Nazifying The Teachers In 1933
The Nazis approach to Nazify the teachers in Germany and implement Gleichschaltung into the education was to weed out uncommitted party members. New teachers were forced to go through a tough selection process forcing teachers to conform, or resign. The National Socialist Teachers League was set up, where the Nazi Governments ideals were discussed and implemented, ultimately governing the future of the youth and the future for Germany.
Initially, many teachers ignored the many significant changes that the government implemented however, very quickly many of the teachers conformed to the regulations and started to develop the changes to the daily ritual routines at school (London Jewish Cultural Centre, 2011). The National Socialist Teacher’s League was a professional organisation that was established to coordinate the political and the Nazi ideological training for teachers, this ensured the Government that the teachers had conformed to the Nazis doctrine. It became increasingly difficult to teach without being a member of the league. The National Socialist teacher’s League operated through both propaganda and a large amount of intimidation (Wagner, National Socialist Teachers' League, 2013). Many teachers saw that by joining the league and the Nazi party itself that it was a smart carrier move; one report indicates that by 1936, 32% of all teachers were Nazi party members. This was twice as many as reported in most other professions (Wagner, National Socialist Teachers' League, 2013). The National Socialist Teachers League was a major force in the change in education for the youth of Germany by 1938, two thirds of the entire teaching force had been to compulsory one month training courses, where the new curriculum was introduced and enforced (Brown, 2004). A number of teachers were dismissed for various reasons including not being part of the National Socialist Teachers League or, not supporting the Nazi party. Being Jewish was an instant dismissal. This was the Governments way to fish out any teachers that could potentially stand in the Nazi’s way in changing the minds of the future Germans and leaders of the country. Overall the teachers played a dominant role in the future for the country and many of them conformed to the ideals of the Government, resulting in them educating the youth to become strong supporters in the Nazi government.
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The cartoon above ...
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