Nazi Germany Overview

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Keeping control

The Nazis kept control of the German people through fear, making Germany a terror state:

The SS were Hitler's protection squad; they were highly physical fit (the Aryan ideal), ruthless, and loyal to Hitler. They were able to arrest without trial, search homes, and run concentration camps. By 1939, there were 240,000 members.

Concentration camps were run by a special section of the SS called Death Head units. Nazi opponents were put into camps; within, they endured short periods of questioning, torture, hard labour and indoctrination. Camps held Jews, Socialists, Communists, trade unionists, church leaders, etc. Heinrich Himmler controlled at least 150 companies who used slave labour to make goods (e.g. weapons).

The Gestapo were the State Secret Police. They could tap telephones and open mail, as well as arresting without trial and imprisoning people in concentration camps. The Gestapo had a large network of informers - these were normal citizens, who would write reports to the Gestapo about 'anti-Nazi' locals.

The Nazis had control of the normal police and the courts. Ordinary police had Nazi bosses, and had become part of the network of informers for the Gestapo - they ignored crimes committed by Nazis. The courts were also under Nazi control, and a fair trial was impossible. The number of offences carrying a death penalty went from 3 (1933) to 46 (1943) - this included: telling an 'anti-Nazi' joke; listening to foreign radio; having a sexual relationship with a Jew.

Towns were divided into units called blocks. The Block Warden (a local Nazi) visited every home in their block each week, collecting Nazi donations and checking on everyone. The Warden wrote a report on everyone, noting signs of independent thinking (e.g. not flying the Nazi flag on celebration days). This report affected numerous things, such as whether someone got a job or not.

They also used various methods of propaganda, which Goebbels was in charge of:

Displays boards were set up in public spaces, where everyone could read them. Newspapers were controlled by the Ministry of Propaganda, which censored what could be published. Anti-Nazi newspapers were shut down, and Jews were banned from owning or working for newspapers.

The Nazis had rallies, which gave the image of order and control. These were stage-managed by Goebbels to give dramatic impression of power and unity. A stadium at Nuremberg was specially built; there was a rally in 1937, which had: 100,000 Nazis; 32,000 flags; 150 search lights for effect.

The Nazis held official book-burnings, wherein they burnt books by Communists, Jews, anyone/thing they disapproved of, on massive public bonfires. This stopped people thinking/reading beyond Nazi ideas.

Goebbels was in control of radio broadcasting. Regular programmes were: Hitler's speeches, German music, and German history. Foreign programmes were banned. In 1939, 70% of Germans owned a radio, as Goebbels had made them affordable; loudspeakers were also set up in public squares. Everyone was encouraged to listen to 'important broadcasts'.

Films were controlled by Goebbels, who had strict control of the scripts. All films screened in the cinema were made in Germany, and a newsreel was always shown beforehand. Openly pro-Nazi films were also made - one example is The Eternal Jew, made in 1940.

Propaganda and fear kept the German people clueless to the world outside of Hitler's dictatorship.

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Opposition to the Nazis

People opposed the Nazi regime in a multitude of ways, including: leaflets and posters; graffiti; refusing to salute or say "Heil Hitler"; refusing to give to Nazi charities; anti-Nazi joke books; reports on the public mood, disguised as things like cake recipes; writing diaries; and forming political parties.

There were also numerous groups of people who opposed Hitler:

In 1937, the Pope's message 'Burning with Concern' attacked Hitler as 'a mad prophet with repulsive arrogance.' It was read in every Catholic church.

The White Rose Group was established at Munich University, and was active during 1942. They were discovered publishing anti-Nazi leaflets in 1943, and were subsequently executed.

'Swing' groups were formed during the war. Young people would drink alcohol, intermingle between genders, and listen to jazz music. The more violent of these were called the Edelweiss Pirates; they sheltered deserters, daubed anti-Nazi slogans, and beat up Nazi officials. In 1944, the Cologne Pirates killed a Gestapo chief, so the Nazis publicly hung 12 of them.

Many Protestant pastors, led by Martin Niemoller, formed the Confessional Church in opposition to Hitler's Reich Church.

In 1944, a group of army officers and intellectuals called the Kreisau Circle tried to bomb Hitler. In retaliation, 5,000 people were executed.

Although some brave individuals and groups did oppose the Nazis, it wasn't until the war that opposition increased.

