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Did the German People benefit from Nazi Rule?

Did most people in Germany benefit from Nazi rule?

It could be argued that many people in Germany benefitted from Nazi rule because their standard of living improved. This is a way of measuring whether a person's life is getting better or worse. It was affected by employment, wages, prices, hours worked, people's enjoyment and working conditions. For some people it improved and for others it did not.

How did employment affect the standard of living in Nazi Germany?

More people were in work in Nazi Germany so they had wages. New jobs were created building autobahns, hospitals and schools, and within the military, particularly with the introduction of conscription. However, those not in work, like the Jews, did not benefit.

How did wages change the standard of living in Nazi Germany?

Overall, wages increased compared to 1933; there was a 20% increase by 1939 so that the average weekly wages rose 86 marks in 1932 to 109 marks in 1939. However, it depended on your job. Those in the Reich Labour were not paid much.

How did prices of goods change the standard of living in Nazi Germany?

The price of goods affected the standard of living in Nazi Germany. Wages may have increased by around 20% between 1933 and 1939, but so too did the price of food. Therefore, workers did not actually have a pay rise, and people did not benefit.

How did working hours change the standard of living in Nazi Germany?

The number of hours Germans worked each week increased. German workers often worked 49 hours by 1939; six more hours than in 1933. This meant they had to work longer to get pay rises, so people did not benefit.

How did the Labour Front change the standard of living in Nazi Germany?

The Labour Front (DAF) worked to protect the rights of workers as it placed a maximum on the number of hours worked and a minimum on wages. However, workers also lost their right to go on strike and ability to negotiate their wages.

How did Strength Through Joy change the standard of living in Nazi Germany?

Strength Through Joy (KDF) provided cheap leisure activities including films, theatre shows, outings and sports events. Many people benefited from this. However, KDF also meant that people's leisure time was being controlled by the Nazi party. Some resented this level of interference in their lives.

How did Beauty of Labour change the standard of living in Nazi Germany?

The Beauty of Labour (SDA) campaigned for better working conditions and facilities such as better canteens and toilets, so people did benefit from this. However, workers often had to carry out the improvements themselves in their own time and without being paid for the work they did.

How did people benefit from Nazi rule?

There is evidence to suggest that some people did benefit from Nazi rule, but many did not..

In what ways did the standard of living improve in Nazi Germany?

There were 9 main ways in which people benefitted from Nazi rule:

• ❖ Small businesses benefited when the Nazis banned new department stores from opening up which limited their competition. They were also helped when Jewish businesses were closed down.
• ❖ Farmers benefitted as some farm debts were written off.
• ❖ Big business benefited from the government's investment in the armaments industry. They were helped by the restrictions placed on trade union activity.
• ❖ Unemployment was reduced. Unskilled workers gained work through the public works programmes and within the military.
• ❖ Working conditions improved through the activities of the Beauty of Labour scheme.
• ❖ Strength through Joy offered cheap leisure activities and cheap holidays.
• ❖ Young people benefited from the camaraderie and training provided in the Hitler Youth, as well as an increase in their health and fitness.
• ❖ Women's role within the home was respected and Aryan women were given rewards if they had lots of children.
• ❖ People accepted giving up some freedoms in return for greater economic stability.

In what ways did the standard of living not improve in Nazi Germany?

There were 11 main ways in which people did not benefit from Nazi rule:

• ❖ Between 1936 and 1939 the number of small businesses decreased.
• ❖ Farmers objected to government interference and struggled to find enough workers.
• ❖ Bigger business objected to Nazi interference in all aspects of business life such as price controls.
• ❖ Unemployment benefit was higher than the wages for unskilled workers so there was little incentive to work and their working week increased from 43 to 49 hours by 1939.
• ❖ If you belonged to any of the groups the Nazis persecuted or forced out of a job, your life was significantly worse under Nazi rule. Many were forced into concentration camps.
• ❖ Unemployed man aged between 18 and 25 resented being forced to join the Reich Labour Services as the jobs were difficult and it was run along military lines with a uniform and strict discipline.
• ❖ Strength through Joy did offer cheap leisure activities and holidays, but the Nazis controlled these activities. Therefore, people did not have the freedom to choose where to go on holiday and leisure activities were limited to what was acceptable.
• ❖ Many women were forced to give up their jobs and resented this.
• ❖ Because trade unions were banned people lost their democratic voice and their ability to influence change in their working conditions. Workers had no rights.
• ❖ Food prices went up and there were fewer consumer goods to buy.
• ❖ Many people objected to Nazi indoctrination, and the level of control the Nazis had in their lives.

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