Nazi Policies - Employment

What did the Nazis do to reduce unemployment?

When Hitler became chancellor there were 6 million Germans unemployed. The Nazis introduced policies aimed at reducing unemployment, including the Reich Labour Service, rearmament and building projects such as the autobahns.

Why did the Nazis aim to reduce unemployment?

The Nazis introduced policies to reduce unemployment because having people out of work was potentially dangerous to Hitler politically and the unemployed were seen as not contributing to society.

What was the RAD set up by the Nazis and how did it help unemployment?

The Reich Labour Service (RAD):

• ❖ It was set up in 1933.
• ❖ It gave all unemployed men public work to do, such as maintaining roads and planting trees.
• ❖ It paid the men a small amount of money.
• ❖ It was compulsory which meant all young men aged 18 to 25 had to serve for at least six months.
• ❖ It was not popular with the young men because of the low wages and the work was considered to be boring.

How did the Nazi public works programme help reduce unemployment?

The Nazis created jobs by setting up a public works programme which included:

• ❖ Planting trees.
• ❖ Building autobahns (motorways).
• ❖ Building new schools and hospitals.
• ❖ Building and improving sport facilities e.g Berlin Olympic Stadium.
• ❖ Draining marshes to create farmland.

How did the Nazi autobahns project help reduce unemployment?

Hitler set up the autobahn (or motorway) project in 1933, hoping to build 7,000 miles of roads. By 1935 there were 125,000 men working on the project. It helped by giving unemployed men a job to do and improving transportation links.

How did Nazi rearmament help reduce unemployment?

Rearmament helped in 3 main ways:

• ❖ In 1933, Hitler broke the terms of the Treaty of Versailles by secretly introducing conscription. It was publically announced in 1935.
• ❖ There were 1.3 million men serving in Germany's armed forces by 1939.
• ❖ This resulted in the growth in supporting industries such as those that made uniforms, weapons and arms.

What was 'invisible unemployment' under the Nazis?

There were 5 main groups who were classed as 'invisible unemployed':

• ❖ Young men were not counted when they did their six-month service in the RAD.
• ❖ Women who were forced to give up their jobs were not counted.
• ❖ Jews who were forced to give up their jobs were not counted.
• ❖ People imprisoned in concentration camps were not counted.
• ❖ Men conscripted into the army were not counted.

What were the disadvantages of the Nazi policies to reduce unemployment?

There were 3 key problems with Nazi policies aimed at reducing unemployment:

• ❖ Invisible unemployment existed. Women, Jews and people in concentration camps were not counted in official unemployment figures.
• ❖ The policies cost money and the Nazi government was in debt. In 1933, for example, the government spent 18 billion marks on public works; this increased to 38 billion marks in 1938.
• ❖ The Nazis exaggerated their success.

What were the positive results of the Nazi policies to reduce unemployment?

There were 5 key positive results:

• ❖ According to official government figures, the Nazis' policies did reduce unemployment by more than four million.
• ❖ Most men who weren't Jewish or in a concentration camp were in work.
• ❖ Some businesses benefitted from increased investment and opportunities.
• ❖ Large businesses benefitted from wage restrictions and there being no trade unions.
• ❖ Public works programmes provided better transport, services and homes.