Topic 2 Life in Nazi , 1933-39 How did the Nazis control life in Germany ?

The only people who have a private life today are those who are asleep

In order to enforce their extreme policies, the Nazis used propaganda and terror. In all areas of Germany and in all aspects of life the German people were spied upon and subject to constant propaganda in their schools, work places and from their media. Underpinning the system was terror. Germans knew that if they opposed what was for ‘the good of the state’ they could be imprisoned without trial, held in the growing number of concentration camps or executed.

The level of control was so great that Nazi rule has been called ‘totalitarian’ though the Nazis referred to the policy of control as ‘coordination’. The Nazis controlled national government, local government and councils, all workplaces, all schools, the police, all recreational clubs, and all forms of media such as radio and newspapers.

The SS () or protection squad organised the control of German life. The SS had the power to Himmler Heydrich arrest people without trial, search houses and Head of the SS Head of the confiscate property.

The sign of the SS

Himmler visiting the first camp, Dachau outside Munich The SS also ran the ever expanding concentration camp system where opponents were taken for questioning, torture, hard labour and ‘reeducation’. Camps were built outside all main cities and housed political opponents such as Communists and trade unionists. Following in 1938 were also held in camps. The Gestapo was the secret security branch of the SS. The Gestapo tapped telephones, intercepted mail and organised the network of informers throughout Germany.

Secret telephone tapping by the Gestapo The Nazis built up a system in which every individual in every town and village throughout Germany was under observation. The country was divided into regions, or gau, which were overseen by a Nazi governor, or gauleiter. Gauleiters had the powers to appoint and dismiss local mayors and all local councillors. Through these means the Nazis were able to control the lives of Germans to an unprecedented degree.

Control was also maintained through the surveillance of every individual through local street or Block leaders. The Block Leader (usually a member and often termed ‘little Hitler’) wrote weekly reports on the residents of their block. Anyone showing suspicious behaviour was reported, arrested and sent to a concentration camp. This led to enormous fear among Germans and helps to explain why so few Germans publicly criticised the Nazis.

The picture below was made by the Nazis to show the happy community living in one block. The Block Leader is shown chatting outside the central house. Nazi advice to Block Leaders: • find people spreading damaging rumours and report them. • complete a list about the political reliability of each resident. • preach and defend National Socialist ideas. • encourage the young to join the . • make sure all residents take part in rallies and celebrations.

The Block Leaders had a great deal of power and many people were frightened of being reported or denounced because of personal gripes. Even petty actions such as telling anti-Nazi jokes led to trouble.

Not flying the Nazi flag on celebration days, failing to give the , criticising the Nazis and organising a political meeting were all crimes.

Eva Lipman explained how to keep out of trouble.

Keep everything to yourself and say nothing. Keep as quiet as possible and keep your thoughts to yourself. Try not to upset neighbours and pay your bills on time.

Ludwig Schroer was reported for joking about Hitler. He was arrested and later died in a camp

The Gestapo made silent arrests. Late at night and early in the morning they took man after man. As accurately as I could learn, this is how the arrests were made. The door-bell or knocker sounded. There stood two, or, at most three, tall men with pairs of pistols in their belts. The chosen hour was one at which they would find the wanted man relaxed, surprising him at a meal or in bed. Other members of the household behaved as if hypnotised. They had no faith that he would have any chance of freeing himself by any legal means. Their minds were filled with memories of what they knew of others who had been taken in this way — disappearing for ever, returned in a closed coffin, or if let out alive, coming back starved in body and crazed in mind. Yet they did nothing. Family and friends let their men go.

The police and legal system were controlled by the Nazis. All civil servants and members of the police and legal professions had to accept Nazi policies. Judges and lawyers had to swear oaths of loyalty to Hitler. Anyone who refused was sacked. The People’s Court tried those accused of political crimes which included listening to foreign radio stations, publishing anti-government leaflets, having a sexual relationship with a Jew, and telling anti-Nazi jokes. Between 1933 and 1945 over 32,000 people were executed for such crimes. Without the law to protect them, individuals were at the mercy of the Nazis. Many Germans disliked Nazi methods but kept quiet through fear. Judge Freisler presides over a People’s Court

Propaganda was also used to control life in Germany Propaganda was designed to indoctrinate people into accepting Nazi ideas and policies. The messages of racial purity, national greatness and the cult of the Fuhrer were constantly reinforced. The Propaganda Ministry, run by Goebbels, concerned film, radio, newspapers, literature, art, music and sport. All were censored so that a pro-Nazi message was propagated. Artistic quality was not considered.

