Explain how and why your research area reflected change within german social, political and cultural life up to 1939
The racial policies of Hitler and the National Socialist German Workers Party, resulting in ruthless attempts of Jewish genocide, revolutionised the economically weak and politically unstable Germany from
(typo) 1918-1939.
Perhaps make it clear: Was Germany politically unstable and economically weak from 1918-1939, or did the policies revolutionise these areas from 1918-1939? Obviously, the answer is “depending on the decade”, but maybe try to make this more evident. Inspired by the imperial writings of German and
(typo) philosophers, Hitler, and by extension the Nazis, believed in the superiority of the Aryan or Nordic ‘race’ (ubermensch
(Italics this) ) and inferiority of the Jews calling them “ a parasite in the body of other nations, contaminating the purity of blood” in his memoir ‘Mein Kampf’ . As Hitler and the Nazi Party’s policies increased in numbers and severity, the political, cultural and social life of Germany was plunged into radical antisemitism. Accomplished through organised and effective law making (Gleichschaltung
(italics this) ), the hatred towards Jews grew across all sectors of German life and resulted in the most most
(typo) devastating attempt at genocide in human history.
I think this is a fantastic introduction. Besides from making some sentences a bit more clear, your thesis is very evident (although I imagine also quite obvious): Racial policy -> Antisemitism -> Change in social/political/cultural life. Great use of SARDEs.The period of the democratic Weimar Germany
(Time period? Make a call as to when the Republic ended) reflected a shift in attitudes and splitting of perspectives when it came to antisemitism and racial policies.The outstanding feature of this period was the polarisation between the unprecedented integration of the Jews in every sphere of life, and the growth of political anti-Semitism among various organisations and political parties. Compared to neighbouring states like France and Russia, antisemitism was less accepted and many Jews occupied high positions in civil service and government.
I know you’re about to go into some specific dates/facts etc., but for a top level response (which this is shaping up to be) you really shouldn’t be going half a paragraph without a SARDE. Give me some specifics! Jews played an important role in the first cabinet formed in 1918 after the collapse of Imperial Germany and the Weimar Constitution was drafted by a Jew (Hugo Pruess). But with this rise in Jews occupying important political positions, came right-wing traditionalists that used the Jews as scapegoats for the loss of the war, losses of territory and the change of the political system. When left-wing communist groups such as the Spartacist League made serious attempts to revolt due to their disappointment with government hostility to socialist reform, their leaders (who were often) Jews received the blame. Concepts such as “Jewish revolution”, “Jewish Bolshevism” and “Jewish republic” became crowd-pleasing political slogans.
Reading below, I’m glad that this is the only part focused on Germany prior to 1933. However, given that the research area is “Nazi racial policy”, I think that this paragraph is too long (given that you have a word count, I assume). Try cut down as many unsubstantive sentences as possible, and bulk up the statistics supporting your argument. The Nazi Party first came into power in 1933 immediately promoting the first ‘phase’ of antisemitic racial policies focussing on separating Jews from German social life. It aimed to revile the Jews and manipulate Germany’s ‘racially pure’ to distrust and dislike them. Hitler was rational in his method when it came to building up the aggression of his antisemitic policies and his early policies were quite general in nature. A series of trivial regulations aimed at the Jewish community were integrated that aimed to humiliate and degrade the Jews such as excluding Jews form public buses, parks and swimming pools and placing signs which said that certain building entrances were not for Jewish people.
I need the specific regulation here: What was it called, on what date was it passed. Your logical sentence structure, building of your thesis etc. is really fantastic, but I need more PROOF that you’re not just making things up! Many ex-soldiers and right-wing supporters were in favour of the petty humiliation due to the growing belief that the Jews for responsible for past and present ills. On April 3 1933, the Nazi’s called for a national boycott of Jewish businesses, professional offices and department stores. The Jews, known for their business and financial skills suffered greatly from this vilification which accelerated with the enactment of the Law for the Restoration of the Civil Service in April 1933.
I’ve realized here something that applies to much of the above: You need to make sure you are directly referencing the question. Is this social, political or cultural? All three? Just make sure it is really clear which section of the thesis you are addressing. Right click, synonyms, the words in the question so it doesn’t feel repetitive. It stated that civil servants who were not of ‘Aryan-descent’ were to be forced to retire. This came as a shock
Try to avoid colloquialisms to many Jews and contrasted enormously with their previous acceptance and rise in employment at the time of Weimar Germany.
Stats! Stats! Stats! Some of Germany’s greatest intellectuals, most notably, Albert Einstein saw that the blatantly racist law was a sign of what was to come and could see the danger of the rise in antisemitism. In a letter sent to the Prussian Academy of Science, Einstein said “(regarding his statements to the press) I also described the condition Germany is in today as a physic disease afflicting the masses” His views were reflected in the minds of many prominent Jewish civil servants.
