Artisans Flashcards
What was a key characteristic of the German artisan tradition?
Family-owned businesses that prided themselves on skilled labour and hand-crafted goods
These businesses were often hundreds of years old and organized into guilds.
How did industrialisation impact the artisan tradition in Germany?
Undermined the tradition by introducing mechanised factories that produced cheaper goods
Artisan businesses, particularly in dyes and weaving, faced severe decline.
What was the decline percentage of one-man artisan businesses from 1882 to 1895?
13.5 percent
Further decline occurred from 1897 to 1907.
What symbol did artisans represent for many Germans during rapid change?
A powerful symbol of historical continuity
They were seen as a living link to traditional craftsmanship.
What adaptations allowed some artisans to survive in industrialised Germany by 1900?
New methods and better tools
These adaptations helped them cope with increasing competition.
What feelings did artisans experience due to rapid changes after 1871?
Anger and challenge against political elites and the power of Socialists and trade unionism
They lacked specific political parties to represent their views.
What protectionist measures did the government introduce in 1897?
Protectionist craft laws
These laws were intended to gain the support of the artisans.
Why did many artisans embrace radical political parties?
Fear of modernisation and accelerating industrialisation
This led them to reject Germany’s social direction.
Who provided the first solid basis of support for the Nazi Party in the early 1920s?
Skilled craftsmen, shopkeepers, and small business owners
Their support stemmed from the Nazis’ anti-Communist stance and policies favoring small traders.
What percentage of Nazi Party members in the 1920s were skilled workers?
33 percent
This was despite them making up only 27 percent of German society.
What did the original Nazi programme (Twenty-Five Points) include for small traders?
Policies meant to assist small traders
This included giving small traders cheaper lease rates on premises.
Fill in the blank: The artisan tradition in Germany was often organized into _______.
[guilds]
True or False: The artisan tradition completely disappeared after industrialisation.
False
Although reduced, the artisan tradition was able to survive.
What was one major consequence of the rise of consumerism for artisans?
Threatened their positions due to the construction of large shops
This contributed to their feelings of insecurity.
What did the Nazi Party promise to protect in Weimar Germany?
The artisan tradition
Artisans were attracted to the Nazi Party due to promises of protection for their trades.
What measures did the Nazis introduce to help Germany’s artisans after 1933?
Several measures including:
* Crushing trade unions
* Restricting department stores
* Protecting skilled artisans from competition
* Requiring official permission for new artisan shops
* Mandatory Master’s Examination for new artisans
These measures aimed to maintain high skill levels and protect artisan trades.
What was the impact on artisan businesses from 1931 to 1936?
The number of artisan businesses rose by one-fifth
This growth occurred despite the Nazis prioritizing big industry over artisan interests.
What happened to the number of artisan businesses from 1936 to 1939?
The number of artisan businesses began to decline, decreasing by 11 percent
This decline coincided with the growth of department stores, which increased their turnover by ten percent.
How did the Nazis view artisan trades as the war approached?
They declared that artisan trades such as bakers, butchers, shoemakers, and tailors were too numerous and began to close shops deemed not economically justified
This was part of a broader strategy to prioritize larger businesses.
What strategies did surviving artisans employ during the war?
They formed co-operatives with other small businesses and used slave labor, particularly Jewish prisoners
This allowed them to pool resources and share costs.
What role did artisans play in West Germany’s economic growth post-World War II?
Artisans were given special status and played a key role in organizing and overseeing training of skilled workers
This ensured their importance in the highly industrialized economy.
By 1955, how many Germans were employed in artisan trades?
Over 3.5 million
This represented a growth of one million since 1939.
What types of crafts were artisans in West Germany primarily linked to?
Skilled metalworking and fewer in clothing or textiles
This reflects the industrial focus of the economy.
What was a unique aspect of the West German economy regarding artisans?
Cooperation between big industry and smaller skilled trades
This combination helped build a reputation for West German exports.
True or False: The artisan tradition lost its importance in the West German economy from 1945 to 1990.
False
The artisan tradition maintained a very important place in the economy.
