Life in Nazi Germany What was life like in Nazi Germany?

Hitler Consolidates Power President Hindenberg dies in 1934 – Hitler names himself President Hitler becomes Fuhrer (Supreme Leader) – Rudolf Hess: Dep. Fuhrer Hitler bans all other political parties – has his opponents arrested Hitler forms the SS an elite black-uniformed unit that eliminated Hitler’s political enemies. The SS run by Heinrich Himmler A branch of the SS was a secret police force known as the Gestapo Gestapo kept everyday citizens in order by terrorizing them into obedience

1933: Hitler appoints Joseph Goebbels as Minister of Propaganda Ministry of Propaganda Children joined the Hitler Youth or League of German Girls Propaganda is used against Jews (blaming them for pre-war problems) & other perceived enemies of the Reich Goebbels orders the burning of books written by Jews or anti-Nazi authors

Nazi Propaganda #1 1.Describe cover of the book and the adult in the book. 2.What is the author of this book trying to teach German children? A German children’s book titled: The Poisonous Mushroom

Nazi Propaganda #2 Translation: The Jewish worm makes his move 1.Describe the worm, what is he doing? 2.What is the poster trying to say?

The Nuremberg Laws 1935: two sets of laws were passed in Germany defining race & citizenship 1) Protection of German Blood & Honor – 1935 Racial categories: German, Mischling (grade 1 & 2) and Jews

2) Reich Citizenship Law Only Germans are citizens, citizens have obligations to Reich The laws forbid the marriage of Jews to non-Jews Laws forbid the marriage of Mischlings Jews also couldn’t display the Reich or National Flag Article 2 – Only citizens of the Reich have complete rights

Kristallnacht “Night of Broken Glass” 1938: a 17-year old Jewish man avenges his father’s deportation to Poland by shooting a German diplomat Nazi leaders respond by launching an attack against all Jews Goebbels authorizes the attacks, Himmler & SS carry out the attacks Businesses are smashed, homes are burned and thousands of Jews are arrested Nazis have a goal to eliminate Jews from Germany Nazis begin to experiment with poison gas, on disabled citizens

Nazi Racial Purity – Film Clips: Amen directed by Costa-Gavras 1.Why do you think Stephan Lux kills himself at a League of Nations meeting? 2.What were the Nazis doing to people with disabilities in Germany? 3. What is the response of the Catholic Church to the Nazi plan to eliminate “unproductive” citizens of the Reich? 4. How does the reaction of Lt. Gerstein differ from the rest of the SS officers? 5. What do you think a “unit” is? Why do Hess & the Nazis use that term unit?