Again, your assessment and use of facts (whilst not specific enough) is really great, I just need you to make it a bit clearer that this is building your thesis.
The manipulation of German culture by the Nazi Party aimed to remove all Jewish influence and presence in education, art, cinema, music. This ‘cultural genocide’
Why did you use this term? Is it a quote? If not, don’t use ‘these’ was skilfully guided by Joseph Goebbels head of the Ministry for Public Enlightenment and Propaganda, President of the Reich Chamber of Culture and Director of the Propaganda Office of the Nazi Party and played an immense role in the strengthening of anti-semitism in Germany. In 1933 he began the synchronisation of culture,
Perfect place to introduce the term Gleichschaltung, and explain what it means. by which the arts were brought in line with Nazi goals. German "art cultivation" (a term for all measures aimed at promoting artists and the arts) also extended to film. Some
Again, use less colloquial terms (approximately 1500 etc.) 1500 film directors and producers and actors fled Germany once the Nazi Party came into power. Notably Fritz Lang, accomplished film director, was asked by Goebbels to be the head of his propaganda film unit after being so impressed with Lang’s work, Metropolis. Lang instead fled to America fearing the repercussions. Book burning ceremonies were planned and the government purged cultural organisations of Jews and others suspected to be politically or artistically regarded as ‘risky’. In another form of literary ‘cleansing’ the Reich Chamber of Culture, consisting of the Reich Film Chamber, Reich Music Chamber, Reich Theatre Chamber, Reich Press Chamber, Reich Writing Chamber, Reich Chamber for Fine Arts, and the Reich Radio Chamber, formed a ‘blacklist’ of books deemed as ‘unacceptable’ either written by prominent Jews or literature promoting ideals that could not coexist with Nazi ideology. This started what can be viewed as the second ‘phase’ of attempt to annihilate the Jews. Hitler recognised the power of the arts and history being one of the the most powerful forms in keeping a culture active which he addresses in ‘Mein Kampf’. Address your thesis!
Clearly, this paragraph spoke of cultural changes due to anti-semitism. Have an introductive and concluding statement. The intro statement should say something like “Nazi racial policies, including but not limited to the notion of Gleichschaltung, caused a rapid deterioration and standardization of cultural movement in post-1933 Germany” You've got one that is very general; try to work on the intro statements in each of your paragraphs.The unrelenting antisemitic magazine, ‘Der Stürmer’ was founded by high-ranking party member Julius Streicher in 1923 and was in circulation until the end of World War 1. Its slogan was ‘Die Juden sind unser Unglück!’, translated to ‘The Jews are our misfortune!” a phrase coined by early nationalist Heinrich von Treitschke in the 1880s. ‘Der Stürmer' was viewed by Hitler as playing a significant role in the Nazi propaganda machinery and a useful tool in influencing the "common man on the street".
The German people no longer had any (or very little) access to first hand education or portrayals of Jewish beliefs, achievements and culture. This left the Nazi party to ‘fill in the gaps’ and provided opportunity for them to continue circulating lies about the Jewish religion, race and its past and promote Aryan ‘purity’.
There are some great stats about the diminishing numbers of students in higher education. Try to find some!The transition from Weimar Government to Nazi Germany from 1918-1939 reflected an enormous amount of change in German social, cultural and political life. In the political sector, the stripping of civil rights within the first few months of Hitlers
(typo) accession to power through effective law making was a considerable change from the total political acceptance of the Jews under the Weimar government. In social life Jews were slowly fazed out of jobs as well as general German life through antisemitic legislation and the role of propaganda in influencing the social ideas of the ‘Aryan’ German. Through culture, Jews were completely omitted form artistic prominence and were depicted in Nazi approved cultural propaganda as untermensch (sub-human). All of these changes clearly show the changes in German life due to antisemitic policy and practice by Hitler’s Nazi Party.
Not very keen on your last sentence, I’ll be honest. Make it sound foreboding: ‘indicative of the horror to come’ etc. I do like the summary of each of the thesis points (although possibly reword them, when you read it outloud they are quite jarring sentences); THIS IS WHAT YOU NEED MORE OF THROUGHOUT THE ESSAY! I also think, perhaps, you need to explore the political side of this question in greater depth (although I don't think there is much depth to go into). This is a top-notch essay, and your use of historical language etc. is fantastic. By addressing your thesis more regularly (by utilizing the words of the question) and adding more specific, accurate, relevant and detailed examples, I see a great essay ahead for you .