The Nazis implemented social policies aimed at creating a unified German society based on Nazi ideals. They passed laws like the Nuremberg Laws that discriminated against Jews and excluded them from society. The Nazis also sought to control different aspects of life like education, youth programs, and the role of women. However, the extent of social revolution in Germany between 1933 and 1939 was limited as Nazi policies did not entirely reshape society and faced some opposition or resistance from parts of the population.

1. Nazi Social Policy
Sophia Viteri, Sydney Howard, Franco Contreras

2. Any prior social policies? Weimar Republic
In 1919, legislation provided for a maximum working 48-hour workweek, restrictions on night
work, a half-holiday on Saturday, and a break of thirty-six hours of continuous rest during the
week.
Laws were passed to regulate rents and increase protection for tenants in 1922 and 1923.
Health insurance coverage was extended to other categories of the population during the
existence of the Weimar Republic, including seamen, people employed in the educational and
social welfare parts, and all dependents.
Overall, there were not many social policies in Germany before Nazi rule. The format of society
during Hitler’s reign was conformed to his complete controlled rule. From regulations ranging
from education to women, the only coherent policies were during Nazi Germany.

3. Impact of Nazi Party Social Policies on Germany
Lebensraum: Defined as living space, this states that Germans needs more space for
its superior Aryan race. They want their rightful land to keep their citizens happy. This
also made Jews and other minority groups the inferior.
Nuremberg Laws (1935):
● Excluded Jews from Reich citizenship
● Prohibited them from marrying or having sexual relations with anyone of German
Blood.
● Derived them of their civil rights

4. Impact of Nazi Party Social Policies on Germany
Kraft durch Freude (Strength through Joy): The Nazis
wanted to control the workforce to maintain peace. It
offered leisure activities such as concerts, museums,
and sporting events.
Militarism: The Nazis wanted Germany be a militarist
state. The Nazis launched a rearmament program.
They relied on the education system to prepare young
men for military service, both physically and mentally.
The Hitler Youth developed survival skills and physical
strength. It taught boys military skills which they would
use when entering the army. Men under 25 had to
carry out at least two years of military service.

5. Impact of Nazi Party Social Policies on Germany
Education: This was controlled by the state and aimed at developing young
adults who believed fully in Nazi ideals. Teachers and university lecturers had
to join the National Socialist Teachers' League, which would question their
suitability to teach and were forced to teach a very specific curriculum. History
was taught to glorify Germany. Biology taught that pure Germans were
superior. Textbooks were rewritten to emphasise militarism, as well as Nazi
political and racial beliefs. Girls attended classes that taught them how to be
good mothers and wives. Specialist schools were set up for those destined to
become future leaders of Nazi Germany.
Youth groups: Boys were encouraged to join youth groups which progressed
to the Hitler Youth. It taught survival techniques, military skills and the
importance of physical fitness. Girls were encouraged to join youth groups
which progressed to the League of German Maidens. It taught the importance
of motherhood and how to be a good wife. Women were expected to have
large families and would earn rewards based upon how many children they
had.

6. Impact of Nazi Party Social Policies on Germany
Expectations of women: They were the center of family life, as housewives and mothers. Female
doctors, teachers and civil servants were forced to give up their careers. Women were never asked to serve
in the armed forces. Their job was to keep the home nice for their husband and family. Hitler wanted
Germany to have a high birth rate, so the population would grow. 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. Women were supposed to copy traditional German
peasant dress, hair in buns and flat shoes. They were expected not to wear makeup or trousers, dye their
hair or smoke in public.
Nuremberg Rallies: From 1923 to 1933, Nazi rallies were held annually at built grounds in
Nuremberg.These military gatherings would involve hundreds of thousands of Nazis, including members of
the Party, armed forces and youth groups. The rallies are seen as propaganda aimed to show German
people and those abroad that their country was powerful, ordered, and under the complete control of the
Nazis. Features of the Nuremberg Rallies included Nazis in military dress, marches by soldiers with flags,
accompanied by drums, torchlight processions, and speeches by Hitler and other leading Nazis

7. To What Extent did the Nazis have a Coherent Social
Policy?
The Nazis’ social policy was centered towards reaching a
unified and structured Aryan nation a concept known to them
as Volksgemeinschaft or people’s community. The Nazis did in
this regard have a coherent social policy that was true to their
dogma, which is evident through the Nuremberg Laws, their
social expectations for Aryan people living in Germany,
attempts to manipulate German society to coincide with Nazi
beliefs, and other discriminatory laws and actions against
perceived social undesirables.
“The act of the community
helps the construction”

8. TowhatextentwasthereasocialrevolutioninGermanybetween1933&1939?
● From 1933 to 1939, there was somewhat of a social revolution in Nazi
Germany.
● Women
○ Hitler’s expectations for women was successful in creating the ideal women, through the
actions he took.. Done so by implementing the marriage loan, the birth grant, and by reducing
the education of the average female meaning they had to remain in the house.
○ However, while Nazi’s wanted to restrain female employment as much as possible, they
couldn’t stop it from rising. Female employment had risen from 11.8 million in 1933 to 12.7
million in 1939.
○ There was also increased political participation in Nazi bodies, despite the fact that no female
could be a member of the Reichstag. Some women refused to conform to Nazi ideals.
○ Overall, the Nazi Regime failed in their campaign to confine women to the home, although
their policy initially seemed successful as the ideal woman was created. However, women were
defiant and went against Nazi policies, proving that the “Nazification” of German women can’t
be classed as totally successful.

9. TowhatextentwasthereasocialrevolutioninGermanybetween1933&1939?
● Youth
○ By 1939, The Hitler Youth had membership of more than 7 million, compared to
99,586 members in 1932.
○ Education saw a drastic change, teaching Nazi ideologies.
○ However, there was some resistance as groups such as the Edelweiss Pirates
sprung up showing that Nazi indoctrination wasn’t entirely successful.
● Employment
○ Nazi Germany wanted full employment.
○ Trade unions were banned and the DAF (Nazi Socialist trade union) was set in
place.
○ Membership went from 5 million in 1933 to 22 million in 1939.
○ Employment went from 12.9 million in 1932 to 18.9 million in 1937.

10. TowhatextentwasthereasocialrevolutioninGermanybetween1933&1939?
● Religion
○ Hitler had denounced Christianity from the start as it took away from Nazi
ideology.
○ In order to shift from popular Christianity practices, Hitler created the Reich
Church. However, few people joined and the Church Split.
○ He was unable to overcome the practices of Christianity. This was a total failure
for Hitler and the Nazi regime.

11. TowhatextentwasthereasocialrevolutioninGermanybetween1933&1939?
● In conclusion, Hitler and the Nazis did not manage to create a complete
social revolution in Germany during their rule. While successful in
increasing employment, the Nazi rule was somewhat or not at all
successful in implementing a revolution through women, the youth, and
religion. They did not manage to achieve their “people’s community” and
opposition stopped them as well as the contradictory nature of some of
their policies.