GRMN 2301 INSIDE NAZY GERMANY FINAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

World War II Experimentation Expansion Culmination Death Throws Kristallnacht November 9, 1938 Wansee Conference January 20, 1942 Total War Speech February 18, 1943 Wansee Conference Meeting of Nazi leaders in Berlin. It was the decision to murder the Jews (The Final Solution) (January 20, 1942) Kristallnacht "Night of Broken Glass" Nazis in Germany torched synagogues, vandalized Jewish homes, schools, and businesses and killed close to 100 Jews. (November 9, 1938) Hitler- Stalin Pact Signed in August 1939. There was two parts to this pact, one was public and one was private. Public: they wouldn't attack one another Private: they would take Poland and divide it between them Battle of Stalingrad Unsuccessful German attack on the city of Stalingrad during World War II from 1942 to 1943, that was the furthest extent of German advance into the Soviet Union. It was a turning point in WWII Total War Speech Speech delivered by Joseph Goebbels, his most famous one. Asked Germany if they wanted total war (February 18, 1943) Redemptive Anti- Semitism the belief that Jews were the root of all evil and that Germany could be saved from collapse only by total removal of Jews and Jewish influence Technical vs Moral Responsibility technical: when you are asked to do a job, and you do it well, but you don't support what it stands for. moral: when you are aware of what you are doing but choose to do it anyways Final Solution Hitler's program of systematically killing the entire Jewish people. Decided at the Wannsee Conference Total War speech given by Joseph Goebbels in 1943. He asked if the country wanted total war, meaning a total culture war in which everything is for war, everyone contributes Self-Coordination the process by which the German people, regardless of how they actually felt about the Nazis, fell into the habit of compliance; the process by which the Nazis encouraged people to police themselves by reporting on other members of society who were not loyal. Gleichschaltung: creating a new culture Degenerate Act art that Hitler deemed 'degenerate' meaning it lacked artistic value based on who made it. (ex: Jewish art, non- German art) Containment/ Framing technique in Nazi film to suggest something to the audience or point them in a specific direction Rentschler's First Premise The cinema of the Third Reich must be seen in the context of a totalitarian state's attempt to remake German culture and politics. Nazi film needed to overcome the status quo of the Weimar Republics films by providing a new aesthetic. - they did this by revamping the film industry and retaining political messages in the films without making them overly political Rentschler's Second Premise Nazi films were meant to entertain, "to move the hearts and minds of masses while seeming to have little in common with politics." Nazi Cinema had to be political and entertaining without seeming too political - the government had control over the cinemas and the film industry itself meant that even though the film provided an escape from Nazi rule, it did so on their terms. Despite its relatively unpolitical message, the nature in which it was viewed was a calculated political move Rentschler's Third Premise orchestra principle, cinema plays a part in the overall program of creating a new culture film was just a single part in a culture wide campaign to reshape German society film was only a piece of the puzzle. the manipulation of art, literature, music, and various other areas of entertainment and culture. the reshaping as a whole was comprised of many different parts Rentschler's Fourth Premise Nazi culture was a popular culture, not just "official art" cinema appealed to the people, it was made for them and inspired them Nazi film had to appeal to the general public, it had to be understandable and enjoyable to viewers Rentschler's Fifth Premise Nazi films aimed to be aesthetically pleasing and drew on traditional models of filmmaking, including American cinema conventions. Nazi Cinema included things that occurred in the past and should not be excluded in the history of cinema The films made in that era had resounding impacts on hollywood and other nations films that had an undeniable effect on the history of film and despite the fact that the films were made under gruesome totalitarian regime, they are a part of the history of film that cannot be discounted Degenerate Art, Why was it a problem? Nazi's viewed degenerate art as any art that did not fit within their ideals of what art should be Viewed degenerate art as a threat to the cohesion of the state and race because of its individuality and expressionism It interfered with their ideals of what constituted perfection and was seen as individual instead of eternal, eternal being the volkish art that would forever portray the german race Degenerate Art Exhibit A collection of all art (mainly modern) that the Nazi part considered unacceptable, and was on display in Munich Portrayed the art in dark and cramped quarters, and was considered a "chamber of horrors" They wanted to destroy it but knew that it would draw a lot of attention so by putting it on display in such conditions they were able to control how the public perceived the art Worker Society - discipline - absolute authority of leaders - detachment - mastery of pain - "second consciousness" - the worker will overcome and replace the Last Man The 'worker' in Juenger's book The worker is more of a type than an individual, and believes that the key driving force behind all of the worker's motoviations will be the betterment of the society and race to which he belongs The worker will not avoid pain like the modern man, but will embrace it if it is beneficial to his cause Worker is not an individual (doesn't have control over life and no goal of self realization) Worker must sacrifice individually for greater goals set by someone else New name for human being/ society not based on basic human rights The 'last man' in Juenger's book Juenger believes the last man is lazy, fearful, unmotivated Values comfort, security, safety, shelter, predictability, and individuality Become dulled by the boredom of modern life, the pain of which is slowly killing him without realizing it Values his individuality to the point that it interferes with the progression of his state and race 'Second consciousness' in Juenger's book Ability to disconnect oneself from their consciousness One must focus only on the advancement of the state and not on themselves Able to view the world around them with a disconnected and unaffected manner Able to see more clearly what needs to be done to further their nation and race Able to act without the inhibitions of pain, fear, empathy, or any of the other annoying traits associated with consciousness Applying Rentschler's premises in Triumph of the Will 1. Context to remake German culture: Everyone involved, doing their part 2. Entertain while seeming to have little in common with politics 3. Orchestra principle; cinema plays a part in new culture: documentation of the leader of the country 4. Nazi creating culture not just official art: the group mindset being fabricated and celebrated 5. Aesthetically pleasing filmmaking: glorifying Hitler through angles, shots making him look powerful Applying Rentschler's premises in Hitler Youth Quex 1. Context to remake German culture: demonizing communism, communist lifestyle condemned 2. Entertain while seeming to have little in common with politics: follows the storyline of a young boy 3. Orchestra principle, cinema plays a part in new culture: orchestrating the stereotype of an ideal nazi youth 4. Nazi creating culture not just official art: inspiring youth to be involved and do their part 5. Aesthetically pleasing filmmaking: lighting for Heini vs mother and father Applying Rentschler's premises in La Habanera 1. Context to remake German culture: Puerto Rico is the opposite of Germany, but another version of Germany dealing with a "fever" 2. Entertain while seeming to have little in common with politics: escapism with Zara Leander, "meeting desires halfway to regulate emotions" 3. Orchestra principle; cinema plays a part in new culture: creating movie stars like Zara Leander 4. Nazi creating culture not just official art: cultivating the experience of going to the movies, escapism, music in film 5. Aesthetically pleasing filmmaking: transitional shots, actors, film elements Applying Rentschler's premises in Munchhausen 1. Context to remake German culture: created a strong sense of nationalism, portraying other cultures in an inferior light 2. Entertain while seeming to have little in common with politics: attempt to boost morale and distract from reality 3. Orchestra principle; cinema plays a part in new culture: Germany showing off their advanced artistic abilities in filmmaking 4. Nazi creating culture not just official art: the idea of Munchhausen as a "strong man," Aryan race superiority 5. Aesthetically pleasing filmmaking: technicolor, costumes, lots of advanced editing