Download The Treaty of Versailles

1.The Treaty of Versailles
WHERE AND WHEN?
WHO?
WHAT?
End of WW1
WINNERS – Allied Powers
DEFEATED – Axis Powers
WHERE AND WHEN?
Versailles Palace, Paris, January-June 1919
WHO?
PRESIDENT WILSON
DAVID LLOYD GEORGE
GEORGE CLEMENCEAU
VITTORIO ORLANDO
WHAT?
Alsace-Lorraine returned to France
Austrian land given to Italy
East Prussia cut off from rest of Germany
SAAR region administrated by League of Nations
RHINELAND to be a de-militarised zone
Germany lost colonies
Germany only allowed SMALL ARMY
Conscription NOT allowed
German NAVY also reduced
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NO German U-Boats
Germany to accept TOTAL responsibility for causing WW1
Germany to pay WAR REPARATIONS
German union with Austria forbidden
A LEAGUE of NATIONS to be created.
2.Mussolini and Italy
BORN 1883
TEACHER AND THEN A JOURNALIST
1915 - SIDE OF ALLIES
MUSSOLINI A SOLDIER IN W.W.I - injured - strong feelings on impact of W.W.I
CREATED HIS OWN POLITICAL PARTY IN MILAN
FASCIST PARTY BEGAN1919
· Anti-Communist
· Need for powerful leader - law and order - stability
· State to come before the individual
· Extreme nationalism - make Italy powerful
· Goal of self-sufficiency
FIUME INCIDENT 1919 - D’Annunzio IMPRESSED MUSSOLINI
GENERAL ELECTION 1919 - NO Seats for Fascist Party
GENERAL ELECTION 1921 - 35 Seats for Fascist Party
SUMMER 1922 - MUSSOLINI THREATENED A "MARCH ON ROME"
OCTOBER 1922 - MUSSOLINI MADE PRIME MINISTER OF Italy
MUSSOLINI AS Prime Minister.
BECAME PM IN NORMAL, DEMOCRATIC COALITION GOVERNMENT
WANTED TOTAL CONTROL
BUT
HAD TO MOVE CAREFULLY
GOT ACERBO LAW PASSED IN 1923
FASCIST WON MAJORITY IN 1924 ELECTION
SOCIALIST LEADER – MATTEOTTI – CRITICISED FASCISTS – MURDERED
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NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL OUTCRY
OTHER PARTIES WALKED OUT OF PARLIAMENT
KING REFUSED TO DISMISS MUSSOLINI
ONE-PARTY RULE BEGAN.
HOW DID HE ESTABLISH TOTAL CONTROL?
GRAND COUNCIL OF FASCISM FORMED BLACKSHIRTS BECAME
NATIONAL MILITIA
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NEW SECRET POLICE FORMED
SPECIAL COURTS
CONCENTRATION CAMPS OPENED
RULED BY DECREE
VERY STRICT CENSORSHIP
ABORTION A CRIME
RE ALLOWED IN SCHOOLS
LATERAN TREATY SIGNED 1929
VATICAN STATE TO POPE
CATHOLICISM THE STATE RELIGION
HUGE POPULARITY FOR P.M.
