Part Three, Topic one: Economic changes

Question 1

What was did the Nazis reduce unemployment?

Answer 1

• Building of autobahns created jobs with benefits e.g. theatre tickets
• Jews were not counted in the unemployment statistics
• Conscription was brought back in for men ages 18 to 25 for 2 years service in 1935
• National labour compulsory to do for 6 months in 1935 with little pay (conditions were strict)

Question 2

What plan was put in place to get Germany ready for war?

Answer 2

4 year plan in 1936
Hermann Goring put in charge
The economy was focused on rearmament rather than on consumer goods

Question 3

How did the new Nazi economy affect different groups of people?

Answer 3

Factories and big businesses: Nazis destroyed trade unions which meant they could employ people for longer hours and pay them less without fear of worker strikes. Rearmament meant that businesses making war equipment also benefitted

Small Businesses: Over 300,000 small businesses went bankrupt because they could not compete with big businesses

Farmers: Benefited when debts were cancelled and food prices increased

Workers: Rearmament meant that workers in the armaments industries got paid well. But, other workers’ wages decreased and those seen as ‘work shy’ were sent to concentration camps