All forms of media including newspapers, books, radio reports and films were censored. Books written by communists and Jews were burned and over 2500 writers were banned.

Book burning, 1933 was Minister of Propaganda and Enlightenment Cheap radios called People’s Receivers were produced so that people could hear Nazi propaganda in their own homes. 70% of German homes had these radios which were deliberately short wave so that they only received local Nazi-run broadcasts. It became illegal to attempt to listen to foreign radio broadcasts.

Goebbels realised that people would not listen unless the programmes were entertaining so Nazi influenced reports would be interspersed with popular music shows.

Equally, only films which were acceptable to the Nazis were shown in cinemas. Films such as The Eternal Jew and Nazi newsreels were made but they were shown alongside entertaining Hollywood films.

Festivals and rallies were also important. Celebrations were held on key days in the Nazi calender. The ‘Day of Seizing Power’ was a torch lit procession held every January and Hitler’s birthday in April was marked with parades and flowers for Hitler’s portrait in schools. Germany listens to the Fuhrer with the People’s Receiver The week-long Nuremberg rally was the highlight of the year. Thousands would watch parades and listen to the speeches given by leading Nazis. The was a famous film made of the 1934 rally and is regarded as a masterpiece of propaganda.

The annual Nuremberg rally Art and architecture were of personal interest to Hitler. The Nazis disliked the modern art developed during the freer years of the , preferring traditional German forms. Architecture was designed to impress; Hitler drew up plans for rebuilding Berlin with his architect . Few of these plans were built but the Olympic Stadium, a classic example of ‘monumental’ architecture, was. The House of German Art showed officially approved art to the public. Nazi approved art tended to show athletic men and heroic German scenes. Modern art was termed ‘degenerate’ and banned.

A painting by Max Beckman which A statue which Hitler approved of Hitler termed ‘degenerate’

The 1936 Olympic Games were the Nazis greatest propaganda spectacle. Designed to impress the rest of the world, as well as Germans themselves of the superiority of Germany, Goebbels ordered a new stadium holding 100,000 to be built. The stadium was, at the time, the most advanced in Europe since it used photo-electronic timing, had television cameras installed and contained the largest stop clock in the world.

The 1936 Olympics

In many ways, the Olympics were a great success. Germany came top of the medal table and most foreign visitors were highly impressed by the facilities and the enormous organisation. Notably, Goebbels had ordered all anti-Semitic posters be pulled down around Berlin prior to the Olympics. On the other hand, the outstanding athlete of the games was not an ‘superman’ but Jesse Owens, a black American who won 4 gold medals and broke numerous world records. Many visitors also noted the heavy presence of the SS and the army.

Many gifted authors, musicians, artists and film-makers were unhappy with Nazi propaganda and control of culture. Writers such as Thomas and painters such as Max Beckman left Germany and lived abroad during this period. Education in Education was central to Nazi policy since it was the single most effective way of indoctrinating the young. Timetables and lessons were changed so that Nazi ideas and subjects were taught. Any teachers who objected to the new Nazi curriculum lost their jobs. Changes included : • Girls and boys were educated in different classes

• An emphasis on physical education for boys and girls. Any boy or girl who failed a fitness test could be expelled from school.

• Boys were seen as the future soldiers of Germany and all had to learn how to box, march and parade.

• Girls were taught domestic science and eugenics (how to produce perfect offspring by selecting ideal qualities in parents).

• History textbooks were withdrawn and rewritten. History lessons concentrated on the life of the Fuhrer, the unfair clauses of the Versailles Treaty A cartoon showing an anti-Jewish lesson. and the evils of Jews. Pupils are being taught what were seen as signs of Jewishness. • Biology lessons explained Nazi ideas on race and population control. Pupils were taught how to measure their skulls and to classify racial types.

