Meaning: The quote "From education by the Church to education by Germanic value is a step of several generations" by Alfred Rosenberg, a prominent figure in Nazi Germany, reflects the shift in educational ideologies and values during the early 20th century. This quote encapsulates the transition from traditional religious-based education to a more nationalistic and racially driven approach to learning, exemplifying the ideological underpinnings of the Nazi regime.

During the 19th and early 20th centuries, education in Germany was largely influenced by the Christian Church, particularly the Protestant and Catholic denominations. The Church played a central role in shaping the curriculum, values, and moral teachings within the educational system. This religious influence permeated various aspects of schooling, from the content of textbooks to the moral guidance provided to students. The Church's teachings and values were deeply ingrained in the educational fabric of German society, shaping the moral and ethical framework within which students were educated.

However, with the rise of nationalist and racially driven ideologies in Germany, particularly during the Nazi era, there was a concerted effort to shift the focus of education away from religious values and towards a more secular, nationalistic, and racially motivated framework. This shift, as articulated in Rosenberg's quote, was not a sudden transformation but rather a gradual process that unfolded over several generations.

Alfred Rosenberg, as the head of the Nazi Party's Office of Foreign Affairs and later the Reich Minister for the Occupied Eastern Territories, played a key role in shaping Nazi ideology, including its approach to education. His quote reflects the Nazi regime's desire to reorient the educational system to instill Germanic, nationalist, and racial values in the younger generation. This reorientation of education aimed to cultivate a sense of racial superiority, loyalty to the state, and a rejection of perceived "foreign" influences, including those of the Church.

The shift in educational values under the Nazi regime had profound implications for the curriculum, pedagogy, and institutional framework of schools and universities. Textbooks were rewritten to promote Nazi ideology, emphasizing racial purity, anti-Semitism, and the glorification of German history and culture. Teachers were expected to uphold and propagate Nazi values, and students were indoctrinated with the ideals of Aryan supremacy and loyalty to the Führer.

The impact of this shift in educational values reverberated throughout German society, influencing the attitudes and beliefs of an entire generation of young people. The Nazi regime recognized the power of education as a tool for shaping the minds and values of future generations, and the restructuring of the educational system was a central component of its ideological agenda.

In conclusion, Alfred Rosenberg's quote encapsulates the profound ideological shift in German education during the Nazi era. The transition from education by the Church to education by Germanic value reflects the deliberate effort to reorient the educational system towards nationalist and racially motivated values, marking a significant departure from the traditional religious influence on education in Germany. This transformation had far-reaching consequences, shaping the beliefs and attitudes of an entire generation and serving as a sobering reminder of the power of education to shape societal values and ideologies.