Account for Nazi racial policy

Nazi racial policy was a key component of Nazi ideology. Hitler placed great emphasis upon the need for a superior Aryan race, an idea that had originated from the earl 19th century Volkisch movement. An Aryan was essentially a pure German, born and bred in German culture, values and social thinking. The fundamental duty of government in Hitler’s mind “was to preserve the racial purity of the state, for only in this way can the superior race maintain its dominance over inferior races” (Mason p.227). Hitler perceived the Jews as “a parasite in the body, contaminating the purity of the blood and exploiting and corrupting the nation”. Jews were commonly labeled as scapegoats for Germany’s economic, social and cultural flaws, part of a world communist conspiracy. Whilst Hitler promoted anti-Semitism (the hatred of Jews) as an important part of Nazi ideology, other minority groups were also targeted and singled out for persecution.

The Nazis viewed gypsies as ‘inferior peo...