At the time the Nazis took power in Germany, the number of unemployed people was close to 6 million.
The Nazi party began decreasing unemployment by implementing programs which involved employing jobless men to construct motorways, also known as "Autobahn," connecting various parts of Germany regardless of their profession. They also undertook the construction of schools and other public structures. In reference to Source B, the image portrays Hitler contributing actively to the construction of the Autobahn, serving as encouragement to other unemployed men to get involved. The inclusive propaganda employed by Hitler and the fear tactics implemented by the Nazi party played a significant role in motivating people to work under such conditions, earning meager wages, housing and food.
2) The percentage of 'gross national product' spent on weaponry in Germany from 1933 to 193
...9 is presented in Source C. This figure gradually increases over the years, indicating a rise in the number of weapons produced as well as job creation, coal and iron mining for fuel, smelting and mining for iron, and shipbuilding. Building weapons involved a comprehensive process and various tasks that had to be undertaken to achieve this objective.
To accomplish their objective, it was necessary to increase the number of people employed and involved in the process. However, this aim contradicted Hitler's vow to eliminate the Treaty of Versailles. The military provided another means of job creation by hiring capable men for the air force, navy, and army. With the implementation of conscription in '35/'36, all eligible men (excluding Jews, supporters of Hitler, and those above 25 years old) were enlisted by the military resulting in a decrease in unemployment.
Source C reveal
that the war and rearmament of Germany generated employment opportunities and aided in resolving the issue of unemployment. Additionally, the source presents insight into Nazi perceptions regarding women through its verse "Take hold of kettle broom and pan." This verse suggests that the Nazis held the belief that women belong at home, conforming to their ideology of "Kinder, Kurche & Kuche" or "Children, Church and Cooking." This principle obliged women to stay within the domestic sphere.
Women under Nazi rule frequently lost their jobs to men. These actions were considered patriotic by the regime. The verse advises women to leave their employment and focus on homemaking, as it was seen as their true calling. The Nazi party encouraged women to start families and gave them a loan of 1000 marks when they got married. For every child they had, 250 marks would be deducted from their debt.
A prestigious medal, known as the Motherhood Cross, was awarded to women who had given birth to a significant number of children in a particular region. The medal brought with it the opportunity to meet Hitler, which undoubtedly would have been a desired experience for many. The BDM, or 'league of German maidens,' taught girls from a young age important skills such as how to be a good German woman, how to cook and employ ergonomic practices, and the values of the Nazi regime.
The concept ties into the use of rhyming verse to promote Nazi ideology and propaganda to an older demographic. Many women found this treatment appealing because it reinforced their role as an essential component of the German family. Specifically, they had a sense of purpose and responsibility
in a trusted capacity.
Despite the fact that the Nazi idea resulted in many women losing their jobs, sources E;F can partially help us understand how people felt at the time. While source E is a biased primary source, it shows that not everyone had a positive view of the Nazi party. Different individuals had varying opinions based on their occupation. For instance, the man in source E may have been a factory owner who suffered financially due to the Nazis' influence. However, many people were grateful for the opportunities provided by the Nazis, such as employment and housing, which were seen as second chances.
Source E comes from an illegal Nazi opposition newssheet, indicating bias and unfairness towards the ruling power. The illegality of the newssheet may suggest that the Nazis were willing to suppress opposing views and control public perception. However, the trustworthiness of the source remains uncertain.
The primary focus of this source is the writer's inner emotions and struggles. In contrast to other sources I have reviewed, I find myself siding with the words of the common worker. He appears to be a regular person sharing his honest thoughts. On the other hand, Source F is written by a professional American writer and does not center on personal emotions. It is not biased or propaganda, but it remains unclear whether the author writes from personal experience.
The writer explores the notion of 'invisible unemployment' – referring to people without jobs who are not officially categorized as unemployed – according to a trustworthy source. This is supported by other sources, bolstering the reliability of the information provided. Source A records a reduction in Germany's unemployment rates
between 1932 and 1938, with only a small percentage remaining jobless in 1938. Similarly, Source F addresses 'invisible unemployment,' which is a prevalent theme across all sources albeit presented uniquely.
Sources D, E, and F all provide an explanation for why certain unemployed individuals are considered invisible and not included in unemployment statistics. According to Source D and linked with Source F, this is due to the encouragement for women to remain at home instead of pursuing employment which resulted in the wholesale discharge of women.
According to the following passage,...
Source A reports that many people who were not officially counted as part of the statistics were left out of the unemployment figures. This led to about half of Germany's population, previously classified as unemployed, no longer being considered so. Therefore, if more non-unemployed individuals had been included in the statistics, it would have made the unemployment rates appear even lower. As a result, Source A's graph showed a significant drop after the Nazi regime took control and implemented their policies. This demonstrates another factor influencing the shape of the graph.
Sources D, E&F provide explanations for the initial decrease in unemployment during Nazi rule. Despite its biased perspective as an illegal opposition newssheet, source E reveals that the Nazis had a significant influence, leading people to overwork themselves despite decreasing wages. Source E highlights the impact of rearmament introduced by the Nazis in creating jobs in munitions and subsequently reducing unemployment. The biased poem in source D indicates that women were not included in the count, unlike "unemployed Jews" and "women and unmarried men under 25" as stated in source F. Additionally, source F states that the
reintroduction of conscription offered men real jobs but took them away from the labour market, contributing to the dramatic change in unemployment seen in source A after the Nazis came into power.
When the Nazis gained control in 1933, Germany was in a poor condition. In my opinion, hiring individuals such as Schaacht to address hyperinflation issues contributed to the Nazis' efforts to rebuild Germany and achieve economic success. Prior to their rise to power, the Germans opposed the Treaty of Versailles and felt unsettled.
Hitler's disregard for the treaty helped Germany recover, while his nationalist stance and belief in German self-sufficiency made him popular before WWII. The people were drawn to his support for Germany and the German people, as well as his view that Germany should be powerful and independent.
With past oppressions and obligations to blame Germany, causing loss of German pride, a new leader arose. This leader encouraged pride in country and envisioned greatness even beyond the previous years. Source A presents 1933-1939 unemployment figures, visibly decreasing over time indicating increased trust in the Nazi party. This provided citizens with employment security and a semblance of stability in their work.
Despite previously having an unstable and ineffective coalition government, the people now felt safe and confident in their leadership and job security. Their strong leader, whom they were passionate about, had taken control and had the support of the people. This was thanks in part to Hitler's ability to connect with the people and take into account their ideas. He implemented policies such as conscription, as cited in Source B, to unite Germany and also constructed the Autobahn, which provided some paid work
opportunities for the population.
The German population was promised employment, nourishment, and sustenance which were subsequently delivered. The people were assured that every family would obtain a residence, and also own a Volkswagen or "people’s car," which still remains in existence today. The position of women was fundamental in Germany as they were assigned specific duties, as demonstrated in propaganda outlined in source "D."
Although the majority of women were content with this form of treatment, there were some who ended up unemployed. There were numerous reasons why the German population wasn't satisfied with Hitler as their leader. He frequently coerced people into actions and imposed severe consequences, like concentration camps or even the execution of young individuals.
Despite some criticism of Hitler's actions as immoral, he managed to revive Germany's economy with initiatives such as the Dawes plan, earning recognition from figures like David Lloyd George. In 1936, the former British Prime Minister remarked on the significant transformation that Hitler had brought about, stating that although his methods were not those typically seen in a parliamentary country, his leadership had achieved remarkable change in the attitudes and economic prospects of the German people.
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