Employment and living standards

• What is the standard of living usually defined as?

  The economic level of individuals or nations
• How can the standard of living be measured?

  By the value of goods and services produced
• Why is measuring the standard of living difficult?

  It can vary greatly among different groups
• How did the increase in employment during the 1930s affect some people's standard of living?

  It suggested an increase for those employed
• Which groups were excluded from work after 1933?

  Jewish people and women
• What was the impact of the RAD jobs on living standards?

  Some people hated these jobs
• How did wages change during the Nazi period?

  They rose slowly at first, then increased
• What was the wage situation for those in rearmament projects?

  They were well paid and saw wage increases
• What was the effect of rising costs of goods in the 1930s?

  It caused lower living standards for many
• How did the working hours change during the 1930s?

  They increased from 44 to 49 hours
• Why did the Nazis introduce policies to keep workers happy?

  Workers made up the majority of the country
• What was the purpose of the DAF (German Labour Front)?

  • Compensated for lack of trade unions
  • Set rights for workers and working hours
  • Did not allow negotiation or strikes
  • Functioned as a policing body
• What was the KDF (Strength Through Joy) program designed to do?

  • Make work more enjoyable
  • Organized leisure activities for workers
  • Included museum tours and theater trips
  • Offered limited holiday options
• What car was designed for the German people in 1937?

  The Volkswagen or people's car
• What happened to the Volkswagen project in 1938?

  The factory switched to making munitions
• What was the role of the SDA (Beauty of Labor) organization?

  • Campaigned for better working facilities
  • Offered tax breaks to employers
  • Employers often did not pass on benefits
  • Workers were pressured to build facilities
• How did the increased cost of living affect lower-income workers?

  It made life harder for them
• What was the overall judgment about the standard of living in Nazi Germany?

  Varied greatly among different groups
• What activities were most common in the KDF program?

  Museum tours and theater trips
• How did the KDF activities affect workers' leisure time?

  They often had to attend compulsory events