History Homework 

Nazi policies had a great impact on German people.

(a) What was the ‘Strength through Joy’ program introduced by the Nazis? [4]

The strength through Joy program also known as KdF was an organization began by the Nazis to
promote the employees right in the wok place. Nazis were in charge of the organization which was
set up to appease German workers after Trade Unions were banned.

The aim of the ‘Strength through Joy’ program was aimed to encourage workers and to reassure
them that their efforts will contribute towards making Germany ‘Great Again’. As a result, the Nazis
tried to introduce activities for the workers that would serve as a reward or serve as a source of joy
or recreation. However, in order to enjoy these benefits, they had to join the ‘Strength through Joy’
program.

It included activities such as theatre trips, picnics, attendance at sports events, cheap holidays,
cruises etc. They were also given access to cars such as the ‘Volkswagen’ which was considered
the ‘People’s car’. The program encouraged workers in the Reich to support Hitler and the Nazis
aims especially after Hitler banned Trade Unions.

(b) Why were women important in Hitler’s plans for Germany? [6]

Women were important in Hitler’s plans for Germany because they were expected to stay home, loo
after the family and produce children in order to secure the future of the Aryan race. Hitler believed
that women’s role in Nazi Germany revolved around the 3 K’s: Kinder (Children), Kuche (Kitchen)
and Kirche (Church). Nazis believed that the role of a woman was in her home and with her family.

One of Hitler’s aims was to achieve a higher birth rate so that the Aryan population would grow. In
order to achieve that, he introduced a Law that gave newlywed couples a loan of 1000 marks and
allowed them to keep 250 marks for each child they had. Women were also allowed to volunteer to
have a baby for an Aryan member of the SS. The Nazis also gave an award called the mother’s
cross to women who had large numbers of children.

Women were exempted from work. Hitler introduced a law that gave women financial incentives to
stay at home. They were also expected to emulate traditional German fashions which consisted of
plain long dresses, hair in plaits or buns and plain flat shoes. Make-up and trousers were frowned
upon as well as smoking in public and dying their hair.

(c) ‘Nazi education and youth policies were not effective in controlling young people.’ How
far do
you agree with this statement? Explain your answer. [10]

I disagree with this statement to a large extent because Young people were very important to the
Nazis because the ‘Third Reich’ that he intended to build would be dependant on the youth. Hitler
would have to ensure that German children were thoroughly indoctrinated in Nazi ideology.

From the age of 10 boys and girls were encouraged to join the Nazis youth organization, the Hitler
Youth. Membership from age 10 was made compulsory in 1939 and by 1939, 90% of German boys
aged 14 and over were members. Not only was Hitler influencing young Germans through Hitler
Youth but also through the school curriculum. They introduced new textbooks which were often
racist and promoted ideas such the need for Lebensraum. Any textbooks used to educate students
had to be approved by the party. Nazis also created several new schools which aimed to train the
future Nazi elite. E.g., Napolas were for students hoping to become future political military leaders,
and Adolf Hitler Schools were soley to train those hoping to go into politics.

Girls educational opportunities decreased, and their curriculum was limited to home-making
subjects. Young Germans got to experience a range of new activities in the Hitler Youth E.g., Hiking
weekends and picnics. Slogans like ‘Youth must be led by youth’ appealed to them and as a result
they had more freedom from their parents.

However, some young people did oppose Hitler from the very beginning. The main youth opposition
group was the Edelweiss Pirates, based in Rhineland. They reacted to the discipline of the Hitler
Youth by vandalizing Nazi flags and singing pre-1933 folk songs. The White Rose group was formed
by students at Munich University in 1943. They published anti-Nazi leaflets and publicly protested
against Hitler. Young people become less interested with the Nazi Ideology as years went by. The
repetitive marching and the same slogans and chants took the fun out of it. Eventually young people
become disinterested in taking part in those activities.

In Conclusion, Nazi education and Youth Policies were effective in controlling young people. Seven
million youth joined the Hitler Youth Movement and most young people at that time were too scared
to oppose Hitler. Those who did were either killed, publicly hanged like the members of the
Edelweiss Pirates or sentenced to the guillotine like the White Rose Group. Overall, young people
were easily attracted to Nazi beliefs and Ideology due to what they were taught in school and their
parents and they became one of Hitler’s most active supporters.