HITLER’S NAZI GERMANY The Economy in Nazi Germany

1933: Work to Do The Task at Hand Hitler’s Aims – Maintaining popularity – Preparing for War

The RAD (Reichsarbeitsdienst) - National Labor Front Organizing Men for Work Public Works Militarizing Labor

Hitler in Need of Economic Support Industrialist Support Hjalmar Schacht - Reich Minister of Finance ( ) Ignoring Socialist Promises Getting into Bed with Big Business

No Coherent Economic Plan Lack of a Plan Adoption of Approaches – Autarky – Deficit Financing – Wehrwirtschaft Nothing Extraordinary

The Attack on Unemployment

How Was Unemployment Tackled? – Public Works – Expansion of Industries – Massive Re-armament – Conscription

Results on Labor, Output, GNP, and Wages Shortage of Labor Rise in Industrial Output Rise in GNP Wages?

The German Labor Front Elimination of Trade Unions The German Labor Front - Dr. Robert Ley

The German Labor Front Workers! Your institutions are sacred to us National Socialists. I myself am a poor peasant’s son and understand poverty…Workers! I swear to you we will not only keep everything which exists, we will build up the rights and protection of the workers even further. - Dr. Robert Ley

The German Labor Front Labor Improvements Loss of Negotiating Power Few Complaints

3,740 HOURS: LEISURE IN NAZI GERMANY German Labor Front Control Over Leisure Kraft Durch Freude (KDF) - Strength Through Joy

Strength Through Joy Massive Leisure Programs Established Travel Tours, but for whom? Control over Entertainment

Strength Through Joy

The Volkswagon KDF Selling Cars – the Volkswagon VW Beetle Purchasing Scheme No Workers Ever Got a Beetle

The VW Beetle

The Four Year Plan (1936) Problems with Re- armament Problems with Finance “Guns or Butter?”

The Four Year Plan (1936) 4 Years for Autarky – Impatient with Trade Deals and Schacht Enter Goering- Commissioner Plenipotentiary for the Four Year Plan Turning Inward Gearing up for War

The 4 Year Plan - Rearmament 1933 vs 1939 Massive Arms Spending form Ready for War?

The Nazi Economy – Historical Debate Did Hitler Plan Full Mobilization of the Economy? Richard Overy: “Hitler miscalucated.” Tim Mason: “Worker discontent and failure of wages influenced war.”