Nazi Germany and Nazi Germany and educationeducation

Nazi Germany and Nazi Germany and educationeducation

This new Reich will give its youth to This new Reich will give its youth to no-one, but will itself take youth and no-one, but will itself take youth and give it its own education and its own give it its own education and its own

upbringing.upbringing.

Adolf Hitler :1 May 1937Adolf Hitler :1 May 1937

An essay entitled “Races of Europe”

The Nordic people grow tall and have long narrow faceswith long straight noses, fine blonde hair, blue eyes andPink and white complexions. They are distinguished by their energy and courage. The Nordic man knows howto get his own way and is characterised by his strong Fighting spirit and his qualities of leadership

Written by a schoolboy in 1938.(transcribed from an interview in the BBC televisionProgramme The Home Movie Front)

Bronze sculpture of an Ayran male by Arno Breker (1900 – 1991)In 1937, he became the Official StateSculptor.

Furher, my Furher,Sent to me by God, Protect me and preserve me all my lifeyou have rescuedGermany in its hourof needI thank you for my dailybread Stay with me, never

leave meFurher, my Furher, my faith, my light

Children’s grace said before meals in 1936.

This story book was written by an 18 year old artistNamed Elwira Bauer. This book is entitled “Trust noFox on this Green Heath”

The Eternal Jew

So that Jews the Jew you shan’t recognise his nameTurns up in other guise. Heir Nathan calls himselfJonathan

• Education played a very important in NaziGermany• Cultivate a loyal following for Hitler and the

Nazis• The Hitler Youth (HJ – Hitler Jugend) had

been created for post-school activities (had been created in 1926)

• By 1933, other youth groups were banned• Enforcing Nazi curriculum depended on the

teachers – had to be vetted by the Nazi• 97% of all teachers joined the Nazi

Teacher’ Association

All teachers had to be careful about whatwas said in class, children were often informants

The Youth serves the fuhrer

Classroom subjects….• Subjects underwent a radical change: History and

Biology the most effected

• History was based on the glory of Germany – nationalistic eg: defeat was the work of the Jews. The Treaty of Versailles – jealous nations of Germany’s might and power, hyperinflation of 1923, the work of Jewish saboteurs.

• Geography: the land was taken away from her in 1919 and Germany needed to have living space -

Classroom subjects ….• Biology became a study of different races – Nazi

more superior. “Racial Instruction” began at the age of 6

“No boy or girl should leave school without complete knowledge of the necessity and meaning of blood purity” Adolf Hitler.

• Students were taught the “problems” of heredity and older students taught finding the “right mate”

Students were also taught the problem ofIntermarriage – decline of racial purity

Classroom subjects …• Science: became militarist, principles of

shooting, military aviation science, bridge-building and impact of poisonous gases.

“ a bomber aircraft on take-off carries 12 dozen bombs, each weighing 10kgs. The aircraft takes off for Warsaw the international centre for Jewry. It bombs the town. On take-off with all bombs on board and a fuel tank containing 100kgs of fuel, the aircraft weighed about 8 tonnes. When it returns from the crusade, there are still 230kgs left. What is the weight of the aircraft when empty?”

More classroom activities…

“To keep a mentally ill person costs approximately 4 marks a day. There are

300 000 mentally ill people to care. How much do these people cost to keep in total? How many marriage loans of 1000 marks could be granted with this money?”

The most important subject was …

“P.E. took up 15% of a school’s weekly timetable. Boxing was compulsory (boys), those that failed fitness were expelled.

“a young German must be as swift as a grey-hound, as tough as leather, and as hard as Krupp steel” Adolf Hitler

•A different school was created for those boys who were considered talented – physically

•These students were sent to special schools called Adolf Hitler schools. Six years of hardPhysical training- joined the army or went toUniversity afterwards.

•Very best students went to Order Castles

These schools took the boys to the limitsAnd often played live war games! – manypupils were killed. (those that graduatedbecame SS)

Gender and Education• Girls had a different curriculum –

domestic science and eugenics• Prepared the girls for the perfect

wife and mother• Eugenics: looking for the perfect

characteristics in a man and husband.