***Living standards, 1918-33 Flashcards
What law was passed in May 1920?
The Reich Pension Law
What did the Reich Pension Law (1920) do?
Regulated pensions for veterans, war widows and parents of dead soldiers. These pensions were linked to soldiers’ jobs before they were recruited to the army.
Who benefitted from the Reich Pension Law (1920)?
Veterans, war widows and parents of dead soldiers.
What law was passed in February 1922?
The Labour Exchange Law
What did the Labour Exchange Law (1922) do?
Government offices were set up to train the unemployed and to help them find work.
Who did the Labour Exchange Law (1922) benefit?
The unemployed / working class.
Which laws were passed in February 1924?
The Economic Enabling Law and the Reich Social Welfare Law.
What did the Economic Enabling Law (1924) do?
Restructured unemployment benefits.
Who did the Economic Enabling Law (1924) benefit?
The unemployed (through sickness).
What did the Reich Social Welfare Law (1924) do?
Pulled together the different post-war benefits and federal and regional relief systems - set up municipal welfare offices to administer these post-war benefits and relief.
Who benefitted from the Reich Social Welfare Law (1924)?
The poor / lower classes / pregnant women and mothers
What law was passed in July 1927?
The Unemployment Insurance Law
What did the Unemployment Insurance Law (1927) do?
All workers and employees were required to contribute towards a national scheme for unemployed welfare. Benefits were now given to all people out of work.
Who benefitted from the Unemployment Insurance Law (1927)?
The unemployed
Who benefitted during hyperinflation?
Debtors and black marketers. Debtors could pay off debts easily and black marketers could sell goods for high prices when these were scarce.
What was life like for many poor people even during the years of stability?
Many families lived in cramped housing with shared toilets and facilities. The poorest shared one room and had no running water at all.
In Berlin in 1925, how many people were lodgers? How many paid to only sleep in a bed?
130,500 people were lodgers and 44,600 paid only to sleep in a bed.
What happened to unemployment between 1925-28?
It doubled, from 3.4% in 1925 to 6.3% in 1928.
What percentage of the workforce were unemployed in 1926?
10% - peak
What had happened to farming by 1927?
It was in recession.
What was the length of the working day?
8-hour working day
Why were there strikes?
Poor working conditions.
