1

Year 9: Life in Nazi

Germany

Work Book

What did a Nazi Woman look/act like?

- Blonde hair/blue eyes and broad hips – Nazis did not want women to be slim as they believed it had an impact on how many children they would have.

- They were seen as home bearers, they would not be allowed professional jobs such as teaching and doctors as they were banned for women.

- They must act lady like and actions such as swearing and smoking were seen as degenerate behaviour and discouraged

- WOMEN LOST THEIR PROGRESSIVE RIGHTS.

Why did Nazis need women?

- Population was not rising significantly, it had a population of 67million in 1914 and this was still the population in 1939! Germany had lost population due to deaths in WW1, so had to build back up

- Nazis needed children to form their master race so they could build their 1000 year Reich. - More German people meant that could reclaim German land lost in the Treaty of Versailles.

How did the Nazis encourage births?

- The Law for the Encouragement of Marriage 1933 – You could apply for a loan of 600 marks (which was around 9 months’ salary). This was to encourage youn couples to marry, provided the woman left her job. Couples were allowed to keep one quarter of the loan for each child born up to four

- Honour Cross – A medal system in which women would get a medal for the amount of children that they had (4 children BRONZE, 6 children SILVER, 8 children GOLD). The ceremony would happen on Hitler’s mum’s birthday (12th August Day of Honour of the German Mother)

- If you could not have children with your husband or wife, a divorce was allowed so they could remarry try again

- Women encouraged to live by the 3 K’s – Kinde, Kuche, Kirche (In English it translated to Children, Church and Kitchen).

- Young, married women were given free child care classes.- Lebensborn programme (1936) – If women did not have an Aryan husband they could go to a centre to be

impregnated by a SS Aryan solider. They could then keep the baby and be paid by the government to look after it, or hand it to the government to be taken into care and raised by the Nazis.

- Propaganda made women look like one of the most important groups in Germany in building Hitler’s empire.

How did the Nazis stop the weakening of the Master Race?

- Contraception and abortion clinics were banned (apart from abortions for children with disabilities/Jews etc.)

- Marriage loans were limited to ARYANS only- If a woman had undesirable elements, she would be sterilised (remove the ability to have children)

320,000 people were sterilised due to ‘mental deficiency’ - In 1935, the Nazis introduced the Nuremburg Laws, which prohibited sexual relationships between Jews

and Aryans. If Germans were married to a Jew, they had to divorce or risk being punished severely. - The Marriage Health Law of 1935 stressed the racial purity of women when marrying.

2

Life in Nazi Germany 1933-39

How successful were the Nazi tactics surrounding women?

Success Failure- For many women these were good times. Those hardest hit

in the Great Depression were much better off in 1935 due to measures

- Due to Nazi propaganda women’s employment actually increased. From 1937, the Nazis began to rearm and men were to join the army. This then meant women were needed to go out and work

- Women found employment easily as they were cheaper than employing men (two thirds cheaper!) were

- Women’s wages rose fast than prices- Many women supported Hitler – he received love letters and

letters of admiration. Some women asked him to father their children

- Women felt like they were doing their part in building Hitler’s 1000 year Reich and building his master race

- Women felt supported and important, as they were bearing children and building families.

- The birth rate was still only 1.5 million births per year, which was still shorter than the pre-World War 1 level.

- Some women, including Nazi party members, rebelled against Nazi policies towards them. Some secretly joined underground SPD (Socialist Democrat Party) or Communist Parties, arguing women had talents and should not be confined to the home.

- Pressure to bear children was so great that a few women who physically could not have children, kidnapped babies to been seen as providing for Germany

- Women were removed from the home and forced back into the workplace. The Nazis got rid of marriage loans and introduced a ‘duty year’ that all women had to do (work for 1 year) usually on a farm or in a family home

- The number of women working increased from 11.6 million in 1933 to 14.6 million in 1939 (taking places of men fighting in the war)

- Women were expected to return to work but also still have children

- Women were banned from certain employment (judges) and female students were not encouraged

How did women’s lives change as the war approached? Why was this a problem?

3

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Education in Nazi Germany

4

Nazi TimetableHistory:

Taught about heroes of WW1 and how Germany were cheated after the war.

Taught about the awful Weimar and how the Nazis had saved Germany.

History of Hitler and his rise to power.

Geography:

Taught about the German land that was lost in the Treaty of Versailles (Alsace Lorraine, West Prussia, Posen etc)

Taught about how Nazis wanted to gain back German land (LEBENSRAUM)

Race Study:

Teaching on how to identify the undesirable elements in society.

For example you would be taught measurements of a Jews skull and nose.

German:

Daily lessons on how to speak the language. Nazis believed that speaking the language in their country was part of being a proud German.

Eugenics:

This taught women how to choose the right partner (SS man) so that children were born and were Aryan so that Hitler could build his 1000-year Reich, based on his Master Race.

Warned girls on the perils of breeding with Jews.

Maths:

Math would focus of having an understanding of military problems. For example the weight of bombs on an aircraft and weights of food to ensure left overs were used.

Singing:

Taught students to sing the German national anthem, would be sung daily.

