German Universities And Nazi Regime (1933-1945)

The academia has not paid enough attention to the relationship between German university and Nazi regime, this paper tries to use materials which I have mastered to discuss the connection systematically.Concerning this issue on their connection, the passage is divided into three parts-introduction,text and conclusion, which constitutes a whole unit. It is demonstrated briefly the importance of the research on this issue in this passage and proposed some problems. Meanwhile, it makes elaborate introduction on the research at home and abroad. All the above establish foundation for the spreading of the whole text.The text can be divided into 3 chapters. The first chapter discusses the relationship between German University and Nazi Party which sets up and develops. The author thinks that the Great Depression is the turning point of their relation, because of the similar thoughts on the attitudes toward Weimar Republic,the adoration of father figure and Anti-Semite, moreover, the descent of Rationalism in 1920's and the terrible overflow of Nihilism, which make their connection closely. Finally, German University and other classes impel Hitler to become German Chancellor.The second chapter mainly depicts their nexus during Nazi period .After Nazi Party controlling the state, according to Fuhrer Prinzip, Nazi takes series of steps to reconstruct University, and established Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Dozentenbund und Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Studentenbund to dominate University. Owing to Anti-Semite, Nazi Party purges Jewish Dozenten and Studenten in German Universites completely. As for University main body, in the face of University's transformation, some expresses their obedience, more keeps silence. There are several resistence movement during the World War Two, such as White Rose Movement, but they don't bring much menace to Nazi, on the contrary, Nazi imposes them and adopts severer measure to control subject. The third chapter analyses the rupture of German University tradition during Nazi period. Under Nazi reign, the University Ideal,academic curriculum setup and function takes place entire change, Race education and physical training become more important. For the sake of adapting the need of War position, German University also happens some alteration, it turns into Nazi's tool to monitor intellectual.The conclusion points out Nazi period is its breakpoint on the development of German University. This phenomenon appears owing to the influence of University universal classical notion since the foundation of Berlin University,the comedown of Rationalism,the interrelationship between Geist und Macht which is German Universities' central problem is in the air, besides that, University's strong Nationalism feeling and Nazi crafty propaganda, all this make the University tradition disjointed is not only a contingency.