24294129 | GERMANY: NAZISM IN POWER | SOCIAL AND CULTURAL LIFE IN THE NAZI STATE: ROLE OF WOMEN, HITLER YOUTH AND RELIGION |

24294129
3/26/2013
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Research Component 1. Identify the identity responsible for the implementation of this policy. What was the scope of his responsibility within the party?
Hitler was the identity responsible for the implementation of the Volksgemeinschaft. Hitler established the idea in his book, “Mein Kemp as he spoke about a “saviour” that would resurrect Germany from the economic and social turmoil that resulted from WWI and the Versailles treaty. Hitler was this so called “saviour” and he embodied the persona that would take responsibility and enact Germany’s recovery.
“… he was both presented and seen as the embodiment of the Vollsgemeinschaft” – Allan Bullock (Historian) 2. What is Volksgemeinschaft (the People’s Community)?
The Volksgemeinschaft, was the focus element of the Nazi Regime. It consisted of abolishing class divisions in society, and unifying the people of Germany. The nationalistic approach was determined to rid the “old” Germany driven by self-interest and implement policy that would profit the entire country. Society viewed Hitler, Naziam and the Volksgemeinschaft as the reviving factor to the “stab in the back” the country had suffered under the Wiemar Republic. Although it was based on uniting Germany, this only included those of the Aryan race. 3. Explain the importance of this policy for the implementation of Nazism in Germany (one paragraph).
This policy was of great importance for the implementation of Nazism in Germany. Hitler realised to facilitate the Nazi Regime and implement structure and change into Germany, he must do it via avenues of parliament. Subsequently, the Volksgemeinschaft was also a manipulation of the public where Hilter used the policy to seemingly make people think they were conceding to the initiatives of the Nazis. This idea of self-determination was used to infiltrate Religion, Youth, Marriage etc would achieve Hilter’s ideology. Furthermore, the people were still satisfied eliminating the chances of revolt and further establishing Nazism in Germany.

4. HITLER YOUTH a) Why was youth policy of importance to the Nazis?
The youth policy was of extensive importance to the Nazis. It was believed that the future of Germany was held in the children of the Aryan race. The youth policy further established that children were the foundations of the ideological, totalitarian regime and that they would be the ones to inherit Nazi idealism. This mind set was concreted from the age of 10 to 18 and the responsible institutions enforced discipline and allegiance to the Nazis. As the youth became adults, they would be the driving, determined factor for fulfilling the Volksgemeinschaft Regime.

b) What values did the Hitler Youth Movement emphasise?
The Hitler Youth was a logical extension of Hitler's belief that the future of Nazi Germany was its children. The Hitler Youth was seen as being as important to a child as school was. In the early years of the Nazi government, Hitler had made it clear as to what he expected German children to be like:
"The weak must be chiselled away. I want young men and women who can suffer pain. A young German must be as swift as a greyhound, as tough as leather, and as hard as Krupp's steel." -Hitler

c) What was expected of young girls?
Girls, at the age of 10, joined the Jungmadelbund (League of Young Girls) and at the age of 14 transferred to the Bund Deutscher Madel (League of German Girls). Girls had to be able to run 60 metres in 14 seconds, throw a ball 12 metres, complete a 2 hour march, swim 100 metres and know how to make a bed. For girls, the organisation prepared them for motherhood.
However, boys at 10, joined the Deutsches Jungvolk (German Young People) until the age of 13 when they transferred to the Hitler Jugend (Hitler Youth) until the age of 18. In 1936, the