PE:

Timetable would make up 15% of PE. There was significant focus on physical training. The boys would do close combat fighting such as boxing, this was to help them prepare for war when they go on to join the SS.

Why was the Nazi school day timetabled like this? What was the focus of education?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Control of Teachers - SS soldiers would walk into class and observe teachers. If they felt as if teacher was not following teaching of the Nazis they would be led off.

- Teachers had to teach the curriculum of the Nazis, this caused anger with some teachers.

- Teachers had to swear an oath of loyalty.- By 1939, 200,000 teachers attended a course which told

them how to teach.- Nazis had power to sack anyone they did not approve of. In

one German state, 180 headteachers were sacked.Indoctrination of Students - Students had to give the Heil Hitler in class, show respect of

teachers.- Students were made to analyse Hitler’s speeches in lesson –

Reading his ideas- Mein Kampf was studied in depth.- Curriculum was fully based around ideas of Nazis.- Boys and girls learnt different subjects based on their future

job for the Nazis.- Boys education was focussed on preparing them for life in

the military- Girls education was focussed on girls becoming housewives

and mothersTreatment of Jews - Jews would be ridiculed in lesson and if a teacher noticed a

Jew in their class, they would be brought to the front and used as practical subjects in race studies.

- Jews were banned from education in 1938, had their own separate schools.

- Jewish teachers were banned from teaching.- Anti-Semitism was in children’s textbooks to indoctrinate

the German race further.Focus on Physical Strength - PE made up 15% of timetable, focus on physical supremacy.

- Students who failed exams in PE could have been expelled.Preparation for War - Military focus on certain subjects, for example Maths that

focused on bombs and fuel allowance in planes.

Why do you think the Nazis focussed their attention on pushing Nazi ideologies into lessons?

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5

Exam Practice: How useful is Source A for an enquiry into Education in Nazi Germany

All subjects, German, History, Geography, Chemistry and Mathematics must concentrate on military subjects …Chemistry will provide a knowledge of chemical warfare, explosives, rubber manufacture etc. while Mathematics will help young people to understand artillery calculations, ballistics, etc.

Source A: Der Angriff, Nazi newspaper, 1939

Source A is useful for an enquiry into education in Nazi Germany because _____________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

6

Hitler Youth

Name of group Age ActivitiesLittle Fellows(Pimpfe)

6-10 years Sport, hiking, camping

German Young People(Deutsches Jungvolk)

10-13 years Military preparation

Hitler Youth(Hitlerjunged)

14-18 years Training for the military

To join, girls had to be of German heritage, a German citizen and free of hereditary diseases.

Name of group Age ActivitiesYoung Girls’ League(Jungmadelbund)

10-14 years Sport, camping

League of German Maidens(Bund Deutscher Madel)

14-18 years Lessons in preparation for motherhood, a compulsory year working on the land, domestic science, physical exercise, parades and marches

Faith and Beauty(Glaube und Schonheit)

18-21 years (voluntary membership)

Why did the Nazis separate the youth organisations by gender?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

7

Nazi Boys organisations

Nazi Girls Organisations

Boys Activities Girls ActivitiesPolitical – Had to swear oath of loyalty to Hitler, attend residential courses where they were told about Nazi ideas, reporting anyone who went against Nazi ideas.

Physical training – Regular camping, regional and national sports competitions, intended to make German boys fit and healthy.

Military training – Practised skills such as map-reading and signalling. By 1938, 1.2m boys were trained in small-arms shooting, there were separate military divisions of the Hitler Youth.

Character training – Loyalty and comradeship, swearing an oath to Hitler, being plunged into ice cold water and severe punishments if they disobeyed.

Some activities similar to boys – camping, hiking, rallies and marching.

They learned to cook, make beds, sew, iron, and prepare to be homemaker and mother.

Girls would also be taught the important of racial hygiene – The ideas that they keep the German race ‘pure’. This would be focussed on choosing the correct husband

What does this tell you about the expectations of children in Nazi Germany?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Not all children were willing to agree with the Nazis plans and ideas for them. Below is information about groups opposing Nazi rule.

Edelweiss Pirates

One such opposition group was the Edelweiss Pirates. They listened to forbidden swing music (Hitler did not like it and banned it) and covered walls with anti-Nazi graffiti. Their badges, for example the edelweiss flower or skull and crossbones could recognise them. They wore clothes, which were considered outlandish by the Nazis – check shirts, dark short trousers and white socks. The earliest recorded groups were in 1934 and by 1939; they had a membership of 2,000. They were not a specific unified group but simply a loose band across many cities. In Cologne, they were called the Navajos, in Dusseldorf, they were called the Kittel Bach Pirates and in Essen, they were called the Roving Dudes. The Pirates tended to be working class youths. They created no-go areas for the Hitler Youth in their cities. Despite their activities, the Nazi authorities did not consider the Pirates to be a serious threat.

The Swing Youth

Other young people who challenged the Nazis became known as the ‘swing groups’ and tended to come from the middle classes. They took part in activities that were frowned on by the Nazis. These

8

young people loved swing music, which was hated by the Nazi government who classed it as non-German and as developed by black people and Jews. They rebelled against the order and discipline of the Nazis. Swing boys often grew their hair long and the girls wore make-up, using bright colours on their lips and fingernails.

