Changes to Living Standards in Nazi Germany (Edexcel GCSE History)

How Did Living Standards Change in Nazi Germany? - Summary

Unemployment was one of the factors that helped Hitler gain popularity during the impact of the Great Depression. Many people had voted for the Nazi Party because they had promised to make Germany great again. Hitler also wanted everyone to be employed so that they could contribute to the production of armaments and improve German infrastructure.

By 1939, Hitler and the Nazis had successfully reduced unemployment to low levels. This was achieved through a number of policies and schemes created to provide jobs. At first glance, it appeared that many Nazi employment policies were successful. However, they also excluded certain groups from employment figures, meaning that unemployment was in reality far higher.

Hitler also wanted workers to be happier at work. Theatre performances and tickets to sports events were provided for many. Improvements to work facilities were also designed to boost morale and ensure that workers were productive. Wages increased for most throughout the 1930s, but so did working hours.

For many workers, living standards were far better under the Nazi regime. For others, the soaring cost of food prices exceeded the amount of money they were earning.

Tackling Unemployment

• Around six million Germans were unemployed by 1932 because of the Great Depression

• When Hitler became Chancellor in January 1933, five million Germans were still unemployed

• Reducing unemployment was a key focus for the Nazi Party:

  • Unemployed workers could support other groups such as the Communists if not properly helped by the Nazis

  • People not in work were not contributing to society or the economy

• By 1939, unemployment in Germany had been reduced to around half a million people:

Decreasing Unemployment in Nazi Germany

• The Nazis created a number of policies to reduce unemployment

National Labour Service (RAD) 

• Set up in 1933

• Provided paid work for the unemployed:

  • Workers carried out public jobs such as repairing roads and planting trees

• From 1935, it was made compulsory for unemployed young men (18-25 years old) to join for six months

• The pay was poor and many workers complained about the food, having to wear uniforms and working conditions

• There were 422,000 members in 1935

Autobahns 

• The Nazis wanted to create a 7,000 mile autobahn (motorway) system to improve transport around Germany:

  • Hitler personally started the project in September 1933

  • By 1935, 125,000 men had been employed to build the motorways

  • Around 3,500 km had been completed by 1938

• The Nazis financed other public work schemes in Germany:

  • Buildings, roads, bridges and sports facilities such as the Berlin Olympic Stadium were built

  • Spending on public works more than doubled from 18 billion marks in 1933 to 38 billion marks in 1938

Rearmament 

• Increasing the size of the military would make Germany stronger and provide more jobs

• The terms of the Treaty of Versailles limited the army to 100,000 soldiers:

  • Hitler ignored this and announced conscription in 1935

  • By 1939, there were around 1.4 million men in the German armed forces

• The Nazis also needed to produce more weapons and armaments to supply their larger army, which produced more jobs:

  • Spending on armaments increased from 3.5 billion marks in 1933 to 26 billion marks by 1939

  • Employment in aircraft construction increased from 4,000 people in 1933 to 72,000 people by 1935

Invisible Unemployment

• Although Nazi Germany claimed to have a low level of unemployment by 1939, many groups of people were not included and were therefore ‘invisible’

• Many of the policies intended to reduce unemployment were simply too expensive and not sustainable in the long term

• While rearmament did provide jobs in the military and armaments industry, these jobs would not be required if Germany was not preparing for war

Changes to Wages and Working Hours

Changes to Wages 

• Most workers did earn more money under the Nazi regime:

  • Skilled workers such as those in the armaments industry earned higher wages

  • Unskilled workers such as those in the National Labour Service did not earn as much

• However, wage increases were not as impactful due to higher food prices:

  • By 1939, food prices had increased by 20%

• Skilled workers could afford the higher food prices and used their extra wages to purchase luxury goods like cars

• Unskilled workers struggled to pay the increased food prices and were worse off

Working Hours 

• Although workers were earning higher wages overall, they worked more hours than before the Nazis took control

• On average, the working week increased from 43 hours in 1933 to 49 hours in 1939

The Labour Front (DAF)

• Hitler disliked trade unions:

  • He felt they supported leftist political groups like the Communist Party

  • Trade unions organised worker strikes, which disrupted the economy

• Hitler banned all trade unions in May 1933 using the powers of the Enabling Act

• In its place, the Labour Front (DAF) was created to control the rights, hours and pay levels of workers

• However, the DAF made employment difficult for many workers:

• The Nazis realised that the removal of trade unions would anger many workers

• Therefore, separate organisations within the DAF were created to improve the standard of living of German workers such as Strength through Joy and Beauty of Labour

Strength Through Joy

• The Strength Through Joy (KdF) programme was set up in 1933 as a division of the DAF

• The KdF aimed to make work seem more enjoyable and prevent unrest

• By 1936, there were 35 million members of the KdF

• It provided out-of-work leisure activities, trips, holidays and even free cars to workers:

• The KdF ran a scheme so workers could purchase a new car:

  • The Volkswagen - ‘people’s car’ - was an affordable and fuel-efficient car that the average German could afford

  • Workers in the KdF gave five marks per week from their wages so they could eventually receive a Volkswagen

  • However, car factories switched to producing armaments after 1938 and workers never received their Volkswagens

Beauty of Labour

• The Beauty of Labour (SdA) programme was set up in 1934 as a division of the KdF

• The SdA aimed to provide better facilities for workers to improve their working environment

• It provided facilities such as toilets, changing rooms, showers and canteens

• By 1938, around 34,000 companies had improved their facilities

• Many workers were expected to build and decorate the new facilities themselves, for no extra pay and outside of their typical working hours

Did Employment and Living Standards Improve in Nazi Germany?

Wages, hours and the impact of organisations must all be considered when making a judgement on how far employment and living standards improved: