I have a German friend who showed me her family album. Her dad had on a
Swastiker as an armband. Being Jewish I was quite taken back. She told me
That he HAD to join the Nazi party. I thought they just had to join the army.
Is what she said true?

Yes, in the 30's and 40's if you wanted to get on in Germany you HAD to be a Party member, bit like Communist Russia.

The German Gestapo, or secret police, were responsible for keeping citizens "in check" that included making sure they followed the nazi ways. The Nazi Party even went as far as altering textbooks in classrooms to promote their beliefs in schools. So it is quite possible that you're friend's dad could have been force to look the part of a Nazi supporter in order to avoid reprecussions from the Gestapo

My grandfather was forced to fight for the Nazis as well. He was shot in the leg and his brother was killed. Thankfully, him and my grandmother, mother and uncle came to Canada after WWII.

Please understand the Nazi party was very popular to the people in the beginning. They bought crime under control though gu control. They got unemployment under control by creating a strong national government. People flocked to them at first


After that after the national government controlled the people, they had contol and then used fear to control them.

And then others were fighting because they wanted to protect their nation or fight for it, to do their duty. It was not till much latter in the party movement that it became much of what we think of today