Some students supported Nazis, the others opposed. Here are some summary points about opposing and supporting groups.

Support OpposeYoung people liked the feeling of togetherness. They were being loyal to the Fuhrer and helping him build the German Reich. One example of this was the 1936 Olympics.

Before it was made compulsory in 1936, 2/3rd of boys and girls were members of the Hitler Youth.

Edelweiss Pirate membership was around 2,000 while Hitler Youth was about 8 million.

Popularity was high at the start. As war came closer, children lost their enthusiasm.

German Maiden members loved the fact they could do activities that were similar to the boys.

Edelweiss Pirates would mock the Hitler Youth by singing mock Hitler Youth songs and telling anti-Nazi jokes.

Some young people did not like the fact that they did not have any free time

Edelweiss Pirates was a group that went against the military display and lack of freedom in Nazi GermanySwing Youth would oppose Hitler Youth by admiring American Culture, listening to jazz and wearing American clothes.

Swing Youth would arrange illegal dance parties that were attended up to 6,000 young people

Edelweiss Pirates hung around on street corners to make them hard to identify for the Gestapo. They taunted Hitler Youth members and sometimes attacked them.

For some children, the military regime was too strict for them. They felt like they were only being trained to be obedient.

Some members had little enthusiasm as they did not like being commanded. Some members purposely missed roll call (register).

How effective were student movements such as the Edelweiss Pirates in challenging the Nazis? Explain.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

9

Exam Practice Source B: From a private letter, written by a Hitler Youth member to a friend in Germany in 1936

What is life like in this camp, which is supposed to be the best example of all the Hitler Youth camps? There is little enthusiasm. We don’t have a minute of the day to ourselves. This isn’t camp life, no sir! It’s army life. Drill starts right after a very small breakfast. We would like to have athletics but there isn’t any. Instead, we have military exercised, down in the mud, till our tongues hand out of our mouths. We have only one wish: sleep, sleep and more sleep.

Source C: From a book about the Hitler Youth, published in 1954. A Hitler Youth leader is remembering what the Hitler Youth was lie in the mid-1930s

What I liked about the Hitler Youth was the comradeship. I was full of enthusiasm when I joined the Jungvolk* at the age of ten. I can still remember how deeply moved I was when I heard the club mottoes: ‘Jungvolk are hard. They can keep a secret. They are loyal. They are comrades.’ And then there were the trips, especially camping! Is anything nicer than enjoying the beauty of the homeland in the company of one’s comrades?

Interpretation 1: From Germany 1918-45 by J Cloake, published in 1997

Many young people were attracted by the exciting and interesting activities of the youth movements. There were many outdoor events such as camping and hiking as well as sports. Some enjoyed the military aspects of the youth movements, the uniforms, the marching and the discipline. Other young people liked the music that was a frequent part of the cultural activities of the military parades. There was great comradeship among the Hitler Youth.

Interpretation 2: From Germany 1858-1990: Hope, Terror and Revival by A Kitson, published in 2001

The movement became less popular towards the late 1930s as the activities became increasingly focused on preparations for war and the discipline became more strict when membership became compulsory. There was a growing resentment at the way Hitler Youth leaders acted as if they were better than members who were barely younger than they were. Some youngsters began to kick against the restrictions of the Hitler Youth.

3a. How useful are sources B and C for an enquiry into the attitudes of young people towards the Hitler Youth movement? (8 marks)

10

Think about – nature (does the nature of the source make it useful? Can you support with your own knowledge?) origin (does the origin of the source make it useful? Can you support with your own knowledge?) purpose (what is the purpose of the source? Does it make it useful?)

Source B is useful because ____________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

Source C is useful because ____________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

11

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

Feedback

3b. Study Interpretations 1 and 2. They give different views about the attitudes of young people towards the Hitler Youth movement. What is the main difference between these views? Explain your answer, using details from both interpretations. (4 marks)

12_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Identify the main view that

Interpretation 1 has about German

recovery

3c. Suggest one reason why Interpretations 1 and 2 give different views about the attitudes of young people towards the Hitler Youth movement. Use the interpretations and sources to help you answer the question (4 marks)

The reason the two interpretations give different views is because the authors have different emphases. Interpretation one focuses on ________________________________________________

13

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Use evidence from Interpretation 1 to support this view

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Whereas, Interpretation 2 focuses on ___________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3d. How far do you agree with Interpretation 2 about the attitudes of young people towards the Hitler Youth movement? Explain your answer, using both interpretations and your knowledge of the historical context (16 and 4 SPAG marks)

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

14

Make a final judgement.

Overall, I agree/disagree with Interp. 2

because…

Disagree with the view in

Interp. 2 using your own

knowledge

Disagree with the view given in

Interp. 2 using evidence from

Interp. 1

Agree with the view in Interp. 2 using your own

knowledge

State the view given in

Interpretation 2 using evidence

from the interpretation

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

15

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________

Feedback

Did Hitler and the Nazis remove unemployment?

