Nazis and workers/working conditions Flashcards
Why did Hitler need the support of industrial workers?
- They were vital in supporting a war effort
- They were vital in Hitler’s plans for a new German empire
What was the Strength through Joy (KDF) scheme?
A scheme that offered workers:
- cheap theatre and cinema tickets
- cut-price tickets for luxury cruises
- organised trips and sports events
What does Volkswagen translate to?
The ‘people’s car’
What was the Volkswagen Beetle scheme?
Workers would save five marks a week and eventually would get a car
Why did the Volkswagen scheme become known as the ‘Volkswagen swindle’?
No worker ever received a car because car production was halted at the outbreak of war in 1939.
None of the money was refunded.
What was the Beauty of Labour scheme?
A scheme to improve working conditions
What sort of things did the Beauty of Labour scheme include?
Better conditions in the work place. For example:
- low-cost canteens
- washing facilities
- sport facilities
- better lighting
How did wages change from 1932 to 1938?
They increased
86 marks in 1932
109 marks in 1938
Did wage increases match the increased cost of living?
Hard to say exactly, but certainly the cost of living increased in the 1930s. Therefore the increase in wages would have seemed negligible
Why did ‘Strength through Joy’ (KDF) not work for everyone?
Very few workers could afford the more expensive activities e.g. cruises to Madeira and Scandinavia
What happened to trade unions?
They were shut down
What body replaced trade unions?
The German Labour Front
Why was the German Labour Front (DAF) not as good for workers?
They could not strike for better pay/conditions or reduced hours
Who was in charge of the German Labour Front (DAF)?
Dr Robert Ley
What was the RAD
- The Reich Labour Service was a major organisation
- an agency to help mitigate the effects of unemployment on the German economy, militarise the workforce and indoctrinate it with Nazi ideology. It was the official state labour service, divided into separate sections for men and women.
