Life under the nazis

• Life changed dramatically in Nazi Germany, with much greater emphasis on militarism, restrictions on the freedom of the church and women, as well as persecution.

  All of this was achieved by stringent methods of control, with terror and propaganda regularly used. Art and culture also became more traditional, but there was resistance.
• Economy under Goering

  •In 1936 Goering introduced a Four Year Plan to get Germany ready for war.

  •The main priority was to increase military production and this created jobs in factories and shipyards.

  •Very high production targets were set and often not met in key industries.

  •The German economy was mobilised for war, but was not fully ready by 1939.
• Economy under Schacht

  •A respected banker, Schacht realised that Hitler’s plans to rearm Germany would need a lot of money and raw materials.

  •Germany did not have these materials and so he signed deals with other countries in South America and SE Europe to supply them.

  •For a short time this went well, but the speed of change was too slow for Hitler and Schacht was sacked.
• Hitler


  Went to great lengths to ensure that young people were loyal to him and the Nazi Party, by controlling all aspects of a young person's life
• Hitler believed that if people were brought up to believe in Nazi ideas, then they would become a good Nazi
• Nazi School System


  1. Aimed to use school to brainwash and indoctrinate young Germans with Nazi ideas

  2. Every subject put forward Nazi propaganda and children were taught to idolise Hitler and the Nazis

  3. There were very few opportunities for children to think for themselves, whilst the new subject of Race Studies appeared on the timetable, spreading hostility towards other races and ethnicities

  4. Textbooks were rewritten so that Nazi beliefs were accepted as facts and all teachers had to join the German Teachers League

  5. Any who did not were sacked, whilst potential leaders were identified and sent to special academies called 'Napolas' to become future Nazi leaders
• Nazis & Universities


  1. Between 1933 and 1934, 15% of university lecturers were replaced for ethnic or political reasons

  2. By 1939, over 3000 had been dismissed

  3. Leading academics such as Albert Einstein left the country, whilst his ideas were not taught because he was Jewish

  4. Courses had to reflect Nazi beliefs, whilst all students had to train for a month each year as a soldier

  5. Top professors were handpicked by the Nazis, whilst fewer Germans attended university than before as this was seen as less important by the Nazis
• The Hitler Youth


  1. In 1922, Hitler had set up his Hitler Youth organisations and wanted complete control of young people's lives

  2. These talked about Nazi beliefs and ideals, taught the importance of following Hitler and helped boys to learn military skills, whilst girls were shown how to be good wives and mothers

  3. In 1933 all other youth groups were banned and in 1936 a law passed making the Hitler Youth as important as a child's school and home life

  4. In 1939, membership of the Hitler Youth was made compulsory

  5. Boys and girls each had different experiences, but all were brainwashed to become loyal Nazis
• Nazi Economic Policy


  Hitler's aims and methods to reduce unemployment in Germany
• The National Labour Service (RAD)

  1. All men aged 18-25 had to spend six months

  2. They worked on farms, planted forests and lived in camps with free meals

  3. Only paid pocket money, but they had a job so unemployment levels decreased
• Public Work Schemes


  1. The Nazis ordered the creation of new motorways to link German towns and cities

  2. A huge number of new schools and hospitals were built as major construction projects
• Rearmament


  1. Hitler broke the Treaty of Versailles by rearming Germany

  2. He ordered the construction of tanks, battleships and an airforce, creating thousands of jobs

  3. Conscription was reintroduced, meaning all men aged 18 to 25 had to serve in the army for two years

  4. The army increased in size from 100,000 to 1,400,000 in five years
• Invisible Unemployment


  1. The Nazis did not count women who gave up work to have a family

  2. They did not include Jews in their figures

  3. They classed part-time work as full-time work
• Farmers


  1. Hitler cut taxes for farmers

  2. He guaranteed that they would not be thrown off their land if in debt

  3. Farms were secured for generations, but some of the Nazi policies restricted and angered farmers
• Self-Sufficiency


  1. The Nazis aimed to make Germany a self-sufficient nation that did not rely on importing goods, food or materials from other countries