Question AnswersWho was in charge of the Golden Years in 1924-29?What plan was signed in 1924 which secured a

16

loan from USA?What happened in American in 1929 that caused a worldwide depression?What was the number of unemployed in Germany in 1933?

Autobahns Rearmament RADMotorway project. Nazis planned a 7,000 mile network of dual-carriageway roads to improve transport in Germany.

September 1933, Hitler began construction of first autobahn. First motorway opens in 1935.By 1935, 125,000 men were employed to help create motorway. By 1938, 3,500 km was completed.

This was only one of many public works schemes. They created public buildings, bridges, coastal walls and sports facilities. SPENDING GREW.

Public works created many jobs and this helped boost Germany in terms of cheap transport.

Rearmament helped reduce unemployment in 2 ways:

1. In 1935, Hitler announced military conscription. All young German men had to serve a period in the German army. By 1939, 1.36m men were in the German army. REDUCED UNEMPLOYMENT.

2. A bigger army meant more weapons. Government spending on arms were up to 26 billion marks by 1939. Hitler needed people to help build weapons, by 1939, 72,000 people were employed to do this compared to only 4,000 in 1933.

3. Heavy industry expanded (coal and chemicals) as the need for oil, iron and steel increased for weapons

RAD was known as the Reich Labour Service. This provided paid employment for the unemployed. Provided workers for public works such as repairing roads, planting trees etc.

In 1935, RAD became compulsory for all young men to serve 6 months service (18-25). By 1935, 422,000 men were in work because of the RAD.

It was organised like an army, workers wore uniforms, lived in camps and did military drills. Rates of pay was poor and the working conditions were poor. Some men saw it as Nazi service rather than normal employment.

Invisible unemployment

The Nazis used some dubious methods to keep down the unemployment figures. The officical figures released did not include Jews dismissed from their jobs, unmarriend men under 25 who were push into National Labour schemes, women dismissed from their jobs or who gave up work to get married, opponents of the Nazis put in concentration camps. The figures also included part-time workers as well as fully employed.

Did the Nazis successfully lower unemployment? Explain yes or no (think about what they hid and HOW they employed people)

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

17

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Exam Practice: How useful is Source A for an enquiry into employment methods introduced by Hitler [8 marks]

Source A: A photograph taken in 1933. It shows Hitler personally turning the first turf to start construction of the first Autobahn.

(Remember – does the nature/origin/purpose make it useful? Explain how using your own knowledge)

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Were people better off under the Nazis?

Task: Colour code the statements with better off and worse off and complete the task below

18

Policies introduced in Germany to ‘improve’ standard of living

Organisation Purpose Positives Negatives

19

For some unskilled workers their wages were often lower than unemployment benefits. Their working week also increased from 43 to 49 hours a week

Wages went up for unskilled workers, however it did not make much difference as prices and hours went up.

Farmers were told they were incredibly important and had their debts written off. Prices were fairer and they had a 40% increase in income

Nazis set farmers unrealistic targets to meet. For example their hens had to lay 65 eggs a year or they would be punished (The farmer not the hen!!!)

Small businesses did well as Jewish competition was shut down.

Big businesses were controlled by the Nazis. They had their prices, wages and profits monitored by the government. Some businesses were forced to make certain items for the rearmament programme

By 1939, wages had risen by 20% for workers

People such as Jews found it next to impossible to get jobs. Also a lot of Germans did not enjoy their jobs as they were forced to do it.

Beauty through Labour scheme improve factory and working conditions.

Number of car owners trebled in the 1930’s

RAD forced young men from the ages 18-25 to work for 6 months in poor conditions, low pay and at threat of concentration camps.

Strength through Joy offered Germans discounted leisure activities (e.g. a trip to Italy for 2 weeks for 155 marks!) VERY VERY LOW!

Strength through Joy meant that Nazis were still controlling the people as they did activities run by Nazis, with some of the events indoctrinating them, such as theatre tickets, NAZIS CHOSE WHAT SHOWS YOU COULD SEE.

Low earners in Germany found it increasingly difficult to keep up with the price rises.

Overall do you think people were better off or worse off? Explain

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Beauty of Labour Improve working conditions

- Working conditions improved, healthier work environment

- Encouraged Germans to work more because they wanted to be at work

-

- Workers had to the improvements themselves

- Longer hours and no extra pay- If they didn’t do the work, they

could be sent to concentration camps

DAF (German Labour Front)

Replaced trade unions, which were banned. It set wages and always followed the wishes of employers

- Gave rights to workers in the workplace

- Set a minimum wage- Ensured their working week

was not too many hours

- Workers lost rights to ask for pay rises

- Workers could be punished by the DAF for poor production

- Workers week went up to 49 hours (currently a full time job is at 35 hours a week!)

Strength through Joy

Provide leisure activities

- Gave German people cheap holidays such as a 2 week holiday in Italy for 155 marks

- Gave people a chance to do things they could not do before like leave the country

- It rewarded workers loyalty

- Always under Nazi control and being watched

- Even though you were loyal, you could easily be backstabbed by others

- Volkswagen – people paid towards a car, but the money went to the war – they never received their vehicle!