BUT RELATIONS DETERIORATED IN 1930’S
CONTROL OF EDUCATION AND MEDIA
THE USE OF PROPAGANDA
PROPAGANDA WIDELY USED
P.M. CALLED IL DUCE
CULT OF LEADERSHIP CREATED
WANTED TO BE THE “NEW CAESAR”
HUGE RALLIES HELD
SCHOOL BOOKS RE-WRITTEN
EDUCATION FOR INDOCTRINATION
BOYS JOINED THE BALILLA
STRICT PRESS CENSORSHIP
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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTS
WANTED AUTARKY
WANTED A LARGER POPULATION
WANTED AN EMPIRE
BATTLE FOR GRAIN BEGAN 1925
BATTLE FOR LAND
BATTLE FOR THE LIRA
BATTLE FOR BIRTHS
MAJOR PUBLIC WORKS SCHEMES
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NEW MOTORWAY + RAILWAYS
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THE CORPORATE STATE IDEA
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GOAL WAS TO ELIMINATE STRUGGLE BETWEEN EMPOYER AND
WORKER
ALL TO WORK FOR COMMON GOAL
NO TRADE UNIONS
EVERY PROFESSION AND INDUSTRY HAD OWN CORPORATION
STRIKES FORBIDDEN
PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED IN NEGOTIATION
REALITY WAS FASCISTS WERE IN CONTROL
WAGES FELL
LIVING STANDARDS REMAINED LOW
ECONOMIC POLICIES ONLY A SMALL SUCCESS
Life in was little different from other dictatorships which existed between 1918 and 1939 and
were to use (and expand) on developments that had been in existence in Fascist since the
1920's. People had little control over their personal life and the state controlled as much of
you as they could. Those who opposed the state were suitably punished.
Dealing with opposition
All Italians were expected to obey and his Fascist Party. Authority was enforced by the use of
the Blackshirts – the nickname for the Fasci di Combattimenti. Those men in this unit were
usually ex-soldiers and it was their job to bring into line those who opposed Mussolini. It was
the Blackshirts who murdered the socialist Matteotti – an outspoken critic of Mussolini. The
motto of the Blackshirts was "Me ne frego" (I do not give a damn")
Though they were probably less feared than the SS, the Blackshirts did maintain an iron rule
in Italy. One favoured way of making people conform was to tie a ‘troublemaker’ to a tree,
force a pint or two of castor oil down the victim’s throat and force him to eat a live toad/frog
etc. This punishment was enough to ensure people kept their thoughts to themselves. The
murderous tactics used by the Gestapo and SS in Germany were rarely used in Italy.
When Mussolini said:
"Italy wants peace and quiet, work and calm. I will give these things with love if
possible and with force if necessary."
the message was clear – those who wanted to rock the boat would be suitably dealt with.
Italy did have a secret police under. It was called the OVRA. It was formed in 1927 and was
lead by Arturo Bocchini. The death penalty was restored under Mussolini for serious offences.
Yet up to 1940 only ten people had been sentenced to death. Only 4000 people were
arrested by the OVRA and sent to prison. This figure was massively overshadowed by the
actions of the Gestapo and SS in Germany.
Prisons were set up on remote Mediterranean islands such as Ponza and Lipari. Condition for
those sentenced to the prisons here were crude and many anti-Fascists simply left Italy for
their own safety.
Education in Fascist Italy
Adults who opposed were dealt with harshly. However, the children were the Fascists of the
future and Mussolini took a keen interest in the state’s education system and the youth
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organisations that existed in Italy used the same approach in Nazi Germany.
Mussolini wanted a nation of warriors. Boys were expected to grow into fierce soldiers who
would fight with glory for Italy while girls were expected to be good mothers who would
provide Italy with a population that a great power was expected to have. Children were taught
that Mussolini was the only man who could lead Italy back to greatness. Children were taught
to call him "Il Duce" and boys were encouraged to attend after school youth movements.
Three existed.
Organisation
Age
Uniform
Group
Sons of the She Wolf
4 to 8
Black shirt
Balilla
8 to 14
Black shirt, black cap, shorts, grey socks
Avanguardista
14 to 18
Same as Balilla except knickerbockers
instead of shorts.
Boys were taught that fighting for them was a natural extension of the normal male lifestyle.
One of the more famous Fascist slogans was "War is to the male what childbearing is to the
female." Girls were taught that giving birth was natural – while for boys, fighting was the same
– natural.
Children were taught to obey those in charge. This was not an unusual move in a dictatorship.
Once the OVRA had dealt with those adults who challenged the authority of the state, all
future adults of Fascist Italy would be model civilians and not a challenge to those in charge.
Boys took part in semi-military exercises while members of the Balilla. They marched and
used imitation guns. Mussolini had once said "I am preparing the young to a fight for life, but
also for the nation."
