Welcome to "Changing Lives, 1933–1939"

Hi there! In this section, we are going to explore how everyday life transformed for people living in Germany after the Nazis took power. We aren't just looking at famous leaders; we are looking at ordinary people—moms, dads, students, and workers. Understanding this is important because it shows us how a government can use rewards and pressure to completely reshape a whole society. Don't worry if it seems like a lot of information; we'll break it down into three simple stories: Work and Home, Young People, and Racial Persecution.


1. Work and Home: Men and Women

When Hitler came to power, Germany was in a mess because of the Great Depression. Millions were unemployed. Hitler promised "Work and Bread," and for many men, he delivered. However, this came at a high price for personal freedom.

The Impact on Men: "The Economic Miracle"

To get men back to work, the Nazis used several strategies:

  • The RAD (National Labour Service): This was a scheme where unemployed men had to do six months of manual labor, like planting trees or digging ditches. They lived in camps, wore uniforms, and got very low pay, but they were no longer "unemployed."
  • Autobahns: The Nazis started massive building projects, most famously the Autobahns (motorways). This created thousands of jobs.
  • Rearmament: Hitler ignored international rules and started building up the army. This created jobs in factories making tanks, planes, and guns, and meant thousands of men joined the army as soldiers.
  • The DAF (German Labour Front): The Nazis banned trade unions (groups that protect workers' rights). Instead, everyone had to join the DAF. While it took away the right to strike, it offered rewards through a program called Strength Through Joy (KdF), which provided cheap holidays and theater tickets.

Did you know? The Nazis even promoted a "People’s Car"—the Volkswagen Beetle. Workers paid into a savings scheme to get one, though most never actually received a car because the factories switched to making military vehicles instead!

The Impact on Women: "Kinder, Küche, Kirche"

The Nazis had very traditional views. They believed a woman's place was at home. They used the slogan Kinder, Küche, Kirche (Children, Kitchen, Church) to describe a woman’s role.

  • Marriage Loans: Newlyweds were given 1,000 marks (about nine months' wages). For every child they had, they could keep 250 marks of the loan. It was basically a "baby bonus"!
  • The Mother’s Cross: This was a medal given to mothers. A Bronze medal was for four children, Silver for six, and Gold for eight.
  • Job Restrictions: Women were encouraged (or forced) to leave jobs like teaching, medicine, and the civil service so that men could take those roles.
Quick Review: The Carrot and the Stick

Think of Nazi policies like a Carrot and a Stick. The "Carrot" was the reward (cheap holidays, marriage loans, a job). The "Stick" was the punishment or loss of freedom (banning unions, losing the right to choose your career).

Key Takeaway: Men saw unemployment fall but lost their rights to protest. Women were pushed out of the workplace and encouraged to be stay-at-home mothers to grow the German population.


2. The Lives of Young People

Hitler famously said, "He who owns the youth, gains the future." The Nazis wanted to make sure every child grew up to be a loyal Nazi who was physically fit and ready for war or motherhood.

Education: Brainwashing in the Classroom

School wasn't just about reading and writing anymore; it was about indoctrination (teaching people to accept a set of beliefs without questioning them).

  • Biology: This became "Race Studies." Students were taught that "Aryans" (the Nazi ideal) were superior and that others were inferior.
  • History: Focused on German greatness and how Germany had been "stabbed in the back" by enemies in the past.
  • Maths: Even math problems were political. Students might calculate the cost of caring for a disabled person compared to a "healthy" family.
  • PE: Physical education became the most important subject. Boys needed to be strong soldiers; girls needed to be healthy mothers.

Youth Movements: Hitler Youth and the BDM

After school, kids were expected to join Nazi youth groups. By 1939, membership was compulsory (mandatory).

  • The Hitler Youth (HJ): For boys aged 14–18. It focused on military skills like map-reading, marching, and cleaning rifles. It was designed to prepare them for the army.
  • The League of German Maidens (BDM): For girls aged 14–18. It focused on domestic skills like cooking, sewing, and physical fitness to prepare them for motherhood.

Memory Aid: Think of the youth groups as "Nazi Scouts." They did fun things like camping and sports, but the underlying goal was always to prepare them for war or the home.

Common Mistake to Avoid:

Don't assume every child loved the Hitler Youth. While many enjoyed the activities and feeling important, some found the constant marching and drills boring or resented having no free time.

Key Takeaway: Education and youth groups were used to control the minds and bodies of the next generation, preparing boys for war and girls for family life.


3. Nazi Racial Policy: Persecution of Jews

The Nazis believed in a "Racial Hierarchy." At the top were the Aryans. At the bottom, they placed groups they considered "sub-human," especially Jewish people. Between 1933 and 1939, life for Jews in Germany became a living nightmare as they were gradually stripped of their rights.

The Step-by-Step Persecution (1933–1938)

Persecution didn't happen all at once; it was like a staircase that got steeper and more dangerous over time:

  1. 1933 - The Boycott: Nazis organized a one-day boycott of Jewish shops and businesses. Jewish people were also banned from government jobs.
  2. 1935 - The Nuremberg Laws: These were two major laws that changed everything:
    - The Reich Citizenship Act: Jews were no longer German citizens. They lost the right to vote.
    - The Law for the Protection of German Blood and Honour: Banned marriage or relationships between Jews and non-Jews.
  3. 1938 - Kristallnacht (Night of Broken Glass): After a German diplomat was shot by a Jewish teenager in Paris, the Nazis launched a wave of violent attacks. Synagogues were burned, Jewish shops were smashed, and 30,000 Jewish men were sent to concentration camps.
Why did this happen?

The Nazis used Jews as a scapegoat—someone to blame for all of Germany's problems (like losing WWI and the economic crash). By constantly using propaganda (posters, films, and speeches), they convinced many Germans that Jews were the "enemy within."

Don't worry if this seems tricky: The main thing to remember is the progression. It started with discrimination (labels and boycotts), moved to legal exclusion (Nuremberg Laws), and ended in violent persecution (Kristallnacht).

Quick Review: Key Dates
  • 1933: Nazis take power; first boycotts begin.
  • 1935: Nuremberg Laws strip Jews of citizenship.
  • 1938: Kristallnacht marks a massive increase in violence.

Key Takeaway: Nazi racial policy used laws and violence to turn Jewish neighbors into "outsiders" in their own country, setting the stage for even worse horrors during the war.


Final Summary: Life Under the Nazis

By 1939, Germany was a very different place. Men were working, but for the state; women were at home; children were being trained for war; and Jewish people had been stripped of their humanity. The Nazis had achieved Gleichschaltung (coordination)—the idea that every part of life should follow Nazi rules. While some Germans felt life was better because they had jobs, others lived in constant fear of the regime.