Change in Living Standards

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Changing Living Standards for Consumers Under the Nazis

The aim of Wehrwirtschaft meant the consumer interests were not a priority for the Nazis.

Tensions due to Wehrwirtschaft

Channelling all resources into Wehrwirtschaft was not possible. Maintaining some level of consumer demand was necessary for morale. Nevertheless this was a source of tension.

Negative impact on consumers

Schacht, some industrialists and many in the military wanted more stress on consumer goods, increasing German exports. Goering disagreed.

Historical assessment

Mason (1993):
- The Nazi party was unable to focus completely on Wehrwirtschaft because of fear of popular unrest.
- At the horseback meeting in November 1937 Hitler spoke of inflation, food shortages and the lack of foreign exchange (imports).
Overy (1982):
- Although there were problems there was no crisis as the government controlled wages and prices and production and investment were growing.

Changing Living Standards for Workers Under the Nazis

It is difficult to evaluate the actual change in living standards for workers. Whilst they benefited from employment under the Nazis, real wages fell.

Job creation schemes

Workers benefited from job creation schemes.
This reduced unemployment in Germany.
We must remember greater employment for Aryan men was accompanied by the ‘invisible unemployment’ of non-Aryans and women.

Illustrative background for DAF ?? "content

DAF

6 May 1933: All independent trade unions were banned. DAF now represented all workers and employers in one national organisation. Led by Dr. Robert Ley.
- Membership rose from 5 million in 1933 to 22 million in 1939.
- 1936: DAF provided 2.5 million vocational training courses.
- 1938: Workers could put aside RM5 a week towards a VW car. In 1939 car manufacturing was switched to military needs. No cars were ever received.
- DAF’s aims: for workers and employers to work together to achieve Volksgemeinschaft.

KdF and SdA

KdF (Strength Through Joy): created by DAF in 1933 to improve workers’ fitness and morale through subsidised leisure activities, including holidays.
In 1938 over 10.3 million holidays provided by KdF. Sports were the most popular activity – the Volksgemeinshcaft must be fit and healthy.
SdA (Beauty of Work): its role was to improve working conditions, e.g. better lighting, heating, proper work clothes, lockers, improved hygiene, canteens.

Illustrative background for RAD ?? "content

RAD

Reich Labour Service: from June 1935 every male aged 18-25 must serve six months working for the community, usually on farms or public works.
RAD was regimented, often time was spent away from home in barracks.
In 1939 RAD was extended to women.

Worker's pay and conditions

Trustees of Labour were established in 1933 under the Ministry of Labour. They set wages, holidays and regulated working conditions.
Councils of Trust were established in January 1934. They replaced the workers’ councils of the Weimar era and were subordinate to the Trustees of Labour.
Councils of Trust discussed workers’ safety and welfare, workplace productivity.
Grunberger (1971): -Real hourly wages rose only 1% under the Nazis.

Changing Living Standards for Farmers Under the Nazis

The Nazis focussed on developing agriculture. Whilst living standards rose between 1933 and 1936, it stagnated from 1937 onwards.

Reich Food Estate

Anyone involved in agriculture had to join. It allocated subsidies and imports; regulated wages and prices and organised distribution and foreign labour.
As the 1930s wore on the government controlled the price of food, keeping it below market value so as to control German wages.
The Four Year Plan increased production by: giving grants for new cultivated land; subsidies for technology and arable farmers and reducing fertiliser prices.

Impact of Nazi policy on agriculture

By 1938 food imports were down 20%.
Agricultural growth was limited by the labour shortages and by a lack of investment as industry and rearmament were prioritised by the government.
Livestock farmers suffered because of high fodder prices. Subsidies were only for arable farmers.
The Reich Entailed Farm Law: small farms (18-30 acres) could not be sold or mortgaged and had to be handed on to one person.

Change in living standards

Initially, farmers benefited from Nazi economic policies.
Between 1933 and 1936, the average income for a farmer rose by 41%.
However, wages for rural workers were less than wages for urban workers.
The rural population fell from 21% to 18% as people left the countryside for factories.