These maths questions were designed to reinforce Nazi attitudes towards ‘undesirables’ I. To keep a mentally ill person costs approximately 4 RM per day, and there are 300,000 mentally ill in care a) How much do these people cost to keep in total? b) How many marriage loans at 1000 RM each could be granted from this money?

The Hitler Youth organisations reinforced Nazi ideas out of school.

By 1939 the Hitler Youth and League of German Maidens were compulsory and Block Leaders reported on families whose children did not attend.

Boys took part in activities such as camping, athletics, map reading and target practice. Girls also took part in athletics and camps but not in military training. As in school, girls were taught about their Members of the Young German folk (aged 10 -14) on holiday domestic duties. As well as after-school activities, the Hitler Youth organisations organised holidays which were very popular among many children.

Numbers of young people in Nazi youth groups

Whilst most young people joined the Nazi youth groups, many refused and instead rebelled. Rebel groups such as the Edleweiss Pirates and Swing Kids listened to forbidden American jazz and danced the equally forbidden jitterbug.

Young rebels would graffiti walls with anti Nazi jokes and remarks. The Nazis were alarmed by these rebels who they saw as a danger to the health of the Fatherland.

Anti-Hitler Youth graffiti

Edelweiss Pirates rebelled against the Hitler Youth and Swing Kids listened and danced to jazz avoided attending until it was made compulsory on the which had been forbidden. They also outbreak of WWII. Many were then arrested and executed dressed in the fashion of black American during the war. jazz.

Take hold of kettle, broom and pan, Then you’ll surely get a man! Shop and office leave alone, Your true life work lies at home. Popular rhyme in the 1930s

The mission of women is to be beautiful and to bring children into the world . . . The female bird pretties herself for her mate and hatches eggs for him. In exchange, the male takes care of gathering food, and stands guard and wards off the enemy. Joseph Goebbels, writing in 1929

Nazi ideas about the role of women were clear ; women were “different, not inferior”. Nazis disliked the development of ‘modern’ women throughout western societies. Women could vote, many women were working outside the home, some were wearing ‘manlike’ clothes such as trousers and others were indulging in ’unnatural’ customs such as smoking, perming their hair and wearing make up. The 1920s Weimar government was blamed by Nazis for allowing and even encouraging these developments. Above all, Nazi leaders were concerned about the decreasing birth rate. The ‘modern’ women and the Nazi ideal If Germany was to regain its rightful position in the world,

women would need to return to their traditional but vital role of child rearing. The official motto summing up the role of women was:

Kinder, Kuche, Kirche (Children, Kitchen, Church). The Women’s Bureau was led by fervent Nazi supporter and Aryan , Gertrude Scholtz-Klink. She was, however, a figurehead and held no real power since all women were banned from positions of power within the Nazi Party and the government. Various policies were introduced in an attempt to return women to a more traditional role. Not all were successful, however.

Education taught girls that all good German women married at a young age to racially pure German men and that the wife’s task was to keep a decent home for her working husband and to have as many children as possible.

The BDM (League of German Maidens) reinforced this message out of school. Higher education was not seen as important for women and university places for women were Gertrude Scholtz-Klink limited to 10%. Head of the Women’s Bureau

The Law for the Encouragement of Marriage of 1933 aimed to increase the birthrate and prevent women from working through financial incentive. This law stated that all newly married Aryan couples would get a government loan of 600 marks (9 months average income) if the wife gave up work. The birth of one child meant that 25% of the loan did not have to be paid back. Two children meant that 50% of the loan need not be paid back. Four children meant that the entire loan was cleared. Married couples who were childless also paid higher taxes.

The Honour Cross of the German Mother was also awarded to prolific as encouragement to women to have children. The Bronze Cross was awarded for four children, the Silver Cross was awarded for six children and the Gold Cross was awarded for eight children. The Crosses were given out in special ceremonies on Hitler’s mother’s birthday. Recipients of the Cross were also entitled to salutes from Hitler Youth members.

A German mother wearing her Honour Cross, accompanied by two of her older children in the uniforms of the Hitler Youth and League of German Maidens Propaganda through education, film, radio and poster campaigns also attempted to raise the status of motherhood.

