iGCSE History Depth Study B: What Was it Like to Live in Nazi Germany?

What was the aim of Nazi youth policies?

To indoctrinate young people with Nazi ideas and secure long-term support.

What were the main Nazi youth organisations?

Hitler Youth for boys, League of German Maidens for girls.

What was the 'Faith and Beauty Society'?

A sub-group of the BDM for girls aged 17–21 to prepare them for the National Socialist Women's League.

What subjects were emphasised in Nazi education?

Eugenics, PE, racial purity, Nazi ideology; Mein Kampf was compulsory.

Who controlled education and teachers?

Bernhard Rust; teachers had to join the Nazi Teachers' League and swear loyalty to Hitler.

What were Napolas?

Elite schools for 'racially pure' boys to train future SS and Nazi leaders.

What were the 'three Ks' for women?

Kinder (children), Küche (kitchen), Kirche (church).

Who led Nazi women's policies?

Gertrud Scholtz-Klink, head of the National Socialist Women's League.

What was the Law for the Encouragement of Marriage (1933)?

Loans of 1,000 marks to married couples if women left work; 4 children = loan cancellation.

What was the Lebensborn Programme?

Started by Himmler; SS men fathered 'racially pure' children with single women.

What was the Mother's Cross?

Medals given to women for having 4+ children; gold for 8+, honoured by Hitler Youth.

How successful were Nazi policies on women?

Mixed — birth rate rose, but war forced women back to work.

What was the Labour Front (DAF)?

Replaced trade unions; controlled wages, hours, and workers' rights.

What was Strength Through Joy (KdF)?

Provided leisure activities, holidays, and a Volkswagen scheme (no cars delivered).

What was Beauty of Labour (SdA)?

Improved workplace facilities but workers had to contribute time and effort unpaid.

What was invisible unemployment?

Women and minority groups were excluded from stats, making figures seem better.

How did wages and food prices change?

Wages rose, but food prices rose faster; unskilled workers worse off.

How did the Nazis reduce unemployment?

Public works, RAD, autobahn building, rearmament, conscription.

What was the RAD?

National Labour Service; 6-month compulsory service for men aged 18–25.

What was the impact of rearmament?

1.4 million in army by 1939, armament spending rose from 3.5 to 26 billion marks.

What was the New Plan (1934)?

Dr Schacht's plan to cut welfare, boost trade and industry; reduced unemployment.

What changed during WWII in Germany?

Bombings, rationing, conscription, shortages, and total war.

What was the Four-Year Plan?

Goering's plan to achieve autarky, focus on rearmament, and increase farming.

Who replaced Schacht and why?

Goering in 1936 — Hitler wanted more radical economic policy.

What was Speer’s role?

Minister of Armaments from 1942; improved war production but too late.

How were women affected by WWII?

Forced into war work; faced bombings, rationing, poor conditions.

How were Jews affected by the war?

Ghettos, Einsatzgruppen, Final Solution, 6 million murdered.

How were children affected by war?

Some joined Volkssturm at 12, helped after bombings, or hid enemies.

How were Poles treated under Nazi rule?

Property taken, forced labour, many died in camps.