Nazi Germany

Nazi Germany, officially the German Reich and later the Greater German Reich, was the German state between 1933 and 1945, when Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party controlled the country, turning it into a totalitarian dictatorship. The Nazis called this time the Third Reich, meaning "Third Realm" or "Third Empire," claiming it was the successor to the Holy Roman Empire and the German Empire. It ended in May 1945 when the Allies defeated Germany and entered Berlin, ending World War II in Europe.

After Hitler became Chancellor of Germany in 1933, the Nazi Party removed political opposition and took full control. They used public works projects, like building motorways, and heavy military spending to create jobs and restore the economy. Hitler made aggressive demands for land, taking over Austria and parts of Czechoslovakia before invading Poland in 1939, which started World War II in Europe. Germany, together with Fascist Italy and other Axis powers, conquered much of Europe but eventually lost the war.

Racism and harsh ideas about different groups of people were central to the Nazi beliefs. They treated certain groups unfairly, taking away their rights and opportunities. The government controlled information, art, and education, focusing on strict ideas about race and preparing people for military service. After Germany invaded the Soviet Union in 1941, the war became even more difficult, and by 1945, the Allies had defeated Germany. The surviving Nazi leaders were tried for their actions at the Nuremberg trials.

Name

People often call the German state from 1933 to 1945 "Nazi Germany" or the "Third Reich". The Nazis themselves called it the "Thousand-Year Reich". This name comes from a book written in 1923, which described earlier German kingdoms as the first two Reiches.

Background

Further information: Adolf Hitler's rise to power

After World War I ended, Germany faced big problems. The country had to pay a lot of money because of the Treaty of Versailles, which made things very hard. The money lost much of its value, prices went up too fast, and people couldn't buy enough food.

The Nazi Party started in 1920. They wanted to change Germany a lot. They believed Germany needed a strong leader and promised to bring back jobs and order. When the economy got even worse after a big problem in the United States in 1929, many people lost their jobs. Some people thought the Nazi Party could help fix these problems. By 1932, the Nazi Party had become one of the biggest groups in Germany.

History

Further information: History of Germany

Nazi seizure of power

Main article: Adolf Hitler's rise to power § Seizure of control (1931–1933)

In 1932, Adolf Hitler’s Nazi Party won many votes but did not have enough to lead the government alone. Hitler insisted on being the leader if he joined a government. Under pressure, President Paul von Hindenburg appointed Hitler as Chancellor of Germany on January 30, 1933. This event is called the “seizure of power.”

After a fire in the Reichstag building on February 27, 1933, Hitler said it was the start of a big problem. New laws passed, taking away many rights like the right to meet and speak freely. Police could arrest people without charges. Many people who opposed the Nazis were arrested.

In March 1933, a new law passed that let Hitler and his government make laws without approval. This law helped the Nazis take full control. Over time, other political parties were banned, and only the Nazi Party was allowed. All groups had to follow Nazi rules or face closing down. The economy was struggling, but new jobs were created through public work projects.

Consolidation of power

Main article: Gleichschaltung

Hitler used secret police to remove leaders who opposed him. In 1934, after President Hindenburg died, Hitler became both leader and head of government. Most Germans wanted peace and stability after years of fighting, and many believed Nazi promises.

The Nazis took control of many parts of life, including schools and workplaces. They changed flags and songs to match Nazi ideas. The government focused on creating jobs and improving the economy.

Military build-up

See also: International relations (1919–1939), Remilitarization of the Rhineland, and German involvement in the Spanish Civil War

Hitler began building up Germany’s military in secret, even though it broke international agreements. Germany left international groups that did not allow rearmament. Hitler made plans to expand Germany’s territory for more resources.

Germany took back areas like the Saarland and sent troops to places like the Rhineland. Germany supported groups fighting in Spain and made agreements with other countries like Italy and Japan.

Austria and Czechoslovakia

Main articles: Anschluss and German occupation of Czechoslovakia

Further information: Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia

In 1938, Germany took control of Austria after threatening invasion. Later, Germany took parts of Czechoslovakia after agreements that seemed to bring peace but led to more control.

Poland

In 1939, Germany demanded areas from Poland. When Poland refused, Germany invaded, starting World War II. Germany also made an agreement with the Soviet Union to divide Poland.

World War II

(Top) Animated map showing the sequence of events in Europe throughout World War II
(Bottom) Germany and its allies at the height of Axis success, 1942

Foreign policy

Further information: Diplomatic history of World War II § Germany

Germany worked with countries like Italy and Hungary to get soldiers and resources. They took control of places like France and Italy over time.

Outbreak of war

Germany invaded Poland and captured the Free City of Danzig on September 1, 1939, beginning World War II in Europe. Britain and France declared war on Germany two days later. Poland fell quickly, as the Soviet Union attacked from the east on September 17.

Conquest of Europe

Germany quickly conquered countries like the Netherlands, Belgium, and France in 1940. They took many resources and forced local industries to work for Germany.

