Milieus, Political Culture and Regional Traditions in Lower Saxony in Comparative Perspective

Abstract

This chapter examines the potential of a comparative approach to regional histories for understanding the social and cultural history of the Third Reich. In particular, it explores methods of Nazi rule and the moulding of a Volksgemeinschaft in the region, or more precisely, the various regions known as Lower Saxony. The findings presented here are based on a joint research project that involved four universities in Lower Saxony, and which examined patterns of regional differentiation in terms of class and milieu, Catholic or Protestant confession, living in big cities, small towns or in the countryside, from a comparative perspective.¹ What was the social reality of the Nazi Volksgemeinschaft in these different environments? What were the effects of particular local or regional conditions and how did they unfold: in Wilhelmshaven, with its strong military traditions; in Salzgitter, a new industrial city that was founded in 1942; or in the three Gau capitals — Hanover, Oldenburg and Lüneburg — which all had very different local traditions? Living in the vicinity of a concentration camp (as in Moringen, Esterwegen and Bergen) or at one of the prominent sites of ‘blood and soil’ propaganda (as in Hamelin and Goslar) could substantially affect everyday life. Our project also includes case studies on different professional milieus, such as the legal profession (focusing on the Special Court of Bremen) and elementary school teachers (in East Friesland). Other case studies focus on the presence of special SA troops in the Emsland camp, and the exclusion of Jews from sporting organizations. All these case studies investigate the strengths and limitations of the integrative power of Nazi policies.