The Nazi Party and their attitude to Youth and Women

The Nazis and Young People

At school:  The Nazis reorganised ever aspect of the school curriculum to make people loyal to them. Maths focused on messages of war and getting rid of minorities History focused on Germany and the Nazi Party Geography talked about expanding 'Greater Germany'  Biology focused on recognising the Aryan race  School resources were changed to get rid of anti-Nazi ideology  Lots of PE lessons were held to keep everyone fit Boys were educated to be soldiers, while girls were taught to be mothers Teachers had to join the Nazi Teacher's Association or lose their jobs Jewish pupils were forced to leave German schools come 1938 

1 (A) (image/jpeg)

The Nazis and Young People

Hitler Youth:  Formed in 1933 This was another way that Hitler indoctrinated young people to become perfect Nazis There were four different groups, two for girls and two for boys Boys were trained to be soldiers: marching, camping, weapons training, fitness  Girls were trained to be good mothers: domestic and fitness training  Both groups trained in utter loyalty to Hitler At home:  Hitler Youth made it clear your first loyalty was to Hitler and not your family

1 (Abc) (image/png)

Did all youth support the Nazis?

All other youth organisations had been absorbed or made illegal under the Nazi regime Even with these restrictions, only 50% of German boys were members in 1933 and only 15% of girls  Membership of the Hitler Youth became compulsory in 1939, about 7.5 million were child members; 1 million refused to join  Some young people decided to join anti-Nazi movements The Swing Movement: While some were in the Hitler Youth, the Swing Movement resented the way the Nazi's controlled people's lives. They demonstrated their discontent with the Nazi movement through their interest in banned music, especially American jazz and swing. They hung out in nightclubs and bars, and danced American dances. The Nazis acted against them by closing bars and nightclubs they attended.  The Edelweiss Pirates: The name given to many small groups of young people across Germany. They wore the edelweiss flower as a symbol of resistance against the Nazis. The earliest group surface in 1934. By 1939, there was an estimated 2,000 Edelweiss Pirate groups. Some groups acted like the Swing Movement, opposing Nazi control of their lives. Other groups, such as those in Cologne, opposed Nazi political ideas. They mocked the Hitler Youth and even violently attacked some people.  The White Rose Movement: This was a group of university students who distributed anti-Nazi leaflets and urged the Germans not to support World War Two. 

The Nazis and Women

The Nazi Party was male-dominated and Hitler had a very traditional view of women In rural areas, many women felt that their role was supporting their husbands Hitler was alarmed at Germany's falling birth rate  Nazis came up with various ways to make women into wives and mothers Hitler offered financial incentives for married couples to have at least four children  Women were awarded the 'Gold Cross' if they had eight children  Posters, newsreels and radio broadcasts celebrated the ideals of motherhood The German Maidens' League reinforced these ideas Birth rate increased from 15 per 1,000 (1933) to 20 per 1,000 (1939) Opportunities for women were limited and discrimination occurred for women in work also  In the late 1930s, Nazis changed their minds about women; they suddenly needed more female workers as there was no more unemployed men 

1 (A) (image/jpeg)

Caption: : Famous German film producer Leni Riefenstahl