nazi germany visions and realities. overview in these lessons you will examine the theories and...
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Nazi Germany
Visions and Realities
OVERVIEW
In these lessons you will examine the theories and practices of Nazi government: The “Führerprinzip” – “Leader principle” “Gleichschaltung” – “Coordination” Nazi social order Nazi economics
The Nazi system
The Nazi “leadership principle” would have resulted in a dual-class system:
“Führer”
Government
Army Citizens“SS”“SA”
Nazi Party
“Führer”
Government
Army Citizens“SS”“SA”
Nazi Party
In reality, the lack of clear guidelines created redundancy and internal struggles for political favour:
• In order to gain power, Hitler needed a wide base of support – the party platform included socialist elements
• Ernst Rohm, leader of the SA, was in favour of more socialist changes and replacement of the Reichswehr
• In return for financial support of the industrialists and personal loyalty of the army, Hitler used the SS to destroy the SA leadership
NIGHT OF THE LONG KNIVES
“Gleichschaltung”
• German society was to be rebuilt or “coordinated” from the ground up
• Social interests were to be aligned with state interests
• The process towards the new social order resulted in shifts of priorities and trade-offs
What they gained:• Factory conditions were
improved• Kindergartens were provided• Working environments were
beautified• Athletic facilities were provided• “Kraft durch Freude” (‘Strength
through Joy”) provided free theatre tickets and adult education courses; foreign travel was subsidized by the state.
• Decreases in general unemployment and economic stability
What they lost:• The right to organize• The right to collective
bargaining• Freedom of occupational
choice• Freedom of movement
Life for the worker
Life for the worker
Life for youth
What they gained:• Increased physical education• Special schools for future leaders
and politicians
What they lost:• Often seen as a replacement of
family and school in terms of influence
• Loss of respect for intellectuals and teachers
• Loss of energy and support for academic studies
• The replacement of gifted professors and teachers on the basis of race and politics
Life for women
What they gained:• Marriage loans for newly-married
women
What they lost:• Female doctors and civil servants
were dismissed in 1933• By 1935, female secondary
teachers fell by 15% and were no longer allowed to take teacher training programs
• After June 1936, females were not permitted to be judges
Nazi economics
Economic planning was oriented towards three goals:
1. Build a powerful military
2. Rapidly decrease unemployment
3. Make Germany economically self-sufficient (autarky)
Government spending and inflation increased:
1. From 1933-1939, the military budget increased by 16 times
2. Work schemes, such as the “autobahn”, helped reduce unemployment
3. Germany began making plans to take Austria, Czechoslovakia and Poland
Nazi economics
Nazi economics
Summary Questions
• How did the Nazi political system ensure that Hitler would remain unchallenged?
• In what ways were Hitler and Stalin similar?• What were German social groups willing to
give up in return for stability?• Why would Nazi economics naturally result in
war?