How were citizens lives impacted?
- Nazi Party members were extremely happy. They got the best houses, preferential treatment, good jobs in government and they had power over other people.
- Ordinary citizens lives were good. The Nazi economic policy gave them full employment, prosperity and financial security. There was no poverty in Germany and Germany's economy was better than ever before. Now that Germany had law and order, German citizens were not afraid to leave their doors unlocked. They now had autobahns that improved their transportation. Hitler provided frequent ceremonies, rallies, color and excitement. The Nazi propaganda gave citizens hope and the Nazi racial philosophy gave people self-belief. When citizens trusted in Hitler, it gave them a sense of security which they had never had before. There were also a few things that the citizens did not enjoy. There was a loss of personal freedoms, for example the loss of freedom of speech. Also, all culture had to be German. For example music had to be either Beethoven or Wagner or German folk songs. Also all actors had to be members of the Nazi party and only books by approved authors could be read.
- Women were not very happy. The Nazis were very male dominated and anti-feminist. Hitler believed that the role of women was to take care of children and make families. Women were encouraged to get married and have children. Mothers who had more than 8 children were given a gold medal. Many women were very unhappy with the Nazis because they encouraged job-discrimination against women. Successful women who worked hard were forced to give up their careers for example, women doctors, teachers and civil servants. Also women were not allowed to serve in the armed forces, even during the war.
- The youth were happy for the most part because the Nazi culture was youth oriented. The HJ (Hitler youth boys ages 14 to 18) provided many fun activities for younger boys. Young boys and girls were treated like young men and women, they were treated as though they were special. Many parents feared their children because they were afraid their own children would report them to the Gestapo. Children enjoyed having the power to control their parents fate. Although, some children were very unhappy. Many young girls did not like the fact that Hitler found their only use was to make children and cook. Also many true Aryan girls were sent to special camps where they were bred like animals with selected Aryan boys. Near the end of the war, a young groups of kids began to reject the Nazi youth culture. These kids danced to American jazz music and eventually ended up attacking the Gestapo. If the children were caught, they were hanged immediately.