Did these methods ACTUALLY improve the German standard of living? Explain

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Changes in the Standard of Living

Better off – to win workers over they needed to make Worse off – not all workers benefitted as women were

20

them feel part of the creation of the peoples community (Volksgemeinschaft)

denied employment opportunities, and basic rights of workers removed

Strength Through Joy (KdF)This was set up by the German Labour Front. The KdF tried to improved leisure time of german workers by sponsoring a wide range of leisure and cultural trips including: concerts, theatre visits, museum tours, sporting events, weekend trips, holidays and cruises. All were provided at a low cost, giving ordinary workers access to activities normal for the better off. In 1938 more than 10 million people took KdF holidays.

Beauty of LabourThis was part of the KdF that tried to improve working conditions. It organised the building of canteens, swimming pools and sports facilities. It also installed better lighting in workplaces and improved noise levels.

Volkswagen schemeIn 1938 the Labour Front organised the Volkswagen (‘people’s car’) scheme, giving workers an opportunity to subscribe five marks a week to fund eventually allowing them to own a car.

Wages Average weekly wages rose from 86 marks in 1932 to 109 mark in 1938

Food consumptionFood became a target of Nazi propaganda. Women were informed which food to buy and how to cook simple meals which were healthy and cheap. The ‘Eintopf’ (a one-pot dish of meat and vegetables) was encouraged and became known as the ‘meal of sacrifice for the nation’

Lack of freedomWorkers lost their rights under the Nazis. In 1933. Trade unions were banned and were replaced by the German Labour Front. The Labour Front was designed to have all workers and employers striving to create the Volksgemeinschaft (peoples community). The Labour Front did not allow workers to negotiate for better pay or reduced hours of work and strikes were banned. People who opposed this were rounded up and sent to concentration camps for re-education. The Reich Labour Service (RAD) made six months labour service compulsory for all men aged 19-25.

Strength Through JoyVery few workers could actually afford the expensive activities such as cruises to Madeira and Scandinavia. The Beauty of Labour programme also caused much resentment as worked had to carry out improvements in their spare time and without pay.

Volkswagen SwindleThe idea to encourage people to save to by a Volkswagen was a trick. Despite being encouraged to put aside money every week, by the time war broke out in 1939 not a single customer had taken delivery of a car! None of the money was refunded

Cost of LivingThe cost of living increased during the 1930s. all basic groceries, except fish, cost more in 1939 that they had in 1933. Food items were in short supply partly because it was government policy to reduce agricultural production.

Hours of WorkThe average working hours in industry increased from 42.9 per week in 1933 to 47 in 1939.

Overall, I think life was better/worse because…..

21

Evidence life was better for workers Evidence life was worse for workers

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Persecution of Minorities and Jews

What were Nazi Racial beliefs?

Central to Nazi policy was the creation of a pure German state. This meant treating all non-German groups, especially Jewish people, as second class citizens. Hitler's theory of race was based on the idea of the ‘master race’ and the ‘sub humans’. He tried to backup this theory by saying the Bible showed there were only two races - the Jews and the Aryans - and that God had a special purpose for the Aryans. Hitler's view was that the Aryans would be a Volksgemeinschaft - a people's community - which would work for the good of Germany. The Nazis believed that the Germans were a pure race of Aryan descent - from the Herrenvolk or ‘master race’. They were shown in art as blonde, blue-eyed, tall, lean and athletic - a people considered fit to master the world. However, this race had been contaminated by the ‘sub humans’. Hitler believed that Germany's future was dependent on the creation of a pure Aryan racial state. This would be achieved by:

selective breeding destroying the Jews

Selective breeding meant preventing anyone who did not conform to the Aryan type from having children. The SS was part of the drive for selective breeding. It recruited men who were of Aryan blood, tall, fair haired and blue eyed. They were only allowed to marry women of Aryan blood. Mixed marriages or mixed relationships are not allowed. Indeed the Nazis even encouraged SS members and Aryan women to have children out of wedlock in order to further the Herrenvolk. Jews and Slavs (people from Slavic Countries) on the other hand were believed by the Nazis to be Untermenschen or ‘sub humans’. Nazi propaganda portrayed Jews as evil moneylenders. Hitler wished to drive out the Slavs of Eastern Europe so that he could secure more land for Germany. He would enslave any who remained, though he did think that a few might be ‘Germanised’. He began to carry out this policy after 1939 when the war started. Hitler regarded the Jews as an evil force and was convinced of their involvement in a world conspiracy to destroy civilization. Hitler wanted to portray the Jews as a wandering race of people who had over the centuries infiltrated all aspects of civilized society and had to be removed.

Summarise the Nazi racial beliefs into 5 sentences!

22

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

You will need to do a bit of your own research for this!

Questions AnswersWhy were minorities a threat to Hitler?

What does asocial mean?

What does Aryan mean?

What is the difference between Eugenics and Racial Hygiene?

23

How did Hitler and the Nazis spread the message for minorities?

What is another term for hatred of Jews?

Was the hatred of Jews something new? Was it just based in Germany?