The programme even encouraged unmarried Aryan women to ‘donate a baby to the Fuhrer’ by becoming pregnant by racially pure SS men. A poster entitled ‘Family’ shows the ideal Aryan family

At the same time, abortion was illegal and contraception was restricted.

These measures did help the birth rate increase throughout the 1930s. However, the rate of increase was far lower than the Nazi leadership had hoped for.

In order to prevent ‘undesirables’ from having children, 100,000 women were forcibly sterilised. The Nuremberg Law of 1935 also forbade marriage between and Jews.

Nazi aims to return women to the home and reduce women workers were less successful. Nazi views about the role of women conflicted with another important aim of restoring the economy. Women continued to work throughout the 1930s and as war grew closer during the late 1930s women became essential in farming and also industry. Even the number of married women working increased throughout the 1930s.

While women continued to work in factories and farms, the Nazis did succeed in reducing the number of women in professional positions. Many women Civil Servants, doctors and teachers were dismissed and replaced by men while no women were allowed to serve as judges or lawyers or members of the Reichstag.

Socially, women’s lives were also affected. Women were encouraged to be fit but not thin in case it affected their fertility. High heels, trousers, make up and perms were frowned upon. Historians disagree about the extent to which women conformed, however. How was religion affected by Nazi rule ? Hitler and other leading Nazis did not believe in Christianity and set up the German Faith Movement in an attempt to replace belief in Christianity with belief solely in Nazi ideas.

However, since millions of Germans were Christians, the Nazis knew that they could not simply ban all Churches and force all Germans to join the German Faith Movement because they would lose the support of most people. Instead of banning all Churches, the Nazis tried to force the different German Churches to support Nazi ideas.

The Nazis were only partly successful in their attempt to control religion in Germany. While small religious groups were effectively crushed, large Churches such as the Catholic and Protestant Churches were not fully controlled and there was continued opposition to Nazi rule from some Catholic priests and Protestant pastors. A German Faith Movement parade

The Protestant Church The various German Protestant Churches were forced to join together in the National Reich Church. The Reich Church was led by pro-Nazi Bishop Muller and it supported Nazi policies.

The Bible, cross and other religious objects were removed from the alters and replaced with a copy of and a sword. were also hung inside the Church and many members wore Nazi style uniforms. The motto of the Reich Church was : “The on our breasts and the cross in our hearts”.

Hitler meets Bishop Muller Inside the National Reich Church However, many German Protestants refused to join the Nazi Reich Church and pastors such as Martin Niemoller set up a separate Church called the Confessional Church. Confessional Church pastors criticised Nazi racial policy and the Reich Church. Hundreds including Niemoller were arrested and held in camps. A leading Protestant Dietrich Bonhoeffer was executed for trying to organise resistance to the Nazis. Dietrich Bonhoeffer was arrested Martin Niemoller was arrested in 1943 and executed in 1945 in 1937 but survived The Catholic Church The Catholic Church signed a Concordat with the Nazi Party in 1933 in which the Catholic Church agreed not to discuss politics in services. In return, the Nazis agreed to leave the Catholic Church alone - i.e. they would not hang Nazi flags in Catholic Churches and would allow Catholic schools and youth groups to continue.

Relations between the Nazis and the Catholic Church worsened during the 1930s as the Nazis built up their control and introduced their racial policies. In 1937 the Pope publicly criticised Nazi rule and Catholic priests read out his criticism in mass. Hitler then closed down many Catholic schools and arrested 400 Catholic priests.

However, Nazi control over the Catholic Church was always limited:

• few Catholic priests were executed

• Bishop Galen publicly criticised Nazi euthanasia policies in 1941 and no action was taken against him.

• Hitler’s order that all crucifixes should be taken out of classrooms so that only pictures of Hitler remained caused a public outcry and the crucifixes remained. Bishop Galen Pope Pius XI Other religious groups such as Jehovah’s Witnesses suffered greatly and were effectively crushed by the Nazis. Thousands of members were arrested and killed, especially because of their pacifist views. Many historians have criticised Church leaders for not opposing the Nazis more or sooner. Many in the Church did support Nazi rule (at least in the beginning) because they feared communism. We all know that if the Third Reich were to collapse today, godless communism would come in its place. Therefore, we must show loyalty to our Fuhrer who has saved us from communism and given us a better future.

