were people forced to join the nazis?

Question

Like people in England were called up during the war

Answer 1

Yes. German citizens were drafted into their army. Students were compelled to join the Hitler Youth. Many towns were nearly vacant of able-bodied men. However, the men in the SS and higher ranks chose to join, as did most of the higher ranked people.

And Austrians were compelled as well after the Anschluss. That's why the von Trapps fled Austria - he was going to be forced to be in the Nazi Navy as he had been in the Austrian - that's why they fled. The Pope was compelled to join the Youth as a young man, and he deserted and hid.

Another factor to WW2 was the great depression and lack of employment throughout the former Axis powers - as they were overwhelmed by the reparations they owed. So as the lie machines cranked out wonderful stories of the wealth and greatness of the new Germany, some Germans didn't question it until it was too late. That's why having an independent press challenging government is so important!

Answer 2

Germans were required to join the Nazi party if they wanted government jobs like teachers or civil servants.
During the war most men were liable to be required to join the forces.

Answer 3

To fully answer your question, I must first give you some background.

In Germany under Hitler, pretty much everyone was a member of the Nazi Party (unless they were dissidents of some sort, or Jewish), mainly because it was the only game in town.

The Nazi agenda was to, essentially, incorporate as much of society into it as possible, so there were organizations and programs for all ages and workers--children became members of the Hitler Youth at the age of ten, there were groups for women (mostly emphasizing their role as mothers), for factory workers, teachers--you get the picture.

Military service was expected of all young men, and a number of young women also served as nurses and in positions such as secretaries and other support functions, but to the best of my knowledge there was nothing akin to the British ATS in Germany, unless you consider the teens involved in the Hitler Youth program.

Answer 4

ARE YOU CONFUSING THE NAZI PARTY WHICH WAS WIDE OPEN TO MEMBERSHIP FOR A TIME AND THEN BECAME RATHER CLOSED, WITH THE GERMAN ARMED FORCES . SERVICE IN THE LATTER WAS MANDATORY AS IT WAS IN GREAT BRITIAN AND THE USA. I THINK THE TERM YOU'RE LOOKING FOR IS THE MILITARY DRAFT OR SELECTIVE SERVICE.