Policies to reduce unemployment

• What was the unemployment rate in Germany when the Nazis came to power in 1933?

  Approximately 5 million unemployed
• Why was unemployment a significant issue for the Nazis?

  It threatened their support from voters
• What was the Righteous Arbite (RAD)?

  National Labor Service for the unemployed
• When did membership in the RAD become compulsory?

  In 1935 for young men aged 18 to 25
• What types of projects did RAD members work on?

  Public projects like road building and agriculture
• Why was the RAD unpopular among young men?

  Low pay, poor conditions, and military-like structure
• What was the goal of building the autobahns?

  To improve transport of goods and people
• How many kilometers of autobahn did the Nazis plan to construct?

  7,000 kilometers
• Who dug the first spadeful of the autobahn?

  Hitler himself
• How many men were employed on the autobahn by 1935?

  125,000 men
• How did the Nazis increase spending on public projects from 1933 to 1939?

  From 18 billion marks to 38 billion marks
• What was the effect of public works on unemployment?

  Created many jobs and improved trade
• What military policy did Hitler introduce in 1935?

  Military conscription
• How many men were in the German army by 1939?

  1,360,000 men
• How did military spending change by 1939?

  Increased to 26 billion marks
• What types of jobs did the Nazis create in addition to the army?

  Jobs in the navy, Luftwaffe, and security services
• What were the 'invisible unemployed' under the Nazis?

  Women and Jews not counted in statistics
• How did the Nazis manipulate unemployment figures?

  By excluding certain groups from statistics
• What was the claimed unemployment figure by the Nazis in 1938?

  Only half a million unemployed
• How did the global economic situation affect Germany's unemployment figures?

  Other countries had high unemployment rates
• What types of jobs were considered not real jobs by many?

  Jobs in RAD and Nazi security services
• What was the overall trend of unemployment in Germany during the 1930s?

  Fell by over 4 million
• What were the main policies the Nazis implemented to reduce unemployment?

  • Righteous Arbite (RAD)
  • Construction of autobahns
  • Military conscription
  • Increased public works spending
• What were the strengths and weaknesses of the Nazi approach to unemployment?

  Strengths:

  • Created jobs through public works
  • Increased military employment

  
  

  Weaknesses:

  • Manipulated unemployment statistics
  • Many jobs were not real jobs