Syllabus Edition
First teaching 2016
Last exams 2025
Changes to Living Standards in Nazi Germany (Edexcel GCSE History)
Revision Note
Written by: Joel Davis
Reviewed by: Bridgette Barrett
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
Year | Unemployment |
|---|---|
1933 | 4,800,000 |
1934 | 2,700,000 |
1935 | 2,100,000 |
1936 | 1,500,000 |
1937 | 900,000 |
1938 | 500,000 |
1939 | 300,000 |
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
Examiner Tips and Tricks
Rather than simply concluding whether ‘workers’ received higher wages under the Nazi regime, consider that many workers received higher rates of pay and could therefore pay increased prices, while other workers were worse off because their wages could not keep up with food prices. This level of analysis is useful if you are having to answer “How far do you agree” (question 3d), where you should provide a balanced argument.
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:
Worked Example
Study Interpretations 1 and 2. They give different views about the standard of living of German workers in Nazi Germany.
What is the main difference between these views
Explain your answer, using details from both interpretations
4 marks
Interpretation 1: From Life in Germany, by Steve Waugh, published in 2009.
From 1936 to 1939 wages increased, but this was due to a longer working day rather than an increase in hourly wage rates. In addition, the cost of living rose in the 1930s, which meant that real wages (how much the workers could buy) actually fell. There were also food shortages because the government reduced agricultural production to keep up prices (to help farmers).
Interpretation 2: From Nationalist, Dictatorship and Democracy in 20th Century Europe, by Hall, Shuter, Brown and Williams, published in 2015.
For Germans who conformed to Nazi expectations, living standards went up. Unemployment dropped. Nazi statistics show that real wages rose… though only if a worker worked overtime. The ‘Strength Through Joy’ programme provided many extras. Some (benefits), such as loans [and] medical care… were real enough.
Answers:
A main difference is that Interpretation 1 suggests that the standard of living got worse for workers because real wages fell and they worked longer hours (1). This is shown by the quote, “the cost of living rose in the 1930s, which meant that real wages actually fell” (1).
On the other hand, Interpretation 2 suggests that the standard of living improved for workers because more people were at work and there were extra benefits (1). This is shown by the quote, “living standards went up… The ‘Strength Through Joy’ programme provided many extras” (1).
This answer would receive full marks because it clearly states the main difference by comparing the two interpretations. It also used evidence from each interpretation.
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