Summary 9 - Nazi racial ideology - Social Darwinism

Question 1

Where did the Nazis adopt the theory of Social Darwinism from?

Answer 1

The ideology was adopted from Darwin’s scientific principles of natural selection.

Question 2

What did Hitler apply Darwin’s scientific principles of natural selection to?

Answer 2

Darwin’s scientific principles of natural selection were applied to human society in order to justify ideas of racial superiority.

Question 3

What were Darwin’s scientific principles of natural selection used by Hitler to justify?

Answer 3

• They were used to justify ideas of racial superiority
• They were also used to justify imperialism (advanced Europeans had the right to rule over ‘backward’ colonial people)

Question 4

In which European country were scientists using birth control to try and eradicate disabilities?

Answer 4

Sweden

Question 5

Which races did Hitler view as inferior?

Answer 5

• Jews
• Slavs
• Black people

Question 6

Which race did Hitler view as superior?

Answer 6

Aryans were the Herrenvolk (Master race) of north Europeans.

Question 7

How did Hitler intend to purify stronger races?

Answer 7

Purifying stronger races required the removal of the ‘poison’ of inter-marriage.

Question 8

How strict was Hitler in relation to his racial beliefs?

Answer 8

Hitler allowed no compromises. A Jew could not convert to Christianity, the racial gene or ‘poison’ had not changed.

Question 9

Hitler used racial hygiene to justify the sterilisation/elimination of which groups of people?

Answer 9

• The mentally and physically disabled
• Racial undesirables like homosexuals and the Roma.