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%
