“Volksgemeinschaft”


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The so-called “Volksgemeinschaft” or racial community propagated the idea of internal unity. This “Volksgemeinschaft” was displayed especially impressively at the annual Nuremberg Party Rallies. The regime systematically took advantage of the possibilities of new media, above all radio.


Many manifested their membership in this community by joining the NSDAP or party organizations such as the National Socialist People’s Welfare, the German Labor Front, the National Socialist Women’s League or the Hitler Youth. This in turn put those who tended to stand on the sidelines under pressure to conform.


Willingness to donate, attendance of community evenings, subscriptions to Nazi magazines and proper display of the flag received just as much notice as resistant behavior such as continued attendance of church services and Christian education of children. By no means were conformity and uniformity perceived to be constraints alone. They were also seen as a means to overcome class and party divisions.


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