Final answer:
Pre-Nazi Germany had a rich cultural scene with famous figures like actress Marlene Dietrich, director Fritz Lang, athlete Lilli Henoch, and physicist Albert Einstein. However, as the Nazis rose to power, many of these individuals fled Germany due to oppressive policies. The Nazis initially showed interest in certain art styles before rejecting them as 'degenerate'.
Step-by-step explanation:
Before the rise of the Nazi regime in Germany, the country had a vibrant cultural scene with noteworthy contributors in various fields. In entertainment, figures such as Marlene Dietrich and Fritz Lang were prominent. Dietrich was a famous actress and singer known for her captivating performances, while Lang was an influential filmmaker whose works, like 'Metropolis', are still celebrated. In sports, Germany boasted individualists like track and field athlete Lilli Henoch, a world record-setter before her accomplishments were overshadowed by Nazi policies. Scholars like Albert Einstein were globally recognized in academia, with Einstein being one of the most famous theoretical physicists known for developing the theory of relativity. Unfortunately, many of these talented individuals fled Germany as the Nazis came to power and began enforcing oppressive policies towards Jews and other groups deemed undesirable.
The Nazis themselves showed an interest in certain types of art before deeming it degenerate. Joseph Goebbels, despite later leading the charge against 'degenerate art', was originally a fan of modern art. Heinrich Himmler had a fascination with mystical, Germanic art, and Alfred Rosenberg preferred romantic pastoral scenes. However, the Nazi regime's oppressive measures and ideological stance against certain art forms and individuals left an indelible mark on Germany's cultural landscape and led to the suppression or exile of many luminaries in various fields of cultural life.