Nazi Germany

Nazi Germany, also called the Third Reich, was the name for Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian state ruled by Adolf Hitler and his Nazi Party (NSDAP). Nazi Germany is best known for its aggressive foreign policy, for launching World War II in Europe and the Holocaust, which resulted in the death of millions of European Jews and other minorities.On 30 January 1933 Hitler became chancellor of Germany, quickly eliminating all opposition to rule as sole leader. The state idolized Hitler as its Führer ("leader"), centralizing all power in his hands. Under the Führerprinzip ("leader principle"), the Führer's word was considered to be above all other laws. Top officials reported to Hitler and followed his policies, but they had considerable autonomy.
The government was not a coordinated, cooperating body, but rather a collection of factions struggling to amass power and curry favor with the Führer. In the midst of the Great Depression, the Nazi government restored prosperity and ended mass unemployment using heavy military spending and a mixed economy of free-market and central-planning practices. Extensive public works were undertaken, including the construction of the Autobahns.
The return to prosperity gave the regime enormous popularity and made Hitler's rule mostly unchallenged.Racism, especially antisemitism, was a main tenet of society in Nazi Germany. The Gestapo (secret state police) and Schutzstaffel (SS) under Heinrich Himmler destroyed the liberal, socialist, and communist opposition and persecuted and murdered the Jews.
The Nordic people, considered to be a branch of the Aryan race, were thought to be the master race. Education focused on racial biology, population policy, and physical fitness. Membership in the Hitler Youth organization became compulsory. The number of women enrolled in post-secondary education plummeted, and womens' rights were sharply curtailed. Entertainment and tourism were organized via the Strength Through Joy program. The government controlled artistic expression, promoting specific forms of art and discouraging or banning others. Propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels made effective use of film, mass rallies, and Hitler's hypnotizing oratory to control public opinion. The 1936 Summer Olympics showcased the Third Reich on the international stage.
Category:Earth Nations
Category:Nations