Hitler's Reich - Diaries of Nazi supporters, opponents and victims (2/4) | DW Documentary

Germany Under Hitler: A Detailed Account from 1936-1939

Key Concepts:

• National Socialism, Anti-Semitism, Nuremberg Laws, Aryanization, Labor Service, Anschluss, Kristallnacht, Zudetenland, Racial Science, Propaganda, Volksgemeinschaft (People's Community), Gleichschaltung (Coordination).

1936: Olympics, Propaganda, and Early Discrimination

• Ingatila (Garmisch-Partenkirchen): A young woman working at a plant nursery, Ingatila expresses national pride during the 1936 Winter Olympics, noting the "German salute" from other nations. She seeks to improve her life but is constrained by limited opportunities. She considers joining the female labor service.
• Matias Mazize (Eifel Region): An innkeeper, Matias feels marginalized due to his past as a Democrat. He observes the increasing presence of Nazi influence and feels oppressed, comparing it to being in jail with "brown shirts" as wardens. He seeks refuge in the carnival season.
• Remilitarization of the Rhineland: Matias expresses delight at the remilitarization of the Rhineland by German troops in March 1936, seeing it as a sign of "Hitler's greatness."
• Louisa and Freddy Zoitz (Hamburg): The Nuremberg Laws strip Freddy, defined as a Jew, of his rights as a German citizen. Their daughter Gizela is declared "mixed race first degree." Freddy writes to Hitler requesting to remain a citizen, citing his service in World War I.
• Villi Korn (Breslau): A Jewish veteran of World War I, Villi observes the increasing anti-Semitism and the loss of Jewish voting rights. He notes the pervasive election propaganda and the lack of genuine choice in the plebiscite endorsing Hitler's policies.
• The 1936 Olympics: Germany uses the Berlin Olympics to present a peaceful image, temporarily removing anti-Semitic signs. However, this is a temporary facade.
• Freddy Zoitz's Appeal Rejected: After 10 months, Freddy's appeal to be classified as a full German citizen is rejected. Gizela, at 16, expresses a fatalistic view of her future, fearing a violent death.
• Ingatila and the Labor Service: Ingatila considers joining the female labor service, driven by a desire to serve the "Führer." The labor service is described as an "educational project" and involved in major construction projects like the autobahns.
• Freeway Construction and War Preparations: Matias observes the opening of a major section of the freeway, noting the heavy propaganda and the "disconcerting sense that freeway construction is above all part of preparations for war."
• Militarization of Vit: Matias notes the deployment of the military to Vit, including the construction of an air base and anti-aircraft battery, recognizing it as a sign of war preparations.
• Gizela and Air Raid Drills: Gizela's school begins air raid drills, highlighting the growing sense of impending conflict.
• Ingatila's Job Search: Ingatila abandons the idea of the labor service and focuses on earning money, taking a job at a nursery in Kasa.

1937: Growing Restrictions and Emigration Attempts

• Gizela's Dance Class: Gizela's dance class highlights the increasing politicization of everyday life, as her association with a Hitler Youth leader could have legal repercussions.
• Freddy Zoitz's Isolation: Freddy feels like a burden on his family due to the increasing discrimination.
• Villi and Trudy Korn's Trip to Palestine: Villi and Trudy apply for permission to travel to Palestine to explore immigration possibilities.
• Villi Korn's Kibbutz Dream: Villi is deeply moved by the Jewish achievements in Palestine and wants to stay, but Trudy is uncomfortable with the simple life and the people.
• Trudy Korn's Discomfort: Trudy does not feel an "inner connection" with the kibbutz and does not want to be unhappy there.
• Villi Korn's Rejected Application: Villi's application to join the kibbutz is rejected, ending his dream of rediscovering a "little piece of home."
• The Zoitz Family's Shrinking Circle: The Zoitz family experiences the end of a friendship due to the friend's fear of associating with Jews.

1938: Anschluss, Racial Ideology, and the Threat of War

• Egon Urvine (Una Grombak): A committed Nazi and agricultural specialist in the Reich Labor Service, Egon begins a diary on January 30th, 1938, the anniversary of the Nazi seizure of power. He oversees 200 workers reclaiming land.
• Egon Urvine's Aspirations: Egon dreams of living in the eastern "Lebensraum" (living space) and creating an ancestral estate for his family.
• Susanna's Birthday: A children's birthday party provides a moment of joy amidst the difficult times.
• Reading Mein Kampf: The diarist reads Mein Kampf, noting that it is a book that needs to be studied in detail.
• The Anschluss: Egon celebrates the annexation of Austria, seeing it as the fulfillment of a "old German dream."
• Racial Science and Genealogy: Egon becomes intensely interested in racial science and genealogy, drawing up genealogical tables to analyze the "decline of the Nordic racial component" in his family tree. He reads "Racial Science of the German People" by Hans Gaunther.
• Birth of Fulcat Urvine: Egon's son, Fulcat, is born. Egon wants the name to include the German word for "tough," but the registrar misspells it.
• Freddy Zoitz Forced to Add "Israel": Jews with German first names are forced to add "Israel" (for men) or "Sara" (for women). Freddy is forced to add "Israel" to his name.
• Egon Urvine Called Away: Egon is called away on official business due to the crisis over the Sudetenland.
• The Sudetenland Crisis: Hitler stirs up tensions over the Sudetenland, demanding its annexation.
• Appeasement in Munich: Britain and France give in to Hitler's demands in Munich, agreeing to the annexation of the Sudetenland in the hope of securing peace.
• Troops Marching into Sudetenland: Troops march into Sudetenland.
• Birth of Tamara Korn: The Coons welcome another daughter, Tamara.

1938: Kristallnacht and Intensified Persecution

• Kristallnacht: The night of November 9th and 10th marks the beginning of Kristallnacht, a campaign of terror against the Jewish population. Synagogues are destroyed, homes and shops are looted, and Jewish people are murdered or arrested.
• Villi Korn's Account of Kristallnacht: Villi witnesses the destruction of the synagogue and expresses horror at the violence.
• Gizela's Experience: Gizela and her mother find a man slumped in a chair at the police station, and an officer makes an anti-Semitic remark to their dog.
• Villi Korn Avoids Arrest: Villi avoids being arrested, unlike many other Jews in Breslau.
• Aryanization of the Zoitz's House: The Zoitz family's house is confiscated as part of the "Aryanization" process.
• Freddy Zoitz's House Confiscated: The Zoitz's house is confiscated because Jews are forbidden to own property.
• Kanuka Celebration: The Korn family celebrates Kanuka with their daughters, hoping to celebrate it in freedom in Palestine the following year.

1939: The Brink of War

• Villi Korn Wears the Star of David: Villi Korn wears the Star of David to the synagogue so that nobody could say that he'd been a coward.

Synthesis/Conclusion:

The diaries reveal the diverse experiences of Germans under Hitler's regime from 1936 to 1939. They show the spectrum of reactions, from enthusiastic support and fanatical belief in Nazi ideology to fear, despair, and the gradual erosion of rights and freedoms. The accounts highlight the insidious nature of propaganda, the increasing persecution of Jews, and the growing sense of impending war. The diaries also reveal the personal struggles and moral dilemmas faced by individuals as they navigated the increasingly oppressive and dangerous environment of Nazi Germany.