Eduqas History: Nazi Economic, Social and Racial Policy

Name some economic problems faced by Germany in 1933

Impacted by global depression and withdrawal of loans, 40% of workforce unemployed, hunger and poverty, lack of investment and development in infrastructure, poor morale

Name 6 things Hitler did (as a chancellor) to reduce Germany's economic problems

RAD, Job Creation, Invisible Unemployment, Rearmament, DAF, KdF

What was the National Labour Service (RAD)?

Scheme to provide young men with manual labour jobs

When was the RAD made compulsory? How long did men have to serve for as a minimum?

1935, 6 months minimum

When was the RAD extended to women?

1939

Name features of the RAD

Wore uniforms, v. low pay, learnt military skills

How did the RAD help to solve Germany's economic problems?

It reduced unemployment

What happened to spending on job creation, and how much did it change?

It increased from 18.4bn marks in 1933 to 37.1bn marks in 1938

What was one specific target to do by increasing jobs?

To build 7000km of Autobahns (motorways)

How did job creation help to solve Germany's economic problems?

Increased investment + development on infrastructure and reduced unemployment

What was invisible unemployment?

Figures of unemployment within some categories of people were hidden to make the economic situation seem better than it was

Name the categories of hidden unemployment figures

Didn't contain unemployed Jews, unemployed men under 25 who were in the RAD, unemployed women who were dismissed/married, opponents of Nazis in concentration camps

In 1939, how many men were listed unemployed?

35,000

In 1939, what was the listed total amount of people in the workforce?

25m

How did invisible unemployment seem to help solve Germany's economic problems?

It boosted morale (the situation isn't as bad as previously thought, BUT it doesn't solve unemployment problems)

What was rearmament?

Building up armed forces

When did Hitler enforce conscription? How did members of the army change afterwards?

1935; 100,000 in 1933 became 1.4m in 1939

Name how production of goods were increased

Coal and chemical usage doubled; oil, iron and steel production trebled, all from 1933-39

How did the money spent on rearmament change?

From 3.5bn marks in 1933 to 26bn marks in 1939

How did rearmament help to solve Germany's economic problems?

It reduced unemployment and increased spending on development + infrastructure

What was the German Labour Force (DAF)?

An organisation that banned all trade unions to improve German workers' lives.

When was the DAF set up, and under who was it set up under?

2 May 1933 under Robert Ley

How many members did the DAF have by 1939?

22m

Name some features of the DAF

Workers given job security, high wages, social + leisure programmes

What was the Volkswagen scheme?

A scheme in 1938 for families to pay 5 marks a week to eventually own a car

Did the Volkswagen scheme work?

People did pay the 5 marks a week, but the did not own a car by the end; the money was used to

How did the DAF help to solve Germany's economic problems?

Boosted morale

What was the Strength through Joy (KdF) campaign?

An organisation that replaced trade unions that aimed to improve the German people's leisure time by sponsoring leisure + cultural trips

How many people went on KdF holidays in 1938?

10m (at low costs)

What was the Beauty of Work?

Department that tried to improve working conditions

What else did the KdF do as a result of their existence?

Decrease (and banned) strikes

How did the KdF help to solve Germany's economic problems?

Boosted morale

Name features of a 1920s Weimar woman

Went out unescorted, drank and smoked in public, fashion conscious, wore short skirts and make-up, took up jobs, voted in elections.

In 1933, what % of members of the Reichstag were female?

10%

Name common jobs taken by Weimar women in the 1920s

Civil service, law, medicine, teaching

By 1933, how many female teachers and doctors were there?

100,000 teachers and 3000 doctors

What age did women have to be to vote in 1920s?

20

Name features of an ideal Nazi woman

Didn't wear make-up, blonde, heavy-hipped, athletic, wore flat shoes and a full skirt, didn't smoke, didn't work, was a housewife, produced lots of children and took no interest in politics

What were the 3 Ks?

children, kitchen, church

When was the Law for the Encouragement of Marriage introduced?

1933

What did the Law of Encouragement of Marriage do?

Aimed to increase the birth rate by giving loans to young couples (but only if the wife left her job)

How much of the Law of Encouragement of Marriage loans could young couples keep?

25% for up to 4 children

What was the Motherhood Cross?

Medals awarded to women with large families on 12 August annually (Hitler's mother's birthday)

When were the Divorce Laws changed?

1938

How were the Divorce Laws changed?

Only possible in a childless marriage

What does Lebensborn mean?

Life springs

What was Lebensborn?

Specially chosen unmarried women could 'donate a baby to the Führer' by becoming pregnant by "racially pure" SS men

What was the German Women's Enterprise?

Organised classes and radio talks on household topics and the skills of motherhood

As a result of Nazi polices aimed at women, did the birth rate increase?

Very slightly; was still 1.5m lower than pre-WW1

As a result of Nazi polices aimed at women, did the number of employed women decrease?

No, it rose from 4.2m in Jan 1933 to 5.47 m in June 1936 (Though this helped Germany in equipping herself for WW2)

As a result of Nazi polices aimed at women, did the number of women interested/ involved in politics decrease?