Members of the Balilla had to remember the following:
"I believe in Rome, the Eternal, the mother of my country……I believe in the
genius of Mussolini…and in the resurrection of the Empire."
The glory of the old Roman Empire always lurked in the background of much of what children
did. A child in a youth movements was a "legionary" while an adult officer was a "centurion" –
a throw back to the days of when the Ancient Roman army dominated much of western
Europe.
Women in Fascist Italy
As women were seen as having a specific role in Fascist Italy. The task of young girls was to
get married and have children – lots of them. In 1927, Mussolini launched his Battle for Births.
Mussolini believed that his Italy had a smaller population than it should have. How could it
possibly be a power to reckon with, without a substantial population and a substantial army?
Women were encouraged to have children and the more children brought better tax privileges
– an idea ot better tax benefits but bachelors were hit by high taxation.
Families were given a target of 5 children. Mothers who produced more were warmly received
by the Fascist government. In 1933, Mussolini met 93 mothers at the Palazzo Venezia who
had produced over 1300 children - an average of 13 each!
Mussolini wanted Italy to have a population of 60 million by 1950. In 1920, it stood at 37
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million so his target was a tall order. However, the Battle for Births was a failure. Though the
population grew as people were living longer due to better medical care, the birth rate actually
went down between 1927 and 1934.
The Foreign Policies of Mussolini
HIS MAIN GOAL WAS TO "MAKE ITALY GREAT, FEARED AND RESPECTED”
HOW?
HE WANTED TO RESTORE NATIONAL PRIDE
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CORFU
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FIUME
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ALBANIA
WANTED TO GAIN INTERNATIONAL RESPECT
SIGN PEACE TREATIES
SIGN LATERAN TREATY
ACT AS PEACEMAKER
WANTED TO DEVELOP A COLONIAL EMPIRE
ALBANIA
NORTH AFRICA
GREECE
HOWEVER
ITALY DRAWN CLOSER AND CLOSER TO GERMANY IN THE MID 1930'S
ROME-BERLIN AXIS 1936
BOTH HELPED FRANCO IN SPANISH CIVIL WAR
SIGN PACT OF STEEL 1939
INVOLVEMENT IN WWII
DID NOT JOIN AT FIRST
DECLARED WAR 1940
FOUGHT IN NORTH AFRICA
FOUGHT IN GREECE
TOTAL DISASTER
ALLIES INVADED ITALY 1943
MUSSOLINI REMOVED
PLACED UNDER ARREST
RELEASED BY GERMANS
HEAD OF PUPPET GOVT. NORTHERN ITALY
ALLIES ADVANCED
MUSSOLINI TRIED TO FLEE
CAPTURED AND EXECUTED 1945
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Relations between Hitler and Mussolini
In July 1936, a civil war broke out in Spain between the Republicans and the
Nationalists lead by the army General Franco. The Republicans got support
from various groups throughout Europe of sent aid and troops though they
were referred as "volunteers" so not to offend the. This in itself tended to
condemn the Republicans in the eyes of many in Europe as Stalin and the
communist regime in Russia still terrified many. Mussolini and Hitler sent
support and "volunteers" to Franco.
Franco did not believe in parliamentary government. He did not lead a
dictatorship in 1936 – in the sense that he did not yet have power in Spain but
this was to come. Mussolini saw Italian involvement in Spain as yet another
opportunity to expand his power and influence.
Not all Italians were pro-Franco. Some Italians who had moved abroad during
Mussolini’s time in power, formed the Garibaldi Brigade. They fought on the
Republicans side. At the Battle of Guadalajara, Italians fought Italians –
something people in Italy had dreaded. In this battle the Republicans won.
Mussolini was furious that his ‘volunteers’ had been beaten but blamed the
Garibaldi Brigade. Three months after the defeat at Guadalajara, the leader of
the Garibaldi Brigade, Carlos Roselli, was found murdered. Mussolini’s secret
agents had done this.
