workers

Question 1

Unemployment in Germany

Answer 1

Unemployment fell quickly after 1933 by comparison with the high levels seen in the last years of the Weimar Republic.

• —> Unemployment levels declined everywhere as the world came out of depression. German workers were not necessarily better off than they would have been under a non-Nazi government.
• —> While the economic statistics suggest a decrease in unemployment, the omission of data of unemployed women and Jews, together with conscription (compulsory enlistment for state service) being regarded as employment belie the true extent of Germany’s economic recovery.

Question 2

Economic recovery and wages

Answer 2

As economic recovery took place, wages began to increase
—-> Shows that the Nazi regime translated recovery into greater prosperity for the people.

But wages were still lower in 1938 than they had been in 1928.

• -> Germany’s national income was actually higher in 1938.
• -> This means that wages rose more slowly than production in Nazi Germany.
• -> There is a steady decline in wages as a percentage of national income which shows that the workforce was putting more into the economy than they were getting out of it.
• -> People worked longer hours for their wages
• ->The length of the working day had increased by an average of 10% by 1939 in comparison with 1928. Most people worked 49 hours per week which rose to 52 by 1943 and then shot up to over 60. (the last 2 figures reflect the special conditions of wartime)
• -> This shows that workers are not necessarily benefitting from the increasing economy.

Question 3

movements by the Nazi government (benefits)

Answer 3

Beauty of Labour

• -> Aimed to improve conditions at work such as cleanliness, lighting and noise levels.
• -> Provided hot meals in the workplace.
• -> Justification for keeping wages down was that the extra benefits at work would be a good substitute.

Strength through Joy movement

• -> Designed to keep the workforce happy by filling people’s leisure time with a wide variety of activities that took place outside working time
• -> Most productive and loyal workers could qualify for a cruise on a KDF liner.

Question 4

movements by the Nazi government (disadvantages)

Answer 4

Disadvantages:

• The 2 organisations replaced the former trade unions, which had been responsible for negotiating conditions of work and wages with the industrialists.
• Under the new system, there was no one to put the point of view of the workforce.
• This had frozen the workers’ wages, increased their working hours and made it impossible to complain about the conditions. In return, the workers were obliged to take on extra activities in their own time.