Slavs - Seen as subhuman- They were seen as different origin to Germans and

threatened the Master Race.- Nazis threatened to invade Slav countries in Eastern Europe

for Lebensraum.- SLAVS WERE PERSECUTED LESS THAN SOME.

Homosexuals - Homosexuals lowered moral standards.- 1935 – Nazis strengthened laws against homosexuality. By

1938, 8,000 were imprisoned.- Released homosexual prisoners were often sent to

concentration camps.- Laws encouraged voluntary castration.

Gypsies - Nazis believed they did not work enough or contribute enough taxes.

- Posed a threat to the racial purity.- 1936 some were forced to live in special camps with awful

conditions. One example was 600 gypsies who were forced to share 3 taps.

- 1939 – All gypsies told to prepare for deportationDisabled - 1933 – Law for the prevention of Hereditarily Diseased

Offspring – Compulsory for people to be sterilised if they were mentally ill etc.

24

- T4 Programme – 1939 – Nazis ordered the murder of babies and children who had mental or physical disabilities. 6,000 were killed.

Why did Hitler and the Nazis not want these groups of people to be in German Society? (use examples)

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Persecution of Jews

Date Event

April 1933 German citizens told to boycott Jewish shops, lawyers and doctors all over Germany.

September 1933

Jews were not allowed to inherit land

1934 Anti-Jewish Propaganda increased – Became more Anti-Semitic

1934 Some local councils banned Jews from parks and swimming pool. Some provided separate yellow park benches for Jews, to keep normal Germans safe

May 1935 Jews forbidden to join the army

September 1935

Nuremberg Laws – Banned marriages between Jews and Aryans and forbade them to have sexual relations outside of marriage.

September 1935

Jews became subjects rather than citizens – They lost majority of their rights.

- Not allowed to vote- Had to wear a yellow star on their clothes- Had to return German passports

25

1936 Anti-Semitism died down because of the Berlin Olympic games

September 1937

First time in 2 years, Hitler made a public attack on Jews. Jewish businesses were confiscated and replaced by Aryans.

April 1938 Jews had to register all their goods – Making them easier to confiscate

June-July 1938 Jewish doctors, dentists, lawyers and teachers were forbidden to treat Aryans.

July 1938 Jews had to carry identity cards, making it easier for them to be persecuted

October 1938 Jews had to have a J stamped in their passport.

November 1938

Kristallnacht – Nazis destroyed Synagogues, Jewish homes and shops

Explain how the persecution of Jews escalated in Germany 1933-1938

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Exam Practice – Give 2 things you can infer from Source A about Nazi attitudes towards Jews

26

(inference – what can you learn?) Source A suggests …..…………………………………....................................

……………………………………………..………………………………………..……..……………………………………………………………

……………………………………………..…………………………………………..…..……………………………………………………………

……………………………………………..……………………………………………....……………………………………………………………

(quote or description of what you can see in the source) I know this because the source says …………

……………………………………………..……………………………………………..……………………………………………………………

……………………………………………..……………………………………………..……………………………………………………………

……………………………………………..……………………………………………..……………………………………………………………

(inference – what can you learn?) Source A suggests …..…………………………………....................................

……………………………………………..………………………………………..……..……………………………………………………………

……………………………………………..…………………………………………..…..……………………………………………………………

……………………………………………..……………………………………………....……………………………………………………………

(quote or description of what you can see in the source) I know this because the source says …………

……………………………………………..……………………………………………..……………………………………………………………

……………………………………………..……………………………………………..……………………………………………………………

……………………………………………..……………………………………………..……………………………………………………………

Kristallnacht

27

Reasons for happening

Propaganda before this event had become seriously Anti-Semitic, some Germans had been indoctrinated in the beliefs of the Nazis.

On 7th November, a 17 year old Polish Jew, Herschel Grynszpan, went into the German embassy in Paris and shot a random German, Ernst Von Rath. He died on the 9th November.

On 8th November, Goebbels used the assassination to stir up trouble. He ordered local papers to print articles blaming the Jews. Before the serious trouble, the events only happened in Rath’s hometown.

Events

On the 9th November, the events of Kristallnacht begun. Gangs smashed and burned Jewish property and attacked Jews. One example of violence was a Jew thrown from a third floor window

814 shops, 171 homes and 191 synagogues were destroyed. Furthermore around 100 Jews were killed. Damage was so severe the event was known as the ‘Night of the Broken Glass’

Police were told to not prevent any violence against Jews but they were told not to harm Jews themselves. Instructions were also given to the SS to arrest as many Jews as the prisons could take. Was difficult to tell who was doing what due to the fact that SS and SA were not in uniform!

Some Germans were horrified and did not take part, others watched with pleasure and joined in.

During the violence, fashionably dressed women clapped and cheered the serious violence towards the Jews.

Some Germans were shocked at the violence and helped Jewish friends escape. Most Germans were scared, as the SS were not in uniform and fearful of being informed on for sticking up for Jews.

Aftermath

Jews were fined 1 billion marks for the damage that had happened.

20,000 Jews were taken because of the events and taken into concentration camps.