Invasion of the Soviet Union

Main article: Operation Barbarossa

In June 1941, Germany invaded the Soviet Union, breaking a previous agreement. The attack was large and aimed to take resources and expand German power.

Turning point and collapse

See also: Mass suicides in 1945 Nazi Germany, Flensburg Government, and German Instrument of Surrender

Losses increased for Germany after battles like Stalingrad. Allied forces pushed back, and by 1944, they were closing in on Germany. In April 1945, as Soviet forces approached Berlin, Hitler and his wife committed suicide. Germany surrendered unconditionally on May 8, 1945, ending World War II in Europe.

German casualties

Main article: German casualties in World War II

Further information: World War II casualties

Estimates of Germany’s total war dead range from 5.5 to 6.9 million people. This includes military deaths, civilians killed in attacks, and victims of persecution. Many people faced hard times as the war ended.

Geography

Territorial changes

Main article: Areas annexed by Nazi Germany

See also: Territorial evolution of Germany and Administrative divisions of Nazi Germany

After losing a big war called World War I, Germany had to give up some lands. Places like Alsace-Lorraine and Northern Schleswig went to other countries. Later, Germany took back some areas and added new ones, like Austria in 1938.

During the years 1939 to 1941, Germany took over many countries including Poland, Denmark, Norway, France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Belgium, Yugoslavia, Greece, and the Soviet Union.

Occupied territories

Main article: German-occupied Europe

Some lands that Germany took over were added directly to its country. Other areas were controlled by special German leaders. Places like parts of Belgium and France were managed by military leaders. Germany also took control of parts of Poland and set up governments in countries like Denmark and the Netherlands. The goal was to make a big empire called the Greater Germanic Reich.

Politics

Ideology

Main article: Nazism

The Nazi Party was a far-right group that grew during tough times after World War I. At first, they were small, but after the Great Depression, they became very popular. While in prison, Adolf Hitler wrote a book called Mein Kampf, where he shared his ideas about changing German society based on race.

The Nazis believed in taking over new lands for German people. They thought some groups, like Jews and others, were not as good as Germans and should be treated unfairly. They also did not like modern art or ideas and focused on building a strong military instead.

Government

Main article: Government of Nazi Germany

Hitler ruled Germany with strict control, expecting everyone to obey him. He did not believe in elections and instead picked people to lead. He used powerful speeches to gain support from the public. Hitler gave different orders to his leaders, causing confusion and competition among them, which helped him stay in control.

The way Germany was governed changed, with new leaders taking over old government areas. This created a messy system where many groups had overlapping powers.

Law

Main article: Law in Nazi Germany

In 1934, people working for the government and in the military had to promise to obey Hitler completely. This made Hitler’s word the highest law. Courts continued to handle regular crimes but gave out much harsher punishments, including more deaths.

A special court called the Volksgerichtshof was created to handle political cases. It gave very harsh sentences, including death, for actions against the Nazi government.

The Nazis made strict laws about race, called the Nuremberg Laws, which took away rights from Jews and others. These laws stopped marriages and relationships between different groups and took away citizenship from many people.

Military and paramilitary

Wehrmacht

Main article: Wehrmacht

See also: Myth of the clean Wehrmacht

The armed forces of Germany from 1935 to 1945 were called the Wehrmacht. This included the Heer (army), Kriegsmarine (navy), and the Luftwaffe (air force). In 1934, soldiers had to promise to follow Adolf Hitler's orders, even if they seemed wrong. They used a fast attack plan called Blitzkrieg, which meant quick strikes to win battles. At first, they won many battles, but later they lost, especially after attacking the Soviet Union. About 18 million people served in the Wehrmacht, and many did not survive the war.

SA and SS

Main articles: Sturmabteilung and Schutzstaffel

The Sturmabteilung (SA) was an early group that protected Nazi leaders and fought against other groups. It grew very large but was reduced after Hitler ordered some of its leaders to be removed in 1934.

The Schutzstaffel (SS) started as a small guard group but became very powerful. Led by Heinrich Himmler, it grew to include many people. The SS was involved in organizing harmful actions against Jews and others, including taking them to camps where many died. Some parts of the SS also fought as soldiers during the war. The SS also had its own intelligence service and controlled many businesses and properties.

Economy

Main article: Economy of Nazi Germany

When the Nazi leaders came to power in 1933, many people in Germany did not have jobs. Their leader, Adolf Hitler, wanted to change this. They created new jobs by building things like roads and airplanes. They also made plans for a car that everyone could afford, called the KdF-wagen.

During World War II, Germany needed more workers for their factories and farms. They brought people from other countries to work there, often forcing them to do hard labor. This made it difficult for them to live and many suffered because of poor conditions. The war also caused problems for Germany’s economy, as bombings made it hard to produce things like fuel and weapons.

Racial policy and eugenics

Main articles: Racial policy of Nazi Germany and Nazi eugenics

The Nazi government believed strongly in treating some people as better than others. They thought some races were more powerful or "superior" than others. This idea caused them to treat many groups unfairly.

