VGPolyglot said:
He actually abolished taxes on cars, and there was not employment for all, there was still a million unemployed Germans by 1937. http://spartacus-educational.com/GERunemployment.htm
Also, the source I gave on privatization says right in it: These firms belonged to a wide range of sectors: steel, mining, banking, local public utilities, shipyards, ship-lines, railways, etc. In addition, the delivery of some public services that were produced by government prior to the 1930s, especially social and labor-related services, was transferred to the private sector, mainly to organizations within the party. |
Many German people had suffered during the First World War and the Depression, so welcomed Hitler's economic policies with open arms. There was full employment, new public works and ordinary workers even had the opportunity to purchase a car to drive on the new autobahns [Autobahns: German motorways ].
Economic policy summary
Hitler's economic policy had four main ideas:
- Full employment - the idea that everyone should have a job. By 1939, there was virtually no unemployment in Germany.
- Beauty of Work - the Nazis set up the SdA (Beauty of Work) to help Germans see that work was good, and that everyone who could work should. In fact - because the Nazis had abolished the trade unions, banned strikes, and given more power to the industrialists - real wages fell and hours were longer under Hitler.
- Re-armament begun in 1935 - the idea of 'guns before butter'.
- Autarky - there was an unsuccessful attempt at making Germany self-sufficient.
The good life in Nazi Germany
Despite the loss of political and religious freedom, life improved in Germany for many ordinary people who were prepared to 'toe the line' and look the other way.
Hitler opening a new Volkswagen factory.
- Everybody had a job, and a wage. To people who had been unemployed and starving, 'work and bread' was a wonderful blessing worth every civil liberty they lost.
- The Nazis set up KdF (Strength through Joy), which gave workers rewards for their work - evening classes, theatre trips, picnics, and even free holidays.
- The Nazis devised a scheme to allow workers to buy a Volkswagen Beetle car for a small weekly payment.
- The autobahns improved transport and travel.
- People appreciated the public works - eg new schools and hospitals.
- The streets were safe and there was no crime.
- Germany was strong and successful in world affairs.
- Nazi rallies provided colour and fun.
- Nazi Youth groups provided activities and holidays for young people.
- Nazi ideology gave people hope and confidence.
How Hitler increased employment
Hitler introduced many policies to fulfil his goal of full employment:
- He stopped paying reparations and invested the money in German companies.
- He began a huge programme of public works including planting forests, and building hospitals and schools. He also built public buildings such as the 1936 Olympic Stadium. The construction of the autobahns created work for 80,000 men.
- Rearmament created jobs in the armaments industry.
- The introduction of national service meant all young men spent six months in the RAD [RAD: The labour service in which young men in Germany had to do a six-month compulsory stint. ] and then they were conscripted into the army. By 1939, 1.4 million men were in the army, so they were not counted as unemployed.
- Many Jews were sacked and their jobs given to non-Jews.
- Many women were sacked and their jobs given to men.
