Third Reich: Different Social Groups In Nazi Germany
Modern History Assessment Eloise Archer
Throughout the Third Reich different social groups played different roles in Nazi Germany. Three Prominent groups that had a substantial effect on the period in which the Nazis ruled are the Youth, the German women and the Churches. Each responded differently to the ideas and policies of the Nazis.
The indoctrination of young people was an important factor in the Nazi regime. Hitler saw that implementing the Nazi Party’s ideology in the children of Germany was a key part in ensuring the validity of the ‘thousand year Reich’. Adolf Hitler, leader of the Nazi Party shared his view of the youth when he stated “ In my great educative work, I am beginning with the young. We older ones are used up…we …show more content…
The Hitler youth were described by the Social Democrats as ‘coarsening’ the young, and creating a violent generation. “The Hitler Youth Movement and Nazified school system were driving a wedge between parents and their children, who were being indoctrined at every stage of their lives” (Evan, R. J 2005). The more the Hitler Youth became focused on serving the state, the less interested children were in participating. “Although membership in the Hitler Youth grew…close to 9 million in 1939, the Nazis never succeeded in forcing all members into its ranks” (Stackelberg, R and Winkle, S 2002). It has been widely considered amongst historians that inevitably the Hitler Youth turned an entire generation against the Nazis, as they grew discontented and disappointed with the regime. The severely anti Semitic and anti Christian theories drilled into the youth created an arrogant and one sided generation that grew tiresome of its political leaders, and may have contributed to the fall of the third …show more content…
Although the Nazis implemented many of their policies on the people of Germany, they never succeeded in becoming a full totalitarian state, and gaining total control over the masses of Germany.
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Books:
Cantwell, T, Cartlidge, B, Le Cornu, D, Kiem, P, Marchetto, A, Martin, D, Mootz, D, Panczyk and Pyne, M, 2003, HTA Modern History Study Guide, History Teachers Association, Sydney.
Collier, M and Pealy, P, 2000, Germany: 1919-45, Heinemann Educational Publishers Oxford.
Darlington, R and Green, V, 2003, Flashpoints – National and International Studies, Harcourt Education, Melbourne
Evans, R.J, 2005, The Third Reich in Power, Penguin Group, London.
Hinton, C and Hite, J, 2000, Weimar and Nazi Germany, John Murray Publishers Ltd, London.
McDonough, F, 1999, Hitler and Nazi Germany, Cambridge University Press, United Kingdom.
Rees, L, 1997, The Nazis: a Warning from History, BBC Worldwide Ltd, London
Ringer, R, 2002, Excel Modern History, Pascal Press, Sydney.
Stackelberg, R and Winkle, S. A, 2002, The Nazi Germany Sourcebook – an Anthropology of Texts, Routledge, London.
Webb, K, 1999, Get Smart - Modern History, Science Press
Throughout the Third Reich different social groups played different roles in Nazi Germany. Three Prominent groups that had a substantial effect on the period in which the Nazis ruled are the Youth, the German women and the Churches. Each responded differently to the ideas and policies of the Nazis.
The indoctrination of young people was an important factor in the Nazi regime. Hitler saw that implementing the Nazi Party’s ideology in the children of Germany was a key part in ensuring the validity of the ‘thousand year Reich’. Adolf Hitler, leader of the Nazi Party shared his view of the youth when he stated “ In my great educative work, I am beginning with the young. We older ones are used up…we …show more content…
The Hitler youth were described by the Social Democrats as ‘coarsening’ the young, and creating a violent generation. “The Hitler Youth Movement and Nazified school system were driving a wedge between parents and their children, who were being indoctrined at every stage of their lives” (Evan, R. J 2005). The more the Hitler Youth became focused on serving the state, the less interested children were in participating. “Although membership in the Hitler Youth grew…close to 9 million in 1939, the Nazis never succeeded in forcing all members into its ranks” (Stackelberg, R and Winkle, S 2002). It has been widely considered amongst historians that inevitably the Hitler Youth turned an entire generation against the Nazis, as they grew discontented and disappointed with the regime. The severely anti Semitic and anti Christian theories drilled into the youth created an arrogant and one sided generation that grew tiresome of its political leaders, and may have contributed to the fall of the third …show more content…
Although the Nazis implemented many of their policies on the people of Germany, they never succeeded in becoming a full totalitarian state, and gaining total control over the masses of Germany.
BIBLIOGRAPHY:
Books:
Cantwell, T, Cartlidge, B, Le Cornu, D, Kiem, P, Marchetto, A, Martin, D, Mootz, D, Panczyk and Pyne, M, 2003, HTA Modern History Study Guide, History Teachers Association, Sydney.
Collier, M and Pealy, P, 2000, Germany: 1919-45, Heinemann Educational Publishers Oxford.
Darlington, R and Green, V, 2003, Flashpoints – National and International Studies, Harcourt Education, Melbourne
Evans, R.J, 2005, The Third Reich in Power, Penguin Group, London.
Hinton, C and Hite, J, 2000, Weimar and Nazi Germany, John Murray Publishers Ltd, London.
McDonough, F, 1999, Hitler and Nazi Germany, Cambridge University Press, United Kingdom.
Rees, L, 1997, The Nazis: a Warning from History, BBC Worldwide Ltd, London
Ringer, R, 2002, Excel Modern History, Pascal Press, Sydney.
Stackelberg, R and Winkle, S. A, 2002, The Nazi Germany Sourcebook – an Anthropology of Texts, Routledge, London.
Webb, K, 1999, Get Smart - Modern History, Science Press