DEPTH B3; ECONOMIC POLICY INCLUDING RE-ARMAMENT

The Nazi regime's economic policy can be understood through its focus on rearmament and
preparation for war, alongside some elements of state intervention and public welfare. The Nazis
also tried to make Germany self-sufficient - that is to produce all the goods it needed without
having to rely on imported supplies. They called this policy ‘Autarky’.
The Nazis also implemented a major programme of public works, such as building and repairing
roads, railways and houses. This significantly helped reduce unemployment, as did large-scale
military rearmament. Here's a breakdown:

Focus on Rearmament:
 Primary Goal: The Nazi's main economic priority was to rebuild and expand Germany's
military in preparation for territorial expansion. This meant allocating significant
resources to arms production, infrastructure development, and research in military
technology.
 Investment: Massive investments were made in industries essential for rearmament, such
as steel, chemicals, and engineering. These investments led to economic growth and job
creation, but it came at the cost of neglecting other sectors and creating inflation.
 Four Year Plan (1936-1940): This key economic plan, overseen by Hermann Göring,
aimed to make Germany self-sufficient in raw materials and prepare the economy for
wartime production.
State Intervention and Public Welfare:
 Anti-Capitalist Rhetoric: Despite their reliance on private industry for rearmament, the
Nazis were ideologically opposed to laissez-faire capitalism. They advocated for a strong
state role in guiding the economy and controlling prices.
 Public Works Programs: The government initiated public works projects like autobahn
construction and land reclamation to stimulate the economy and reduce unemployment.
These programs offered work opportunities and improved infrastructure, but were also
used to promote Nazi ideology and propaganda.
 Social Welfare measures: To prevent social unrest and maintain public support, the Nazis
implemented some social welfare programs, such as affordable housing, maternity
benefits, and leisure activities. However, these measures were limited and primarily
aimed at "worthy" Germans, excluding Jews, Roma, and other marginalized groups.
The Contradictions:
  Unsustainable Spending: The focus on rearmament led to massive government deficits
and debt accumulation. The regime relied on foreign borrowing and plundering
conquered territories to sustain its spending, which ultimately proved unsustainable.
 Neglect of Consumer Goods: With resources diverted towards armament, production of
consumer goods declined, leading to shortages and rationing. This caused discontent
among the population despite improvements in employment.
 War as an Economic Solution: The Nazis ultimately believed that war and territorial
expansion were necessary to solve their economic problems, a gamble that ultimately led
to their downfall.
Conclusion:
The Nazi regime's economic policy was a complex combination of rearmament, state
intervention, and some public welfare measures. While it achieved some temporary successes in
job creation and industrial growth, it was ultimately unsustainable and driven by aggressive
expansionist aims. Studying this period serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of
militarization and the fragility of economies built on war.

Women and Young People under Nazi Rule

The Nazi regime in Germany (1933-1945) cast a long shadow over lives and destinies, and the
experiences of women and young people within this oppressive system were vastly different and
yet intricately intertwined.
Women:
 Confined to "Kinder, Küche, Kirche" (Children, Kitchen, Church): The Nazi ideal
prescribed a subservient role for women, focusing solely on domestic duties, childrearing,
and religious adherence. Education and career opportunities were largely restricted, while
political participation was virtually non-existent. Hitler wanted Germany to have a high
birth rate, so the population would grow. The Nazis even considered making it law that
families should have at least four children. The Law for the Encouragement of Marriage
gave newly-wed couples a loan of 1,000 marks, and allowed them to keep 250 marks for
each child they had. Mothers who had more than eight children were given a gold medal.
 Persecution and Resistance: Jewish women, along with other persecuted groups, faced
the additional horrors of discrimination, expulsion, and even extermination. Yet, many
bravely resisted or engaged in covert support networks, showcasing remarkable resilience
and defiance.
 Double Burden of War: As husbands and sons departed for the front, women shouldered
the responsibility of maintaining families and running homes amidst wartime shortages
and anxieties. The psychological toll was immense, leaving lasting scars on generations.
  Lifestyle: Women were supposed to copy traditional German peasant dress - plain
peasant costumes, hair in plaits or buns and flat shoes. They were expected not to wear
make-up or trousers, dye their hair or smoke in public.