A Protestant pastor speaking in 1937 Nazi racial policies

They came for the Communists and I didn't object - For I wasn't a Communist; They came for the Socialists and I didn't object - For I wasn't a Socialist; They came for the union leaders and I didn't object - For I wasn't a union leader; They came for the Jews and I didn't object - For I wasn't a Jew; Then they came for me - And there was no one left to object. Martin Niemoller, German Protestant Priest

Who were the ? Hitler believed that the Germanic people (what the Nazis called the Aryans) were the master race and that they should rule over all other races. According to Hitler, Aryans were more intelligent, worked harder and were more willing to sacrifice themselves for their country. He was worried that the master race would become contaminated by mixing with the weak and ‘inferior’ races. To create a master race of pure Aryans, the Nazis encouraged selective breeding and the isolation and eventual extermination of ‘undesirables’.

The is tall, long-legged, slim ... male height of above 1.74m. The race is narrow-faced, with a narrow forehead, a narrow high-built nose and a lower jaw and prominent chin, the skin is rosy bright and the blood shines through ... the hair is smooth, straight or wavy — possibly curly in childhood. The colour is blonde.

A book called The Nazi Race described the ideal German Threats to the master race

Ideal Germans should be ‘socially useful’ i.e. they should work and contribute to the Volk or national community. Anyone who did not do this was seen as a ‘burden on the community’. Those who could not or would not work and those who did not contribute to the community included the sick, the severely disabled and mentally handicapped, homosexuals, tramps and beggars. Non-Aryan races such as Jews and Gypsies were seen as the greatest threat. A Government poster showing how Germany is in danger of being populated by ‘sub humans’ who have far more Why were Jews disliked by the children than ‘Germans’. Nazis?

Hitler claimed that Jews were ‘un-German’ and responsible for most of the problems facing Germany. Jews were largely responsible for Germany’s defeat in the First World War, Hitler claimed, because they were both cowardly and unpatriotic. They had ‘stabbed in the back’ soldiers such as himself who wanted to continue the fight for Germany.

Hitler also claimed that many Jews were communists and loyal to another country, the USSR. It was also claimed that Jewish bankers and businessmen had caused the and were then profiting from it. Many people in Germany shared these views and were suspicious of Jewish ‘outsiders’ who were A cartoon from a Nazi newspaper, 1932. The text reads: ‘Father, why must we freeze at over-represented in certain professions. Although Jews home when there is so much coal?’ ‘Because made up less than 1% of the German population ,17% the hand of the Jew lies heavily on the of bankers in 1933 were Jews. This was regarded by people’. many as ‘proof’ of the greed of Jews.

If during the [First World War], twelve or fifteen thousand Jews had been held under poison gas, the sacrifice of millions at the front would not have been in vain. An extract from Mein Kampf How did the Nazis try to create the Master Race? As well as encouraging Aryan women to have children, measures against ‘undesirables’ were introduced. These included: ! Propaganda ! Forced Sterilisation of the ‘mentally unfit’ ! Euthanasia campaigns against the physically and mentally ill ! boycotts and destruction of Jewish businesses/synagogues ! Legal controls on Jews ! Removal of ‘undesirables’ into concentration camps

During WWII these measures escalated into the mass extermination in specially built camps. Propaganda Propaganda was used in schools, work places, and media (films, radio, newspapers) to influence people’s ideas about ‘undesirables.’ This propaganda encouraged a negative attitude towards undesirables and helps to explain why many people accepted the policies introduced later.

Beer mat: Who ever buys from a Jew is a traitor Der Sturmer (The Storm) was a particularly anti-Semitic newspaper. The front page story always portrayed Jews in a negative way and its tag line at the bottom read “The Jews are our misfortune”

The founder, , was put on trial and Nuremburg after WWII and executed for his part in inciting hatred towards Jews.

Forced Sterilisation In July 1933, only a few months after coming to power, the Nazis passed a Sterilisation Law. It allowed the Nazis to sterilise people with certain illnesses such as ‘simple mindedness’ and chronic alcoholism’. These terms were interpreted very freely. In September 1935, a massive round-up of ‘tramps and beggars’ began. Many were sterilised. Between 1934 and 1945 around 350,000 men and women were forcibly sterilised. Euthanasia campaign In 1939 the Nazis secretly began to exterminate the mentally and physically ill in a euthanasia programme. Six thousand handicapped babies, children and teenagers were murdered by starvation or lethal injections. The Nazis also found a new way of killing, using carbon monoxide gas. Gas chambers were built in several mental asylums. German officials calculated how much money and food had been saved by these killings and how to make ‘better’ use of the hospital beds and buildings that had been freed up. By 1941 over 72,000 had been murdered. Following public criticism by Bishop Galen the policy was slowed down.

The ‘work-shy’, tramps and beggars, alcoholics, prostitutes, homosexuals and juvenile delinquents were sent to concentration camps. Many Germans welcomed this removal of what were seen as ‘anti-socials’.

Germany’s 30,000 gypsies suffered greatly. Their lifestyle was seen as ‘un German’ and many were imprisoned as ‘anti-socials’. This man is being tested for the racial characteristics of gypsies. Anti-Jewish measures

As soon as the Nazis came to power in 1933 the SA organised boycotts of Jewish owned shops, cafes and businesses.

They also placed posters in public places saying “Jews not wanted” or “Jews forbidden.” Jews were also sacked from the Civil Service.

Anti Jewish laws, violence and propaganda were used to ‘encourage’ Jews to leave Germany or at least keep apart from Aryans. It is estimated that nearly half of Germany’s Jewish population left the country in the 1930s.

In 1935 a series of laws were introduced which took way the basic rights of Jews. The Nuremburg Laws said that Jews were not German citizens and that marriage or sexual relationships between Jews and Aryans were illegal. (The Nuremburg Law was extended to gypsies in 1936)

Over time more laws were introduced which further segregated Jews from Aryans. By 1939 Jews could not attend school German schools, own businesses or visit public places such as theatres. They also had to identify themselves by taking ‘Jewish’ names Israel and Sara.

Laws introduced against Jews Law for the Protection of German Blood and Honour, Sept 1935 1 Marriages between Jews and citizens of Germany are forbidden... 2 Sexual relations outside marriage between Jews and Germans are forbidden....

Decree Regarding the Change of Family Names, 17 1938 Jews are allowed only certain first names.... Jews must use the first name 'Israel' (for men) and 'Sara' (for women) in addition to their own first names.

Decree to Eliminate the Jews from Economic Life, Nov 1938 As of January 1939, Jews are forbidden to own shops,...to engage independently in any trade, or to offer for sale, advertise, or accept orders for goods or trade services at markets, fairs or exhibitions.

Decree by the Reich Minister of Education, 16 November 1938 Jews are not permitted to attend German schools. They may only attend Jewish schools. All Jewish students not yet expelled from German schools must be expelled immediately.

Decree by the Berlin Police, 3 December 1938 Jews are banned from all. - theatres, shows, concert and lecture halls, museums, amusement places, sports fields, public and private bathing establishments, and several prominent Berlin streets.... Kristallnacht (Night of the Broken Glass 1938)

Violent attacks against Jews (known as pogroms) were common throughout the 1930s. The worst incident occurred on November 10th 1938 when 400 Jewish synagogues and 7500 Jewish shops were destroyed. So many windows were smashed that it became known as became as the Night of Broken Glass.

The violence was sparked off by Nazi supporters who were angry after a Jew had shot dead a senior Nazi official. Following Kristallnacht 91 Jews were killed and a further 30,000 sent to concentration camps. The government fined Jews one billion Reichmarks for the damage.

A synagogue in flames Clearing up the damage. Kristallnacht showed that Jews were not safe in Germany How successful were Nazi economic policies?

The Nazis had come to power promising to end the Depression. In 1933 grave economic problems included:

 Unemployment. Over 6 million people were unemployed, about 1/3 of the work force.

 Many businesses had collapsed

 Germany was running short of essential raw materials because world trade had collapsed. This shortage was affecting people’s standard of living as well as those businesses still open.