The Spanish Civil War was deeply unpopular in Italy, as many people there
could not see what it had to do with them. Also, the Italian involvement was
hardly a success.
Mussolini referred to Italy and Germany being the most influential countries in
Europe and that all the rest of Europe would revolve around this "axis".
Hitler and Mussolini
In September 1937, Mussolini visited Germany. Hitler put on a major display
of military power for Mussolini and by the end of the visit, Mussolini became
convinced that Germany was the power he should ally with. He was sure that
an alliance with Germany would lead to Italy becoming more powerful
throughout Europe.
As Germany had left the League of Nations in 1933, so Mussolini left the
League in 1937 after the League had imposed economic sanctions on Italy for
the invasion of In 1938, Germany occupied Austria in the Anschluss
(forbidden by Mussolini about what he was going to do and this upset
Mussolini’s belief that he was an equal partner. However, there was nothing
Mussolini could do about the Nazi occupation of Austria and it was clear from
1938 on that Mussolini was definitely the minor partner in the relationship.
However, Mussolini achieved real fame for the part he played in the Munich
agreement of September 1938. War seemed a real possibility in the autumn
of 1938. The major powers took the opportunity to meet in Munich – an idea
suggested by Mussolini. The outcome was the "Piece of Paper" which at the
time seemed to everyone to guarantee European peace. Mussolini got the
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credit for this. After Munich, Mussolini’s reputation was at its peak. To many
he seemed to be Europe’s saviour – a reputation that he assumed made him
Europe’s premier statesman.
Hitler’s invasion of Czechoslovakia in March 1939 angered Mussolini because
it was clear that Germany was carving out its own empire and Italy was not.
To compensate for this, Mussolini took over Albania on Good Friday 1939. To
him, this was a sign of Italy’s expanding power in Europe. King Victor
Emmanuel was offered the title of King of Albania. Italian propaganda made a
great deal out of this but in reality Albania had been under the influence of
Italy for years and this was barely an Italian military success.
Mussolini made it clear to Hitler that he expected Italy to have the Adriatic Sea
as a sphere of influence.
In May 1939, the Germans and Italians cemented their friendship with the
Pact of Steel. This pact committed both countries to support the other if one
of them became involved in a war. The Italian Foreign Minister, Galleazo
Ciano, Mussolini’s son-in-law, realised that this pact was potentially very
damaging for Italy but was more concerned with the prestige of allying with
Europe’s most potent power rather than the politics of it.
Mussolini also considered that Hitler’s Non-Aggression Pact with meant that
somehow that involved Italy and he saw it as a three-nation treaty though Italy
never signed it (nor was Italy even told that it was going to take place).
On, Nazi Germany invaded Poland. Hitler had informed Mussolini what his
plans were and fully expected Italian help. Mussolini, for all his boasts,
realised that the Italian Army was not up to fighting in September 1939.
Therefore, the Italians did not join in the German attack despite the Pact of
Steel.
Italy did join the war on June 10th 1940. Why? He feared that Germany might
get all the spoils of war as she was completely successful up to this date. To
Mussolini, it was only a matter of time before Britain surrendered and he saw
Europe as rich for easy pickings. His nearest rival geographically, France,
was on the verge of surrendering. On June 17th, the date France sought
surrender terms from Germany, Mussolini ordered an Italian invasion of
southern France. The invasion grabbed a small piece of land but the French
put up fierce resistance and a full-scale invasion of southern France never
occurred.
In September 1940, Italy attacked the British troops based in Egypt. This was
the start of a war that was to be disastrous for Italy.
