The German urban working class has grown steadily in importance and prosperity throughout the years 1871-1990’. How far do you agree? Flashcards
At the beginning of the Kaiserreich, what proportion of the population lived in rural villages , yet by 1914 due to rapid industrialisation, what proportion of the population lived in towns?
⅔ ⅔
Between which two dates was state socialism?
1883-89
What was the insurance act in 1883?
Sickness Insurance Act 1883
What did the Sickness Insurance Act 1883 provide for?
provided 12 weeks’ sick pay to 3 million workers
How did the Sickness Insurance Act 1883 work?
workers contributed ⅔ and employers contributed ⅓
What was the insurance act 1884
1884 Accident Insurance Act
What did the 1884 Accident Insurance Act give?
13 weeks’ payment financed by employers
what happened to the 1884 Accident Insurance Act and the 1883 Sickness Insurance act?
They were combined in 1886 to give protection to an extra 7 million workers
Which state socialism act gave pensions to all those over 70, or earlier if they were disabled?
1889 Old Age Pensions Act
Between which two dates did real wages increase by what percent?
25% between 1895 and 1913
What three things did Caprivi do for the working class?
Sunday work prohibited
Children under 13 couldn’t work
Women didn’t have to work more than 11 hours a week
What three things did Bülow do for the working class?
Accident insurance was extended 1900
Industrial courts were introduced in all large towns 1901
Ban on child labour was extended to all industries in 1903
How did trade union membership flourish?
50 000 in 1877 to 278 000 in 1891
Analyse the growth of union membership from 50 000 in 1877 to 278 000 in 1891?
Whilst this could show that the political importance of the Urban Work Class was becoming more important, it could equally be symptomatic of a continually troubled position.
Between 1875-1890 what happened to the SPD’s vote?
doubled to 1.5 million
What happened to the SPD’s Reichstag deputies between 1875-1890?
They grew from 12 to 35
Analyse the growth in the SPD votes to 1.5 million and the number of deputies to 35 by 1890?
Equally, though this improved their political representation, it could be indicative of a ‘hunger politics’ approach, driven to politics by a worsening position in society.
Industrialisation led to overcrowding and poor sanitation in the growing towns. What of all families were living in destitution?
30%
When were the anti-socialist laws?
1878
Under the anti-socialist laws, what socialist organisation including what were banned?
trade unions
What kind of publications were banned under the anti-socialist laws?
Any socialist newspaper or publication
Between 1878 and 1890, how many socialists were imprisoned?
1500
What is a limation of the anti-soclaist laws?
The law was implemented differently in the Germans states and it didn’t prevent SPD members from Standing in elections and speaking freely in the Reichstag and the Länder.
How would you describe the rise of the worker under bismarck?
They did well, the anti socialist laws that did happen only consolidated their support and their unity as a movement
what were enshrined in the Weimar constitution?
Equal rights for the worker and the employer, determining working conditions and an 8 hour working day
Between which two dates were conditions quite good for workers during Weimar?
1925-29
Real wages increased by which percentages in which tow years?
Real wages increased by 9% in 1927 and 12% in 1928
By 1927, how many million were recipients of unemployment relief?
17 million
Analyse the 17 million people in receipt of unemployment benefit?
Whilst it is a symptom of a dangerous situation for workers, it does show how committed government was to helping them
The rise of the Nazis and paramilitary units is emblematic of what?
the extent of the economic crisis
What two things helped to reduce unemployment during the Nazis?
public works schemes such as the RAD and the re-armament process
What social scheme was there under the Nazis and how significant was it?
The KDF holiday shame had given 9 million holidays by 1938.
By 1935 unemployment had dropped from what to what million employed.
6 to 2.5
what was there never in the Nazis which suggests that there was quite good conditions for workers and that they were perhaps content?
Never any worker rebellion
What grew for the Nazis which suggests that workers supported what they were doing?
the proportion of workers who voted for the Nazis grew in the March 1933 election
Working classes between 1929 and 1938 grew by what percentage suggesting improving conditions and status?
10%
What two things did workers lose under the Nazis?
rights and a trade union after offices were raided on the 2nd May 1933
Under Ley’s DAF, what was lost?
The ability to strike
Did the Nazis improve things for the urban worker?
yes compared to the previous situations, but no during the wartime economy
What fact about the decline in the population of rural communities shows the growth of the urban working class?
The Urban working classes grew significantly. The population in rural communities fell from 23.1% in 1950 to 8.3% in 1970.
What fact about the FRG’s population structure shows how much the urban areas had grown?
By 1980, 74% of FRG citizens lived in communities of more than 10 000
when was co-detemrinism?
1951
When were works councils?
1852
What is German for guest worker, the strongest case against the improving status of the domestic worker?
Gastarbeiter
From which two countries were Gastarbeiters brought in?
Turkey and Greece
In which two industries did Gastarbeiters fill Labour shortages?
Ship building and electricity
How many million Gastarbeiters did the government recruit?
14 million
How could you turn the Gastarbeiter into a positive?
in the short term facilitated the economic growth that benefitted all in the long term
What could be said about the FRG?
Only good for workers compared to previous war time economy
