Nazi Ideology in Educational Text
Nazi Ideology in Educational Text
Textbooks for German youth of various ages depicts many key themes, including: race, self-sacrifice, minimizing German atrocities while victimizing the German people, loyalty to Germany, and loyalty to along with adoration of Adolf Hitler.
This created a sense of loyalty, unity, and defensiveness among the German youth, leading them to be much more willing to commit or silently witness atrocities towards the Nazi's targeted groups.
The Battle for Germany:
Philipp Bouhler
"On the day of National Socialist victory, the Communists could add to their list of successes the murder of two more brave Germans. They made their last attempts. With deviltry that could only come from criminal minds, they attempted to organize armed resistance by subhumans in Germany. The burning of the Reichstag was supposed to be the torch that brought forth bloody insurrection."
"The Reichstag fire was quickly noticed, and rapid action hindered great troubles. The firmest measures were taken to restore order in Prussia."
"The opponents, who still ruled several provinces, slowly and quietly had to surrender. The National Socialist movement took power everywhere."
Bouhler writes as if Germany has been attacked, as if they are the defense. He fosters a sense of anger, nationalism, and superiority in the German youth.
"wewelsburg castle - Hitler Youth, YOU TOO" by ukdamian is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0
Translation: "You Too"
Hitler Youth, wearing a swastika armband, pictured in front of a soldier and the symbol for the Nazi Schutzstaffel. Again, the imagery is depicting the Hitler Youth as brave, courageous, and generally an ideal goal for German youth.
My Reader: A story book for the little ones from Bremen
Fritz Gansberg
Propaganda for the very young
"The soldiers came back from their field exercise, and the boys came to meet them. Hansi was there, too. But his short legs were not able to keep up. He could no longer hear the music, and the foot soldiers were past, too. Now the last truck came along. Two soldiers sat in back...One jumped down and lifted Hansi up. Now he sat between them.
All the people along the street were surprised...And the big boys said: 'If only we could sit there!' Hansi rode along to the base. It was the best day of his life."
Stories meant for young children, so young they struggle to keep up with an adult stride, praise and admire Nazi soldiers. This is meant to encourage enrollment among the youth in both Nazi youth programs and, as they age, the Nazi army.
“Books (feat. Nazis and Saint Seiva)” by Le Yéti is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0
Hand in Hand for the Fatherland
Otto Zimmermann
"[Child speaking to Hitler] I know you well, and love you as I do my father and mother. I will always be obedient to you as I am to my father and mother. And when I am bigger, I will help you, as my father and mother do, And you will be proud of me, as my father and mother are!
[Hitler responding to child] We want this people to be loyal, and you must learn to be loyal. We want this people to be obedient, and you must learn obedience. We want this people to be peace-loving, but also brave, and you must therefore both love peace and be brave...We want this people to love honor, and you should seek honor. We want this people become a proud people once more, and you should learn true pride. We of the older generation will pass away, but Germany will continue to live in you. You will hold our banners firmly in your hands! Heil Germany! Heil!"
Another story meant for young children that admires and praises Adolf Hitler, further encouraging a blind and unquestioning loyalty to the Nazi party and, more specifically, to Hitler.
"Nazi propaganda" by quinet is licensed under CC BY 2.0
The Battle for Germany:
Philipp Bouhler
Conclusion: The Victory of Faith!
"The Führer and the movement he created are the dynamic forces that made the impossible possible. They rescued Germany from the edge of the abyss and gave it a new face, its true face."
"[The National Socialist revolution] all occurred without bloodshed, without violence of any kind. It followed logical laws, it grew organically and without any apparent compulsion. Only where the fate of the nation was at risk were individuals ignored, for the community good is more important than individual good."
"The National Socialist government of Adolf Hitler has accomplished great things. Much remains to be done, and what the present generation cannot do will be finished by the youth."
Just as the quotes from Chapter 7, these minimize the atrocities of the German Reich. The Reichstag fire mentioned was certainly met with "firm measures," however those measures were far from being free from bloodshed or remotely peaceful. After the fire, Hitler had Communists beaten, arrested, tortured, and many killed. Many of the first concentration camp prisoners were communist men. (Bergen, 70-71)
"Hitler with German youth" by IMLS DCC is licensed under CC BY 2.0
Reichsleitung der NSDAP
"Overcome by superior forces, weakened by hunger, stabbed in the back by traitors at home and abroad, the old Germany collapsed.
Long years of political, cultural and, economic misery followed.
But then a vehement fighting spirit raised high the flag once again. Adolf Hitler gave the new Reich the red flag with the ancient symbol of the swastika as a sign of Germany's inheritance, as a symbol of the German will for victory, as the foundation of Germany's future."
"The Führer forged the people into a strong community."
"You must know that each German faces a hard, sacrificial time. And you must cheerfully say 'yes' to it."
"Once you have come to see you people in this way, as an enormously complicated, yet unified, network of millions related by blood, you will never be able to consider yourself an isolated individual again."
"...mixing German people with members of a distant race leads to unhealthy results. Mixing, for example, with blacks, with yellows, and with Jews must be avoided."
This piece heavily focuses on a sense of unity among the Aryan German people, as implied by the title. It is meant to diminish any sense of individuality, but instead focuses on prioritizing the well-being and successes of Nazi Germany.