The Weimar Republic
ORIGINS of WEIMAR
GERMANY defeated in WWI
Kaiser William II abdicated
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New Constitution created
A democratic Federal Republic
PROBLEMS of the new Republic
Associated with hated Treaty of Versailles – NOT negotiated
Claim of some army leaders that they had been “stabbed in the back”
Failed to get rid of “enemies within” who undermined the Republic
THREATS from both LEFT and RIGHT
Spartacist Uprising
Kapp Putsch
Munich Putsch
Major ECONOMIC problems
Huge reparations bill to pay to Allies
Occupation of Rhur by French and Belgian troops
Passive resistance adopted by workers - German industry starved of coal and steel
Massive inflation - money absolutely worthless
High level of unemployment
Loss of crucial middle class support
POLITICAL instability
PR system in Constitution
Many different political parties
Weak Coalition governments created
No experience of real democracy
STRENGTHS AND SUCCESS
Came mainly in period 1924-29 – all due to one politician
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Gustav Stresemann directed the economic, political and diplomatic recovery
Was Chancellor and then Foreign Minister
Main aim was to make Germany “acceptable and respectable” – VERY
SUCCESSFUL
New currency created and widely accepted - Retenmark
New reparations plan drawn up - French and Belgians withdraw from Rhur
Arrival of USA economic aid - Dawes plan
Economic recovery begins - rise in exports
Young Plan 1929 - reduced the reparation payments
Joined the League of Nations 1926
Signed the Locarno Pact 1925
Germany appears to be reasonable and responsible
Signed the Kellogg-Briand Pact 1928
Agreed to outlaw war as means of settling disputes
FALL OF THE REPUBLIC
Wall Street Crash of 1929
Death of Stresemann in same year
USA loans stopped
Mass unemployment - 6million within 30 months
HUGE IMPACT ON ALL OF SOCIETY
Huge rise in discontent - growth in support for the extremes in politics
Huge rise in popularity of new NAZI party
Huge rise in support for Communists
January 1933 - Hitler made Chancellor in Coalition government
ONE YEAR LATER…
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March 1933 – ENABLING ACT passed – END of democracy and END of Weimar
Republic
Rise of Hitler
Born Austria
Joined German army WWI - medals for bravery
Joined German Worker’s Party 1919
Name of party changed to NAZI party 1920
Hitler leader of Nazi Party 1921
SA formed 1921- also known as the Stormtroopers.
Munich Putsch 1923 - total failure - Hitler arrested - jailed
Lansberg jail - Mein Kampf written and published.
Main ideas were:
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Aryan master-race
State before the individual
Aggressive Nationalism - need for lebensraum
Need to destroy Communism
Jews the cause of all German problems
Released from jail 1924 - Nazi party small and disorganised. But important change
had occured. Hitler decided to use the political system to achieve power.
1928 Election - 12 seats - 2.6% of vote
1929 Wall Street Crash - economic collapse. German unemployment rose to
nearly 6 million. 5 major Banks collapsed. 20,000 businesses failed.
1930 Election - 107 seats - second largest party. Communist party also gained
support. People were moving to support the Parties of the extreme left or
extreme Right.
1932 Election - 230 seats - largest party - 37%+ of popular Vote
1933 Chancellor of Germany
1934 Dictator of Germany
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RISE TO POWER - REASONS FOR INCREASED POPULARITY
Nazi Party - very insignificant support in early 1920’s
Leader of party and others jailed in 1923-24
9 years later - leader of Germany - largest party - HOW and WHY????
Hatred of Versailles Treaty - associated with democracy of the new
Republic
Political instability of Weimar Republic - PR SYSTEMS - COALITIONS
Promise of law and order and decisive leadership
Massive economic problems - economic collapse undermines Weimar
further
Effective use of propaganda - message tailored for different groups
Fear of Communism - led to support from influential groups
Appeal of ideas to all social classes
Use of Intimidation and violence - especially the SA
A well organised party-machine
Charismatic appeal of Hitler - skilled orator - mass rallies
Promise of all things the Weimar Republic had failed to deliver:
Jobs
Security and prosperity
Land
Restore German pride
Miscalculation of influential people:
Bankers, Military leaders, Right wing politicians
All believed Hitler “could be tamed”
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All agreed to make him Chancellor in a Coalition Government
Appointed Chancellor by President Hindenberg January 1933
HOW HITLER ESTABLISHED A TOTALITARIAN STATE 1933 -1939
Chancellor in Jan. 1933 - Coalition Govt. - Von Papen
Hindenberg still President - very old
Reichstag Fire - Emergency Decree - Enabling Act
All Trade Unions banned - May
Political Parties banned/dissolved
Justice system reorganised – important role for Gestapo
Concentration camps – controlled by SS
Night of the Long Knives - July 1934
Death of Hindenberg - Office of Fuhrer created instead
Oath of Loyalty from German armed forces - August 1934
Strict control of education system and young people - youth movements.
