Standard Of Living

Question 1

Nazi workers organisation

Answer 1

Hitler realised that he must make sure that the German workers were satisfied and avoid losing their support
He set up different workers organisations that were meant to improve the lives and conditions of German people

Question 2

German labour front

Answer 2

The deutsche arbeitsfront DAF replaced trade unions
Workers had to be members
It ran several schemes

Question 3

Strength through joy (kdf)

Answer 3

This aimed to increase productivity by making workers happy
It provided low cost or free activities for hard workers

Question 4

Beauty of labour (SdA)

Answer 4

This aimed to improve conditions by reducing noise in work places providing canteens and even building swimming pools
However workers had to help construct these in their spare time so it wasn’t very popular

Question 5

The Volkswagen (peoples car)

Answer 5

One of KdFs schemes was to promote car ownership
Hitler asked Porsche to design a family car and the vw beetle was the result
Workers paid 5 marks a week towards being a car but by 1939 no one had paid enough money so the money went towards rearmament

Question 6

Standards of living that had improved in 1939

Answer 6

More jobs with most men in work
Average wages rose by 20% compared to 1933
Kdf provided leisure activities and holidays and SdA improved working conditions
Car ownership increased

Question 7

How had the standards of living not improved by 1939

Answer 7

Invisible employment meant there were still people unemployed
The cost of food rose by an equivalent amount so this cancelled our wage rise
With the banning of trade unions workers had few rights and worked longer hours 43 hours a week in 1933 up to 49 hours in 1939
Only high earners could afford cars low earners had to spend money on essentials