Persecution in Nazi Germany

The Nazis believed non-Germans did not deserve the rights to citizenship. The Nazi philosophy taught that other races were untermensch (sub-human), and many scientists at the time believed people with disabilities or social problems were genetic degenerates, whose genes needed to be eliminated. Therefore, the Nazis:

tried to eliminate the Jews

killed 85% of Germany's gypsies

sterilised black people

killed mentally disabled babies and mentally ill patients

sterilised people with physical disabilities and/or hereditary diseases

sterilised deaf people

put homosexuals, prostitutes, Jehovah's Witnesses, alcoholics, pacifists, beggars, and criminals into concentration camps

Persecution of the Jews

The Nazis created a hatred of Jewish people in Germany through segregation and identification; they boycotted Jewish businesses, made anti-Semitic films (e.g. The Eternal Jew), and banned Jews from sitting on the tram. They also blamed Jews for the Germany economic crisis after WWI.

April 1933 - First boycott of Jewish shops and businesses.

April 1933 - A non-German was defined as anyone with one Jewish grandparent.

May 1933 - Public burning of books written by Jewish authors.

August 1933 - Jews were forbidden to use swimming pools in German cities.

October 1933 - All hospitals in Berlin were declared 'free' of Jewish doctors.

1934 - Jewish names were scratched off war memorials.

September 1935 - The Nuremberg Laws were introduced.

1936 - Olympics games are held in Berlin; world standard Jewish athletes (e.g. Gretel Bergmann) were not selected for the German national team.

November 1938 - Jewish shops, businesses, homes, and synagogues attacked across Germany and Austria. 20,000 Jewish men were arrested and put into concentration camps. This night is known as Kristallnacht.

November 1938 - Jewish children were forbidden to attend German schools.

September 1939 - Curfew introduced for Jews; they're not allowed outside after 8pm in the summer and 9pm in the winter.

1941 - Jews were forced to wear a yellow Star of David.

The Nuremberg Laws declared that Jews could not vote in elections and could not marry or have sexual relations with 'pure' Germans, in order to keep the Aryan bloodline 'pure'.

Kristallnacht was a pogrom (government sponsored/organised violence against a group in society). The Nazis claimed the attacks were 'spontaneous', although the authorities did nothing to stop them, and were a response to the German ambassador in Paris being murder by a young Jew. The Jewish communities were made to pay 1 billion DM for the damage; 100 synagogues were burnt, 7500 shops were destroyed, and 300 Jews were killed.

In 1942, at the Wansee Conference, organised by Himmler, the Final Solution was decided - the aim of which was to kill at least 11 million Jews, without the use of bullets which were needed for the War. It was the 'final solution' to the 'Jewish problem'. The main death camps were Auschwitz, Treblinka, and Sobibor. Women, children, the elderly, and the sick were sent for 'special treatment' upon arrival at concentration camps, and then sent to death camps. The Nazis would force prisoners into small cement rooms and drop canisters of Zylon B or Prussic acid in their crystal forms through small holes in the roof. These gas chambers were disguised as shower rooms. Sonderkommandos were specially selected Jews, sent into these rooms after Jews had been gassed in order to collect gold-teeth fillings. The hair of Jewish prisoners was also collected and made into coats.

Prisoners were also forced to do hard physical labour and were fed only 200 calories a day - this was 'destruction through work'.

In 1943, the Jewish communities in Ghettos revolted when they realised what was happening. The Ghetto conditions had been designed to be poor, so that more Jews died - the ones that didn't would be willing to leave in hopes of better conditions.

By the end of WWII, the Nazis had killed around 6 million Jews.

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Culture and the Nazis

Nazis dictated what people were allowed to do in their private and social lives.

Artists had to produce paintings that the Nazis deemed acceptable, as they portrayed Nazi values.

Jazz music was banned.

Books were burned.

Homosexuals were persecuted, as they did not fit into the Nazi ideology of a 'traditional' family.

The Olympic Games of 1936 were a huge Nazi propaganda success.

Religion and the Nazis

Although he had signed the Concordat, Hitler did not remain true to his word of leaving the Catholic Church be. Hitler saw religion as a threat to his power as: 2/3 of Germans were Protestant, and 1/3 were Catholic; Catholic schools were not as full of propaganda (and 2/3 of German children attended a Church school); Catholics' first allegiance was to the Pope, rather than Hitler; as Fuhrer, Hitler wanted to be seen as a god-like figure; children were sent to Catholic Youth, rather than Hitler Youth.