Control of Christian Churches – Roman Catholic Church and various Protestant
Churches
Highly effective use of propaganda - importance of radio, mass rallies etc. and very
strict censorship
German Economy also strictly controlled – both Agriculture and Industry
Minority groups also came under strict control and lives changed forever.
Propaganda within Germany.
Propaganda was taken to a new and frequently perverse level. Hitler was very aware of the
value of good propaganda and he appointed Joseph Goebbelsl head of propaganda.
Propaganda is the art of persuasion - persuading others that your 'side of the story' is correct.
Propaganda might take the form of persuading others that your military might is too great to
be challenged; that your political might within a nation is too great or popular to challenge etc.
In, Dr Joseph Goebbels was in charge of propaganda. Goebbels official title was Minister of
Propaganda and National Enlightenment.
As Minister of Enlightenment, Goebbels had two main tasks:
to ensure nobody in Germany could read or see anything that was hostile or damaging to the
Nazi Party.
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to ensure that the views of the Nazis were put across in the most persuasive manner
possible.
To ensure success, Goebbels had to work with the Gestapo and Albert Speer. The former
hunted out those who might produce articles defamatory to the Nazis and Hitler while Speer
helped Goebbels with public displays of propaganda.
To ensure that everybody thought in the correct manner, Goebbels set up the Reich Chamber
of Commerce in 1933. This organisation dealt with literature, art, music, radio, film,
newspapers etc. To produce anything that was in these groups, you had to be a member of
the Reich Chamber. The Nazi Party decided if you had the right credentials to be a member.
Any person who was not admitted was not allowed to have any work published or performed.
Disobedience brought with it severe punishments. As a result of this policy, Goebbels
introduced a system of censorship. You could only read, see and hear what the Nazis wanted
you to read, see and hear. In this way, if you believed what you were told, the Nazi leaders
logically assumed that opposition to their rule would be very small and practiced only by those
on the very extreme who would be easy to catch.
Hitler came to power in January 1933. By May 1933, the Nazi Party felt sufficiently strong to
publicly demonstrate where their beliefs were going when Goebbels organised the first of the
infamous book burning episodes. Books that did not match the Nazi ideal was burnt in public
- loyal Nazis ransacked libraries to remove the 'offending' books. "Where one burns books,
one eventually burns people" commented the author Brecht.
The same approach was used in films. The Nazis controlled film production. Films released to
the public concentrated on certain issues : the greatness of Hitler; the way of life for a true
Nazi especially through education, and how badly Germans who lived in countries in Eastern
Europe were treated. Leni Riefenstahl was given a free hand in producing Nazi propaganda
films. A young film producer, she had impressed Hitler with her ability. It was Riefenstahl who
made "Triumph of Will" - considered one of the greatest of propaganda films despite its
contents.
What was seen in the cinemas was controlled. "Hitlerjunge Quex" was made in 1933. This
film told the story of a boy brought up in a communist family in Germany who broke away
from this background, joined the Nazis and was murdered by the Communists in Germany for
doing so. "The Eternal Jew" was a film that vilified the Jews - comparing the Jews in Europe
to a hoard of rats, spreading disease etc. "Tarzan" films were banned because the Nazis
frowned on so little clothing being worn especially by women. One film that celebrated the
might of the German Navy was not screened as it showed a drunken German sailor.
