Entirety of History Flashcards
What were the competing economic agencies?
4 Year Plan Organisation
Ministry Of Munitions
Ministry Of Economics
SS Economic and Commerical Enterprises
Were Nazis coordinated in their government?
No, (Broszat) officials would compete for economic resources, with Goebbels, Himmler, the Military, Todt etc, and disagreed on methods
Were Hitler’s economic ambitions feasible?
No, he placed too much faith in the natural superiority of the Germans to come up with unachievable solutions
What were the problems with the German Armaments?
It was inefficiently organised and struggled to meet the demands of total war. Although well made, was too costly
Who was Armaments Minister in 1942 and what was their role in the economy?
Albert Speer, became a dominiant figure in the economy and was bale to rationalise war production much more efficiently. In March 1942, Hitler issued a decree directing that arms production was the top economic priority and giving Speer extensive powers over the economy
What board coordinated the economy?
Central Planning Board
What did Speer change?
Established the Central Planning Board to coordiante the economy
Introduced modern production lines to speed up production
Prevented skilled workers from being conscripted
Gave industrialists priority over Nazi members in production decision making
Encouraged employment of women
Established the Armaments Commission to oversee standardisation of armaments
Exploited slave labour
What else did Hitler want other than Rearmament?
Living Standards to maintain and to avoid consumer standards
What effect did rearmament have on the economy
Struggled to maintain consumer goods and services
Living standards fell compared with pre-depression Germany, the amount of meat, fish, eggs, tropical fruit and beer all fell sharply between 1927 and 1937
Compared to during the depression manys living standards improved sharply
Depended on social class, regional location and especially cultural/ethnic identity
What was the T4 campaign?
Euthanise disabled babies and children under the age of 3 in 1939
Extended in 1940 to hospitals and institutions for the old, terminally ill or those with mental health disorders
Around 70,000 died under the T4 programme
What happened to “Asocials”
Reeducated at Hashude (a confined housing estate of 78 families)
What was the treatment like of Jews, Roma and other ethnic minorities in peacetime?
Forbid employment in state positions and certain professions (medicine, law.) Overtime these measures became more radical culminating in confiscation of property and deportation to the East during WW2.
Did living standards rise from Nazi policies to reduce unemployment
Briefly, real time wages briefly rose. Strength Through Joy and Beauty Of Labour led to some benefits such as cheap holidays, loans, medical care cleaner, quieter factories etc. as well as the chance to save for a new car (VW Beetle)
However, wages were regulated after Goerings 4 year plans
Shortage of consumer goods
Real wages shrank necessitating the working of overtime, made worse during the war
Working hours increased over time and the war made big demands of workers
What were farmers life like in Nazi Germany?
Propaganda prioritised the German Farmer/Peasant as the purest member of the “volksgemeinschaft”
Reich Entailed Farm Law attempted to preserve the faming community as the blood source of all German people.” It prevented the breakup of farms less than 125 hectares into smaller units and protected smaller farmers from debt and repossession.
However, although this carried some benefits, inheritance was an issue and they could not sell their land to larger farmers
The Reich Food Estate did guarantee prices for farm produce but also forced farmers into producing to government rules and regulations. This created significant resentment
The class became disillusioned, high expectations but poor outcomes
What was middle class life like in Nazi Germany
Major industrialists generally benefitted from Nazi economic policies, especially during the war.
Likes the destruction of trade unions and the new-found ability to keep wages low and control working hours
Some major industrialists objected to Nazi interference however as well as the nationalisation of some industries (steel for example). Others like and fed directly into the 4 Year Plan, I.G. Farben worked closely with the Nazi
Lower Middle Class did less well. They were overlooked in favour of big business although many appreciated the destruction of the unions and economic revival pre WW2
Who was the economics Minister from 1949-1963?
Ludwig Erhard
In what year was the Investment Aid Law passed which provided government subsidies for industrial development?
The Construction Law
In what year was the Collective Bargaining Law on Industrial Relations passed, giving unions legal rights to bargain on behalf of their members, take industrial action, and allow workers to participate in the decision making process in the workplace (co-determination?
1949
Which act of 1952 provided compensation to the victims of wartime bombing from a 5% tax rise on individuals with a net worth of more than 5000DM?
Equalisation of Burdens Act
In what year was the Pensions Act which provided a significant rise in pensions passed?
1957
Which 1955 Law broke up Cartels and Monopolies
The Anti-Trust Law
What were the key problems to the German Economy postwar?
Physical destruction of property and infrastructure
Homelessness
A worthless currency
What did the western zones do to fix the key problems to the German Economy postwar?
Currency and Tax reforms and ended price controls
Marshall aid provided by the USA also helped fund improvements in infrastructure and industrial development
What was prioritised by Adenauer and Erhard between 1949 and 1955?