  2. German scientists would be tasked with finding a way to make it or discovering a replacement if they didn't have something
• German Labour Front (DAF)


  1. Replaced trade unions and promised to protect the rights of workers and improve their lives

  2. Beauty of Labour (SDA) - Improved working conditions by giving better safety equipment, lighting, canteens and sports facilities

  3. Strength Through Joy (KDF) - Organised leisure activities for workers such as cheap holidays, trips to the theatre and football

  4. Volkswagen (People's Car) set up that ordinary people could afford
• What was the impact of WW2 on Germany? - Rationing

  •Supplies were needed for soldiers, so at home in Germany there were severe food shortages.

  •In November 1939 rationing on food and clothes was introduced, for example one egg per person each week.

  •Goods like soap and toilet paper were in very short supply, and hot water was rationed.
• What was the impact of WW2 on Germany? - Total War

  •In 1942 Albert Speer (Armaments Minister) organised the country for Total War.

  •The economy and industry was mobilised for war, by making weapons and growing food for soldiers.

  •Anything that didn’t contribute to the war effort such as beer houses and dance halls were closed.
• What was the impact of WW2 on Germany? - Allied Bombing

  •From 1942 Britain and America started pounding and destroying German cities and factories.

  •Thousands were killed or injured, whilst others fled as refugees.

  •This affected morale and support for the Nazis fell.
• What was the impact of WW2 on Germany? - Labour Shortages & Refugees

  •Factories stayed open longer and women were drafted in to work in them for long hours and low pay.

  •Refugees fled across Europe, many to Germany.

  •By 1944, seven million foreigners worked as slave labour in factories.
• In Weimar Germany, women had far greater freedom, increased rights, more political say and greater economic privileges. Under the Nazis these ceased, and instead there was much stricter control and limitations on the lives of women
• Primary role of a woman

  • Mother and wife
  • Provide children to grow the population
  • Look after the home
• Hitler: 'Women should stick to the Three K's "Kinder, Kirche and Kuche' (children, church and cooking)'
• Women were not seen as equal as men and female doctors, teachers, lawyers and judges were sacked. Getting a job was discouraged
• Women were banned from smoking as it was 'unladylike', whilst wearing high heels or trousers was discouraged
• Encouraging women to have children

  1. Loans given to married couples

  2. More money given for each child born

  3. Lebensborn movement set up
• Contraception and abortion were banned, whilst the Motherhood Medal was awarded annually to the mothers with the most children
• Who was on Hitler’s hate list and that he wanted to persecute?

  •Jews, Gypsies, Slavs, Blacks and Indian people.

  •‘Undesirables’ such as tramps, beggars, prostitutes and homosexuals.

  •Those with physical or mental disabilities.
• Most Germans were Christians, one third were Catholic and two thirds were Protestant. Religion was an important feature of German society.
• Reasons why some Christians supported the Nazis in the early years

  • The Nazis said they believed in the importance of marriage, family and moral values
  • The Nazis tackled communism, which Christians feared because it was anti-religious
  • Hitler promised to respect the Catholic Church
• Concordat


  Agreement signed in 1933 between Hitler and the Pope, saying that they would not interfere with one another
• Hitler broke the Concordat

  Arrested Catholic priests and closed down Catholic youth clubs and schools
• The Pope said the Nazis were 'hostile to Christ and his Church'.
• Leading Catholics criticised the actions of the Nazis, but they continued and arrested more priests.
• German Christians


  Some Protestants who admired the values of the Nazis and wanted the church under Nazi Control
• Reich Bishop


  Ludwig Muller, the leader of the German Christians
• Other Protestants hated this because they felt that the core Nazi values totally opposed those of Christianity.
• Confessional Church


  A new Protestant group set up, led by Martin Niemoller, which openly criticised the Nazis
• The Nazis arrested 800 pastors


  The Confessional Church was banned
• Niemoller was sent to a concentration camp.