However, the cinemas were not full of serious films with a political message. Goebbels
ordered that many comedies should be made to give Germany a 'lighter' look.
The ensure that everybody could hear Hitler speak, Goebbels organised the sale of cheap
radios. These were called the "People's Receiver" and they cost only 76 marks. A smaller
version cost just 35 marks. Goebbels believed that if Hitler was to give speeches, the people
should be able to him. Loud speakers were put up in streets so that people could not avoid
any speeches by the Fuhrer. Cafes and other such properties were ordered to play in public
speeches by Hitler.
Goebbels and his skill at masterminding propaganda is best remembered for his night time
displays at Nuremberg. Here, he and Speer, organised rallies that were designed to show to
the world the might of the Nazi nation. In August of each year, huge rallies were held at
Nuremberg. Arenas to hold 400,000 people were built. In the famous night time displays, 150
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search lights surrounded the main arena and were lit up vertically into the night sky. Their
light could be seen over 100 kilometres away in what a British politician, Sir Neville
Henderson, called a "cathedral of light".
Why was so much effort put into propaganda?
At no time up to 1933, did the Nazi Party win a majority of votes at elections. They may have
been the largest political party in 1933, but they did not have a majority of support among the
people. Therefore, those who had supported the Nazis needed to be informed on how correct
their choice was with an emphasis on the strength of the party and the leadership. Those who
opposed the Nazi Party had to be convinced that it was pointless continuing with their
opposition. The fact that Goebbels had so much power is indicative of how important Hitler
thought it was to ensure that the people were won over or intimidated into accepting Nazi
rule.
"The essence of propaganda consists in winning people over to an
idea so sincerely, so vitally, that in the end they succumb to it utterly
and can never escape from it." Goebbels
"The essence of propaganda consists in winning people over to an
idea so sincerely, so vitally, that in the end they succumb to it
utterly and can never escape from it." Goebbels
The Nazis and the German Economy
Germany’s economy was in a mess when Adolf Hitler was elected Chancellor in
January 1933. Hitler and Nazi Germany. Propaganda had played on the
population’s fear of no hope. Unemployment peaked at 6 million during the final
days of the Weimar republic – near enough 50% of the nation’s working
population. Now Hitler decreed that all should work in Germany and he constantly
played on the economic miracle achieved. This "economic miracle" was based on
unemployment all but disappearing by 1939.
Unemployment in Germany
Total
January 1933
6 million
January 1934
3.3 million
January 1935
2.9 million
January 1936
2.5 million
January 1937
1.8 million
January 1938
1.0 million
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January 1939
302,000
But was this true or did the Propaganda machine move into overdrive to persuade the nation
and Europe that she had achieved something that other European nations had not during the
time of economic depression?
A number of policies were introduced which caused the unemployment figures to drop.
Women were no longer included in the statistics so any women who remained out of work
under the Nazi’s rule did not exist as far as the statistics were concerned.
The unemployed were given a very simple choice: do whatever work is given to you by the
government or be classed as "work-shy" and put in a labour camp.
Jews lost their citizenship in 1935 and as a result were not included in unemployment figures
even though many lost their employment at the start of Hitler’s time in power.
Many young men were taken off of the unemployment figure when conscription was brought
in (1935) and men had to do their time in the army etc. By 1939, the army was 1.4 million
strong. To equip these men with weapons etc., factories were built and this took even more
off of the unemployment figure.
With these measures in place the unemployment figure had to fall drastically and many saw
the Nazi figures as nothing more than a book-keeping trick. However, many would have been
too scared to speak out against the Nazis or pass negative comments on the published
figures - such was the fear of the Nazi police state..
However, there is no doubt that work was created. The Nazis introduced public work schemes
for men who worked in the National Labour Service (Reichsarbeitsdienst or RAD). Their work
would have included digging ditches on farms to assist irrigation, building the new autobahns,
planting new forests etc. The men of the RAD wore a military style uniform, lived in camps
near to where they were working and received only what we would term pocket money.