Young People:
 Indoctrination through the Hitler Youth: From a tender age, youth were systematically
indoctrinated with Nazi ideology through organizations like the Hitler Youth and Bund
Deutscher Mädel (League of German Girls). This involved rigorous physical training,
militaristic exercises, and intense ideological indoctrination, aiming to mold them into
loyal subjects of the Reich.
 Loss of Education and Opportunities: As resources were directed towards war efforts,
educational opportunities for young people declined. Many were diverted into vocational
training or directly into the workforce, limiting their academic and personal development.
 Exploitation and Sacrifice: Young people were increasingly mobilized for work in
factories, farms, and even directly contributing to the war effort. This exposed them to
dangerous conditions, physical exhaustion, and psychological trauma, all at a crucial
stage of their lives.
 Resistance and Moral Dilemmas: Not all young people embraced the Nazi ideology.
Some expressed dissent through covert forms of resistance, while others grappled with
moral dilemmas and the increasing brutality around them. The psychological
complexities of growing up in such a hostile environment left lifelong scars.
Intersections and Shared Experiences:
While their experiences differed, women and young people also shared some common burdens:
 Loss of Individual Liberties: Both groups faced restrictions on personal freedoms, with
limitations on their choices, associations, and expression.
 Pressure to Conform: Constant propaganda and social pressure forced both women and
young people to conform to prescribed roles and ideals, stifling individuality and critical
thinking.
 Witnessing Brutality and Violence: Both were exposed to the brutality and violence
inherent in the Nazi regime, leaving lasting psychological traumas that reverberated
through their lives.
ANTI SEMITISM
Anti-Semitism was deeply woven into the fabric of Nazi Germany, serving as a central pillar of
their hateful ideology and fueling the horrific persecution and genocide of Jews. Nazi ideology
demonized Jews based on harmful stereotypes and conspiracy theories, portraying them as a
threat to Germany and scapegoating them for the nation's problems. This poisonous rhetoric
ultimately translated into discriminatory laws and policies, stripping Jews of their rights,
citizenship, and livelihoods.
 Nuremberg Laws (1935): These infamous laws defined who was considered "Jewish" and
systematically segregated them from society. Intermarriage, employment in certain
professions, and even owning property were forbidden, effectively isolating and
marginalizing the Jewish population.
 Kristallnacht (Night of Broken Glass, 1938): This coordinated pogrom saw violence
unleashed against Jewish communities across Germany, with synagogues burned,
businesses vandalized, and thousands arrested. It marked a turning point from legal
discrimination to brutal physical attacks.
Escalating Persecution:
 Concentration Camps and the Holocaust: As the Nazi regime solidified its grip, the
persecution escalated to forced deportations and the establishment of a network of
concentration camps. These camps became instruments of torture, forced labor, and
ultimately, mass murder. The culmination of this anti-Semitic hatred led to the
industrialized genocide of Jews known as the Holocaust, claiming the lives of six million
innocent people.

Despite the overwhelming power of the Nazi regime, many individuals and groups, both
Jewish and non-Jewish, bravely resisted anti-Semitism. They hid families, provided
information, and engaged in acts of defiance, showcasing the power of compassion and
courage in the darkest of times.

PERSECUTION OF MINORITIES
The Nazi regime systematically targeted specific minority groups, including Jews, Roma, Sinti,
Jehovah's Witnesses, people with disabilities, and political dissidents. Each group faced different
forms of persecution, ranging from discrimination and social exclusion to imprisonment, forced
labor, and ultimately, mass murder in the Holocaust.
The Nazis racial philosophy taught that some races were ‘Untermenschen’ ('subhuman'). Many
scientists at this time believed that people with disabilities or social problems were genetically
less human and that their genes needed to be eliminated from the human gene pool.
As a result of these beliefs, the Nazis took the following actions:
  Tried to eliminate the Jewish people.
 Killed 85 per cent of Germany's gypsies.
 Sterilised black people.
 Killed mentally ill patients.
 Sterilised physically disabled people, eg deaf people, and people with hereditary diseases.
 Imprisoned people they regarded as anti-social in concentration camps. These included
homosexuals, prostitutes, Jehovah's Witnesses, alcoholics, pacifists, beggars, hooligans
and criminals.

