A picture of life in Nazi Germany: 3D Gallery

A picture of life in Nazi Germany

Click here to edit description

The Führer’s Rise

Hitler was democratically elected and well liked by the majority of the German population, gathering support from every background and type of person. He overtook a large portion of the Reichstag, a feat that had never been achieved before due to The Weimar Republic's multi-party system. He was able to achieve such grand support due to his promise to return on the goals that the Republic had set out but never completed. In 1933 Hitler was appointed chancellor, the head of the German government, and with this power he took full advantage of the enabling act which gave him full control of the nation.

Arts and Cultures in the Third Reich

Hitler considered all himself to be a pretty knowledgeable man in the areas of art. He opposed all forms of art he deemed “un-German” which included artworks by artists such as Picasso. The only form of art he would allow is the classical realistic form in which the art works glorifies and represent all that is good in Germany. He formed a tribunal group consisting of 4 men who toured the country to eradicate any arts the Hitler considered "degenerate or decadent arts." Hitler would hang up arts to display what was acceptable and what was not. He also despise any new forms of arts because he believed that they all stemmed from the USSR. Thar's why many artists left the country because of the strict rules Hitler imposed what they were and weren't allowed to do, which gave them no space for creativity in their work.

While he was the chancellor of Germany, Hitler created the Chamber of Cultures, which was split into 7 sections: fine arts, music, theatre, literature, press, radio and film. There were rules which was backed by the law. Every artist that wanted t work in Germany had to get approval from the Chamber first and join the chamber of Visual Arts. The artists could be expelled as well, and once they were, their career is over because they're now on the blacklist. Gestapos would pay surprised visits to artists to make sure they were following the rules. Hitler introduced painting competitions in order to encourage the people to paint in the "acceptable" form, in which the winner receives financial rewards.

Economy in the Third Reich

The most pressing issue was the unemployment rate, at a 30%. The Nazis believed that war enables human progress and that the point of economy in a country should be to enable triumphant wars and expansion. The Nazis started the programs for military rearmament in the 1930s, and by 1940s, the military made up the majority of Germany's economy. They expected to pay their debts to the Allies through the wealth they will acquire from conquering nations after after nations. They receive supports from small business owners and some majors businesses, but in exchange for "advantageous contracts, subsidies, and the suppression of the trade union movement." They also maintained a labor force of slaves that consisted of prisoners and inmates from concentration camps.

The Pink Triangle

Although Jews are the most commonly referenced decimated minority from the Holocaust, other minorities such as gay men (branded with a pink triangle as opposed to a Star of David) were also kept in concentration camps. Within Nazi Germany minorities were seen as a threat to the German way of life. Hitler used them as a scapegoat, blaming those who did not fit one typical mold for the poor economic and political system that had truly been brought on by the previous government. Homosexuals, though a small percent of those killed, were especially targetedsince they were not going to carry on the German name and blood in the eugenics movement that swept the Nazi party,.

Religion in the Third Reich

The Nazi Family

Women in Nazi Germany served many roles, as nurses, soldiers, and especially as home makers. While war was pushing women to go outside of their traditional roles in most of the world, Germany continued to enforce the idea of women as a means to making “perfect” Aryan children. This poster is encouraging women to be just another good citizen and create true German families with true German men. Women were prohibited from joining the executive body or any other political groups under Nazi reign, however it was expected that they conform to Nazi ideals and follow the Third Reich to the end, not necessarily in war-based death but in spending her youth at home educating her children.

Hitler Youth

From the very beginning of a German youth’s life, Nazi propaganda was pushed onto them. Not only were their parents expected to preach Nazism to them, but most young boys and girls were also a part of the Hitler Youth, a paramilitary organization that taught children to fight to uphold Nazi ideals. Most boys in the Hitler Youth then went on to the war once they aged out, already having been trained from as young as 12 to fire a rifle and kill men. It was intensely nationalistic, with the idea Germany living even if the youth died ingrained from birth.

Methods of Control in Nazi Germany

Military powers enabled the Nazis to bring fear into the people, to control them. Complaints were dealt with quickly and propaganda were used to brainwash people from a very young age.

Join the cause!

Propaganda was widespread in Nazi Germany, creating the ideal that any good German contributed to the cause. This specific poster is asking for donations though others asked for military service. Nazi propaganda was so effective because it played up fears and beliefs that many Germans already held. Antisemitism and nationalism were already rampant, Hitler just used this to his advantage instead of trying to come to consensus to persons within the nation.

Username:
Password:
Submit Cancel
Not a member? JOIN NOW!

A picture of life in Nazi Germany