Nazi Polices Towards Young People: Education (OCR GCSE History B (Schools History Project)): Revision Note

Summary

The Nazi Party made extensive changes to the school curriculum and all teachers had to swear an oath of allegiance to Hitler. This meant that the Nazis could control exactly what young people were taught at school. They could also ensure it agreed with what young people were told in the youth groups and what they saw and heard in newspapers and on the radio.

Nazi aims and policies towards education

• Control of children’s education would allow Hitler to create a generation of Nazis who were loyal to him 

• Bernhard Rust was made Education Minister in 1934 and made several changes to teachers and schools

The curriculum

• Boys and girls were educated separately

• The Nazis took control of the curriculum so that they could influence children's beliefs:

Specialist schools

• Napolas were schools for the most ‘gifted’ and for children considered by the Nazis as 'racially pure'

  • SS members replaced the traditional teachers

  • The emphasis was on sport and physical training

  • Students went on to join the SS or police services

  • By 1939, there were 16 Napolas schools

Teachers

• Those not loyal to the Nazi regime were sacked

  • Bernhard Rust sacked over 180 teachers in Prussia

• Teachers had to swear an oath of loyalty to Hitler and join the Nazi Teachers’ League

  • Membership of the Nazi Party was also compulsory

• They attended political education courses outlining key Nazi ideas

  • Around 200,000 teachers had attended courses by 1939

• Teachers had several responsibilities at school, including:

  • Teaching students the Nazi salute

  • Beginning and ending each lesson with ‘Heil Hitler’

  • Displaying posters, Nazi flags and a picture of Hitler in each classroom

How effective was the Nazi policy towards education?

• The changes to the education system, combined with the youth groups, meant that a lot of young people in Germany were indoctrinated into becoming loyal Nazis

• However, on its own, the school system was not enough to create a generation of Nazi soldiers and homemakers

  • It was only effective as part of a regime of propaganda, censorship and youth organisations