The Nazi and The German Economy
1. In 1934 unemployment stood at around 2.5 million. The Nazis dealt
with unemployment, as shown in source B, by building Autobahns. Hitler
used propaganda to encourage employment by posing for photographs like
source B, which is a primary source. Men who had lost their jobs
however skilled were given a job making motorways. We know this from
the photograph because Hitler is digging and he has no skills building
motorways. We also know from source B that Jews were not counted
because the workers digging are all wearing swastikas on their arms.
By Jews not being allowed to work or being counted as unemployed
brought the figures down. There are also a lot of uniformed men in the
photograph because they are in the army and were not counted as
unemployed. Hitler dealt with unemployment in another way by bringing
back conscription so unemployed men were put in the army and counted
as employed. There are also no women in the picture because Hitler
encouraged them to stay at home and educated young girls to do the
same. By doing this Hitler was not only dealing with unemployment but
also preparing for war.
2. German re-armament helped to solve the country's unemployment
problem. Firstly by the building of weapons, Hitler built weapons and
roads not only to employ men but also to prepare Germany for war. By
building weapons Germany would be ready to attack other countries and
by building roads Germany would be able to transport troops and
supplies more efficiently. Re-armament also helped deal with
unemployment because unemployed men went into the army so they were
counted as employed. This also helped Germany prepare for war because
the army would be ready. Hitler used conscription so unemployed men
had no choice but to work for little wages. Hitler made Germany self
sufficient by hiring scientists to find other resources, so when they
announced war on the allies they could...