HISTORY IGCSE CONTENT - 20TH CENTURY OPTION - DEPTH STUDY GERMANY: THE NAZI REGIME - DID MOST PEOPLE IN GERMANY BENEFIT FROM NAZI RULE?

1. DEPTH STUDY
GERMANY
THE NAZI REGIME
DID MOST GERMANS
BENEFIT FROM NAZI RULES?
8

2. CAMBRIDGE IGCSE – DEPTH STUDY: GERMANY – MR. D
N. Lowe, 1982
It would be wrong though to give the impression that Hitler hung on to
power by terrorising the entire nation. In fact this was not the case at all as
the great majority of Germans were concerned.
Provided you did not mind loosing freedom of speech and thought,
did not happen to be a Jew, you could usually exist quite happily under
Nazi rule.
Extract
Extract from Modern World History

3. CAMBRIDGE IGCSE – DEPTH STUDY: GERMANY – MR. D

4. CAMBRIDGE IGCSE – DEPTH STUDY: GERMANY – MR. D
WHO SUFFERED FROM NAZI RULE?
Those suffering from Nazi rule were a minority in German society: Jews,
Gypsies, committed Communists and Socialists, non-conformists of all
descriptions, devout Christians, member of most religious sects,
anyone who was not an Aryan and who possessed strong and
independent views that challenged Nazi ideology.

5. CAMBRIDGE IGCSE – DEPTH STUDY: GERMANY – MR. D
WHY GERMANS ACCEPTED NAZI RULE?
The majority of Germans were Aryans, according to Nazi definition, and
were more concerned with family life, standard of living, and
employment matters.
Until war broke out in 1939, the majority of Germans accepted
rule because their lives had improved since the day of the Great
Depression.

6. CAMBRIDGE IGCSE – DEPTH STUDY: GERMANY – MR. D
WORKING CLASS IMPROVEMENTS
The main improvements came with the reduction of unemployment
from 6 million to few hundred thousand.
This was achieved through public work schemes such as autobahn
building project, through enlisting all 18-25 year old in National
Labour Service for 6 months, and through rearmament.
The Nazi plans for self-sufficiency (autarky) was also an important
factor.
Rearmament reduced unemployment when men were conscripted into
the army and with the expansion of the adjacent industries
(engineering, chemicals).
Support of this class was retained through the benefits provided by the
Strength Through Joy organisation (KdF – Kraft durch Freude).

7. CAMBRIDGE IGCSE – DEPTH STUDY: GERMANY – MR. D
FARMERS
While farmers resented the increase in government intervention and
regulation, they benefited from a number of Nazi policies: price
guarantees for their produce, reduction or elimination of debts, and
protection against their estates being broken up to pay death duties.

8. CAMBRIDGE IGCSE – DEPTH STUDY: GERMANY – MR. D
BUSINESSMEN AND INDUSTRIALISTS
Small operators gained from Nazi laws to restrict the number and
growth of department stores and the removal of Jewish business.
Large firms gained contracts from the rearmament programme
also benefited from the absence of trade unions and the
of the Communist threat.
Substantial profits were made by big business during the years of
Nazi rule.

9. CAMBRIDGE IGCSE – DEPTH STUDY: GERMANY – MR. D
WHAT WAS AUTARKY?
Hitler wanted to make Germany as self-sufficient as possible during the
1930’s to reduce imports of raw materials and food.
This would both save money and reduce the effectiveness of an
Allied wartime blockade.
Production of steel, rubber, and oil was increased and schemes
devised whereby certain products could be produced from
substitutes: coffee from acorns, petrol from coal, and textiles from
pulped wood.
Autarky had limited success and in 1939 Germany still depended
upon imports for a number of essential materials.

10. CAMBRIDGE IGCSE – DEPTH STUDY: GERMANY – MR. D

11. CAMBRIDGE IGCSE – DEPTH STUDY: GERMANY – MR. D
“FEEL-GOOD-TO-BE-GERMAN” FACTOR
Hitler created this “Feel-good-to-be-German” factor.
This was psychological benefit and resulted from the way he destroyed
the hated Treaty of Versailles.
By 1939, Germany had regained her position in the international
community and this was something in which many Germans could take
pride.