The Economy Under the Nazis

1. The Economy Under the Nazis What was it like to live in Nazi Germany: 1933-39?

2. LESSON OBJECTIVES • To know the economic problems Germany was facing when the Nazis came to power in 1933. • To know why unemployment was a big problem in Germany. • To understand how the Nazis tackled unemployment. • To describe how successful Nazi policies were in tackling unemployment.

3. SUCCESS CRITERIA • All will be able to identify some of the economic problems Germans faced before the Nazis came to power. • Many students will be able to explain how the Nazis tackled Germany’s unemployment. • Some students will be able to describe how successful the Nazi economic policies were.

4. STARTER A Nazi election poster from 1932, it reads ‘Work and Bread’. Who was the poster aimed at? How was it trying to appeal to them? How successful do you think it would have been in 1932? TASK Write your answers (bullet points) on an A4 paper.

5. WHAT ECONOMIC PROBLEMS DID THE NAZIS FACE IN 1933? • Farm incomes had dropped. Farmers had increased production during the war to feed soldiers but were now producing too much. • 6 Million unemployed (1.3 before the Depression). • Industrial production halved. • Banks collapsed wiping out the savings of many German families. • People were thrown out of their homes and many starved in the streets. • Political parties in the Reichstag bickered and refused to cooperate – no party seemed to have a clear idea of how to handle the crisis. • In 1930 Chancellor Bruning CUT government spending on work and welfare – which made even LESS money available to create jobs!

6. THE FALL IN UNEMPLOYMENT • The number of unemployed people in Germany came down very quickly after 1933. • 6 million people were on the unemployment register in 1933; by 1934 there were 3.8 million. The number went on falling until 1939, when it was 0.3 million. • This was great for Nazi propaganda: Hitler becomes chancellor, and immediately afterwards there are lots more jobs.

7. Unemployment under Hitler

8. How did Hitler tackle unemployment?- The National Labour Service (RAD) • Hitler’s first measure to tackle unemployment was the setting up of the National Labour Service (RAD) to provide the jobs he had promised to the German people. • This organization gave men jobs in public works schemes, for example, building schools, hospitals and motorways and digging drainage ditches manually. • Men in the RAD had to wear a uniform and live in work camps. Their wages were really only pocket money, but for many this was an improvement on a life with no work. At least they got free meals.

9. How did Hitler tackle unemployment?-The German Labour Front (DAF) • Within months of taking power, Hitler decided to abolish all trade unions. In their place he set up the German Labour Front (DAF) run by Dr Robert Ley. • Its rules included: • bosses could no longer sack workers on the spot • workers could not leave a job without the government’spermission • only government-run labour exchanges could arrange new jobs • workers could no longer bargain for higher wages • strikes were made illegal • limitations on the hours a person could work were abolished. Many Germans were working 60–72 hours a week by 1939.

10. But the workers were not happy… • To help win over the workers Dr. Ley set up two organizations within the DAF: • ‘Beauty of Labour’ to persuade employers to improve working conditions in factories. • It aimed to provide good ventilation in the workplace. • Hot meals. • Washing facilities and provision of soap (especially for female staff).

11. But the workers were not happy… • ‘Strength through Joy’ to organize the leisure time of workers and to encourage hard work by providing rewards. • Workers could get: • cheap cinema tickets. • Skiing or walking holidays in the Alps. • Holiday cruises at bargain prices. • They were also encouraged to save for a car-the Volkswagen (‘people’s car). However, no car was delivered to any worker. The Nazis used the money for rearmament.

12. HOW SUCCESSFUL WERE THESE POLICIES? • The unemployment figures for Nazi Germany look very impressive, but they don’t tell the whole story. From 1933, women were no longer included in unemployment figures. • Once the Nazis came to power, most Jews were sacked; their jobs were given to other Germans. From 1935, Jews could no longer hold German citizenship and were removed from the unemployment register. • The unemployed were obliged to take any job offered or else be classed as ‘work-shy’ and imprisoned. • Conscription removed over a million young men from the employment market. • Unemployment was falling before Hitler became Chancellor so the Nazis cannot take all the credit. • Wages remained low during the 1930s and many workers complained that they were better off in the 1920s.

13. BUT... • 5.5 Million Germans were unemployed in 1932. By 1939 there was a labour shortage (not enough workers!) • Important roads and rail networks were built. • National Pride was restored.

14. HOME WORK 1. What were the economic challenges Germans faced when the Nazis came to power in 1933? 4 marks. 2.What was the Strength through Joy programme? 4 marks. • 3.‘The Nazis tackled unemployment successfully’. Do you agree with this statement? Explain your answer. 10 marks. • CRITERIA • Questions 1 and 2: 1-2 marks – answer is brief does not address key issues; answer is not specific. • Questions 1 and 2: 3-4 marks- answer addresses key issues; is detailed. • Question 3: 0 mark- answer is irrelevant. Does not address the question.

15. Criteria- cont. • 1-2 marks- issues briefly highlighted. General answer lacking specific detail. • 3-5 marks- explanation of how successful. • 6-8 marks- explanation of how successful and other reasons. • 9-10 marks- explanation of how successful with evaluation. • NOTE: • Due date- 15 September, 2014. • For more help you may visit: www.schoolshistoryproject.org.uk • www.thestudentroom.co.uk • You can contact me at funke_sotunde@yahoo.co.uk