Germany - 3.1.1 Nazi Economic Policy Flashcards
Hitler reduced unemployment by creating new jobs for men. How did he do this?
Men were employed to work on public construction projects. These included public buildings, creating farmlands, the 1936 Olympic Stadium and building 7,000 km of autobahns (motorways)
What was the National Labour Service (RAD)?
The RAD made it compulsory for men ages 19-25 to work on public schemes for 6 months. Later, women were included in the scheme and they did work like teaching and domestic service. It gave men jobs in public work schemes: building things like new schools, hospitals, motorways etc in militaristic fashion
Why did most men dislike the RAD?
They felt exploited; the pay was low, the hours were long and the work was boring
Who was Hjalmar Schact?
President of the Reichsbank (1923-39), Schact is recognised as a financial genius, credited with reviving the German economy. Hitler made him Minister for the Economy in 1934. He lost his job after a disagreement about rearmament in 1937.
What are the 4 things the Nazis did to revive the economy?
- invested huge sums of money in public works programmes
- gave loans, subsidies and tax relief to businesses to increase production and take on more workers
- put controls on wages and prices to avoid hyperinflation
- controlled imports and made new trade agreements which increased trade and production in the New Plan of 1934
Nazi economic policies and rearmament reduced unemployment. However, many people were taken out of the jobs market; how did Jews distort the unemployment figures?
Many jews were forced out of jobs
Nazi economic policies and rearmament reduced unemployment. However, many people were taken out of the jobs market; how did women distort the unemployment figures?
Many women were dismissed from or left their jobs
Nazi economic policies and rearmament reduced unemployment. However, many people were taken out of the jobs market; how did men distort the unemployment figures? (3)
- Unmarried men under 25 had to do National Labour Service for six months
- After 1935 more and more men over 18 were conscripted into the armed forces (required by law to join)
- Opponents of the regime were sent to concentration camps (forced labour camps)
What were trade unions and what did Hitler do to them?
Trade unions allowed workers to unite in protest of working conditions, hours or pay by striking. In May 1933, Hitler got rid of Trade Unions
What did the German Labour Front (DAF) do to help workers?
Hitler replaced trade unions with the DAF run by Dr Robert Ley. It protected workers by stopping bosses from being able to fire workers.
What were the negative points of the DAF for workers?
Workers in the DAF couldn’t negotiate better wages and striking was illegal. Limitations on working hours were abolished. By 1939, many Germans worked 72 hours a week
How did the German Labour Front (DAF) keep workers loyal to the Nazis?
Propaganda was used to keep the workers loyal; they were told they could rebuild Germany. A large focus was placed on Volksgemeinschaft, they were doing these jobs for the greater good in Germany
Why did the Nazis use the DAF?
The organisation was used to keep workers loyal to the Nazis and disguise the lack of any huge improvement to their standard of living
What was the aim of the Beauty of Labour Programme? (SDA)
Hitler set it up to improve working conditions; he wanted to increase productivity whilst giving a sense of community between the government and the German population
What did the Beauty of Labour Programme (SDA) do to improve workplaces?
It forced employers to improve workplaces by improving ventilation which would make the air cooler/cleaner. + better lighting and washing facilities. Also made employers have to provide hot meals for free to their workers. Campaigns were held by the Nazis such as ‘Fight against Noise’ and ‘Good ventilation in the workplace’.
Why did the Nazis set up the Strength through Joy (KDF) Programme?
Nazis believed people would work better if they had good leisure activities to do outside of work
What did the Strength through Joy (KDF) Programme do?
It was an office that would arrange trips to concerts, theatres, picnics, sporting events and even very cheap or free holidays to the German countryside. 2 cruise ships were built to take people on cruises to the canary islands for only 2 weeks worth of wages. There was also a savings scheme for the Volkswagen Beetle or ‘People’s Car’ were workers could save 5 marks a week until 750 to buy a car. In 1938, the office had arranged holidays for 10.3 million Germans or a third of the workforce
Hitler boasted that unemployment fell from __ __________ in 1933 to 0.3 million in _____.
5 million, 1939
What plan did Hermann Goering create in 1936 to prepare Germany for war and what were its 2 aims?
the Four-Year Plan: Its two aims were rearmament and self sufficiency
Why was the policy of autarky (self sufficiency) a failure? (5)
- In 1939, Germany was still dependent on imports for one-third of its raw materials
- Farmers were given subsidies and cheap labour from RAD but food production only grew slightly
- Campaigns to make Germans buy German goods met with partial success
- Controls were put on imports but luxury imported goods actually increased
- Scientists were funded to find substitutes for resources Germany did not have such as oil, rubber and cotton, but had little success
When did German rearmament begin?
German rearmament began in 1933 but was kept secret until 1935
In what year did Germany rearm to an extent but hadn’t met the Four-Year Plan target?
1940
How did businesses benefit from rearmament?
Some businesses benefitted from designing, providing materials and manufacturing arms
How did rearmament help job shortages?
More jobs were created, and prisoners in labour and concentration camps were also used. However, by 1939 there were labour shortages
____________ was responsible for most of Germany’s economic growth from 1933 to 1939
Rearmament
What is meant by ‘subsidies’?
Money from the state
To help increase food production. farmers were given subsidies and labour from the RAD. But by World War Two, Germany was still importing ___% of its food
20
To increase raw materials when trying to create autarky, scientists created ‘______’ substitutes
ersatz
When World War 2 began in 1939, a quarter of Germans worked in war industry (weapons, chemicals, agriculture). What did this reach by 1941?
This reached 3 quarters by 1941
Who was needed to increase Germany’s output as their economy wasn’t ready in 1939?
Prisoners of war and slaves
What type of rationing started in 1939? (2)
Food and clothing
Who was the first minister of the economy for the Nazis between 1934 and 1937?
Hjalmar Schact
How did businesses in Germany benefit from the Nazi economic policies? (2)
- Large businesses benefitted from investment and new opportunities in rearmament.
- Large businesses could exploit workers because the Nazis had got rid of trade unions
How much was unemployment reduced from 1933 to 1939?
Unemployment was reduced from 5 million in 1933 to 0.3 million in 1939
How much did the average weekly wage rise by between 1932 and 1939?
25%
While the Nazis emphasised that the average worker’s life improved, the workers probably didn’t see much difference in day to day life. Why was this?
- The cost of food increased. This meant they did not feel the increase in wages
- Working hours increased from 1936 onwards
- If a worker complained about working conditions, they would be ‘blacklisted’. This means they would struggle to find employment
- The four-year-plan led to food shortages
What were 6 pros to the Nazi economic policies?
- Unemployment was reduced and most men were in work
- Average weekly wages rose from 86 marks (1932) to 109 marks (1939) despite wage restrictions
- Some businesses benefitted from increased investment and opportunities
- Large businesses especially benefitted from the wage restrictions and loss of the trade unions
- The Public Works Programme provided better transport, services and homes
- Some farmers benefitted from rising food prices, increase subsidies and cheaper labour
What were 6 cons to the Nazi economic policies?
- The cost of food rose - cancelling out wage increases
- Working hours increased, especially after 1936
- Some businesses resented the restrictions put upon them
- The emphasis on using German goods meant that, in some cases, that available goods were inferior
- The Four-Year Plan put pressure on the economy and led to food and other shortages in the late 1930s
- Some groups suffered; for example, Jewish businesses were boycotted and closed
