Work in nazi germany Flashcards
(9 cards)
What was the national labour service (RAD)?
All men aged aged between 18 to 25 had to spend six months in the RAD
They planted forests, mended hedges and dug drainage ditches on farms
They wore uniforms and lived in camps, but were given free meals and a small wage.
What were the public work schemes?
A new network of autobahns (motorways) to link Germany’s major towns and cities was built.
This gave work to nearly 100,000 people.
New schools and hospitals were built, creating even more jobs.
What was invisible unemployment?
The maxis used a variety of methods to reduce unemployment figures:
- women who gave up work to have a family did not count in the official figures.
- part-time workers were counted as full-time.
- the nazis created jobs by sacking Jews, and giving their jobs to non-Jews. These out-of-work Jews were not counted in jobless figures.
What was rearmament?
The nazis ordered the rearmament of Germany to rebuild its armed forces.
New tanks, battleships, fighter planes and guns were built, creating thousands of jobs.
Huge government arms contracts made factory owners and industrial bosses a fortune.
Conscription was introduced in 1935. All males aged betweeen 18 and 25 had to join the armed forces for at least two years. Within five years, the army gre from 100,000 to 1,400,000 creating even more jobs.
What was DAF (German labour front)?
Replaced trade unions
Strikes now illegal, workers needed permission to leave jobs.
Promised to protect workers’ rights and improve conditions.
Ram two schemes to improve Germans’ lives: SDA and KDF
What was the SDA, beauty of labour?
Tried to improve the workplace by installing better lighting, safety equipment, new washrooms, low-cost canteens and sports facilities.
What was the KDF, strength through joy?
Organised leisure activities to encourage hard work. Had a reward scheme with cheap holidays, theatre trips and football match tickets if workers met targets.
What was the ‘people’s car’ scheme, the volswagen?
The DAF also had a scheme to help workers save for a car. However, despite inspiring many people to work hard and save their money, the scheme was a swindle. No ordinary Germans ever received a car and instead the money was used to build more weapons.
