G32+Nazism


 * 3 Nazism in power**


 * Nazism as totalitarianism

Text: Chapter 6.5 "Nazism as totalitarianism" (also 7.4 "Economic life in Nazi Germany")


 * Was Germany really totalitarian? **
 * “Yes”. (M.J. Gooley, 2014)
 * Some historical debate has suggested that there were limits to the totalitarian rule of the Nazi Party and that it was more a “dictatorship by consent”: that the Nazi Party shared authority with significant groups, e.g., industrialists, army.
 * There were indeed elements within the society that supported the party, however, the ruthlessness of the attacks on opponents (e.g., socialists, communists, political parties, SA), and the strength of the SS and Gestapo, ensured that no discontent was aired.

Socialism: the National Socialist Party had socialist roots which were expressed in the 25 points in 1920. After coming to power, the socialist aspects of Nazi ideology were ignored and the left of the party (e.g., Gregor Strasser, Ernst Röhm) removed by 1934. Hitler’s notion of socialism was tied to the Volksgemeinschaft, the equality of the pure German people.
 * Economic Life**

Six million unemployed in 1933, four million in 1934, by 1939 there were labour shortages. Unemployment fell as a result of the totalitarian nature of the state and the industrial potential of the nation.
 * Unemployment falls**
 * Public works (e.g. autobahns)
 * Women were restricted from the workforce
 * The depression began to ease
 * Reich Labour Service (Reichsarbeitsdienst) conscripted men into labour service
 * Conscription into the army
 * The economic recovery**

1934 Minister for economics. Oversaw the growing confidence of business leaders and industrialists in the Nazis through the worker restrictions and wage restraint, and the removal of the socialist left. Ensured raw materials for Germany through trade pacts with weaker countries, e.g., in Latin America.
 * [[image:Hjalmar_Schacht.jpg align="right" caption="Hjalmar Schacht"]]The work of Hjalmar Schacht**

The party was now securely in power and economic recovery had begun. The aim of the Four-Year Plan was to increase rearmament, ensure self-sufficiency in food and raw materials (autarky) and make Germany ready for war by 1940. Göring was placed in charge. Developed synthetics, improved supplies of oil, and expanded steel production (Herman Göring Steel Works, 1937). Schacht was forced to resign in Nov 1937. Majority of spending related to war materials.
 * The Four-Year Plan, 1936**

The support of the workers was needed as they traditionally supported the SPD or KPD. The Nazis restricted wages and increased working hours. The shortage of labour by the end of the decade brought about some improvement in wages, but indoctrination through the DAF was needed to gain support.
 * [[image:kdf_wagen_2.jpg width="265" height="385" align="left"]]How were workers treated in Nazi Germany?**

This was a part of government which worked to improve the conditions in which workers worked: washrooms, canteen, ventilation, gardens, recreation facilities.
 * The Beauty of Labour (Schönheit der Arbeit)**

Organised leisure hours of workers to ensure they maintained enthusiasm for their work: concerts, theatre, education, sport, subsidised holidays. The Volkswagen Strength through Joy car, renamed the Volkswagen, the people’s car, aimed to be affordable for all German families. First produced 1938 – war prevented the mass production.
 * [[image:Kdf.jpg width="221" height="335" align="right"]]Strength through Joy (Kraft durch Freude)**

According to Nazi ideology, they were the most racially pure of the Germans. Hereditary Farm Law 1933 prevented the break up of farms up to 125 hectares. Reich Food Estate controlled production and distribution of farm produce: incomes began to rise. Farmers were promoted as noble, bauer became an honourable title.
 * German agriculture and the farmers**