economic changes

• reducing unemployment

  • the national labour service (RAD)
  • public work schemes
  • rearmament
• autarky - self sufficieny
• raw materials - signed deals with countries in south america which supplied them in raw materials in exchange for german made goods.

  germany was still importing 33% of its raw materials
• food

  farmers needed to produce more crops to become self sufficient

  20% of food was still being imported by 1939
• being ready for war


  • rearmament sped up in 1936 when goering introduced his 4 year plan
  • targets were missed in industries like oil production
  • they werent fully ready for war by 1939
• a scheme called strength through joy encouraged hard work and rewarded workers with cheap holidays and tickets for leisure activities if they met their targets
• wages were poor in industries not connected to rearmament
• ww2 - rationing

  • food and clothing was rationed
  • german diet became bland consisting of bread and potatoes
  • shortages of soap and toilet paper
• ww2 - bombing

  bombing by the british damaged electricity, water and gas supplies and destroyed millions of homes
• ww2 - labour shortages

  • women had to work
  • foreigners from countries that germany conquered were forced to work in factories