No, it stayed the same

Overall, did Nazi polices aimed at women succeed?

No - there was minimal success

4 reasons why Hitler felt he needed a special set of policies for youths

Plans for a growing population (links to policy on women), plans for a war (needs troops in the future), young and impressionable children could grow into loyal Nazis, could reduce opposition

How did the Nazis change life for young people - Textbooks

Rewritten to fit Nazi ideals, had to be approved by Ministry of Education, Mein Kampf became a standard text

How did the Nazis change life for young people - Teachers

Had to swear an oath to Hitler and join Nazi Teachers' League, had to promote Nazi ideals

How many teachers had joined the Nazi Teachers' League by 1937?

97%

How many teachers had joined the Nazi party by 1936?

36%

How did the Nazis change life for young people - lessons

Began and ended with children saying 'Heil Hitler', Nazi themes presented in each subject (e.g. maths problems dealt with social issues like Judaism)

How did the Nazis change life for young people - curriculum

Changed to prepare children for future jobs, 15% of time was P.E. (Hitler wanted fit and healthy people), RE made optional

How did the Nazis change life for young people - boys at school

Emphasis on militaristic training, like marching

How did the Nazis change life for young people - girls at school

Girls took needlework and homecraft, especially cookery, to prepare for housewifery

How did the Nazis change life for young people - Hitler Youth in general

Aim was to use children's leisure time to convert them to Nazism, all other youth organisations banned

When did membership of the Hitler Youth become compulsory?

1939

By 1939, how many Hitler Youth members were there?

7 million

How did the Nazis change life for young people - boys in the Hitler Youth

Boys learnt Nazi songs, ideals and military skills

Why did most boys enjoy Hitler Youth?

They enjoyed the comradeship and being near the girls

When were boys part of the Hitler Youth?

Ages 14-18

How did the Nazis change life for young people - girls in the League of German Maidens

Girls didn't learn military skills but learnt cooking and domestic skills

When were girls part of the League of German Maidens?

Ages 14-18

Reasons Hitler's focus on youth was successful

97% of teachers part of the Nazi Teachers' League, creation of Nazi Teachers' League, children exposed to so much propaganda they must've learnt something

Reasons Hitler's focus on youth was unsuccessful

Some teenagers rebelled as it was too militaristic and freedom-depriving, not may attended Hitler Youth events, teenagers enjoyed the company of friends and being soldiers rather than to be Nazis, teachers forced, fact it was made compulsory suggests it wasn't very popular

Jew

Either someone who is racially Jewish/culturally Jewish/ follows the religion of Judaism

Anti-Semitism

Hostility towards/discrimination against Jews as a religious group/culture/race

What did Nazis believe German people were?

A pure race of Aryan descent

What were the Aryans referred to by Nazis?

The 'Master Race'

What did Nazis believe Jews were?

An evil force who wanted to destroy civilisation

What were Jews referred to by Nazis?

'Sub-humans'

How were Aryans portrayed by the Nazis?

Blond, blue-eyed, tall, lean and athletic; people fit to master the world

How were Jews portrayed by the Nazis?

Evil moneylenders, communists, evil; 'sub-human'

Where were Anti-Semitic views first seen from the NSDAP?

Mein Kampf

Which group of Jews were targed most, and how?

Young people through anti-Semitic textbooks, materials in classrooms and even children's picture books

Nazi racism in education: What happened in October 1936?

Jewish teachers couldn't offer private tuition

Nazi racism in education: What happened in November 1938?

Jewish children expelled from German schools

Why did Nazis focus anti-Semitism in schools first?

To ensure that when Hitler is dead/not Fuhrer, anti-Semitism continues

Laws against Jews - political - 1933

Jews excluded from government jobs, books burnt

Laws against Jews - political - 1935

Jews no longer drafted into army

Laws against Jews - political - 15 Sept 1935

Nuremburg Laws passed

Laws against Jews - political - 1938

Had red letter 'J' stamped on their passports

Laws against Jews - economic - 1933

Boycott of Jewish shops

Laws against Jews - economic - 1936

Jewish professional activity banned like vets, dentists, nurses, accountants, surveyors, teachers

Laws against Jews - economic - 1937

Hitler publicly attacked Jews, more Jewish businesses taken over

Laws against Jews - social - 1933

Jews banned from inheriting land

Laws against Jews - social - 1934

local councils banned Jews from public spaces such as parks, playing fields, swimming pools

Laws against Jews - social - 1935

Restaurants closed to them

Laws against Jews - social - 1938

Had to register possessions, carry identity cards, Jewish dentists/doctors/lawyers stopped from treating Aryans, men forced to add 'Israel' to their name, women forced to add 'Sarah' to their name

What were the Nuremberg Laws?

They excluded Jews from German citizenship, the right to vote and forbade marriages between Jews and German citizens

When was Kristallnacht?

9-10 November 1938

What does Kristallnacht mean?

Crystal night/Night of the Broken Glass

What happened on 8 Nov 1938?

Polish Jew - Grynszpan - walked into German Embassy in Paris and shot the first official he saw

What was Grynszpan protesting against?

The treatment of his parents in Germany who were deported to Poland