Life in nazi Germany- employment and living standars

• what did hitler aim for by 1939?

  full employment
• what was a main element of Hitlers campaign?

  to make the german economy strong again
• what is autarky?

  The concept for a self sufficient, closed economy Germany . Hitler's ideology that wanted Germany to cease trade with the outside world and rely entirely on its own resources.
• How did Hitler use public works to increase unemployment rates?

  He built hospitals, schools and public buildings such as the 1936 olympic stadium
• How many jobs did the construction of the autobhans make?

  The autobhans (german motorways) construction created work for over 80,000 men
• How did Hitler use rearmament to increase employment?

  It was responsible for a bulk of economic group between 1933 and 1938 and created millions of jobs for German workwrs
• When did Hitler introduce rearmament?

  as soon as Hitler came to power but it was publicly announced in 1935
• What were the labour services?

  The introduction of the national labour service (NLS) meant all young men spent six months in the NLS and were then conscripted into the army
• what was invisible employment?

  The groups of people who were not included in employment statistics
• what groups were part of the invisible employment?

  the 1.4 million men in the army at the time, jews who were sacked and their jobs given to non - jews and women who were encouraged to give up their jobs to men
• who was in charge of making germany self sufficient in four years?

  Herman Göring - economics minster
• when was Herman Göring given his job?

  He was made economics minister in 1937
• What measures were introduced to reach an autarky?

  tighter controls on imports and subsidies for farmers to produce more food
• How much food and raw materials were germany still importing by the start of the war?

  20% of it's food and 33% of raw materials
• How much did big business wages rise between 1933 and 1939

  managers of big industrial firms saw their wages rise by up to 50%
• How were big businesses affected by economic policies?

  The Nazis had promised a curb the power of monopolies

  ,but by 1937 they controlled over 70 per cent of production.
• How did rearmament affect big businesses?

  Rearmament from 1935 onwards boosted profits of big weapons companies
• what are monopolies?

  when one firm holds 25% or more of the market share, effectively controlling a particular industry.
• How were small businesses affected by Nazi economic policies?

  Rules on opening and running small businesses were tightened, which resulted in 20 per cent of them closing.
• Why did farmer benefit under nazi rule?

  They were one of the main sources of nazi electoral support during the rise to power
• How were farmers affected by nazi economic policies?

  By 1937 agricultural prices increased by 20% and agriculture wages rose more quickly than industry wages.
• What was the Hereditary Farm Law of 1933 and how did it benifit farmers?


  It prevented farms from being repossessed from their owners, which gave farming families more security
• Why did Nazis not have support from workers before 1933?

  They tended to vote for the communists or the Social Democratic Party (SPD)
• What was the labour front?

  A Nazi organisation that replaced banned trade unions
• What did the labour front do?

  It set wages and nearly always followed the wishes of employers rather than employees
• What was Strength Through Joy?

  A scheme that encouraged workers with rewards
• What were some Strength Through Joy rewards?

  evening classes, theatre trips, picnics and cheap/free holidays
• What was Beauty of labour

  an organisation that helped germans see the positive in work, encouraged people to work and encouraged factory owners to improve working conditions
• What changed for non-armaments workers between 1933 and 1939?

  wages fell, number of hours rose by 15%, accidents in factories increased, workers could be blacklisted by employers for questioning working conditions
• What is meant when someone is blacklisted?

  When someone is prevented from working in a particular industry
• Who was Hjaimer Schact?

  A banker who was appointed as economics minister as soon as Hitler came to power
• What deals did Schact sign?

  With countries in South America and south east Europe to trade raw materials for goods
• Who was Hermann Goering?

  He replaced Schact as economics minister in 1936
• What was the 4 year plan?

  The plan to prepare for war by increasing military production, making new jobs
• What was needed to make Germany self sufficient?

  Stop trading with other countries and rely entirely on their resources
• when was conscription introduced

  1935 within a year army grew from 100,000 to to 1.4 million
• How did unemployment fall due to nazi policies?

  6 mil in 1933 → 400,000 in 1939
• What was the SDA (Beauty of Labour)?


  A scheme that promised to provide better lighting, safer equipment, new washrooms, lower canteen costs and provide sports facilities