However, compared to the lack of success of Weimar republic and the chronic misery of
1931 to 1932, these men felt that at least the Nazi government was making the effort to
improve their lot.
To ‘protect’ those in work, the German Labour Front was set up. This was lead by Robert Ley.
The GLF took the role of trade unions which had been banned. To an extent, the GLF did this.
Ley ordered that workers could not be sacked on the spot but he also ordered that a worker
could not leave his job without the government’s permission. Only government labour
exchanges could arrange for a new job if someone did leave his employment.
However, the GLF increased the number of hours worked from 60 to 72 per week (including
overtime) by 1939. Strikes were outlawed. The average factory worker was earning 10 times
more than those on dole money and few complained – though to do so was fraught with
potential difficulties.
The leisure time of the workers was also taken care of. An organisation called "Kraft durch
Freude" (KdF) took care of this. Ley and the KdF worked out that each worker had 3,740
hours per year free for pursuing leisure activities - which the state would provide. The
activities provided by the state were carefully and systematically recorded. For the Berlin area
(1933-38) :
Type of Event
Theatre performances
Concerts
Number of events
Number of people involved
21,146
11,507,432
989
705,623
16
Hikes
5,896
126,292
Sports Events
388
1,432,596
Cultural events
20,527
10,518,282
Holidays and cruises
1,196
702,491
Museum tours
61,503
2,567,596
93
2,435,975
Week-end trips
3,499
1,007,242
Courses/Lectures at the
German Adult Education
Office
19,060
1,009,922
Exhibitions
Cheap holidays and the offer of them was a good way to win the support of the average
person in the street. A cruise to the Canary Islands cost 62 marks - easily affordable to many
though most cruises were taken up by Nazi Party officials. Walking and skiing holidays in the
Bavarian Alps cost 28 marks. A two-week tour of Italy cost 155 marks.
The KdF also involved itself in introducing a scheme whereby the workers could get a car.
The Volkswagen - People's Car - was designed so that most could afford it. The Beetle,
designed by Ferdinand Porsche, cost 990 marks. This was about 35 weeks wages for the
average worker. To pay for one, workers went on a hire purchase scheme. They paid 5 marks
a week into an account.
Hitler inspects a model of the Volkswagen Beetle
Theoretically, when the account had reached 750 marks the worker would be given an order
number which would lead to them receiving a car. In fact, no-one received a car. The millions
of marks invested into the scheme were re-directed into the rapidly expanding weapons
factories. This accelerated as war approached. No-one complained as to do so could lead to
serious trouble with the police.
Did the Nazis produce an economic miracle for Germany?
The Minister of the Economy was Hjalmar Schacht. He introduced his "New Plan". This plan
intended to reduce imports, reduce unemployment, channel government spending into a wide
range of industries and make trade agreements with other nations. Hermann Goering also
wanted Germany to become self-sufficient in all industries so that as a nation she could
survive a war. Were these plans successful?
By 1939, Germany still imported 33% of its required raw materials. Government income had
been 10 billion Reichsmarks in 1928. In 1939, it stood at 15 billion. However, government
spending had increased from 12 billion Reichsmarks in 1928 to over 30 billion in 1939 - a
difference of 15 billion Reichsmarks. From 1933 to 1939, the Nazi government always spent
more than it earned so that by 1939, government debt stood at over 40 billion Reichsmarks.
balance of trade figures had gone into the red by 1939 by 0.1 billion Reichsmarks.
Unemployment had fallen from 6 million in 1933 to 300,000 by 1939 and industrial production
in 1939 was above the figure for Weimar before the 1929 Wall Street Crash.
Annual food consumption in 1937 had fallen for wheat bread, meat, bacon, milk, eggs, fish
vegetables, sugar, tropical fruit and beer compared to the 1927 figures. The only increase
was in rye bread, cheese and potatoes. Real earnings in 1938 were all but the same as the
1928 figure. Real earnings are wages adjusted to allow for inflation.
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