Q1a. What can you learn from Source A about Nazi attitudes to workers? Hitler speaking about the new ‘People’s car’ – the Volkswagen which workers could pay for in weekly instalments Q1a. What can you learn from Source A about Nazi attitudes to workers?

Introduction When Hitler took power in January 1933 there were six million unemployed people in Germany. By 1939, unemployment had almost disappeared. This dramatic reduction in unemployment won over many workers to the Nazi cause. Also important was the DAF (German Labour Front) led by Dr Robert Ley. Within this were: the SdA ('Beauty of Labour') and the RAD movements designed to improve attitudes to work, the KdF ('Strength through Joy') programme which organized activities for workers to do in their leisure time.

The DAF (German Labour Front)

The SdA ('Beauty of Labour') and the RAD The 'Beauty of Labour' movement encouraged employers to improve working conditions, and organized various campaigns, for example they campaigned for: good ventilation in the work place, hot meals in the factory. After 1935 the RAD (Reich Labour Service) made it compulsory for all men and women between the ages of 18 and 25 to do six months labour service. This was intended to encourage a sense of hard work in young people. The work was poorly paid, and involved hard manual labour on farms or road-building projects.

The KdF ('Strength through Joy') programme The 'Strength Through Joy' programme (KdF) organized trips to concerts, plays, exhibitions, sporting events, folk dances, educational events and even arranged holidays. By 1938, a special KdF office was organizing holidays and travel for approximately 10.3 million Germans. The idea was that people would work better if they were refreshed. What did Hitler say about the KdF? … the German worker will receive an adequate holiday and … everything will be done to ensure that this holiday and the rest of his free time offer a genuine recovery.

KdF schemes: The Nazi holiday camp Denmark One of the Nazi’s most ambitious projects was to develop Prora, a huge holiday resort on the Baltic Island of Rugen. It was one of five planned to be built, but the only one started. It was never finished, due to the war. Work began in May 1936 with 48 construction companies, employing 2000 workers. Sweden Prora Kolberg Rostock Hamburg Stettin Berlin Magdeburg Frankfurt kms 100 What impact do you think this had, both on Nazi popularity and the German economy?

KdF schemes: The Volkswagen plan

Assessment Workers lost important freedoms but gained improved conditions and facilities. Freedoms lost: Trade unions were banned and workers were not allowed to bargain for increased wages. Workers were controlled by the state. From 1935, all workers had to carry a booklet detailing their work record. Benefits gained: Workers had more job opportunities, more holiday time and better working conditions than ever before. Do you think that most workers would consider that the benefits of Nazi policies outweighed their disadvantages?

Plenary

Q1d. How useful is Source 2 for learning about Nazi treatment of workers? Poster advertising a Nazi cruise for workers organised by the KdF in 1938