Unemployment, inflation, rebuilding projects and the integration of millions of Germans from eastern Europe.
What war helped German Exports and why?
Korean War. This created a need for South Korean war supplies and these were met mostly by the USA which switched some production away from consumer goods. West Germany was not allowed to produce war supplies for South Korea but was able to fill some gaps in consumer goods exports, from the USA
Was unemployment and inflation beginning to fall or rise in 1950?
Rise
What economic model was Erhard a key proponent of?
Social Market model
What was a social market model?
Middle Way between unregulated free market and government direction towards social reform and welfare spending on the other.
Businesses were allowed to develop independently but the government intervened to protect the vulnerable and redistribute the wealth through taxation and public spending.
What characterised the German Economic Miracle
Rising Exports
High Industrial Production
Shrinking Unemployment
High levels of Private Savings
High Private Consumption
Rising Profits
The rise in production of the Volkswagen Beetle
What laws and policies helped bring about the economic miracle
Work creation schemes (1950)
The Investment Aid Law of 1952
The 1950 Construction Law
The 1952 Equalisation of Burdens Act
The 1957 Pensions Act
The 1949 Collective Bargaining Law on Industrial Relations
The Anti Trust Law (1955)
Creation of the central bank (1957)
Reduction of trade tariffs through creation of the ECSC and EEC
What was the Investment Aid Law and what year was it created?
Provided government subsidies for industrial development, 1952
What was the Construction Law and what year was it created?
Gave government grants to the Lander and cities for large scale building projects, 1950
What was the Equalisation of Burdens Act and what year was it created?
Provided compensation to the victims of wartime bombing from a 5% tax rise on individuals with a net worth of more that 5000DM. This effectively redistributed wealth in the FDR, 1952
What was the Pension Act and what year was it created?
Provided for a signigicatnt rise in pension provision. Adenauer’s government supported welfare reform generally, 1957
Was was the Collective Bargaining Law on Industrial Relations and what year was it created?
Helped maintain positive relations between workers and employers. It gave trade unions legal rights to bargain on behalf of their members and to take industrial action. It also allowed workers to participate in the decision-making process in the workplace (co-determination,) 1949
What 2 bodies reduced trade tarriffs in postwar Germany?
ECSC and EEC
The FDR was a founder member of both the ECSC and the EEC based on greater European economic integration including monetary union (from 1978 onwards)
The FDR came to become the dominant member of the EEC through its strength as a trading nation and continued to press for closer European integration
What was the Anti Trust Law and when was it created
Broke up Cartels and Monopolies, 1955
What year was the central bank set up and what did it do?
Controlled currency, 1957
What effect did the FDR’s economic success have on the FDR?
Rise in unemployment and labour shortage, had to get guest workers from the DDR until 1961 and then guest workers from southern Europe and Turkey
What factor other than the Korean War helped in terms of the economic miracle?
Recovery of businesses and new investment. By the early 1950’s many German businesses had recovered and were now able to invest in new modern equipment, machinery and offices and factories. Prices were kept low and the quality was high thus helping Germany’s export market
How did the Oil Crisis affect the FRG?
The 1973 oil crisis followed, impacting on the global economy including that of FDR. There was another oil crisis later in the decade.
The FDR was able to withstand the impact of the oil crises better than most European economies with the introduction of a range of measures including increased government investment in industry as well as restricting the use of migrant workers. It also cut public spending and raised taxation
The oil crisis led to the development of the FDR’s nuclear power industry and ‘car free Sundays’
What conclusions can be made about the economy of the FDR?
Living standards and consumption in the FDR continued to rise significantly despite temporary recessions
Inflation remained low and goods and services remained affordable
Social welfare expenditure remained high under successive chancellors
Industrial relations were generally good despite strikes and unrest in the early 1970’s
The FDR withstood the impact of the 1973 and 1978 oil crises better than most
The FDR enjoyed one of the strongest world economies during this period
Which article of the Weimar Constitution gave women equal voting rights?
Article 109
How many women were elected to the Reichstag between 1919 and 1932?
112
Which legal document of 1900 cast some doubt on women’s equality?
Civil Code
As a percentage, on average, how much more were men paid than women for doing the same retail or office job in Wiemar?
33%
What nickname was given to the new jobs in the expanding clerical and retail sector?
“White Blouse Jobs”
What name was given to women who smoked, adopted men’s clothing and rejected traditional notions of femininity?
“The New Woman”
Were Trade Unions typically in favour or opposed to equal pay for women in WEimar?
Opposed
What 3 things were Nazi policies aimed at women?
Kinder, Kuche, Kirche
Children, Kitchen, Church
Were Nazi’s a fan of the church?
