The position of the German middle class / artisans improved 1871-1990, how far do you agree with this statement? Flashcards
What fact about one man businesses shows how the artisans declined in the Bismarck era?
The number of one man business dropped by 13.5% 1883-85
The impact of industrialisation meant that which two artisan industries closed completely?
Dyeing and weaving
Why did the factory system undermine the Mittelstand?
They could make the goods that the mittelstand made but at much cheaper prices
By what consequence of the growth of the factory system did the mittelstand feel threatened by?
The growth of unionism and working classes
In the Kaiserreich, what did the Mittelstand lack?
A single political party which really represented their views
To what, thanks to the lack of a single political party in the Kaiserriech that reflected their views, did many of the artisans turn?
Extremist parties such as the SPD
Why was the artisans’ union with the SPD an ill-fated one?
The SPD were too working class
Why did many Germans support the Mittelstand in the face of industrialisation?
they provided a reassuring connection with the past and continuity
Why were the middle classes able to survive industrialisation?
new machinery and technologies that allowed them to adapt
How did the Bismarckian system government try to win over the Mittelstand which shows that they are still a valued part of German society?
The protectionist craft laws of 1897, but this did not have the desired effect
Overall did the position of the middle classes improve or decline under the Kaiserreich?
Declined generally because they were undermined by industrialisation
What two ways did what party provide the artisans with good representation in the Weimar era?
The nazi party provided them with good representation because they were anti communist and supported small trades
What does the fact that the Nazi party gained so much support from the Mittelstand in Weimar suggest about their fortunes during it?
It declined baeucae they had to resort to an extremist party which is an indicator of problems
What was the original Nazi manifesto, helping the artisans?
The 25 point plan
What two ways did the 25 point plan protect the artisans?
They woful receive more state support and big business would be shut down and the premises would be given to the middle classes
The Mittelstand were early supporters of the new Nazi party early on during the 1920s, with skilled workers making up what percentage of the Nazi Party Membership in the 1920s despite making up only what percentage of the population as a whole.
33% 27%
The mittelstand’s support of the nazis during Weimar was founded in what?
The Mittelstand’s support of the Nazis was founded in part in a resistance to the large, often Jewish-owned, shopping centres that threatened them throughout the Weimar period.
Did the position of the artisans improve throughout Weimar?
Not really
As a way of thanking the Mittelstand for their early support, Hitler did what?
Kept his promises in the 1930s
What was banned and what were resirtcied that benefitted the middle classes under the Nazi government?
Trade unions were banned and large department stores were restricted
How were the large department stores limited?
Banned from offering services that the artisans might be able to such as catering, cobbling, baking, barbering
Highly skilled and established artisans were protected form competition in three ways. What were they?
Crack down on the employment of low-paid unskilled workers
New artisanal shops had to gain state permission before being allowed to open.
From 1935 all new artisans had to pass the Master’s Examination to ensure a high level of craft was maintained.
Where did the Nazi army get their uniform?
From the artisans
From 1931-36, what what percentage did the artisan businesses rise?
20%
Those businesses that did survive until the war were able to what?
Pool together into co-operatives and even have access to Nazi slave labour
How did re-armentment limit the artisans’ success in Nazi germnay?
The economy was increasingly geared towards heavy industry more than it was towards the smaller industries of the artisans
The economy was increasingly geared towards heavy industry more than it was towards the smaller industries of the artisans. This meant that what artisans suggestion what rejected by the German government?
the de-mechanisation of industry
Though the number had risen until 1936, the number of artisan businesses declined by what percentage between 1936-39 and give a judgement for this?
11% which shows that whilst the artisans may have witnessed improved condition until 1936, this was not maintained beyond this
Though the number had risen until 1936, the number of artisan businesses declined by 11% between 1936-39. compare this to big business?
department stores’ turnover increased by 10%, who employed over 90 000 Germans in comparison with the small number in the artisan trade
By the end of the 1930s, what were the Nazis doing to artisans businesses that suggests that whilst their position may have grown int h early part it was now firmly declining?
By the end of the 1930s, the Nazis were having to restrict artisans, saying that it was economically unviable to have so many bakers, butcher, shoemakers and tailors.
Did the Mittelstand improve during the Nazis?
Yes int he first bit, not in the second bit
What kind of a casualty were the Mittelstand in the Nazi period?
A casualty of re-armament
Did the artisans improve or not improve during the FRG?
Improve
Following the 1947 Marshall plan and the economic recovery that it provided, what happened to artisans?
they were given special status that meant that they could oversee the organisation and training of skilled labourers
What is the increase in artisan traders between 1955 and 1939?
By 1955 there were 3.5 million employed in artisan trades, 1 million more than in 1939.
How were the FRG citizens able to adapt industrially to make sure that the artisans still had a role in a modern economy?
Many Germans focussed on trades that supported big industry such as skilled metalworking, so were able to adapt to the changing economy to maintain their prosperity, fuelled by the co-operatives established during the war.
What shows how valuable the artisans were in the FRG?
Their craft, combined with industrialisation gave Germany an internationally strong reputation for quality manufacturing
