Life For Workers In Nazi Germany Flashcards
Who became President of the Reichsbank in March 1933?
Dr Ujalmar Schacht
What was the purpose of Schacht’s 1934 New Plan?
To deal with the trade deficit
What strategies were employed to achieve self-sufficiency in Germany?
- New factories were constructed and industries were put under government control
- The amount of goods imported by Germany was cut
- Industries were encouraged to develop artificial substitutes for raw materials
- Higher targets were set for the production of materials such as oil, rubber, and steel
- A programme of inventions was started to reduce imports
- Targets were imposed for the production of foodstuffs
What was a major impact of the Nazi economic policies by 1939?
Germany was still importing over one-third of the natural resources essential to the economy
Who replaced Schacht as Minister of Economics?
Herman Goring
What was the objective of Göring’s Four Year Plan?
To create an economy that was ready for war
What was one consequence of switching production to munitions and rearmament?
Weakened the economy
Fill in the blank: The Nazis printed _______ marks of Mefo bills to pay for rearmament and public works programs.
12 billion
True or False: The nutritional crisis in northern Germany during the 1930s was accompanied by a rise in the death rate.
True
What did Nazi propaganda promise that ultimately failed to materialize?
Economic prosperity and improvements in living conditions
What was one of the goals of the Reich Food Estate?
To provide strict guidelines on food production
What was one method used to develop artificial substitutes for raw materials?
Oil from coal
What was the effect of inflation caused by Mefo bills by 1939?
The economy was in crisis
List two features of the improvements made under Nazi economic policies.
- A modern motorway network
- New public buildings
What was the unemployment rate in Germany when Hitler came to power in 1933?
Over 6 million Germans were unemployed
What did the Four Year Plan aim to achieve?
Massive investment in public works and military production
How much was spent on the Four Year Plan?
46 billion marks
What was the impact of the National Labour Service (RAD) on job creation?
Jobs in construction rose from 566,000 to over 2 million between 1933 and 1936
Fill in the blank: The RAD was compulsory for all men aged 18-25 under the terms of the _______.
Reich Labour Service Act
What was the purpose of the Beauty of Labour programme?
To improve workplaces and encourage pride in work
What was the Strength through Joy (KDF) programme?
A programme to ensure workers were happy outside the workplace
True or False: The Nazis abolished trade unions in May 1933.
True
What was the employment figure in construction by 1941?
More than 2 million
How did the Nazis improve the lives of workers?
Through wage improvements, price controls, and better working conditions
What was the result of the government’s control over prices and rents?
Improved lives of workers
Fill in the blank: The number of paid holidays was doubled from _______ to _______.
3 days to 6 days
What was the effect of Nazi policies on the unemployment register?
Reduced the numbers on the unemployment register
What was the effect of the RAD on young unemployed men?
They worked in poor conditions for small pay
What percentage increase did employers see in their incomes by 1939?
130%
What was the outcome of the workers’ strikes in Germany from 1928 to 1939?
Days lost to strikes dropped from 20 million to none
What was the impact of Nazi policies on agricultural wages compared to industrial wages?
Agricultural wages rose more quickly than those in industry
What major infrastructure was developed under the autobahn project?
4,000 kilometres of motorways and 9,000 bridges
Fill in the blank: The Reinhard Programme built _______ new apartments from 1933-39.
1.8 million
What were the working conditions for RAD workers?
Poor, with a 76 hour work week
What was the result of the DAF’s establishment for workers?
Workers had to work longer hours with less rights
What did the Nazis provide for mothers and children?
Universal healthcare, job protection, and low taxation
What was a significant outcome of the Nazi economic policies by 1938?
Ordinary workers did not see their wages recover to pre-Depression levels
Under the schemes to increase worker morale, what parts were unsuccessful?
No German citizen ever received a Volkswagen Beetle and when the war broke out the Prora holiday camp hadn’t had any visitors
Why did the number of public facilities decline in Nazi Germany? How was this proved?
Money was being put towards rearmament
Through reductions in the amount of hospital beds and doctors per head of the population
