10 Most Weird Nazi Facts – Strange Side of Nazi Germany

When you think of the Nazi party, images of World War II and the Holocaust inevitably come to mind. Led by the infamous Adolf Hitler, this regime left an indelible mark on the 20th century, infamous for its role in one of the darkest periods in human history. Yet, beyond the well-documented atrocities and their impact on global politics, there exist strange and lesser-known facts about the Nazis that provide a bizarre glimpse into their ideology and day-to-day operations.

While it’s crucial to remember the catastrophic effects of the Nazi regime, exploring these unusual historical insights offers a different lens through which to view this notorious chapter in history. This list aims to shed light on some of the most bizarre aspects of Nazi Germany. Facts that are often overshadowed by their larger, more sinister actions. These tidbits not only add complexity to our understanding of this period. But also underscore the unpredictable nature of human behavior under extreme ideological beliefs.

As we explore these curious historical details, it’s important to note that they do nothing to diminish the horrors perpetrated by the Nazi party. Instead, they serve to paint a more comprehensive picture of a regime that has been scrutinized and studied extensively, yet still manages to surprise with its oddities.

In this exploration of Nazi Germany’s peculiarities, we’ll navigate through a series of facts that may startle, surprise, and even cause disbelief. But they are all part of the intricate tapestry of history that helps us understand the full spectrum of human actions and ideologies. So, get ready to explore some of the most unexpected aspects of the Nazi regime that history books may not have told you. Here’s ten of the most weird and interesting Nazi party titbits:

10 – They Were The First People To Ban Smoking

In a pre-cursor to modern stances and laws in this area, the Nazi party were the first people to ban smoking. Nazi doctors were the first to establish a link between smoking and lung cancer which meant that a fierce anti-smoking campaign began under Hitler. The Nazi leadership strongly condemned smoking and advised the general population to give it up. This included a ban on smoking when using trains, buses and trams. It also saw them ration cigarettes and increase tax on tobacco. Of course, it must be remembered that the main aim of this was to protect the Aryan race which takes the shine of this achievement somewhat.

09 – They Hated Gay People

If you were a gay man or lesbian in Nazi Germany then you were in for a rough time! The Nazi’s really didn’t like homosexuals and treated them severely when in power. Beginning in 1933, gay organisations were banned and all books on the subject were burnt. Even homosexuals who were Nazi party members were not safe as many were murdered. In an interesting attempt to ‘cure’ gay men, the Nazi’s insisted they visit brothels when in prison camps. Their hatred of gay people seems to stem from religious views which saw them as unnatural before God.

08 – They Tried To Take The Merry Out Of Xmas

Although the Nazi’s were religious, it was in a more Pagan way than traditional Christianity. Don’t forget that Jesus was a Jew so Xmas posed a problem for them. They still wanted to celebrate but couldn’t do it as we normally do with their views on Judaism. To get round this, the Nazi’s tried to turn Christmas into a Pagan festival by re-branding the festival as ‘Winter Solstice’. Germans were directed to bake cookies in the shapes of Swastika’s and use official Nazi party decorations. Most of them ignored it though and celebrated as usual!

07 – They loved movies

The Nazi party were something of a contradiction as they didn’t really like artists but loved the arts! None more so than Hollywood films, of which the Fuhrer and his party were massive fans. Apparently, the Nazi favourite was ‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarves’, closely followed by ‘King Kong’! Even more bizarrely, Propaganda Minister Dr Josef Goebbels once gave Hitler 12 Mickey Mouse films for his birthday. The Nazi party would soon see how powerful films could be in getting the public onboard and start to produce their own movies too.

06 – They Hated Animal Cruelty

Under Nazi rule, there were numerous laws passed to protect animals in Germany. They really loved their creatures, both wild and tame, and sought to keep them safe at all costs. Hunting was banned under these new regulations and the slaughter of animals for food highly monitored. Strict checks were kept on the treatment of animals and anyone found engaging in cruelty would be punished. Many would say it was a shame that they didn’t extend the same level of care to humans!

05 – They Set Up An Official Breeding Program

One problem that terrified Nazi Germany was the low birth rate amongst the Aryan population when it took power. To combat this, the Nazi’s set up a breeding agency called ‘Lebensbborne’ (Spring of Life in English). Unmarried mothers and single women were given financial aid to get pregnant and give birth to many children. These would then by adopted by racially pure families, as decided by the Nazi guidelines, who would bring them up in the Nazi philosophy. It was also highly encouraged that these women should get pregnant by SS Officers before the men went off to war.

04 – The Nazi’s Kidnapped Foreign Children

In a fact that is not well known, it has been reported that the Nazi’s kidnapped around 400,000 children from other countries who they thought were Aryan by descent. These children would be Germanised when back in the motherland. And serve the rest of their life as a fully signed up Nazi German. The methods varied but it would usually involve being sent to official SS Home Schools or to approved German families to learn about German culture. In a shocking addition, any that turned out to be not Aryan enough would be used as forced labour or killed.

