Nazi Economics
Goals and Ideologies
The Situation in 1933 6 million unemployed (34% of workers) Reparations temporarily suspended – nobody will lend Germany money Nazis elected promising “Work and Bread” What should their major goals be?
Unemployment, 1933-39
Economic Ideology Hitler wasn’t an economic ideologue – he wanted to strengthen the economy Major principles: Anti-Communism No particular concern for the rich Government above everything – no individual rights
Hitler’s Economic Policies Public Works Autarky Nationalization Strength through Joy
RAD – National Labor Service Gave men jobs in public work schemes Had to wear a uniform & live in camps Given free meals and pocket money Built drainage ditches, schools, a new network of motorways and planted new forests.
Predict: What were Hitler’s aims for RAD? Kick-start the economy Build impressive buildings to encourage nationalism Improve the transport network for industrial and military use Improve living conditions for Germans
Other Employment Measures Fired Jews from civil service (government) jobs Fired women and gave their jobs to men Expanded the military “Non-productive” people were arrested and put into concentration camps People who refused RAD jobs Mentally ill people Disabled people Unemployed Jews, women, and others were not counted towards unemployment numbers
Autarky Autarky: national self-sufficiency Why would Hitler want Germany to be able to rely on its own food and materials, instead of importing them? Valuable in times of war Germany lost WWI because it ran out of war materials and food Scientists developed replacements for natural resources that Germany didn’t have
Why emphasize building cars? Low-cost cars helped keep Germans happy Created jobs in other industries Steel Glass Rubber Leather Could easily be switched to military production “The People’s Car”
Nationalizing Industry Nationalization = government takeover of private businesses Gave the government control over: Production (allowed focus on the military) Workers (and labor unions) Employment Private businesses could still exist – if they did what the government told them to do Confiscated or banned most Jewish-owned businesses
Labor Rights Unions banned in 1933 – why? Hitler believed they advocated communism Possible source of resistance to Hitler All Germans joined one union – the German Labor Front (DAF) Increased work hours Frozen wages No voice for workers
“Strength through Joy” (KfD) Provided workers with recreation opportunities For the workers: Cheap cruises and vacations Health clubs Sports Theatre and movies For the government: Control over workers’ free time Built support for the government
Women and the Family Weimar Germany was a relatively good place for women Education Voting rights Employment opportunities Nazi Germany emphasized the “three K’s” for women Kinder (children) Kriche (church) Küche (kitchen)
Women and the Family 1933 Unemployment Relief Act – loan for couples who got married if the woman left her job Mother’s Cross (1938) – given to women who had many children Abortion banned for healthy mothers Women were banned from working: 1921 – in the Nazi Party 1933 – in professional jobs 1936 – as judges, prosecutors, or jury members