 Methods of Persecution: The Nazis implemented a range of oppressive measures against

targeted groups, including:
o Nuremberg Laws: These laws stripped Jews of their citizenship and basic rights,
paving the way for further discrimination and persecution.
o Kristallnacht: This "Night of Broken Glass" saw widespread violence against
Jewish communities throughout Germany, marking a turning point towards more
brutal measures.
o Concentration Camps and the Holocaust: The Nazis established a vast network of
concentration camps where millions of people were subjected to forced labor,
medical experimentation, and ultimately, extermination.

Opposition to the Nazis

Those who spoke out against Hitler and his policies faced intimidation and threats from the
Gestapo or imprisonment, and in some cases execution. Hence, there was little open opposition
to Hitler. However, Pockets of resistance and defiance flickered throughout the darkness,
showcasing the power of human courage and dissent against tyranny.

Opposition from youth

The Meuten
The Meuten were gangs of working-class teenagers and young adults. They sympathized with
socialist ideology. They were frequently attacked by Nazis, including the Hitler Youth.
The Swing Kids
A youth movement that started in Hamburg in 1939 and spread to Berlin and other German
cities. The movement was a challenge to Hitler announcing that all German adolescents had to
join a Nazi youth movement. They challenged the Nazi image of youth by growing their hair and
wearing fashionable clothes. They also listened to swing music, which was seen by the Nazis as
Black music and met at secret dance halls. This often led to clashes with the Hitler Youth and the
security forces.

The White Rose

Formed by students at Munich University. They published anti-Nazi leaflets, but were
discovered and executed in 1943.
The Edelweiss Pirates
They painted anti-Nazi slogans, sheltered deserters and beat up Nazi officials. In 1944, the
Cologne Pirates killed the Gestapo chief.

Individual Acts of Courage:

 Sophie Scholl and the White Rose: This student group distributed anti-Nazi leaflets at
Munich University, inspiring others to stand up against the regime before tragically
facing execution.
 Oskar Schindler: This German businessman defied the odds by employing Jews in his
factories, saving their lives from concentration camps.
 Countess von Galen: This courageous German noblewoman used her influence to
advocate for the disabled and mentally ill, speaking out against their inhumane treatment
by the Nazi regime.
Challenges and Risks:
Opposition to Nazi rule was fraught with danger. The Gestapo's ruthless tactics, including
imprisonment, torture, and execution, served as a constant threat. Yet, despite the risks, these
individuals persisted, driven by a sense of morality, patriotism, or simply a refusal to succumb to
tyranny.

Opposition from the Church

 Some Catholic priests opposed Hitler. In 1937, the Pope issued a message called 'With
Burning Concern' which was read in every Catholic Church. It described Hitler as “a mad
prophet with repulsive arrogance”.
 The Catholic Archbishop of Munster led a successful campaign to end euthanasia of
mentally-disabled people.
  Many Protestant pastors, led by Martin Niemöller, formed the Confessional Church in
opposition to Hitler's Reich Church. Niemöller was held in a concentration camp during
the period 1937-1945. Another Protestant pastor, Dietrich Bonhöffer, was linked to an
assassination attempt against Hitler and was executed in 1945.

Why was there little opposition to the Nazis?

 The 'Night of the Long Knives' had eliminated almost all opposition to Hitler within the
Nazi Party.
 All other political parties had been banned in July 1933.
 Through censorship and propaganda, the Nazis eliminated opposition in the media.
 Economic opposition was eliminated as trade unions had been banned in May 1933.
 Germans lived in fear of being denounced by spies, interrogated by the Gestapo and sent
to concentration camps.
 Many Germans genuinely believed that the Nazis were improving Germany. They saw
the negative side as a ‘necessary evil’ if Germany was to be great again.
However, there were a few individuals and groups who openly opposed Hitler and his policies.
The majority ended up in concentration camps, while many were killed.