nazi racial doctrine and goal of volksgemeinschaft

This page considers the racial aims and prejudices that underpinned Nazi rule, and the ultimate aim of creating a German 'People's Community'.

1. Attempts to create a Volksgemeinschaft, 1933-39 Nazi racial doctrine and goal of Volksgemeinschaft

2. Attempts to create a Volksgemeinschaft, 1933-39 Hitler aimed to build his new Germany based on the concept of Volksgemeinschaft . This meant building a People’s Community based on a pure German society of National Comrades (Aryan Germans) whilst excluding Outsiders (such as Jews, gypsies, homosexuals, etc ).

3. Attempts to create a Volksgemeinschaft, 1933-39 The Nazis aimed to achieve Volksgemeinschaft through two strategies: Policies which would unite all Aryan Germans into one People’s Community Policies to remove Outsiders from German society, helping unify the pure German race

4. Attempts to create a Volksgemeinschaft, 1933-39 The Nazis believed in a pure Aryan race. The Aryan race generally referred to people of European origin (including white skin and certain religious beliefs). Hitler and the Nazis believed that Aryans made up a master race . He wanted to unite those people across Europe.

5. Attempts to create a Volksgemeinschaft, 1933-39 Uniting all Aryans meant policies targeting various German groups including: Women Children Workers Business owners Propaganda also aimed to unite all Germans behind Nazi ideals.

6. Attempts to create a Volksgemeinschaft, 1933-39 Policies aimed at removing Outsiders from German society were brutal. They began with actions which aimed to isolate groups including Jews from the rest of society. This then moved on to attacking or forcibly removing them and ultimately culminated in the Holocaust .

7. Attempts to create a Volksgemeinschaft, 1933-39 The Nazis enjoyed some success in their attempts to create Volksgemeinschaft. Their control of propaganda and organisations such as the Hitler Youth helped win many Germans to their cause. In many cases they were building on beliefs and fears that many Germans already had.

8. Attempts to create a Volksgemeinschaft, 1933-39 However in general terms the Nazis failed to create a People’s Community of united Germans. This was because of the difficulty in overcoming and removing traditional divisions such as class and religion . Also some of their support was based on fear , not genuine belief in Nazi ideals.

9. Attempts to create a Volksgemeinschaft, 1933-39 Historians’ views Benjamin Sax: Attempts to create Volksgemeinschaft failed, partly due to contradictions within Nazi ideology. Michael Hughes: Propaganda including symbols such as the Volkswagen helped the Nazis persuade many Germans that Volksgemeinschaft had been achieved but this was a myth. Ian Kershaw: Nazi values and attitudes had some impact on Germans – especially the young - but overall failed to overcome traditional social divides such as class and religion.