Nazi Terminology - D

D

• Das System - "The System." Derogatory Nazi term for describing the Weimar Republic.
• "Denn heute gehört uns Deutschland/Und morgen die ganze Welt"--"Today, Germany belongs to us/And tomorrow the entire world", a line from the 1932 song Es zittern die morschen Knochen ("The Frail Bones Tremble") written by Hans Baumann that became the official marching song of the Reichsarbeitsdienst (Reich Labor Service) in 1935. This was loosely translated into English as Today Germany, Tomorrow the World, implying that the Nazis intended to take over the world.
• Deutsche Arbeiterpartei (DAP) – German Workers’ Party, started by railway workers in Bohemia, Austria and Munich, Germany. These were the starter groups that evolved into the DNSAP and the NSDAP in their respective countries.
• Deutsche Arbeitsfront (DAF) – The 'German Labour Front' was the Nazi's substitute organisation for trade unions, which had been outlawed on 2 May 1933.
• Deutschblütig - "Of German blood" was a legal term after the Nuremberg Laws, which certified one as a member of the German race. (See below: Fremdblütig)
• Deutsche Christen – the "de-Judaized" Christian church; those who were "Nazified". They removed the whole Old Testament from the Bible.
• Deutsche Nationalsozialistische Arbeiterpartei (DNSAP) – the Austrian “German National Socialist Workers’ Party”.
• Deutsche Reichsbahn - German National Railway. Formed under the Weimar Republic by merging Germany's various railways, and nationalized by the Nazis in 1937. Continued to operate in East Germany until 1994.
• Deutscher Frauenorden (DFO) – German Women's Order. The leader was Elsbeth Zander.
• Deutscher Gruß-the "German greeting". Also known as the Hitler salute (Hitlergruß). Used when addressing Hitler, higher-ranking Party, SA or SS officers, or the Reich officials. Imposed on the Armed Forces in lieu of the military salute after the July 20 plot.
• Deutscher Luftsportverband (DLV) - German Air Sports Union, clandestine predecessor of the Luftwaffe, sponsored by Hermann Göring and headed by World War I ace Ernst Udet.
• Deutscher Nationalismus - "German nationalism", the main core ideological basis of the NSDAP.
• Deutscher Nationalpreis für Kunst und Wissenschaft - German National Prize for Art and Science, a substitute/rival award to the Nobel Prizes, which the Nazis forbade Germans to accept.
• Deutscher Orden - German Order, the highest decoration of the Nazi Party; awarded only 12 times, in most cases posthumously. Cynically nicknamed the "Dead Hero Medal."
• Deutsches Jungvolk – NSDAP-controlled association for boys before they were old enough to enter the Hitler Youth at age 14.
• Deutsches Kreuz, German Cross - military decoration instituted to bridge the gap between the Iron Cross 1st Class and the Knight's Cross. Awarded in gold for valor in combat and in silver for distinguished service.
• Deutsches Olympiaehrenzeichen - German Olympic Games Decoration. Given in recognition of individuals who worked on organising the 11th Olympic Games in Berlin and the 4th Olympic Winter Games held in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, 1936. The award came in two classes and was extended to both Germans and foreigners.
• Deutschland erwacht! - "Germany awake!" a Nazi slogan. It was used on the vexilloids of the SS when they marched in torchlight parades and in the Nuremburg Rallies:
• Deutschnationale Volkspartei (DNVP) - German National People's Party, monarchist/nationalist conservatives who were the NSDAP's junior partner in the 1933 coalition government. Instrumental in passing the Enabling Act, but dissolved shortly thereafter.
• Der Dicke – "The fat one", a contemptuous epithet by Germans used to refer to Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring.
• "Die Juden sind unser Unglück" – A Nazi slogan: "The Jews are our misfortune."
• Drang nach Osten – "Drive to the east", the historic German desire to expand eastward.
• Drittes Reich – Third Reich or "Third Realm". Arthur Moeller van den Bruck coined this term for his book Das Dritte Reich published in 1923. The "Third Reich" was predicted as the next step beyond the "First Reich" (the Holy Roman Empire), 800-1806 beginning with Charlemagne, and the "Second Reich" (the German Empire, 1871–1918).
• Drittes Zeitaltern – The "Three Ages" – a philosophy of history promulgated in 1923 by the German author Arthur Moeller van den Bruck in his book Das Dritte Reich, based on an update of the "Three Ages" philosophy of the medieval philosopher Joachim of Fiore, which the Nazis used to justify their rule. According to Moeller’s update of the ideas of Fiore, the First Reich was the Age of the Father, the Second Reich was the Age of the Son, and there will in the future be established under a strong leader a "Third Reich" which will be the Age of the Holy Ghost in which all Germans will live in a Utopia in peace and harmony with each other.