Jews, Romani people (also called Gypsies), and others were treated very badly. They were not allowed to work in many jobs, and many were forced to leave their homes. Some were sent to special camps where they were not treated well.

The Nazis also tried to control who could have families and who could have children, especially if they did not fit their ideas of "perfect" people. This caused many unfair and painful actions against many families.

Society

Education

Further information: University education in Nazi Germany

Laws passed in 1933 removed Jewish teachers, professors, and officials from schools. Most teachers needed to join a special teachers' group, and professors needed to join a special group for university teachers. Teachers had to promise to be loyal to Hitler, and those who did not follow the Nazi rules were often reported and dismissed. With fewer teachers, class sizes grew larger.

Schools taught subjects like biology, geography, and even math with a focus on race. Physical education included military training, and students had to watch films made by the government.

At universities, many professors did not change their teaching, especially in areas with many Catholic people. Fewer students attended university, but medical schools had more students because Jewish doctors could no longer work.

Role of women and family

Main article: Women in Nazi Germany

Women were important to Nazi plans for society. The Nazis did not support women's rights movements, saying they were created by Jewish thinkers. Instead, they wanted women to focus on being wives, mothers, and homemakers. Women's groups were closed or made to follow Nazi rules, promoting motherhood and housework. Famous women who spoke against these ideas had to leave the country.

Women were encouraged to have many children, and those who had four or more children received awards. Large families got money to help with costs. Even so, the number of families with four or more children went down.

Women were expected to leave jobs to let men work, but many women still worked as servants or in factories. During the war, many women were needed to help, so they worked in farms and factories.

Girls were taught to be healthy and strong. From age ten, girls joined groups that taught them Nazi ideas and physical activities.

Health

Nazi Germany cared about health. They tried to stop people from smoking and limited harmful substances like asbestos. They cleaned up water and removed dangerous metals from products.

However, Jewish people were not allowed to use health insurance or see doctors. Some doctors did harmful experiments on people in camps, which caused many deaths.

Environmentalism

Further information: Animal welfare in Nazi Germany

Many people in Nazi Germany liked animals and nature. Laws were made to protect animals and forests. Rules were created to keep the air clean, though enforcement stopped during the war.

Religion

Main article: Religion in Nazi Germany

When the Nazis took power, most people in Germany were Protestant or Catholic. The Nazis tried to control Protestant churches by creating a single church led by someone they chose. Some Protestant leaders opposed this and were arrested.

Catholic leaders also opposed the Nazis. The government closed Catholic schools and institutions, arrested priests, and spied on churches. Many Catholic leaders were sent to camps. The Nazis planned to replace Christian ideas with their own.

Culture

See also: Nazi propaganda

The Nazi regime wanted to create a strong feeling of unity among Germans. They encouraged activities like trips, concerts, and vacations to bring people together. They took control of many clubs and groups to organize fun events.

The government controlled newspapers, radio, and other forms of art. Only certain types of stories and music were allowed. Many writers and artists were not allowed to work if they did not agree with the government’s ideas. Books and plays had to be approved before they could be shared with the public. Radio became very popular, and most families had one in their homes.

Censorship

See also: List of authors banned in Nazi Germany

Newspapers and magazines were controlled by the government. By 1939, most of them were owned by the government or told exactly what to write. This made people less interested in reading them, and many turned to radio instead.

Many writers left Germany because they did not agree with the government. Some writers stayed but were told to only write stories about German history and traditions. Thousands of books were banned, and many were burned in public events.

Architecture and art

Main articles: Nazi architecture and Art in Nazi Germany

See also: Music in Nazi Germany

Hitler was very interested in buildings and worked with architects to design large, grand structures. He wanted to build huge buildings in Berlin, but these plans were never finished.

The government did not like modern or abstract art. They removed many paintings and sculptures from museums and showed them in exhibitions called “Decadence in Art.” The government preferred music based on German stories and traditions. They did not like jazz or modern styles of music.

Film

Main article: Nazism and cinema

Movies were very popular, and many people went to see them. The government took control of most film companies and made sure the movies followed their ideas. Even movies that did not seem political still had messages that agreed with the government.

Two famous movies made by a director named Leni Riefenstahl showed big Nazi events. These movies used new camera tricks that changed how films were made, but they also spread Nazi ideas.

Legacy

Main article: Consequences of Nazism

See also: Denazification

After World War II, leaders of Nazi Germany were tried for their actions. These trials, called the Nuremberg trials, took place from 1945 to 1946. Many important Nazi leaders were found guilty and some were sentenced to death. More trials followed, and many others were punished for their crimes.

The actions of Nazi Germany caused great suffering and led to World War II. Germany and much of Europe were left damaged and poor. Today, most people see the Nazi government as very wrong. Even so, some young people still find Nazi symbols shocking or interesting. Showing Nazi symbols is against the law in Germany and Austria.

After the war, Germany was split into three parts. Over time, Germans have worked to learn about and understand their past. Studying this difficult time has helped Germany become a strong democracy, though some old prejudices still exist today.