1Political & Governmental Change, 1918-1989

1.1Creation & Collapse of Weimar, 1918-1932

1.1.1Creation of a Republic

1.1.2Strengths & Weaknesses of Weimar Constitution

1.1.3Overcoming Challenges to the Constitution

1.1.4The Great Depression

1.1.5The Collapse of Democracy

1.1.6The Collapse of Democracy 2

1.1.7Hitler Becomes Chancellor

1.2Nazi Dictatorship, 1933-1945

1.2.1Establishing a Dictatorship

1.2.2Consolidating Power

1.2.3Nature of Government

1.2.4Government in Wartime

1.2.5Top Grade AO2/3 - Political & Governmental Change

1.3Return to Democratic Government, 1945-1989

1.3.1Creation of the FRG, 1945-1949

1.3.2Consolidation Under Adenauer

1.3.3Consolidation Under Erhard

1.3.4Maintaining Stability Under Brandt

1.3.5Maintaining Stability Under Schmidt

1.3.6Maintaining Stability Under Kohl

1.3.7Top Grade AO2/3 - Return to Democratic Government

2Opposition, Control & Consent 1918-1989

2.1Opposition to Government, 1918-1989

2.1.1Impact of Versailles

2.1.2Political Extremism & Crises, 1918-1932

2.1.3Opposition & Dissent in Nazi Germany, 1933-1945

2.1.4Political Dissent from the Left, 1949-1989

2.1.5Political Dissent from the Right, 1949-1989

2.1.6Top Grade AO2/3 - Opposition to Government 1918-89

2.2Controlling the People, 1918-1989

2.2.1Attempts to Control Extremism

2.2.2Repression, 1933-1945

2.2.3Censorship & Propaganda, 1933-1945

2.2.4De-Nazification Policies of Western Allies, 1945

2.2.5Constitutional & Legal Response to Extremism, 1949

2.3Popular Support, 1918-1989

2.3.1The Nature of Support for the Weimar Government

2.3.2Support for the Nazi Regime

2.3.3The Nature of Support for Democracy, 1945-1989

2.3.4Top Grade AO2/3 - Controlling the People

3Economic Developments & Policies, 1918-1989

3.1Reacting to Economic Challenges, 1918-1932

3.1.1Economic Crises & Government Response, 1918-1923

3.1.2Economic Loans, 1924-1928

3.1.3Policies for Recovery, 1924-1929

3.1.4The Great Depression

3.1.5Change in Living Standards

3.1.6Top Grade AO2/3 - Reacting to Economic Challenges

3.2Controlling the Economy, 1933-1945

3.2.1Attempting Economic Recovery

3.2.2Creating a Command Economy

3.2.3Change in Living Standards

3.2.4Impact of War

3.2.5Impact of War 2

3.2.6Top Grade AO2/3 - Controlling the Economy

3.3Creating the Social Market Economy, 1945-1989

3.3.1Economic Recovery, 1945-1955

3.3.2The Economic Miracle, 1955-1966

3.3.3Surviving the Recession, 1960-1969

3.3.4The Oil Crisis

3.3.5Integration into the European Economy

3.3.6Change in Living Standards

3.3.7Top Grade AO2/3 - Creating Social Market Economy

4Aspects of Life, 1918-1989

4.1Attitudes Towards Women, 1918-1989

4.1.1Role & Status of Women in the Weimar Republic

4.1.2Impact of Kinder, Küche, Kirche

4.1.3Impact of WW2 on Women

4.1.4Role & Status of Women in the FRG

4.1.5Top Grade AO2/3 - Attitudes Towards Women

4.2Education & Cultural Developments, 1918-1989

4.2.1Education in Weimar

4.2.2Cultural Experimentation in Weimar

4.2.3Education Under the Nazis

4.2.4Nazi Culture

4.2.5Education in the FRG

4.2.6Generational Conflict

4.2.7Top Grade AO2/3 - Education & Cultural Development

4.3Position of Ethnic Minorities, 19189-1989

4.3.1Ethnic Minorities in the Weimar Republic

4.3.2Nazi Racial Policies, 1933-1939

4.3.3Nazi Racial Policies During the War

4.3.4Ethnic Minorities in the FRG

4.3.5Top Grade AO2/3 - Position of Ethnic Minorities

5Historical Interpretations

5.1Influence of German History

5.1.1Influence of German History

5.2Hitler & Foreign Policy

5.2.1Hitler & Foreign Policy

5.3Contribution of Other Nations to WW2

5.3.1Weak Nations

5.3.2Appeasement

5.3.3The Rise of Fascism

5.4Reasons for Invading Poland

5.4.1Reasons for Invading Poland

5.4.2Top Grade AO2/3 - Historical Interpretation

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