Hitler took the crucifix out of schools, which were eventually taken from Catholic control, and Catholic Youth was made illegal in 1937. Hitler also created the Reich Church in 1933, in which 2,000 pastors pledged loyalty to Hitler - the motto of the Reich Church was 'with the swastika on our chest and the cross in our hearts.'

However, in 1934, 6,000 Protestant pastors created the non-Nazi Confessional Church. Priests who supported the Confessional Church were sent to concentration camps, and some were even executed (thus, became martyrs to the cause). Dietrich Bonhoffer trained young men to become ministers, and pointed out Nazism as anti-Christian from 1933. He taught that religion and politics should not be separated and that true religion is standing up to a corrupt government. The Nazis closed his college in 1940, and he was arrested in 1934. He was later executed in 1945, as he stayed in Germany and spoke against Nazism.

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Indoctrination of youth

In 1933, Hitler Youth was the sole official youth organisation for the Nazis. Membership was made compulsory in 1936, and by 1938 it had 8 million members.

Boys were expected to join Hitler-Jugend between 14 - 18 years old, but other groups were available to those as young as 6. Activities such as cross-country marches, learning to use a rifle, practising carrying a 'dead' comrade to the funeral pyre, and team-building exercises (e.g. building a raft) all prepared boys to become soldiers. They also went camping and had to meet certain athletic goals - for example, being able to run 60 metres in 12 seconds.

14 - 18 year old girls would be made to join the Bund Deutscher Madel (the League of German Maidens). Like in Hitler-Jugend, they would be trained to be physically fit, go camping, and be taught Nazi ideals. However, there was an emphasis on being a good mother, rather than being a good soldier.

Members of Hitler Youth swore loyalty to Hitler each year, and participated in marches. They also received fortnightly folders filled with propaganda, and were shown propaganda videos. This all indoctrinated them into the Nazi ideology.

Any letters sent home from camp had to be unsealed and handed to the officer's tent, where he would ensure that the children were not complaining or rebelling against Nazi ideals within their letters.

Nazis also restructured the school system to indoctrinate youth. School was compulsory until the age of 14, and girls and boys were sent to different schools. For both sexes: there was an emphasis on fitness, and PE now took up 1/6 of school time; History was important, as it was an opportunity to glorify Germany, teach the injustices of the Treaty of Versailles, and the evils of Communism; new subjects like Eugenics (race studies) were introduced, and taught children that Aryans were superior and the bloodline should not be tainted; learning how to identify a Jew became part of the curriculum (such as the 'Jewish six', which was a Jewish nose); textbooks were re-written to suit Nazi ideology - one example is 'The Poisonous Mushroom'.

Girls were taught how to cook, sew, and be 'good mothers and wives'. Boys were taught science and maths, although questions were re-worked to promote Nazi ideals.

Furthermore, teachers and university professors had to swear an oath of loyalty to Hitler and join the Nazi Teachers' League - if they refused, they lost their jobs. They had to pass on Nazi political views, teach the Nazi salute, and decorate their classrooms with Nazi posters and flags.

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Nazi views of women

Women were discouraged from work in Nazi Germany - they were expected to stay at home and look after the family. Their life was to revolve around the 3 'K's (Kinder, Kuche, Kirsche - Children, Cooking, Church). This was a big change from the role of women in Weimar Germany, where women were encouraged to have jobs and the cultural boom promoted fashion. Now, they were not allowed to wear make-up or perm/dye their hair as it was deemed 'unnatural' and went against the Nazi ideals of a 'traditional' family. Professional women lost their jobs - within months of Hitler coming into power, female doctors, civil servants, teachers, and lawyers had been sacked. A couple would not even receive the marriage loan if the woman was still in work.

Hitler introduced the Law for the Encouragement of Marriage, in 1933, which gave newly wed couples a loan of 1,000 marks. It allowed them to keep 250 marks for each child they had. Hitler wanted a high birth rate, so the Aryan population would grow. He also introduced the Motherhood Cross, which was awarded on Hitler's mother's birthday (12th August); this was an award given to women who had had a certain number of children (4 = bronze; 6 = silver, 8 = gold). Women were, although encouraged to keep fit, discouraged from slimming down, as it was thought they would have more difficulty giving birth.

