Nazi economy Flashcards
What did the German Labour Front (DAF) do?
Replaced trade unions.
Strikes are illegal.
Leader is Dr Robert Ley.
Promised to look after workers better than trade unions.
Set up 1933, 1935 it had 20 million members.
What did the Beauty of Labour (SdA) do?
Branch of DAF
Encouraged workers to be proud of their work (propaganda).
Improved working conditions (better lighting, washing facilities, creshe).
What did the Strength Through Joy (KdF) do?
Happy people make happy workers.
Improved workers free time (make them feel valued)(picnics, cheap cinema tickets, cheap holidays).
Mediterranean cruise + Baltic Sea was only given to party members (But average workers throughout they could get it). (Nobody got to Baltic Sea).
Saving scheme, Volkswagen 750 marks, 5 marks a week (scam) (munitions).
What were Hitlers aims for the workers?
Control & loyalty/ Volksgemeinschaft
Get rid of strikes. (Keep factory owners happy) (1928, 20 million days lost).
What were the disadvantages for the life’s of workers?
DAF sided with employers
Workers freedoms (ability to move jobs) restricted.
Working hours increased
Employers wages increased by 130%
Workers wages did not recover to pre-depression levels until 1938.
No one got the car and no one got the holiday (Scam!)
Public facilities declined (hospital beds, doctors declined because of money invested into re-armament).
What were the advantages for the workers?
Workers income improved steadily by 20% Prices grew only slowly. Some electrical goods prices fell. Working conditions improved (showers, canteens) Universal healthcare Low taxes Paid holidays went from 3 days to 6.
What were Hitlers economy aims?
Solve unemployment crises (promised to deal with it in election).
Make Germany an ‘autarchy’
Get rid of Jewish industrialists and give their businesses to ‘Aryans’.
Transform the economy to focus on rearmament and the war (strong war economy)
Get out of recession (leads to political instability).
What was the ‘new plan’?
Dr Schact, President of the Reichsbank. Plan in 1934. In a year appointed minister of economics. His aims were; Cuts to welfare spending Limits on imports Trade agreements with other countries Government spending on key industries Economy improved!
What is the 4 year plan?
Hitler wanted increase military spending, Schact disagreed & resigned. Göring in charge. 1936 4 year plan, Autarky ready for war.
New factories, strict Government control
Imports cut
Higher production targets/ essential material rubber/ steel.
ERSTZ artificial substitutes.
Inventions/ synthetic fibres/ genetic research on plants.
Targets food Reich food estate- all farmers had to join.
How did the Nazis reduce unemployment?
Manipulated stats.
Public works: Reinhard Programme 1933, autobahns, waterways, railways. 1 million marks.
Second Programme: Tax incentives for construction project. Autobahns with 15,000 workers.
National Labour Service (RAD): all men 18-25 (age) for 6 months were taken off unemployment register to take part in a civil service scheme. Pocket money, food, shelter all for cheap labour.
1939 only 300,000 Germans listed as being without work.
Professional woman and Jews were forced from the workplace over their jobs.
Conscriptions- 1939 there were 1.4 million Jobs, as the army increased their size was a knock on effect on associated industries creating more jobs.
What were the failure of Autarky & economic failures?
1939 importing 1/3 of essentials to economy
Nazis wrecked, not rescued the economy.
Switch to munitions & re-armament weekend economy.
To pay for re-armament & public works Nazis printed 12 billion ‘Mefo Bills’ caused inflation. (Some historians believe Hitler had to go to war to head off an economic collapse).
Food prices rose.
Death crisis rose.
Conclusion: Nazi propaganda promised failed to materialise but Nazi party members got good jobs and privileges and business men in the party got the orders/ contracts.
What were the impacts and effectiveness of Nazis actions to reduce unemployment?
Economic successes:
- 1933 unemployment 26%
- 1939 unemployment below 1%
- employment in construction rose to 2 million approx 1.3 million jobs extra from 33-39.
- Autobahns are amazing publicity for Hitler.
