life in nazi germany

• Desperation caused by the economic Depression in Germany in the 1920s and 1930s led the German people to consider any political party that promised something different
• The Great Depression caused poverty and suffering in Germany
• Germany was forced to accept blame for starting World War I and pay huge reparations, causing resentment among ordinary Germans
• In 1923, Germany couldn't afford to pay the reparations, leading to economic struggles
• The Nazis promised prosperity and to make Germany great again, appealing to the unemployed, businessmen, and young people
• Adolf Hitler, the Nazi leader, wrote Mein Kampf describing his beliefs in a 'master race' called Aryans and the need for Lebensraum
• The Nazis gained popularity during the Depression, with membership growing to over 300,000 by 1930
• Hitler gained power through elections and political deals, becoming Chancellor in January 1933
• The Nazis used dirty tricks in the 1933 elections to secure power, controlling the media and terrorizing opponents
• Hitler established a dictatorship by combining the posts of Chancellor and President, becoming der Führer in August 1934
• Germany transitioned into a police state under the Nazis, with control over all aspects of life and harsh suppression of opposition
• The Nazis used propaganda to control how people think, spreading information to influence behavior and unite the German people
• The Nazis encouraged a return to traditional German values and a revival of traditional German culture
• The Government had to approve all artistic works
• Goebbels founded the Ministry of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda in 1933
• The Ministry of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda had departments for music, theatre, film, literature, and radio
• All artists, writers, journalists, and musicians had to register with the Ministry
• The Ministry would only approve works that were in line with Nazi beliefs
• The Nazis used censorship to prevent Germans from seeing or hearing anything that gave a different message
• Approximately 70% of households had a radio by 1939, giving the Nazis a voice in most people's homes
• In 1933, only 3% of German daily newspapers were controlled by the Nazis. By 1944, this had risen to 82%
• The Nazis produced hundreds of films that showed the strengths of the Nazis and Hitler, and the weakness of their opponents
• Propaganda was spread through posters showing the evil of Germany's enemies and the power of Hitler
• Nazi propaganda involved spectacular displays
• The Nazis used public rallies, such as the annual Nuremberg Rallies, to spread their propaganda
• Sporting events like the 1936 Berlin Olympics were used to show off German wealth and power
• Nazi power was also shown through art and architecture, with grand new buildings appearing in Nuremberg and Berlin
• Propaganda was used to change culture and society
• The Nazis promised an empire based on traditional values that would last a thousand years
• Modern art was banned in favor of realistic paintings that fit with Nazi ideology
• School textbooks were rewritten to make Germans look successful
• The 'Strength through Joy' program sought to show ordinary workers that the Nazi regime cared about their living conditions
• Propaganda was most effective when reinforcing existing ideas
• Nazi propaganda was better at reinforcing people's existing attitudes than making them believe something different
• Hitler's promises to reverse the Treaty of Versailles and make Germany great again were popular due to existing anti-Jewish and anti-communist attitudes
• The image of Hitler as a strong leader was appealing after the political weakness of the Weimar Republic
• The Depression made many Germans in poverty easier to persuade by the Nazis' promises of help
• Nazi Racial Policy:

  • Nazis believed in the idea of a 'master race' and oppressed people they didn't like
  • Germans were considered members of a superior ancient race called the 'Aryans'
  • Hitler wanted to 'cleanse' the German people by removing any groups he thought 'inferior'
  • Jews were especially targeted, but action was also taken against other groups
  • Nazis believed Jews were responsible for many of Germany's problems
  • Romani (Gypsies) and Slavs were sent to concentration camps as they were considered racially inferior
• • People with mental or physical disabilities were murdered or sterilised
  • Many people of mixed race were sterilised against their will
  • Homosexual people were sent to concentration camps and a Central Office for the Combating of Homosexuality and Abortion was established by Himmler in 1936
• Nazi Discrimination against Jews:

  • SA organised a national boycott of Jewish businesses in 1933
  • Over time, Jews were banned from more jobs
  • Nuremberg Laws of 1935 removed legal rights from Jews and encouraged Germans to see them as inferior
  • Jews were stripped of German citizenship, banned from marrying non-Jews, and banned from sexual relationships with non-Jews
  • Jews were forced to close or sell their businesses and were banned from all employment
  • By 1938, Jewish children were banned from attending German schools and Jews were excluded from public places