Volksgemeinschaft

Degree of Volksgemeinschaft

Volksgemeinshcaft is essential to an understanding of Nazi social policy. Literally meaning ‘people’s community’, this vision was of a new, unified, Aryan German race willing to sacrifice individual need for the common good.

Unified community

Unified by blood:
- 'Pure’, Aryan blood:
- The ideal was blond hair, blue eyes and a fit, healthy body.
Unified politically:
- All Germans were committed to the Nazi state. The nation would share the same world view.
- Every Volksgemeinshcaft member was to contribute to the national community.
Unified socially:
- Social schemes encouraged the individual to make sacrifices for the good of the national community as set out by the Führer.

Taking your place in the Volksgemeinschaft

Great emphasis was put on the young, who were easier to indoctrinate.
Youth organisations and the Nazi curriculum prepared children to take their place as set out by Nazi doctrine.
Sport and fitness were an important part of preparing the young to be active, useful members of the Volksgemeinshcaft.

Outsiders

Undesirables were not part of the Volksgemeinshcaft. They included: Jews, Slavs, other non-Aryans, foreigners, socialists, communists, people with inherited medical conditions, the physically handicapped, the mentally ill, the ‘workshy’, gypsies and homosexuals.

Degree of Volksgemeinschaft

Historians disagree over the degree to which the Nazis achieved Volksgemeinschaft.

Historical assessment

Roseman (1996):
- ‘[Nazism] profoundly disrupted established perceptions, patterns of behaviour and allegiances…’
Sax and Kuntz (1992):
- The gap between Nazi ideals, and the realities of German society were too great.
Kershaw (1993):
- It is a very complex picture and it is easy to exaggerate the impact of Nazism on values and attitudes.
- Kershaw believes the greatest impact was on the youth, although there were signs of opposition by the late 1930s.

Evidence of success

There was cooperation for the national good e.g. RAD, NSV (e.g. Winterhilfe)
Some socio-economic divisions were narrowed e.g. the VW scheme, radio sets and holidays via KdF brought expensive luxuries in reach of ordinary Germans.
There was improved health and childcare, especially in rural areas.
There were Nazi organisations for every social and economic group.
The laws against Jews and other ethnic minorities were effective.
New evidence suggests many Germans felt positive about the 1930s.

Evidence of failure

Benefits in terms of real wages and standards of living were very limited for the working class.
Nazi policies on women, and economic aims were inconsistent with Nazi ideology on women.
By the late 1930s, youth opposition was small but growing.
The Nazis failed to break religious allegiances.
Nazi concerns over public opinion is apparent in the secrecy over its euthanasia and sterilisation programmes.

Benefits and Drawbacks of Nazi Rule

Nazi rule benefitted those who fit the ideal 'Aryan' profile. For those who did not, Nazi rule was difficult.

Benefits

Unemployment fell, the economy grew. This had both economic and psychological benefits for most Germans.
Greater opportunities, especially for the working class, were provided by KdF.
DAF gave workers input into their place of work (BUT in line with Nazi ideals).
Overall, girls and women were more active outside the home than before via the Nazi Youth Movement and bodies such as NSV and the NSF.
Health and child care improved, especially for mothers and in rural areas.

Drawbacks for Undesirables

Many undesirables, people with mental illnesses or physical disabilities were sterilised, or even killed. Towns and villages boasted of being ‘Jew-free.’

Drawbacks for believers of free thought

The Nazis’ own education programme did not equip the next generation to take Germany forward, e.g. critical thinkers, scientists
Newspapers, writers, artists, film makers and anyone involved in the arts had to conform to Nazi rules and views or not be permitted to work.

Drawbacks for women

Women in professions like law and medicine, or in the civil service, lost their jobs.
Male teachers were preferred over equally qualified females.
Teachers had to conform to Nazi rules and views or lose their jobs.

Scrutiny

Levels of scrutiny on people’s lives and views were considerable – there were 400,000 Block Leaders.

