Work

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

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) 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

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

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’ .

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'

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)

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) 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)

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

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.
When World War 2 began in 1939, a quarter of Germans worked in 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 rations gradually fell during the war.

Nazi Economic Policy - Costs and Benefits

Self-sufficiency (autarky), Rearmament and Employment were the main focuses of German economic policy.

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

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

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.

1Dictatorship

1.1Hitler & The Nazi Party in 1933

1.1.1The Origins of the Nazi Party

1.1.2Hitler & The Growth of the Party

1.1.3The 1932 Election

1.2Establishing Dictatorship, 1933-1934

1.2.1Establishing Dictatorship

1.2.2Achieving Total Power, July 1933 - August 1934

1.2.3End of Topic Test - Dictatorship

1.2.4Grade 9 - Dictatorship

2Control & Opposition

2.1The Machinery of Terror

2.1.1Police State & Legal System

2.1.2The Gestapo & SS

2.1.3Concentration Camps

2.1.4End of Topic Test - Control & Opposition

2.2Nazi Propaganda

2.2.1The Effectiveness of Nazi Propaganda

2.3Opposition to Nazi Rule

2.3.1The Left

2.3.2Church Leaders

2.3.3Youth Groups

2.3.4Support for Nazi Rule

2.3.5End of Topic Test - Propaganda & Opposition

2.3.6Grade 9 - Propaganda & Opposition

3Changing Lives, 1933-1939

3.1Work & Home

3.1.1Work

3.1.2Home

3.2The Lives of Young People

3.2.1Education

3.2.2Youth Movements

3.3Nazi Racial Policy

3.3.1Racial Policy

3.3.2Persecution of the Jews

3.3.3End of Topic Test 0 Changing Lives

3.3.4Grade 9 - Changing Lives

4Germany in War

4.1The Impact of War

4.1.1Impact of the War Economy on the People

4.1.2Impact of Total War on the People

4.2Growing Opposition from the German People

4.2.1Opposition from the People

4.2.2Opposition from the Army

4.2.3End of Topic Test - Germany in War

4.2.4Grade 9 - Germany in War

5Occupation

5.1Nazi Rule in Eastern and Western Europe

5.1.1The Start of World War 2

5.1.2Western Europe

5.1.3Eastern Europe

5.1.4End of Topic Test - Occupation

5.2The Final Solution

5.2.1Ghettos & Executions

5.2.2Death Camps

5.2.3End of Topic Test - The Final Solution

5.3Responses to Nazi Rule

5.3.1Collaboration

5.3.2Accommodation

5.3.3Resistance

5.3.4End of Topic Test - Responses to Nazi Rule

5.3.5Grade 9 - Occupation

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