changing german lives 1933-1939

• did the Nazi's give women freedom?

  no - they believed their roles were at home and with their families. They were restricted from professional careers yet allowed to work again in 1939, when Germany faced labour shortages - needed aid with the war effort
• what were the expectations for women within society?

  -they were expected to dress plainly, wear no make-up and not smoke.

  -at school, girls studied cookery and subjects preparing them for life as homemakers.

  -League of German Maidens taught young women that having large families was an honour -> women were rewarded with awards (Cross of Honour) and financial aid to encourage marriage - expected to marry Aryan men.
• how did the Nazi's solve the mass unemployment problem following Great Depression?

  -Hitler started a programme, National Labour Service, which gave unemployed men (aged 18-25) money for working for the Nazi state.

  -Nazi's introduced military conscription -> gave people jobs, manufacturing vehicles and weapons for the military

  -banned trade unions -> replaced with Labour Front (workers couldn't go on strike and wages were low)

  rate of unemployment appeared to fall dramatically - fake as Nazi's removed jews and women from these statistics, not allowed to work
• how did the Nazi's look to support these workers?

  wanted workers to feel important, did so by introducing:

  'Strength through Joy' - scheme which gave workers cheap holidays -> something luxury many didn't get to experience, encouraged employment.

  'Beauty of Labour' - encouraged factory owners to improve conditions for workers.
• how were small businesses affected by Nazi plans to remove unemployment?

  -able to advance more within society

  -cost of living increased but wages didn't

  -had to pay high taxes

  many had been desperate following Great Depression so life under Nazi's was truly seen as a big improvement.
• how did youth groups produce committed nazi's?

  indoctrination - Hitler knew loyalty from young people was essential if Nazi's were to remain powerful in the future.

  youth groups taught Nazi ideas to ensure loyalty as they grew up:

  Hitler Youth - boys wore uniforms and went on trips that seemed exciting, made them feel valued and gave them sense of responsibility

  League of German Maidens - taught girls domestic skills and went camping/hiking - gave them opportunities that were usually for boys
• how was education impacted by the Nazi's?

  -teachers joined Nazi Teacher Association - trained in Nazi methods

  -subjects were developed to fit Nazi ideologies - spread anti-Semitism e.g. in biology they were taught Jews were genetically inferior to Aryan's

  -PE prepared boys for the army

  -students burnt Jewish books and Jewish teachers were sacked.
• how were members of youth groups useful to war effort?

  -helped with air defence and farm work

  -collected donations for Nazi charities

  -towards end of the war, many members fought alongside adults for their country
• what type of people did the Nazi's target in their cleanse of German society?

  'cleanse' - Nazi's wanted to remove of inferior groups from society

  those targeted and sent to concentration camps:

  -Jews

  -Romani and Slavs (European)

  -homosexuals

  -mixed race individuals

  those with mental/physical disability were murdered.
• how did the Nazi's discriminate against jews?

  violence was not popular with society so they used legal means:

  -banned from jobs - had to shut down businesses

  -1935: Nuremberg Laws -> removed legal rights from Jews; encouraged idea they were inferior 'Untermensch' (no longer called 'citizens', banned inter-marriages between Jews and Aryan's)

  -banned from attending German schools and public places
• what was Kristallnacht?

  'the Night of Broken Glass' - November 1938, German diplomat murdered by Jewish man.

  In response, anti-Jewish riots broke out - thousands of Jewish shops were smashes and synagogues were burnt down.

  Jews were arrested and sent to concentration camps.

  Nazi's claimed events were spontaneous reaction by German people - had been planned by Nazi government (few ordinary Germans participated - done by SS, SA and Hitler Youth). Seen as turning point in Nazi rule, first time violence had been used against the Jews.