The film begins perfectly with the image of books burning in a bonfire. The image is haunting and, once upon a time in America, it was considered a horror. It still should be. This single idea, the destruction of education and the formation of a new education, is carried continuously throughout the film. Of course, the film never mentions that, in it's own highly patriotic way, it is attempting to educate as well, if not re-educate.
Nazis are, of course, shown to be evil and uncaring.
The idea that the weak and the mentally challenged will be sterilized to keep them from reproducing is explored. The idea that this may also happen to those who oppose the Nazi ideal is also touched upon. The re-education of youth always lies somewhere in the film's story. This is particularly interesting in a scene where a woman who appears to be a social worker visits a lower-class family. But we are supposed to be really disgusted when the male children of the woman express the idea that they want to fight for Hitler in the army.