Seen as a trigger event to the Holocaust

Exam Practice: How far do you agree with interpretation 1 in relation to the events of Kristallnacht and Jewish Persecution (16 marks)

Interpretation 1

28

The violence (during Kristallnacht) was familiar from the behaviour of the Brownshirts in 1933. However, this time it went much further. It was clearly more widespread and more destructive. It demonstrated the hatred of Jews now gripped not only the stormtroopers and Nazi party activists but was spreading to other parts of the population – above all to the young, upon whom give years of Nazism in schools and the Hitler Youth had clearly had an effect.

Interpretation 2

This led to Kristallnacht, so called because of the thousands of Jewish shop windows which were smashed… many Germans watched the events with alarm and concern. However, the Nazi-controlled press presented it as a reaction of ordinary Germans against Jews. Most Germans did not believe this, but hardly anyone protested for fear of arrest and death.

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

29

Disagree with the view in

Interp. 1 using your own

knowledge

Disagree with the view given in

Interp. 1 using evidence from

Interp. 2

Agree with the view in Interp. 1 using your own

knowledge

State the view given in

Interpretation 1 using evidence

from the interpretation

Make a final judgement.

Overall, I agree/disagree with Interp. 1

Make a final judgement.

Overall, I agree/disagree with Interp. 1

Make a final judgement.

Overall, I agree/disagree with Interp. 1

Make a final judgement.

Overall, I agree/disagree with Interp. 1

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

30

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Feedback:

Life in Nazi Germany 1933-39

1. What were the Nazis view of women? ___________________________________________________________________________

31

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. Hitler wanted to build a 1000-year Reich, what does this mean? _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. What did Hitler do to encourage women to have more children, give three ways. a. _____________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

b. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

c. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4. Why was it important for women to have more children in Germany? _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5. What were the 3Ks women had to follow?a. _____________________________________________________________________b. _____________________________________________________________________c. _____________________________________________________________________

6. How did Hitler prevent a weakening of the Master Race? _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

7. What was Lebensborn? _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

8. What was the Honour Cross system? _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

9. What were the marriage loans? _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

10. What happened to women in employment during Hitler’s reign? _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

11. Give 2 ways women opposed Nazi rule over their livesa. _____________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

32

b. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

12. What were the two main groups of the Hitler Youth?a. ____________________________________________________________________b. _____________________________________________________________________

13. How many Hitler Youth members were there by 1938? ___________________________________________________________________________

14. How did the Hitler Youth do the following:- Prepare for war

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

- Indoctrinate children ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

- Prepare women for motherhood ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

15. Why was the Hitler Youth exciting for children? _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

16. Give an example of 3 subjects children were taught at school and explain how they were taught

a. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

b. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

c. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

17. How did the Nazis control teachers, give three ways using specific evidence?a. _____________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

b. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

c. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

33

18. How were Jewish children and teachers taught within the education system? Give 3 specific pieces of evidence

a. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

b. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

c. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

19. The Nazis reduced unemployment from 6 million to what? ___________________________________________________________________________

20. How did Hitler get the unemployment figure down? _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

21. Give 3 ways Hitler ‘hid’ the employment figuresa. _____________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

b. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

c. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

22. Give 4 ways people were better off under the Nazisa. _____________________________________________________________________b. _____________________________________________________________________c. _____________________________________________________________________d. _____________________________________________________________________

23. Give 4 ways people were not better off under the Nazisa. _____________________________________________________________________b. _____________________________________________________________________

24. What was Strength through Joy? Give one positive and one negative of it. ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Positive: _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Negative _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

34

25. What was Beauty of Labour? _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

26. What was the DAF? _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

27. What were Hitler’s views on minorities? _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

28. How did Hitler and the Nazis treat the following groups, give 3 pieces of evidence for each:- Slavs

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

- Gypsies ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

- Homosexuals ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

- People with disabilities ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

29. When were the Nuremberg Laws passed? ___________________________________________________________________________

30. What event caused the beginning of Kristallnacht? ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

31. How many Jews were arrested and taken to concentration camps by 12th November after Kristallnacht? ___________________________________________________________________________

32. Give 5 other ways the Nazis persecuted the Jews between 1933-39a. _____________________________________________________________________b. _____________________________________________________________________c. _____________________________________________________________________d. _____________________________________________________________________e. _____________________________________________________________________

How far do you agree with interpretation 2 about the role of the SS in the Nazi police state? Explain your answer using both interpretations and your own knowledge of the historical context

35Interpretation 1

An extract from Documents on Nazism 1919-45 by J. Noakes and G. Pridham, published in 1974.

Hitler needed an organisation which would not feel restrained by the law. It would act with ruthlessness and would be dedicated to expressing his will and the ideas of the Nazi movement. He found what he needed in the SS.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

36

Interpretation 1

An extract from Documents on Nazism 1919-45 by J. Noakes and G. Pridham, published in 1974.

Hitler needed an organisation which would not feel restrained by the law. It would act with ruthlessness and would be dedicated to expressing his will and the ideas of the Nazi movement. He found what he needed in the SS.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

37

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Feedback

How far do you agree with interpretation 2 about the reasons for increased support for the Nazis in the years 1929-32? Explain your answer using both interpretations and your own knowledge of the historical context.

