Dr Lisa Pine Considers the Nazi Vision of a National Community
Local history society talk looks at the Third Reich's social and cultural policies
Dr Lisa Pine
October 20, 2026
The Ealing Branch of the Historical Association’s talk this month will be given by Dr Lisa Pine.
As is traditional the society's November event takes place at Twyford Church of England High School in Acton rather than the usual venue.
The lecture takes place at 6:30pm on Tuesday 3 November when she will examine Hitler’s Volksgemeinschaft — the Nazi vision of a “national community” — and the devastating consequences of defining who belonged in Germany and who did not.
The event brings back one of the UK’s leading historians of Nazi Germany and the Holocaust. Dr Pine, a Fellow of the Institute of Historical Research at the University of London, has written extensively on the social and cultural policies of the Third Reich, including studies of family policy, education and the ideological reshaping of everyday life.
Her lecture will explore how, from January 1933 onwards, the Nazi regime set out to transform German society. The Volksgemeinschaft promised unity, but only for those deemed racially and politically acceptable. Through propaganda, the cult of leadership, and policies aimed at workers, young people and women, the regime attempted to replace traditional loyalties with a new National Socialist consciousness.
The Nazi project of national unity was built on persecution: Jews, Roma, Sinti and other groups were systematically cast outside the “community,” stripped of rights, livelihoods and ultimately, lives. Dr Pine will trace how this ideological framework shaped policy and paved the way for escalating brutality.
Visitors are welcome, and the evening is expected to draw strong interest from those keen to deepen their understanding of one of the most consequential periods in modern history.
The event is open to members and visitors. Membership costs £15 per year, while visitors can attend individual talks for £5 with no charge for students.
Meetings are usually held on the second Tuesday of each month at Ealing Green Church at 7.30pm, with the exception of the November meeting which takes place at Twyford School at 6.30pm. Talks are live events but with the speaker’s permission the association aims to make a recording available afterwards to those registering on Eventbrite (the booking link will be available on the society's website one month in advance of each talk).
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