Volksgemeinshaft- workers Flashcards
What was the first and 9th article of the NSDAP manifesto?
1-We demand the union of all Germans. . . to form a Great Germany.
9-All citizens of the State shall possess equal rights and duties.
When Hitler come to power what did announce?
The 1000 year Reich, the key to it surviving was the volksmeinshaft
What was the Volksgemeinshaft?
The ‘peoples community’
Nazi’s ideology of a perfect society that was racially unified, who’s main goal was the wellbeing of the community over the individual
It rejected old ideas of religion and class division and excluded outsiders
What was the debate over the volkgemeinshaft?
Kershaw- Nazi values and attitudes had some impact on creating the volksgemeinsgaft Sax believe attempts go create a volsgemeinsgaft failed.
What were trade unions replaced with?
The German labour front (DAF)
Workers could not negotiate or strike but they could not be fired on the spot
What were councils of trust?
Where workers could complain against their employers
Only 616 cases in 1939 out of a population of 20 million- people too scared to use them
What was the KdF?
Strength through joy scheme- workers got holidays and trips out, eg cinema.
In 1938, 10 million workers took KdF holidays
What was beauty of labour
An organisation that improved factor conditions
Range of actions, including new lockers, new canteen areas
Encouraged employers to sit with their workers to break down class barriers
900M RM spent by 1939
How do we know class divisions were not broken down?
On KdF cruise ships, there was third, second and first class options
What was the Volkswagen scheme?
The KdF scheme promised the workers a Volkswagen car if they paid 5 RM a month
Excited many workers as the possibly of owning a car, which previously had been a privilege of the upper classes
However people never actually received cars as WW2 started
What did Huges believe?
Symbols such as the Volkswagen scheme persuaded many Germans a volksgemeinshaft had been achived- but this was a myth
What was the nazi’s main aim for workers?
to break down class divisions
What charities were set up for workers?
Eintopf was a charity that encouraged workers to eat a simple one pot stew a month and donate the saved money to Winterhilf, a charity that supported workers during winter (eg clothes, food, etc)
What did Mason believe?
The Nazis failed to stop class division
What is a social revolution?
A sudden change in structure/ nature of society
