4.1.3
Employment & Living Standards
Employment
Employment
The German people turned to the Nazis because they promised to make the German economy strong again. The Nazis needed to focus on reducing unemployment and improving life for German citizens.
New jobs
New jobs
- Hitler reduced unemployment by creating new jobs for men.
- Men were employed to work on public construction projects. These included public buildings, creating farmlands, the 1936 Olympic Stadium and building 7,000 km of autobahns (motorways).
The National Labour Service (RAD)
The National Labour Service (RAD)
- The National Labour Service (RAD) made it compulsory for men aged 18-25 to work on public schemes for 6 months.
- Most men disliked RAD because they felt exploited (treated unfairly for others’ benefit). Wages were very low and they worked long hours.
Other schemes
Other schemes
- All workers had to join the German Labour Front. This organisation was used to keep workers loyal to the Nazis and disguise the lack of any huge improvement to their standard of living.
- The Strength Through Joy scheme gave workers rewards if they worked hard. This included going to the theatre or having a holiday.
- The Beauty of Labour scheme planned to improve working conditions. But nothing was often done about it.
Effect of Hitler's policies
Effect of Hitler's policies
- Hitler boasted that unemployment fell from 5 million in 1933 to 0.3 million in 1939.
- In this statistic, Hitler did not include the Jews and women forced out of their jobs, or the men conscripted (drawn) into the National Labour Service.
- There was a lot of ‘invisible unemployment’ .
Economic Policy
Economic Policy
Hjalmar Schact was the first minister of the economy for the Nazis between 1934 and 1937. Hitler wanted Germany to build up its military strength in a few years. But Schacht did not think it was possible. He lost his job in 1937.
The 'Four Year Plan'
The 'Four Year Plan'
- Although Hjalmar Schact was credited with solving the Great Depression for Germany, he lost his job in 1937.
- Schacht did not believe that Germany could grow its military as quickly as Hitler wanted.
- Hermann Goering created the Four-Year Plan in 1936 to prepare Germany for war.
- Its two aims were rearmament (building up supply of military weapons) and self-sufficiency (needing no support).
Rearmament (building up supply of military weapons)
Rearmament (building up supply of military weapons)
- This was a key aim for Hitler because he wanted to overturn the Treaty of Versailles and make Germany strong again.
- The plan was for the expanded armed forces to be fully equipped with weapons and vehicles.
- Rearmament helped big manufacturing businesses.
- Rearmament was responsible for most of Germany’s economic growth from 1933 to 1939.
Self-sufficiency (autarky)
Self-sufficiency (autarky)
- Self-sufficiency (autarky) was less successful than rearmament.
- Goering wanted Germany to create everything in their own economy, not relying on any imports (bringing products in from other countries).
- The Nazis tried to control the number of imported goods.
- But the number of imports increased over the period as people became wealthier.
The path to self-sufficiency (autarky)
The path to self-sufficiency (autarky)
- To help increase food production, farmers were given subsidies (money from the state) and labour from the RAD.
- But by World War Two, Germany was still importing 20% of its food.
- To increase raw materials, scientists created 'ersatz' substitutes.
- These were not very successful and by World War Two Germany was still importing 1/3 of its raw materials.
The war economy
The war economy
- Working hours increased from 1936. If a worker complained about working conditions, they would be ‘blacklisted’ (struggle to find employment).
- When World War 2 began in 1939, a quarter of Germans worked in the war industry (weapons, chemicals, agriculture). This reached 3 quarters by 1941.
- Prisoners of war and slaves were needed to increase Germany's output as their economy wasn't ready in 1939.
- Food and clothing rationing started in 1939 and gradually fell during the war.
Nazi Economic Policy - Costs and Benefits
Nazi Economic Policy - Costs and Benefits
Self-sufficiency (autarky), Rearmament and Employment were the main focuses of German economic policy.
German businesses
German businesses
- Overall, large business owners and farmers benefitted the most.
- Large businesses benefitted from investment and new opportunities in rearmament (building up supply of military weapons).
- Large businesses could exploit (treat unfairly for others’ benefit) workers because the Nazis had got rid of trade unions.
German workers and farmers
German workers and farmers
- Unemployment was reduced from 5 million in 1933 to 0.3 million in 1939.
- The average weekly wage rose by around 25% between 1932 and 1939.
- Work creation schemes improved transport, services and homes.
- Some farmers received a higher income from increasing food prices and subsidies.
Costs of Nazi economic policy
Costs of Nazi economic policy
- While the Nazis emphasised that the average worker’s life improved, the workers probably didn’t see much difference in day to day life.
- The cost of food increased. This meant they did not feel the increase in wages.
- Working hours increased from 1936 onwards.
- If a worker complained about working conditions, they would be ‘blacklisted’. This means they would struggle to find employment.
- The four-year plan led to food shortages.
1The Weimar Republic 1918-1929
2Hitler's Rise to Power 1919-1933
2.1Early Development of the Nazi Party
2.2The Munich Putsch & the Lean Years
2.3The Growth of Support for the Nazis
3Nazi Control & Dictatorship 1933-1939
3.1Creating a Dictatorship, 1933-1934
3.2The Police State
4Life in Nazi Germany 1933-1939
4.1Life in Nazi Germany
Jump to other topics
1The Weimar Republic 1918-1929
2Hitler's Rise to Power 1919-1933
2.1Early Development of the Nazi Party
2.2The Munich Putsch & the Lean Years
2.3The Growth of Support for the Nazis
3Nazi Control & Dictatorship 1933-1939
3.1Creating a Dictatorship, 1933-1934
3.2The Police State
4Life in Nazi Germany 1933-1939
4.1Life in Nazi Germany
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