What was life in Germany like (for the average citizen) under Hitler

Question

In the days before bombs started destroying the country, how were people treated? i dont mean just the jews. I mean if you were a german and you were walking down the street,

were their soldiers everywhere? were the secret police always stopping people? was it easy to travel around? were foreigners welcomed?

Answer 1

you should read the book Flames of The Tiger it is a really good book completely about what you are asking. That's my suggestion since I'm not German and didn't live in Germany while Hitler was in power.

Answer 2

I don't imagine from books I have read, movies I have seen that it was easy.  I think if you were not Jewish and had enough money or infuence to live comfortable without much intrusion then life was good. You may have known what was going on "outside" but chose to ignore it out of fear, the fact it benefited you, or plain ignorance is bliss.

I think that other people (Jews, Homosexuals, Disabled people got the worst of it, we know how terrible the ghettos and camps were) were in constant fear that they might be targeted next, turned in by their friends and family etc.  German nationalism was encouraged - food, music, drinks, etc.  Doing anything that could be seen as not supporting the Reich could be detrimental to your life and freedom and that of your family.

I believe there were soldiers, gestapo, hitlers jugend etc very visible on the street.  traveling at certain times and certain places was monitored. Foreigners were likely not welcomed, although I do not imagine many foreigners at the time would think to spend a holiday in n**i Germany.

Answer 3

I don't remember reading about soldiers everywhere, but I do know the gestapo tapped the phone lines. Foreigners welcomed? Probably yes. (1936 olympics)