03 – They Didn’t Like Being Called Nazi’s

In a weird twist, the Nazi’s didn’t like you calling them that! Nazi was actually a made-up abbreviation that the press gave the party and was not used at all by members. Hitler in particular hated it and would fly into a rage if he heard someone say the name. The party much preferred ‘National Socialists’ and would use this on all official correspondence or engagements.

02 – They Came Up With the VW Beetle

When the Nazi’s came to power, cars were a luxury that most normal German’s could not afford. They thought this wrong and so helped to create the Volkswagen brand to remedy this. Volkswagen means ‘People’s Car’ in English and this sums up what it was meant to do. The Nazi’s wanted a reliable and affordable car that ordinary German’s could buy. The design of the Beetle was heavily influenced by the Nazi Fuhrer who told designers to make it look like the insect.

01 – They Came Up With A Very Powerful Performance Booster

During the Second World War, German doctors came up with a methamphetamine based experimental drug to increase soldier’s performance. This was very successful in trials when tested and made the troops super tough. It was found that they could march 55 miles without any tiredness which is pretty amazing. The plan was to roll it out to all soldiers serving in the war but the German’s lost before it could be put into place. If they had done that in time, who knows what the final outcome might have been?

There is no doubt that the Nazi party were a malevolent and dark force, not only within Germany but on the world stage. Although many of the major facts about them are widely known, these smaller yet interesting facts may not be. It doesn’t do anything to make their reputation better, but it does paint a more detailed picture of what they believed in and how they ruled within Germany itself.

The Peculiarities of Nazi Ideology and Policies

In the shadow of the horrific atrocities committed by the Nazis, there lies a series of strange, often overlooked aspects of their regime. These peculiarities provide an intriguing contrast to the well-known brutalities of Nazi Germany, revealing a side of their rule that’s less discussed but equally fascinating.

Public Health

First, let’s consider the Nazis’ stance on public health. They were the first to wage a public anti-smoking campaign and to establish links between smoking and lung cancer. This stance seems surprisingly progressive compared to their otherwise regressive policies. Their campaign against tobacco and alcohol, along with their promotion of whole-grain foods and a healthy lifestyle, stands in stark contrast to the brutality for which they are infamous​​.

Peace Proposals

Another lesser-known aspect is Hitler’s early efforts at peace. Before the outbreak of World War II, Hitler’s peace proposals to England and other European nations paint a complex picture of a leader commonly viewed in a purely negative light. These attempts, which included serious proposals for armament reduction and peace negotiations, were ultimately dismissed as insincere or seen as a bluff by other nations​​.

“Canada” Term

The term “Canada,” used in a macabre sense at Auschwitz, is another bizarre footnote in the Nazi narrative. This was the name given to the area where prisoners’ belongings were sorted. The name, symbolizing a land of plenty, was a cruel irony, considering the fate of those who were stripped of these possessions​​.

Museum of the Extinct Race

Perhaps one of the most chilling peculiarities was Hitler’s plan for the Old Jewish Town in Prague. He intended to preserve it as a “Museum of the Extinct Race” after the planned obliteration of the Jewish people. This disturbing idea reflects the twisted vision Hitler had for a post-war world where the Jewish culture would be exhibited as an extinct civilization​​.

The Lebensborn Program

Lastly, the Lebensborn program highlights the extreme racial policies of the Nazis. This program aimed at increasing the population of the so-called Aryan race. It involved ‘racially pure’ women bearing children with SS officers. The stark, inhumane nature of this program, along with the estimated 20,000 children born under it, demonstrates the regime’s obsession with racial purity and control over personal lives​​.

These aspects, while lesser-known, are critical in understanding the full spectrum of Nazi ideology and governance. They offer a glimpse into the complex, often contradictory nature of the Nazi regime, providing a deeper understanding of this dark chapter in history.

Reflecting on the Unusual Aspects of Nazi Germany

As we conclude our exploration of Nazi Germany’s lesser-known facts, it’s essential to remember that these peculiarities do not, in any way, lessen the horrific nature of their regime. While these facts might intrigue or surprise us, they also serve as a stark reminder of the many facets of human history, especially during times of extreme ideologies and totalitarian rule.

The bizarre and unusual aspects of the Nazi regime, from their public health policies to their twisted visions for the future, offer a more comprehensive understanding of this dark period in history. They remind us of the complex nature of historical narratives, where even the most infamous chapters can contain unexpected elements.

In learning about these strange yet significant aspects of Nazi Germany, we gain a deeper appreciation of the importance of historical knowledge. It’s through understanding the complexities of the past. Even its most bizarre elements, that we can hope to prevent the repetition of such dark times in our future.