What was it like being an average German in 1930's-1940's Germany

I have done a fair amount of reading about Germany in the 1930's-1940's. But most of that reading has been from the perspective of the allies trying to break the German Enigma codes at Bletchley Park, or from the perspective of a German soldier. <br><br>I am interested in knowing more about what it was like to be a 'normal' German citizen. I am under the impression that the average German citizen, while being aware that there were massive human rights violations going on...also...had little access to accurate information about what was really going on. I imagine that it would have cost you your head to verbalize what you really thought of Hitler or his policies.<br><br>How pervasive was anti-Semitism in the average German? What did they think of the Japanese? of the Americans? French? British? Russians? <br><br>What did a German think of an SS officer? Did you want your child to be an SS officer?<br><br>How were the Germans convinced to support the invasion of Poland...which led to the war with France and Britain. I am sure that the reason is multi-faceted, but how much of it was just fear of questioning the government? How were they convinced that invading Denmark and Norway was a good idea? How were they convinced that invading France and the low countries were a good idea?<br><br>It is my impression that the average German really was convinced that they were defending Europe against the 'Bolsheviks' when they invaded the Soviet Union. How much of that was the Germans actually believing it, vs the Germans not wanting to be labeled as a traitor (and being beheaded or sent to a concentration camp)?<br><br>How did the average German feel about Rommel? What did they think about the invasions of Africa and Italy? <br><br>What did they think of Goering and Himmler and Goebbels and all of the other Nazi leaders?<br><br>It is my impression that the Wehrmacht was considered to be an honorable organization with a long tradition, in contrast with the SS which were simply seen as the enforcers of the government. <br><br>What was the role of the churches...in 1930's and 1940's Germany. Were they seen as a source of resistance? <br><br>If a German knew that the Nazis were using poison gas on Jews, was there anything that a German could do about it? Could a German have even figured out that the Nazis were using poison gas on the Jews?<br><br>What did a German think about concentration camps (whether they knew that the concentration camps were being used for mass murder or not). <br><br>How many average Germans knew that the Nazis were using human subjects for medical experiments?<br><br>What did a German think of Hitler? How did that change over the course of the war? The Nazis were geniuses at creating a cult of personality for Hitler. How much of the information available to the average German was propaganda? <br><br>If an average German knew that the war was lost, he couldn't say it out loud...he would be arrested, beheaded or sent to a concentration camp. So under those conditions, what would be the best way to 'fight' the Nazi? Would an average German ever entertain the idea of the Germans losing the war as a good thing?<br><br>How pervasive was the presence of the German military...in everyday life. Were children encouraged to join the Hitler youth? Was it looked at as a source of useful skills (survival skills, first aid, mapping, orienteering) in addition to being an effective way to indoctrinate children?<br><br>How much of an average German's life was impacted by food shortages, lack of gasoline, lack of fish from the Baltic sea, etc. Were the Germans subjected to rationing...similar to the rationing that the British were subjected to? <br><br>Did an average German have to be in the military for some period of time? Was that looked at as a good thing? a bad thing?<br><br>Were the Germans taken by surprise by D-Day...or did they have some inkling that an invasion of occupied France was coming. How did they feel about the idea of the 'impregnable Atlantic wall'? Did they expect the Allies to try to invade at the English Channel...the North Sea? through Italy? Did they think that an Allied invasion of Western Europe was impossible? <br><br>How did they feel about the carpet bombing of German cities?<br><br>It is my impression that the average German very much felt relief when the war was over. That they felt a huge burden had been lifted from their shoulders when the war was over. <br><br>I am interested in hearing from people who have seekers reports from their grandfathers...great uncles...who were living in Germany during the 1930's-1940's...<br><br>What did they think was going on?<br><br>What did they think of Hitler?<br><br>Did they think that the invasion of Poland was a good idea? Did they think that the invasion of Denmark/Norway was a good idea? Did they think that the invasion of the Soviet Union was a good idea?<br><br>Did they think that the war could be won? If they knew that the war couldn't be won...could they do anything about it?<br><br>What was everyday life like? Were there shortages? Did they feel that their life was vow much more dangerous as a result of the war.<br><br>What did they think of the SS and the Gestapo? Did they think of them as a necessary evil? What did they think of the presence of the military in everyday life? Did they consider the military to be honorable? Did they consider the SS to be honorable?<br><br>What did they think of the concentration camps? Did they find out that the Nazis were using poison gas on the Jews? If they found out...could they do anything about it?<br><br>&#x200B;