Reasons for the
persecution of minorities

Why did the Nazis persecute minority groups in Germany?

They believed that Germany was weak because it's Aryan* race had been contaminated by mixing with races they believed were inferior. Also, over a million of healthy german men were killed in the war.

As a result, the Government wanted to create a national people's community (Volksgemeinschaft) made up of physically and mentally healthy, socially useful, pure-blooded Aryans.

To enforce this, Germans were taught about "racial hygiene", laws were introduced to forbid Germans from having sex with inferior races and many "inferior races"* and "undesirables"* were killed.

As a result of the persecution, there were increased numbers of racially pure Aryans, a national people's community was created and Germany became a strong nation and leading world power.

Why did the Nazis persecute the Jews?

• The Nazis believed they were to blame for the death of Jesus Christ.

• The Nazis believed that they were greedy for money and were to blame for Germany's economic problems

• The Nazis believed many of them were communists and were therefore to blame for Germany's defeat in the First World War

• The Nazis disliked that many of them had become successful businessmen, bankers, doctors and lawyers. They believe that they had too much influence on the German economy.

• The Nazis believed that they were racially inferior. They did not want their genes contaminating and weakening the German race.

Why did the Nazis persecute the Slavs?

• They believed their land should be taken from them for lebensraum for Germans and they the Slavs should be enslaved for Germans.

• The Nazis believed that they were racially inferior. They did not want their genes contaminating and weakening the German race.

Why did the Nazis persecute the Roma and Sinti?

• They Nazis believed they were homeless, work-shy tramps because they were nomadic

• The Nazis believed that they were racially inferior. They did not want their genes contaminating and weakening the German race.

Why did the Nazis persecute the Blacks?

• The Nazis disliked the influence that "their jazz music" had on young people in Germany. They believed jazz music was "morally corrupt".

• The Nazis believed that they were racially inferior. They did not want their genes contaminating and weakening the German race.

Why did the Nazis persecute the Homosexuals?

• The Nazis believed they were weak, effeminate and that their sexual practices were "unnatural"

Why did the Nazis persecute the Disabled?

• They believed they were no use to the country as they were unable to work

• They believed it cost too much to care for them. The money could be used to further develop the country and it's economy.

Why did the Nazis persecute Alcoholics and Asocials?

• The Nazis believed that these groups did not contribute to the people's community because they did not conform to social norms and values.