Despite their traditional family values, the Nazis set up Lebensborn - these were, essentially, brothels, as well as maternity homes for unmarried mothers. Unmarried women could go with the aim of becoming impregnated by a 'racially pure' SS man.

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Solving unemployment

During Hitler's rule, unemployment dropped from 6 million, following the depression, to 0. This was due to a number of factors:

The Nazis established labour organisations...

The Reich Labour Service (RAD) was a compulsory organisation for younger men, aged 19 - 25. They had to do 6 months' work service, and wear a uniform. It was very unpopular, as it poorly paid, hard manual labour, but the workers got free meals. Most workers found themselves in agriculture or public works programmes; they built and improved public transport networks (for military and industrial use), schools, drainage ditches, etc..

The growing car industry...

The Nazis set up a scheme that enabled workers to save for a Volkswagen car; each month, they'd pay towards this new car. A hire-purchase scheme was established, wherein Germans would pay 5 marks a week until 750 was in the bank, and then would be given an order number entitling them to a car as soon as it was made. Thus, there was an increased demand for cars and this growing industry boosted the German economy.

Hitler's aim of self-sufficiency...

Germany had lost WWI due to a naval blockade that lead to a shortage of food and materials. Hitler wanted a strong, independent country (Autarky). He had scientists develop artificial substitutes (e.g. coffee from acorns, petrol from coal), which provided jobs for scientists, and also provided jobs in new industries that would need to source these raw materials. These substitutes were called Ersatz.

The Nazis controlled workers' lives...

Set up by Dr Robert Ley, the Deutsch Arbeitsfront (DAF) was an organisation that replaced trade unions and employers organisations. It organised workers, making them build autobahns, hospitals, schools, etc.. It was compulsory for both employers and employees to be part of the DAF.

The DAF set up Beauty of Labour - an organisation that helped to improve working conditions in factories. It campaigned for things like 'good ventilation in the workplace' and 'hot meals in the factories'.

The DAF also set up Strength Through Joy / Kraft durch Freude (KDF). This organisation was popular with workers. It made sure that Nazis had control of workers' leisure time as well. Activities included sports, exhibitions, films, theatre, hikes, cruises, etc.. It was affordable, but only loyal and hardworking Nazi party members were given places on activities like cruises.

Although Hitler had 'solved' unemployment, it's important to note that...

Wages decreased, and work hours increased. Work had been made compulsory for Aryan men, while women, Jews, and 'undesirables' had been kicked out of jobs that were then handed to Aryan men. Conscription was also introduced, so men had to join the army. Men who refused the jobs offered by labour services were arrested and sent to concentration camps.

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Economic policy

The New Plan was devised by Dr Hjalmar Schacht, in 1934, when he was made Minister of Economy. It outlined the following:

Imports were limited - how much and what materials came in was carefully controlled.

Trade agreement were made with individual countries (e.g. Hungary exchanged butter, vegetable oil, etc. for industrial products).

Government spending was channelled into a range of industries, which they did not try to control.

The aim to reduce unemployment - cities were to be rebuilt; autobahns were to be built; RAD was compulsory; army conscription was introduced in 1935; women, Jews, etc. were dismissed from jobs and replaced by Aryan men.

From 1934 - 1936, it solved the economic crisis and allowed Hitler to rearm forces. The world economy was getting back into shape, following the Wall Street Crash. Hitler wanted to prepare for war and rearm faster, whereas Schacht said they could afford this. Schacht ended up in a concentration camp, and was replaced by Hermann Goering in 1937.

Goerging was Head of the German Airforce and President of the Reichstag - he had no expertise in economics or business. He introduced the Four-Year Plan, which devise the following:

Increase the production of raw material for rearmament (e.g. steel, oil, etc.).

Persuade big businesses to produce key synthetics raw materials (e.g. rubber, fuel, etc.).

Further reduce imports.

Tighten control of wages and prices.

Forced labour.

Build new industrial plants (e.g. Hermann Goering Works - mining and metal-works).

Billions of Reichmarks went into the Plan, but by 1939, Germany still depended on foreign imports for 1/3 of raw materials. Arms took precedence over agriculture - Goergin's slogan was "Arms not butter"; in 1939, butter was still rationed in Germany. The only way Germany could become fully self-sufficient was to conquer countries that could provide the needed raw materials and food.

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The impact of WWII