives in the Volksgemeinschaft

Question 23

When did membership for the BDM become compulsory?

Answer 23

1939

Question 24

How were the activities of the BDM in line with their role in the future of the Nazi state?

Answer 24

. Taught that they had a duty to be racially healthy due to their bodies being of importance and belonging to the nation
. Needed to be fit for future role as child bearers
. Instructed on matters of cleanliness, hygiene and healthy eating
. Formation dancing and group gymnastics to develop comradeship and raise fitness
. Taught handicrafts, sewing and cooking at weekly ‘home evenings’
. Sessions for political education and racial awareness

Question 25

How were the activities of the BDM in line with their role in the future of the Nazi state?

Answer 25

. Taught that they had a duty to be racially healthy due to their bodies being of importance and belonging to the nation
. Needed to be fit for future role as child bearers
. Instructed on matters of cleanliness, hygiene and healthy eating
. Formation dancing and group gymnastics to develop comradeship and raise fitness
. Taught handicrafts, sewing and cooking at weekly ‘home evenings’
. Sessions for political education and racial awareness

Question 26

Why was the BDM appealing to so many German girls?

Answer 26

. Many found the experience liberating (freeing)
- doing things their mothers had not been allowed to do
. Developed a sense of comradeship.
. Relatively classless groups, bringing together girls from many backgrounds

These appealing aspects also moulded girls to the purposes of the Nazi regime

Question 27

Who was the leader of the BDM?

Answer 27

Jutta Rüdiger

Question 28

How did Rutta Rudiger help indoctrinate BDM members into Nazi ideology?

Answer 28

Focused on racial awareness, especially in marriages, claiming it is ‘your responsibility to keep the blood of the nation pure.’
- made it seem like the women of the BDM had an important role in keeping Germany pure to make them feel like they have an honourable role

Question 29

How were girls kept under control of their roles after 1934?

Answer 29

Expected to do a year of work on the land or in domestic service to keep girls in touch with their peasant roots and give practical experience in childcare.
- developed sense of serving a community and togetherness

Many girls from the cities tried to avoid this work and it was very unpopular, the girls wanted to be free and who they wanted to be.

Question 30

How did the Nazis deal with the unpopularity of the expected year of work for women?

Answer 30

Made the scheme compulsory in 1939
- all young women up to 25 had to do a year’s unpaid work with the Reich labour service before getting any paid employment

This was the female version of compulsory military service and was part of ‘coordinating’ Germans under nazi rule

Question 31

Where did ideal Nazi students get sent to for education?

Answer 31

. Students that were seen as future potential leaders were sent to Napolas
. Hitler youth set up special schools called ‘Adolf Hitler schools’
- intense academic and physical training to ensure these children would grow to become perfect Nazis and strong leaders

Question 32

What did Nazi expect from the perfect Nazi woman?

Answer 32

. Aiming for the ‘3 K’s’
. Staying healthy
. Playing traditional role of mother and housewife
. Marry and have lots of children to fill Germany’s desired Lebensraum
. Maintain a traditional look e.g no make-up, long skirts etc
. Stay at home, Nazis disliked women that were in professions

Question 33

What problems did Nazis have with the pre-Nazi treatment of women?

Answer 33

. They had too much freedom
. The declining birth rate in the 1920s threatened to undermine the Nazi aim of expanding German terrorised east and settling Germans there

This meant the Nazis focused on increasing birth rates

Question 34

How were women’s organisations very free in the Weimar era?

Answer 34

There were many female organisations that weren’t run by the state (independent)

Question 35

How had marriage and family been freeing in the Weimar period?

Answer 35

A woman could choose her husband based on personal preference

Question 36

How much of a role did women play in employment and jobs in the Weimar era?

Answer 36

. 3000 female doctors
. 100,000 female doctors

The Nazis were anti-work for women as they believed stay-at-home married women were more likely to raise birth rates

Question 37

How were women allowed to appear much more free in the Weimar era?

Answer 37

. Could drink and smoke
. Freedom of choice of clothing e.g skirts/make-up

Question 38

Who oversaw Nazi policies towards women?

Answer 38

Gertrud Scholtz-Klink - appointed as Reich women’s leader in 1934 and represented the ideal Aryan woman

Question 39

How were women encouraged to increase birth rates in the Nazi state?

Answer 39

. Lebensborn programme 1935 - nurseries and financial aid were provided for women who had children with SS men.
. 1938 divorce law - if a wife couldn’t/wouldn’t have children, her husband could divorce her
. The Mothers’ cross - awards for number of children that German women had
. Birth control discouraged and abortion severely restricted

Question 40

How did the Mothers’ cross award work to encourage child birth?

Answer 40

. Bronze = 4/5 children
. Silver = 6/7 children
. Gold = 8 children

Mothers of 10 children were expected to name Hitler as their godfather (‘donating a baby to the Fuhrer’)

Question 41

How were marriages controlled by the Nazis to keep Germany racially pure and encourage birthing Aryan children?

Answer 41

. 1933 law for the encouragement of marriages - newly married couples received a 1000 mark marriage loan if their wife stopped working. A quarter of the loan wouldn’t need to be paid back for each of their first 4 children - if had 4 children, wouldn’t have to be pay loan back at all
. Law for the protection of German blood and honour meant women were banned from marriages or relationships with Jews or ‘undesirables’

Question 42

Why were industrial workers (the working class) the biggest challenge to the Nazi process of Gleichschaltung (coordinating people under Nazi rule)?

Answer 42

They traditionally were tied to trade unions and non-Nazi political parties so wouldn’t be very easily convinced by the Nazi values
- this meant using ‘repression’ to coordinate them wouldn’t go down well and the nazis had to think of ways to get workers on board even if they weren’t initially very pro-Nazi

Question 43

What were the Nazis first steps in coordinating German workers to get on board with the Nazi regime?

Answer 43

. 2nd May 1933 - ban existing free trade unions
. Coordinate workers into the German labour front (DAF) which was essentially the nazi-led version of trade unions

Question 44

When was the DAF created and who was the leader?

Answer 44

6th May 1933, leader was Robert Ley

Question 45

How big of an organisation was the DAF?

Answer 45

. Became largest organisation in the third Reich
. It’s membership grew rapidly as it was the only officially Nazi-recognised organisation representing workers
. Membership wasn’t compulsory but it was in your best interests to be part of it

Question 46

What were the two aims of the DAF?

Answer 46

1. Win the workers over to the Volksgemeinschaft
2. encourage workers to increase production.

Question 47

Who else did the DAF include as well as workers?

Answer 47

Employers

Question 48

Was the DAF a trade union itself?

Answer 48

No.
. It had no role in bargaining wages, Hitler insisted on keeping the wages of the DAF low
. Had little influence over the regime’s social and economic policies
. Strikes and wage bargaining weren’t allowed

There was no control for there workers in the DAF, you just had to follow Nazi orders