Nazi rules, methods of control, and impact on German people, 1933-45

Schools and Education: School curriculum heavily modified to fit Nazi ideology; greater emphasis on PE, promoting understanding in German culture and history, and military awareness. Jewish teachers were sacked, Jews segregated in schools after 1933 and then banned from state-funded school after 1935. specialist ‘Adolf Hitler’ schools were formed to educate the strongest boys in leadership and Nazism
1. Policies towards young people: Youth groups brought under control of Hitler Youth organisation with focus on raising German children fit for the Nazi era and next generation in the ‘Thousand Year Reich’. For girls (Young Girls’ League, 10-13; League of German Maidens, 14-18) with focus on motherhood and domestic skills. For boys (‘Pimfen’ Cubs, 6-10; Young German Boys, 10-13; Hitler Youth, 14-18) with focus on fitness and military awareness. By 1939 membership of the Hitler Youth was compulsory for all aged 14-18. political education focused on needs of German People and the ‘Volksgemeinschaft’ as well as the wrongs in the Treaty of Versailles
Policies towards Jews and other persecuted groups: Trend was an escalation of action against ‘undesirable’ groups. April 1933 – national boycott of Jewish shops organised under Nazis. Jews sacked from civil service and schools. 1935 Nuremburg Laws – denied Jews right of citizenship (denied vote, state schooling etc), banned marriages between Jews and non-Jews. 1938 Kristallnacht – destruction of Jewish shops, homes and synagogues; arrests of 20,000 Jews, seizure of Jewish businesses and assets. This prompted a wave of Jewish emigration.
Reason for lack of opposition: Strength of Nazis (Huge support, SS, Army, Gestapo), people didn’t know what was happening (Propaganda, censorship), they had legal right (voted in), many liked Nazis, Nazis dropped unpopular policies, Germans were afraid (Gestapo, harsh penalties – death penalty- concentration camps), quibbles were minor, opposition was divided (Communists and Socialists didn’t trust each other)
Use or Propaganda: Josef Goebbels ‘Minister of Propaganda and Enlightenment’. April 1933 public burning of books with ‘undesirable views’ (mostly Weimar period). Nazi control of all forms of media (newspapers, film, radio) with non-Nazi publications closed down (Nazi editors put in place). They restricted and approved all films produced and produced the ‘People’s Receiver’ radio so they could listen to key speeches and pass of the Nazi message to all homes. Rallies and celebrations all preached the same message of Nazi supremacy and German greatness (Nuremburg Rallies). Nazis also controlled art, music, literature through the ‘Reich Chamber of Culture’. 1936 Berlin Olympics – event to show the world what had been achieved in Germany.
Dealing with opposition: All other political parties shut down, as were Trade Unions (all workers instead had to join the Nazi-run ‘German Labour Front’ where strikes were forbidden and all policies were in favour of the government). All clubs and societies under Nazi control. 1933-34 saw considerable moves to eliminate opposition (e.g. arrests of Communists and Socialists, use of concentration camps). No freedom of the press or expression. No public meetings (unless Nazi approved). Army commanders brought under Hitler’s control (dismissal of two top commanders in 1937). Any form of criticism could attract attention of Gestapo (concentration camps etc). During the war there was a sharp increase in political executions.
1. Use of the police state: Regular police brought under Nazi control but key aspects were developed under the SS which was greatly expanded after the Nazis came to power (some SA members), they were all of Aryan race, ran the concentration camps (first at Dachau in 1933, for re-education and hard labour – from 1939 this was for war effort), terrorised people into obedience and was the main arm of Nazi enforcement. Also the Gestapo (secret police, run by Goering – most feared by ordinary citizens), control of judicial system (courts), use of informers
Policies towards women: A woman’s place was to bear many ‘good’ children who were brought up to follow Nazi ideas. Women’s and girl’s organisations developed into child-care techniques, home-crafts etc. ‘Mother’s Cross) awarded to women to produce many children. Married women were sacked from government employment (civil service, teaching etc). Birth rates increased from 1933 to 39. However during the war years the Nazis wanted women to add to the industry workforce (reverse in Nazi ideas, this policy incompatible with high birth rate)
Policies towards churches: Ultimate Nazi goal was to replace all existing religious organisations with a Nazi-controlled ‘German Faith Movement’ based on Pagan-style beliefs. But this could not be achieved swiftly as religious beliefs were rooted too deep into society. 1933 Concordat with the Roman Catholic Church (Nazis wouldn’t interfere with them as long as they stayed out of politics). All Protestant Churches were supposed to unite under one ‘Reich Church’ led by Bishop Muller. Over time more policies were introduced to increase Nazi influence over churches: 1935 Department for Church Affairs established; 1935-36 arrest of Protestant ministers and Catholic priests critical of the Nazis; 1939 church schools abolished. Church opposition: Cardinal Galen successfully led campaign against Nazi euthanasia of disabled; Niemoller and Boenhoffer tried to form alternative Protestant Church to the official Reich Church but were stopped by Gestapo/SS
Economy and policies to reduce unemployment: Unemployment reduced from nearly 6 million in late 1932, to 1 million in 1937, to ‘virtually zero’ in 1939 (didn’t count those in concentration camps). Methods included military expansion (conscription from 1935), work creation schemes (building programmes, autobahns), compulsory ‘National Labour Service’ for all young people and unemployed. In 1936 the ‘Four Year Plan’ was introduced by Goering to oversee conversion to a ‘War Economy’ (form of industrialisation) through the method of ‘self-sufficiency’; imports were carefully controlled and raw materials organised. Wages remained low, partly because of government intervention. However government debt also rose dramatically due to these policies.

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Nazi rules, methods of control, and impact on German people, 1933-45

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	Created by Monty Kirk almost 11 years ago