1The Weimar Republic 1918-1933

1.1Establishment Of The Weimar Republic 1918-1924

1.1.1Post WW1

1.1.2Weimar Constitution

1.1.3Peace Settlement

1.1.4End of Topic Test - Germany Post WW1

1.1.5Economic Issues

1.1.6Economic Issues 2

1.1.7Social Issues

1.1.8End of Topic Test - Economic & Social Issues

1.1.9Extremist Threats

1.1.10Extremist Threats 2

1.1.11End of Topic Test - Extremist Threats

1.1.12Political Instability & The Invasion of the Ruhr

1.1.13Weimar Government by 1924

1.1.14End of Topic Test - Weimar Government by 1924

1.1.15A-A* (AO3/4) - Germany Post WW1

1.2The 'Golden Age' Of The Weimar Republic 1924-1928

1.2.1Economic Developments

1.2.2Industry & Agriculture

1.2.3End of Topic Test - Economic Developments

1.2.4Social Developments

1.2.5Social Developments 2

1.2.6End of Topic Test - Social Developments

1.2.7Political Parties

1.2.8Political Stability

1.2.9End of Topic Test - Weimar Politics

1.2.10Germany's International Position

1.2.11Germany's International Position 2

1.2.12End of Topic Test - International Position

1.2.13A-A* (AO3/4) - The Weimar 'Golden Age'

1.3The Collapse of Democracy 1928-1933

1.3.1The Impact Of The Depression

1.3.2Politics After The Depression

1.3.3The Appeal Of Extremism

1.3.4End of Topic Test - The Depression & Politics

1.3.5'Backstairs Intrigue'

1.3.6'Backstairs Intrigue' 2

1.3.7End of Topic Test - Backstairs Intrigue

1.3.8Political Developments

1.3.9The State by March 1933

1.3.10End of Topic Test - Political Developments

1.3.11A-A* (AO3/4) - The Collapse of Democracy

2Nazi Germany 1933-1945

2.1The Nazi Dictatorship 1933-1939

2.1.1Hitler's Consolidation Of Power

2.1.2The Terror State

2.1.3End of Topic Test - Consolidation of Power

2.1.4Opposition

2.1.5Propaganda

2.1.6A-A* (AO3/4) - Terror State & Propaganda

2.1.7End of Topic Test - Propaganda

2.1.8Economic Policies

2.1.9Economic Policies 2

2.1.10Impact Of Economic Policies

2.1.11Impact Of Economic Policies 2

2.1.12End of Topic Test - Economic Policies

2.1.13Social Policies

2.1.14Social Policies 2

2.1.15Volksgemeinschaft

2.1.16End of Topic Test - Social Policies

2.1.17A-A* (AO3/4) - Economic & Social Policies

2.2The Racial State 1933-1941

2.2.1The Radicalisation Of The State

2.2.2Anti-Semitism

2.2.3Development Of Anti-Semitic Policies

2.2.4Development Of Anti-Semitic Policies 2

2.2.5End of Topic Test - Anti-Semitism

2.2.6Treatment of the Jews in the Early Years of War

2.2.7Deportation & Anti-Semitism Evaluation

2.2.8End of Topic Test - Early Treatment of the Jews

2.2.9A-A* (AO3/4) - The Racial State

2.3The Impact Of War 1939-1945

2.3.1Home Front

2.3.2Impact On Society

2.3.3Impact On Society 2

2.3.4End of Topic Test - Impact of the War

2.3.5War Economy

2.3.6War Economy 2

2.3.7Policies Towards The Jews & Untermenschen

2.3.8A-A* (AO3/4) - Impact of the War

2.3.9End of Topic Test - War Economy

2.3.10Opposition

2.3.11Opposition 2

2.3.12Nazi State by 1945

2.3.13End of Topic Test - Opposition

2.3.14A-A* (AO3/4) - Opposition & The State in 1945

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