The Impact of Volksgemeinschaft in Nazi Germany
The concept of Volksgemeinschaft in Nazi Germany aimed to create a racial community of pure Germans while excluding outsiders, especially Jews. It emphasized the Aryan master race, traditional gender roles, and discriminatory policies against minorities. Despite attempts to promote unity and loyalty, Volksgemeinschaft faced contradictions and failures due to social and religious divides. The regime enforced sterilization, euthanasia, and anti-Semitic laws, leading to systematic persecution. While some groups benefited economically, the overall impact of Volksgemeinschaft was marked by division, resistance, and the failure to achieve its ideal of a unified German society.
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Racial Doctrine and aims People s or Racial or National community based on INCLUDING all racial Germans but EXCLUDING all racial outsiders esp Jews. Aryan Master race. Social class unimportant in new Germany. Religion unimportant. People think only as German. Different roles for men and women. Sax says VGS fails due to contradictions. Kershaw says VGS had impact on young but overall failed due to social and religious divides remaining.
Dealing with outsiders Creating a perfect race saw in 1933 compulsory sterilisation for mentally and physically disabled. By 1939 programme of euthanasia for severely handicapped. Treatment of Jews 1933 Boycott of shops and civil service ban. 35 Nuremburg Laws marriage/sex banned between Jews/Germans. 38 not own Businesses/Kristallnacht. Growing in severity. Stephenson majority was passively acquiescent Bergen routinisation of anti-Semitism
Women Traditional peasant look. Breed for Germany/bring up children to be loyal members of VGS. Stay at home and not work. Marriage loans. Mothers Cross. 4 kids. Family small unit of VGS. Education and Hitler Youth used to influence women. Contradictions employment rate went up. Life Springs !!!!! Mason argues VGS more effective on women.
Workers/Middle class Many groups did better in new Germany so supported VGS [to a degree] jobs available, increased small business as new department stores banned, Jews banned from business so more Aryan business opportunities. Big business benefits from rearmament. Strength Through Joy Liners are an example of VGS not working. Flagship policy but divided into 1st, 2ndand 3rdclass. Winterhilfe [Winter Relief]/Eintopf [Onepot] families eat a stew once a month rather than roast dinner- to show all same. Give money to Winterhilfe. Much evidence that donations due to public pressure rather than genuine conviction.
Workers/Mittelstand Mason VGS failed to fully integrate workers, or stop class division.
Young and VGS Different for boys/girls. Education shaped to get male strong soldiers and workers and female wives and mothers. Emphasis on race and Germany in all teaching. Free time controlled in Hitler Youth. Gender divide. Compulsory by 1936 diluted? Peukert by 1939 many young people started to rebel Eidelweiss Pirates, Swing Kids [non-conformity]. Mosse limited impact of VGS on young success of indoctrination depended on specific teacher and school
VGS and Churches German people did not lose their religious belief. Noakes churches allowed to keep their own ideology and so were an obstacle to VGS. Concordat with Catholic church allowed Catholic schools and youth groups to continue. When Nazis took crucifixes out of classrooms they were replaced and not taken again. Confessional church also against Nazi control of life. Wilt criticises religions response to Nazis as weak and not resisting VGS enough. Wright suggest churches were interested in their own position rather than standing against VGS and Nazis.