No they sided with them when convenient and for racial purity but were against them most of the time
Are right wing people wanting a small or large population?
Large for a nations power and prestige
What was eugenics?
Selective breeding to produce the healthiest and most racially “pure” populations of Germany. Those who were not pure (“Volksgemeinschaft”) would be discouraged, then prevented through legislation and sterilisation, from having children.
What was the ultimate role for women in Nazi Germany?
Motherhood
Was work and politics run by men or women?
Men
What date was the Marriage Loan Scheme introduced?
1st June 1933
What was the Marriage Loan Scheme?
It gave loans to racially pure Germans to marry with a 25% repayment reduction for each child born subsequently
What date was Law for the Prevention of Hereditarily Diseased Offsprings?
14th July 1933
What was the Law for the Prevention of Hereditarily Diseased Offsprings?
Allowed for legal sterilisation of those with serious physical or mental disabilities. Women who had had several partners, undesirable partners or illegitimate children could also be sterilised
What were the two Nuremburg Laws?
Law for the Protection of German Blood and German Honour
Reich Citizenship Law
What was the Law for the Protection of German Blood and German Honour
Forbade marriage between Jews and Germans
What was the Reich Citizenship Law?
Only those of German or related blood were eligible to be Reich Citizens
What was the Mothers Cross?
Reward for childbirth, 4 children = Bronze, 6 children = Silver, 8 children = Gold
What was the Lebensborn Programme?
Encouraged members of the SS to impregnate as many healthy/ravially pure German women as possible.
Who was the primary spreader of propaganda to women?
Gertrud Scholtz-Klink
What was the NSF?
Organisation for women including using German Manufactured Products, classes for brides and schoolgirls, collecting scrap metal, selling refreshments on train and cookery classes.
What was the DFW?
Performed a similar function as the NSF but for non party members
What was the BDM?
The gemale equivalent of the Hitler Youth. It encouraged physical fitness and racial purity
What were the impact of Nazis towards women?
Female professional job losses
Low paid “white blouse” work mostly for single women
Female doctors directed towards women’s health and natal services
Female civil servants directed towards areas of government policy aimed at women
Raised status and financial rewards for motherhood
Increased supervision and monitoring of mothers to ensure they were keeping to expected standards of health and care for children.
Which article of the Basic Law guaranteed equality under the law for all citizens including women?
Article 3
In which year did Adenauer’s government set up the Ministry of Family Affairs to support married women and mothers?
1953
When did women stop needing consent from their husbands to work?
1958
Which women’s liberations movement was set up in 1968?
Action Council for Women’s Liberation
What was stipulated in section 218 of the Penal Code?
Abortion was illegal
In which year did women gain equal marital rights?
1977
What percentage of married women with a child under 15 worked by 1989?
50%
How do you write a 2-4 mark question?
How do you right a 10, 20 or 30 mark question
Who was the first economics minister of the FRG?
Ludwig Erhard
In what year did the Deutschmark replace the worthless Reichsmark?
1948
Which period defines the so called “economic miracle?”
1955-66
Who was the economics minister during the economic downturn of the late 60’s and early 70’s?
Karl Schiller
How became economic minister in 1972?
Helmut Schmidt
In which year were the two oil crises?
1973 and 1978/79
Who followed “Elite art and culture” in the Weimar Republic?
Formed by intellectuals, artists, and writers and ‘experimental’ in nature. Largely independent in nature, and often highly valued by the wealthy.
Where was government funding into art and culture directed in the Weimar Republic?
Some governments funding was provided for theatres, orchestras, museums, and libraries. The government also financially incentivised the film industry through Ufa (a government organised film consortium of the main film studios)
What pop culture was popular in the Weimar Republic?
Widely enjoyed by the masses and mostly not subsidised. This was very diverse and included American music (jazz/swing) alongside traditional music. Films were very popular with the German public and Germany had one of the biggest film sectors outside of hollywood. Many German films were ‘dark’ in theme
What caused Weimars explosion in arts and culture
It was in part a reaction to the turmoil following the First World war, defeat, Versailies, and economic upheaval
It was also in part a reaction against the conservative authoritarianism of the Second Reich
What was Neue Sachlichkeit?
The term N.S (new functionalism/new practicality) has been used to describe the many different forms of art
It is based on the idea of showing a new ‘reality’ or ‘objectivity’ in the arts which stood in contrast to the more formal and romantic perspectives
In terms of mass culture, new experimental avant garde styles were emerging
What term was there for new German art in Weimar?
Neue Sachlichkeit?
Which two artists depicted the ugly, seedy side of life and carried strong political messages, especially anti-capitalism and anti-war in Weimar?
George Grosz and Otto Dix
