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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 1 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 2 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 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 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 3 NEW MOTORWAY + RAILWAYS THE CORPORATE STATE IDEA 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 4 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 5 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 CORFU FIUME 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 6 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 7 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 8 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 9 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… 10 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: 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 11 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” 12 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. 13 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 14 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 15 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. 17 18