Life for Workers in Nazi Germany Flashcards
Name some Nazi attempts to reduce unemployment
Public Works Conscription Rearmament Autarky RAD
What was public works?
built autobahns, waterways and railways
autobahn construction employed around 15000 people
what was Conscription?
forced recruitment, created new jobs in the army
army size grew to 1.4 millions, new recruits removed fro unemployment register
What was rearmament?
thousands of jobs created in military weapons, equipment and similar industries
What was Autarky?
Goering’s 4 year plan - attempted to make Germany economically self- sufficient.
failed. Germany still imported over 1/3 of essentials by 1939
what was the RAD?
National Labour Service - compulsory very militaristic civil service. No wages - schools, hospitals and autobahns built.
Compulsory 6 month membership men aged 18-25 (removed from unemployment register)
Who created the New Plan?
Dr Hjalmar Schact - respected economist, Minister of Economics
What was the aim of the New Plan?
deal with trade deficit - cuts to welfare spending, limits on imports, trade agreement with other countries, controlled government spending
When did Schact resign and why?
1937 due to pressure by Hitler to increase spending on military.
Who created the 4 year plan?
Herman Goering
What were the aims of the 4 year plan?
autarky and rearmament - get Germany ready for war
How was farming affected by the 4 year plan?
more food needed to be produced. Production controlled by the Reich Food Estate.
Food prices rose, there was a ‘nutritional crisis’ and death rates rose.
How were factories affected by the 4 year plan?
controlled, more production, focus on war goods.
Switch to munition production weakened the economy.
To pay, Nazis payed 12 billion marks of ‘Mefo bills’ . This caused inflations, and eventually a 1939 economic crisis.
How were Inventions affected by the 4 year plan?
artificial goods eg. rubber and oil needed to be created, importing cut.
No investment in alternatives, 1939 Germany importing over a third of their essential goods.
what were the short term Nazi aims for the economy?
revive nazi economy and create jobs and avoid deficit (schact’s New plan)
what were the long term Nazi aims for the economy?
get economy ready for war (Goering’s 4 year plan)
what were the evidences of success in reviving the economy?
unemployment fell (jobs in RAD, public works, conscription) improved transport - autobahn, canal, railway houses, hospitals and schools built
what were the evidences of failure in reviving the economy?
unemployment stats rigged (Jews and women not counted)
Autarky failed (third)
Over investment in armed forces and underinvestment in consumer goods
Food supplies fell - death rate increased
RAD workers only paid pocket money
Mefo bills led to inflations
What was the DAF?
German Labour Front - Trade union replacement
what were the positives of the DAF?
Guarantees a job, promises to look after workers as trade unions did
What were the cons of the DAF?
freedoms restricted, sided with employers, can’t quit , move jobs or strike, hours increased
What was the KDF?
Strength through Joy - leisure, benefits and incentives
What were the pros of the KDF?
Picnics, cheap cinema and theatre tickets, cheap holidays (prora) Volkswagen, rents controlled, ow taxes, sporting activities
what were the cons of the KDF?
Nobody actually got a Volkswagen or visited Prora, can’t strike/change jobs, could be sent to a concentration camp
What was the SdA?
Beauty of Labour - encourage workers to take pride in their work
what were the pros of the SdA?
provided canteens, noise reduction, lighting, washing, improved working conditions
What were the cons of the SdA?
no strikes, high working hours, can’t quit, sent to a camp
