A2 History: Social policies in Nazi Germany

After the Papal encyclical 'With burning grief' in 1937, how did the Nazis respond?

Agents were placed inside churches, and even tighter restrictions placed on the Catholic press, monasteries were closed and assets seized, 200 priests were arrested and tried on sex charges, and by 1939 all Catholic schools had been converted into community schools.

What elements of the BDM were unpopular?

Among many city girls, a years work on the land or in a domestic service was extremely unpopular, with many trying to avoid it. The scheme, however, became compulsory in 1939.

Did the Nazis uphold the Concordat?

By the summer of 1933, property was seized from Catholics and newspapers had to drop 'Catholic' from their name. Priests were placed under surveillance and some were executed in the 'Night of the Long Knives'. The Catholic response was to make declarations of the support for the regime, hoping this would protect the Catholic church.

Why was the BDM so popular among young girls?

It offered them chances that they could not experience at home, and was liberating for many. It helped develop a sense of comradeship that superseded class lines, part of the Nazi strategy.

How did the generational shift affect the persecution of the Catholic Church?

Nazis denied younger Catholics the ability to attend Church schools or Catholic youth groups, while older Catholics, particularly in rural areas still attended services. These older Catholics also faced internal conflict, between being seen as 'good Germans' or stick with their faith.

What techniques did the Nazis employ to win over Workers?

The DAF employed constant propaganda, the aims of which were to make workers accept lower wages and living standards as a sacrifice for the state. It also had several subsidiary organisations, one of which was the KdF (Strength through Joy).

What was the 'Reichskonkordat'?

An agreement between the Catholics and Nazis that meant the Vatican recognised the Nazis and promised not to interfere with politics, as long as the state would not interfere with Catholic affiliated organisations.

How effective was this campaign?

By 1939, 5% of the population could be considered to be people who held religious beliefs but had renounced official membership.

How did the Nazis intend to win over working class industrial workers?

Due to their links to Trade unions, the Nazis banned trade unions in mid 1933 and then incorporated them into the German Labour Front.

What was the Confessional Church?

Formed by Martin Niemoeller and Dietrich Bonhoeffer, it consisted of around 5000 pastors and advocated a purely bible based theology. In direct conflict with the state, the Nazis attempted to exploit divisions within it as well as repress members of it.

Why were many Protestants supportive of the Nazi regime?

Many German protestants were extremely nationalistic, anti-Semitic and anti-communist, meaning they shared many common values with the Nazis themselves.

What schemes were implemented by the Nazis to increase the birth rate?

Marriage loans were introduced for a women who left work and married an Aryan. For each child born, the repayment was reduced by a quarter. Women with a certain amount of children were awarded medals for 'donating a baby to the Führer' Abortion was restricted and birth control discouraged, and women were encouraged to lead a more healthy life

After criticism from Clemens von Galen, how was pressure increased on the Catholic Church?

Permission to hold meetings was severely restricted, Catholic newspapers and magazines were censored and catholic lay organisations had property seized.

What was the Nazi policy towards churches?

Policy towards churches was disjointed, given the difference of opinions among Nazis. Also, Hitler had to be careful not to alienate the churches, since people were still often deeply religious.

How were universities affected by Nazi social policy?

Selection was based mainly around political reliability, with Jews (1.5%) and Women (10%) limited in available spaces. Students had to join the German Students League, and teachers sign a declaration in support of the State and Hitler. Students also had to do 4 months labour service and 2 months in an SA camp. Due to the nationalist and anti democratic opinions, very little resistance was encountered.

How was this to be achieved?

Special care was taken to indoctrinate the youth, as opinions had not fully formed. By brainwashing them, the Nazis would create a new generation of loyal men and women willing to execute the will of Hitler.

How did it achieve this?

Subsidised holidays abroad were offered by the regime both home and abroad, as well as theatre and cinema trips. Concerts were put on in lunch breaks and there was a KdF warden in every workplace employing more than 20 people. The organisation had over 7000 paid employees by 1939.

How did Nazi social policy affect schools?

Teachers who were Jewish or unreliable were dismissed, and forced to join the National Socialist Teacher's League. Many teachers were obedient towards the regime, however. The curriculum was also changed so political indoctrination seeped into every aspect, such as military drills in PE, or racial biology and natural selection in biology. In Geography the notions of 'lebensraum' and 'blut und boden' were also taught.

How did the League of German Girls operate?

The BDM helped prepare girls for their roles as child bearers and housewives, keeping their bodies healthy as they 'belonged to the nation'. They undertook a wide variety of activities, such as home evenings, faith and beauty groups as well as political indoctrination.

Why was this not necessarily the case in reality?

The Catholics wanted to be accepted into Germany so the church was willing to compromise, and also shared the anti-communist and often anti-Semitic tenets of Nazism.

What organisations helped promote these aims?

The German Women's League had over 6 million members in 1939, with 70% non Nazi party members. The Reich Mothers service also offered training to prepare women for motherhood, with over 1.7 million women having attended its courses by March 1939.

What is the KdF?

The KdF was an organisation that organised workers leisure time with the hope that enriching experiences would increase productivity at work. The organisation of leisure time again helped submerge and indoctrinate the individual, as well as being different classes and groups of people together.

How were youth affected by the Hitler Youth?

The Nazi state heavily promoted the HJ, making it the only permitted youth group equal in importance to school. By 1939 membership was compulsory. It focused heavily on the military and political indoctrination, swearing allegiance to Hitler, but the activities such as hikes and camps made it an attractive proposition to many boys.

What were the Nazi policies towards Women?

The Nazis were alarmed by the lowering birth rate, caused by the influences of contraception and employment, and devised a series of schemes to reduce employment among women and to help increase the birthrate.

What was the Reich Church?

The Reich Church was the result of the coordination of the Protestant Evangelical church; led by Ludwig Mueller. As a state institution, the Aryan Paragraph was adopted with 18 pastors being dismissed for having converted from Judaism.

How successful was Nazi policy towards the Church?

The attempt to establish a single, unified state controlled church had failed, and many top Nazis still had differing opinions on the matter. The concordat was death, yet organised religion in Nazi Germany was not.

How did Boys view the HJ by the late 1930s?

The constant drills and discipline alienated many, and enthusiasm for it decreased. Poor attendance became common place and there was a lot of resentment for harsh penalties imposed for minor infractions.

KdF: Myth vs Reality

The cruise ships were one example of where the solidarity proposed by a volksgemeinschaft failed to materialise. The best cabins went to party officials and very few working class could afford tickets. There was a lot of riotous behaviour and drunken brawls.

What was the German Labour Front?

The only organisation representing workers, the DAF quickly became the largest organisation in Germany. They aimed to incorporate workers into the Volksgemeinschaft, and to increase industrial production. They were not a trade union themselves, and had little influence over wages.

How did Hitler aim to create a 'Volksgemeinschaft'?

They believed the individual should have no free time to act or think independently of the regime. The elimination or indoctrination of opposition would create a race willing to make personal sacrifices for the Führer.

Why did the Catholic Church pose a greater threat to the Nazis?

They were part of an international church that pledged obedience to the Pope that undermined the unity of Germany. Also, the Catholic voters were some of the most unlikely to vote for the Nazis in the 1930s.

What policies were introduced to persuade party members to renounce religious membership?

Under the Church secession campaign, party members could not hold any office in either Christian church, pastors could not play any part in the party, and pressure was put on civil servants, teachers to renounce faith.

How effective were the Nazis in their aims towards Women?

While the birth rate was increasing, many women had to enter paid work after 1936 due to a shortage of labour caused by the re-armament.