38

Interpretation 1

From a History textbook, GCSE Modern World History. B. Walsh, published in 1996.

The Nazis won increased support after 1929 due to Hitler. He was their greatest campaigning asset. He was a powerful speaker and was years ahead of his time as a communicator. He travelled by plane on a hectic tour off rallies all over Germany. He appeared as a dynamic man of the moment, the leader of a modern party with modern ideas. At the same time, he was able to appear to be the man the people, someone who knew and understood the people and their problems. Nazi support rocketed.

Interpretation2

From a History text-book, Modern World History, T.Hewitt, J.McCabe, published in 1999.

The Depression was the main reason for increased support for the Nazis. The government was taken by surprise at the speed and extent of the Depression. It also had very few answers as to how to deal with it. The Depression brought out all the weaknesses of the Weimar Republic, which seemed to be incapable of doing anything to end it. It is not surprising that the German people began to listen to parties promising to do something. In particular they began to look to and support the Nazis.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

39

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

40

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Feedback

1) How far do you agree with interpretation 1 about the extent of German recovery in the years 1924-29? Explain your answer using both interpretations and your own knowledge.

41

Interpretation 1

From Weimar and Nazi Germany. F.Eynoldson, published in 1996.

From 1924 to 1929 the Weimar republic was much stronger than it had been just after the war. Led by Stresemann in the Reichstag, the different parties managed to work together. The extreme parties such as the Nazis gained fewer seats in the elections. The German people were better off and more contented. The Weimar Republic looked safe.

Interpretation 2

From Weimar and Nazi Germany, E Wimlott, published in 1997.

German prosperity was built on quick-sand foundations. The Weimar economy was dependent upon high-interest American loans, which usually had to be repaid and renewed within three months. In times of depression, US money lenders could demand rapid repayment. More-over, unemployment never fell below 1.3 million. Although big business grew in the 1920s, small firms struggled and many went bankrupt.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

42

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

43

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Feedback

How far do you agree with interpretation 2 about the terms of the Treaty of Versailles? Explain your answer using both interpretations and your own knowledge.

44

Interpretation 1

From Versailles and After, 1919-1933 by D.R. Hening published 1995.

Compared to the treaties which Germany imposed on defeated Russia and Rumania in 1918, the treaty of Versailles was quite moderate…The Treaty of Versailles was not excessively harsh on Germany, either territorially or economically, However, the German people were expecting victory not defeat. It was the acknowledgement of defeat as much as the treaty terms themselves, which they found so hard to accept.

Interpretation 2

From an online article, The Treaty of Versailles- the peace to end all peace, by A.Woods, 2009.

The Versailles Treaty of 1919 was one of the most outrageous treaties in history. It was a blatant act of plunder perpetrated by a gang of robbers against the helpless, prostrate and bleeding Germany, Among its numerous provisions, it required Germany and its allies to accept full responsibility for causing the war and, under the terms of the articles 231-248, to disarm, make substantial territorial concessions and pay reparations to the Entente powers.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

45

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

46

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Feedback

How far do you agree with interpretation 1 about the threat posed by Rohm to Hitler in 1934. Explain your answer using both interpretations and your own knowledge of the historical context.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

47

Interpretation 1

From Life in Germany 1919-1945, by Steve Waugh, published in 2009.

The greatest threat came from within the Nazi Party…Rohm, as a leader of the SA, was a genuine threat to Hitler’s own position as a leader. Rohm was the commander of a very large organisation of men whose members were increasingly violent and out of control…Moreover, Rohm favoured a ‘second revolution’…which would lead to more socialist policies. The purge was also the result of a power struggle (between Rohm) and leading Nazis, like Herman Goering, the leader of the SS.

Interpretation 2

From Germany 1918-45, by G. Lacey and K.Shephard, published in 1971.

The smoothness with which the murders of 30 June were carried out is powerful proof that no Rohm plot was imminent. There was no resistance encountered anywhere. Many victims unsuspectingly surrendered voluntarily, believing it was a big mistake. The only shots fired were those of the executioners.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

48

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

49

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Feedback

How far do you agree with interpretation 1 about the early development of the Nazi Party? Explain your answer using both interpretations and your own knowledge of the historical context.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

50

Interpretation 1

From Weimar and Nazi Germany, by S. Lee, published in 1996.

The (Twenty Five Point) programme contained policies which may be described as either nationalist or socialist, or both. The nationalist policies emphasised race, expansion, the army, power and relations with other countries. The Socialist policies were to do with state controls over the living conditions of the people and the economy.

Interpretation 2

An extract from The Weimar Republic by J. Hidden, published in 1996.

The NSDAP was built up not only on protest but on resentment. This is evident from its programme as well as… the party’s chief followers and leading officials. Hitler incorporated in his own person many of the major features on which his movement thrived: the deep sense of frustration, hate against Jews and Marxist (communists)…dislike of parliamentary democracy. To build up a mass movement from such beginnings and keep it together required unique personal qualities. It was clear, for example, from the very beginning that the NSDAP depended heavily on Hitler’s spectacular speaking skills.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

51

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

52

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Feedback

53