Chapter 27 - Hitler’s Germany - 1933-1939 (European States)
Uncovered Who Were Excluded from Nazis' Volksgemeinschaft
Table of content
Who was left out of the Volksgemeinschaft? 📖
The term "Volksgemeinschaft" means "people's community". But not everyone was part of this "community".
- Asocials 🚫
- Who? Beggars, criminals, prostitutes, and alcoholics.
- Why? Didn't follow Nazi social norms.
- What happened? From 1933-1938, many were sent to concentration camps.
Real-world example: Imagine a strict school where only the top students are given privileges, and everyone else is sidelined. That's what the Nazis did with "asocials".
- Homosexuals 🌈
- Viewed as: Degenerate, perverted, and a threat.
- Why? Nazis wanted to increase population.
- Outcome: ~100,000 arrested; 50,000 sent to camps. Some underwent castration or medical experiments.
Real-world example: Think of a strict dress code where only certain colors are allowed. Anyone wearing disallowed colors gets penalized. That's how the Nazis treated homosexuals.
- Mentally ill or physically disabled 🚑
- Viewed as: Burden and threat to the "Aryan race".
- Influenced by: Eugenicists (those who believed in improving human species by selective breeding).
- Actions
- 1933: Sterilization for "hereditary diseases".
- 1939: Euthanasia (killing of those seen as unproductive).
- The T4 programme: Led to 5,000 children being killed.
Real-world example: Imagine a farm where only the healthiest plants are watered, and the rest are left to die. That's what the Nazis did with disabled individuals.
- Religious sects ✝️
- How they fared: Many were banned in 1933.
- Exceptions: Jehovah’s Witnesses were especially targeted; many died in camps.
Real-world example: It's like having a strict music teacher who only lets certain instruments play in an orchestra.
- Racial enemies: Roma, Sinti, and Jews 🌍
- Actions against Roma & Sinti: Many were sent to Auschwitz; 11,000 of 20,000 were killed.
- Jews: Faced escalating persecution from 1933.
Did the Nazis successfully change society? 🧐
Historians, like Ian Kershaw, suggest the Nazis had limited success in creating the Volksgemeinschaft.
- Nazis' Impact: Not all Germans supported the Nazi ideology. Many conformed due to pressure rather than belief.
- Values & Attitudes: Nazis couldn't completely eradicate traditional beliefs, class loyalties, and religious allegiances.
Real-world example: Imagine trying to paint an entire room with just a small can of paint. The Nazis couldn't fully cover society with their beliefs.
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Chapter 27 - Hitler’s Germany - 1933-1939 (European States)
Uncovered Who Were Excluded from Nazis' Volksgemeinschaft
Table of content
Who was left out of the Volksgemeinschaft? 📖
The term "Volksgemeinschaft" means "people's community". But not everyone was part of this "community".
- Asocials 🚫
- Who? Beggars, criminals, prostitutes, and alcoholics.
- Why? Didn't follow Nazi social norms.
- What happened? From 1933-1938, many were sent to concentration camps.
Real-world example: Imagine a strict school where only the top students are given privileges, and everyone else is sidelined. That's what the Nazis did with "asocials".
- Homosexuals 🌈
- Viewed as: Degenerate, perverted, and a threat.
- Why? Nazis wanted to increase population.
- Outcome: ~100,000 arrested; 50,000 sent to camps. Some underwent castration or medical experiments.
Real-world example: Think of a strict dress code where only certain colors are allowed. Anyone wearing disallowed colors gets penalized. That's how the Nazis treated homosexuals.
- Mentally ill or physically disabled 🚑
- Viewed as: Burden and threat to the "Aryan race".
- Influenced by: Eugenicists (those who believed in improving human species by selective breeding).
- Actions
- 1933: Sterilization for "hereditary diseases".
- 1939: Euthanasia (killing of those seen as unproductive).
- The T4 programme: Led to 5,000 children being killed.
Real-world example: Imagine a farm where only the healthiest plants are watered, and the rest are left to die. That's what the Nazis did with disabled individuals.
- Religious sects ✝️
- How they fared: Many were banned in 1933.
- Exceptions: Jehovah’s Witnesses were especially targeted; many died in camps.
Real-world example: It's like having a strict music teacher who only lets certain instruments play in an orchestra.
- Racial enemies: Roma, Sinti, and Jews 🌍
- Actions against Roma & Sinti: Many were sent to Auschwitz; 11,000 of 20,000 were killed.
- Jews: Faced escalating persecution from 1933.
Did the Nazis successfully change society? 🧐
Historians, like Ian Kershaw, suggest the Nazis had limited success in creating the Volksgemeinschaft.
- Nazis' Impact: Not all Germans supported the Nazi ideology. Many conformed due to pressure rather than belief.
- Values & Attitudes: Nazis couldn't completely eradicate traditional beliefs, class loyalties, and religious allegiances.
Real-world example: Imagine trying to paint an entire room with just a small can of paint. The Nazis couldn't fully cover society with their beliefs.
Unlock the Full Content!
Dive deeper and gain exclusive access to premium files of History HL. Subscribe now and get closer to that 45 🌟