Soup kitchen 1933 The first Economics Minister was Dr Hjalmar Schacht, a respected economist who had previously worked for German banks. In 1934 Schacht introduced the New Plan to solve the problems of the Depression. The New Plan 1934: The New Plan aimed to restore the economy steadily and through sound, long term financial management. It involved:

 reducing unemployment. The (RAD) provided work on government schemes such as planting trees, building autobahns, houses and schools. All young men aged 18-25 had to work for the RAD for 6 months. They stayed in camps and had to war military uniforms. If the unemployed did not accept the work, they would receive no unemployment benefit.

Schacht Trade Unions had been banned and they were replaced by the (DAF) led by Nazi . The DAF set hours and pay. Wages on the public works schemes were low and the hours were very long.

Unemployment was further reduced by compulsory conscription into the army for all 18-25 year olds in1935. Many Jews and political opponents were also sacked and their jobs given to the unemployed.

By 1936 the New Plan had reduced unemployment from 6 million to 1.5 million (though professional women, Jews and other ‘undesirables’ were not counted in the figures). The economy was also slowly improving as production and national income increased. Autobahn All workers belonged to the Strength through Joy organisation (KDF). This gave benefits to workers such as concerts, films, sports and holidays on board two specially designed cruise ships.

Workers were also encouraged to save for the new People’s car developed by the Nazis - the Volkswagen. Although many saved, none were ever delivered. The Beauty of Labour organisation encouraged factory owners to improve conditions for workers. Workers enjoying a holiday on board a cruise ship run by the KDF

Schact followed a sensible spending policy. The government spent a great deal in loans to struggling businesses and in paying the unemployed to work. To stop inflation, the government kept their payments to workers very low and prevented businesses from increasing the prices of any goods they made.

However, by 1936 Hitler and other leading Nazis had grown impatient by Schacht’s steady and long term approach. The leading Nazis no longer wanted steady economic recovery but spectacular growth so that Germany would be strong enough to launch into war, retake all the lands lost in the Versailles Treaty and return Germany to its rightful position of European dominance.

The Volkswagen - very few were delivered

Hermann Goering replaced Schacht and in 1937 embarked upon The Four Year Plan.

Goering abandoned the steady approach of Schacht’s New Plan and announced his new plan for an ‘economic miracle’ which would enable Germany to fight a war within a few years.

Unemployment was further reduced. Goering extended the RAD to keep people at work. Much of the work was now in arms production. Wages would still be kept very low. The army was further increased as was the navy and air force. These policies eradicated unemployment (Jews and women were still not counted in the figures, however). Goering A focus on rearmament - weapons production so that Germany would be prepared for war within four years. Most workers were now employed in weapons factories. This would be paid for by huge government loans to businesses and by the government building its own heavy industry factories such as the Hermann Goering Works.

Goering also wanted to make Germany self- sufficient - that is be able to produce its own essential raw materials such as coal, iron, metal and explosives. This was also known as autarky. To stop German dependance upon imports from other countries, businesses were encouraged to make synthetic substitutes for materials such as rubber and cloth. The Herman Goering Works

Goering needed Germany to be self-sufficient if it was to survive a long war. While Germany did increase production of goods such as coal, self-sufficiency was not achieved in key areas such as oil. This would prove a major problem for Germany during WWII.

Did people benefit from Nazi economic policy? Millions of unemployed people were put back to work and enjoyed activities including holidays provided by the KDF. Workers had to accept long hours and low pay, however. Equally, professional women such as doctors were sacked and Jews were persecuted.

The standard of living did not rise as much as it could have since Goering focussed production on weapons rather than consumer goods. He called this policy ‘Guns, not butter’. Would you rather have butter or guns? Shall we bring in lard or iron ore ? I tell you, guns make us powerful. Butter only makes us fat. Goering

Historian R. Overy assesses Nazi economic policy Hitler’s vision of a powerful militarised economy clearly failed the test of war.

Recovery from the Depression was real. But at the point where that recovery might have been used to improve living standards and expand trade, Hitler chose to divert the economy towards massive militarisation in a short term gamble.

By the end of 1945 Germany was once again plunged into poverty - exactly where Hitler had found it in 1933. Hurrah, the butter is gone! a poster making fun of Goering’s speech