The Nazi The Nazi EconomyEconomy

Starter

Why did German scientists and manufacturers go to such trouble to produce Ersatz products?

During the Third Reich, German scientists came up with a range of chemically produced products that replicated naturally occurring resources and commodities. They were known as Ersatz products and included the following: ‘Kriesgsrhot’ or ‘War bread’ made from a mixture of rye, wheat and potatoes; cakes made from ground up clover; Kaffe-ersatz made from coal-tar a substance normally used in soaps; when coal-tar became scarce Kaffee-ersatz-ersatz was produced made from roasted acorns (food normally fed to pigs); when acorns were difficult to come by carrots and yellow turnips were used instead; the rice lamb chop was invented, with a lump of wood to serve as the bone; shoes were made from wood instead of leather; woollen jumpers were made from nettles and coats were made from recycled paper. Adapted from The Iron Ration: Three Years in Warring Central Europe

Were people better Were people better off under the off under the

Nazis?Nazis?To decide whether life got To decide whether life got better or worse for most better or worse for most

German workers and German workers and businessmen under the Nazisbusinessmen under the Nazis

Aims

A Nazi election poster from 1932, it

reads ‘Work and Bread’. Who was the

poster aimed at? How was it trying to

appeal to them? How successful do you think it would have

been in 1932?

Your taskYour task

Your teacher will give you a scales Your teacher will give you a scales chart template. On one side record chart template. On one side record any evidence that life improved any evidence that life improved under the Nazis and on the other under the Nazis and on the other that things changed very little or that things changed very little or even got worse.even got worse.

Your taskYour task

List the aims of Nazi economic policyList the aims of Nazi economic policy What evidence is there that Nazi What evidence is there that Nazi

economic policy to reduce economic policy to reduce unemployment was successful?unemployment was successful?

How did the economics minister, How did the economics minister, Schacht, help the economy?Schacht, help the economy?

What were the key features of the What were the key features of the Four-Year Plan?Four-Year Plan?

FeedbackFeedback

Table 1: What were the main aims of Table 1: What were the main aims of Nazi economic policyNazi economic policy

Table 2: Who was Schacht and what Table 2: Who was Schacht and what was the ‘New Plan’?was the ‘New Plan’?

Table 3: Who was Goering and what Table 3: Who was Goering and what was the ‘Four-Year Plan’?was the ‘Four-Year Plan’?

Table 4: Evaluate the sources on p.128-Table 4: Evaluate the sources on p.128-99

Table 5: What were the successes and Table 5: What were the successes and failures of Nazi economic policy?failures of Nazi economic policy?

AimsAims

Reduce unemployment (1933, 6 Reduce unemployment (1933, 6 million)million)

RearmamentRearmament Self-sufficiency (Self-sufficiency (AutarkyAutarky))

UnemploymentUnemployment

By 1939 unemployment had fallen to less By 1939 unemployment had fallen to less than 0.5milionthan 0.5milion

After 1932, reparations endedAfter 1932, reparations ended AutobahnsAutobahns Public building projects, e.g. Olympic Public building projects, e.g. Olympic

Stadium, BerlinStadium, Berlin Reich Labour Service (RAD)Reich Labour Service (RAD) Government investment schemes, e.g. Government investment schemes, e.g.

VolkswagenVolkswagen Conscription – 1m in army by 1939Conscription – 1m in army by 1939

The New Plan, 1934-6The New Plan, 1934-6

Dr Hjalmar SchachtDr Hjalmar Schacht President of President of

ReichsbankReichsbank Minister of the Minister of the

EconomyEconomy Imports limitedImports limited Trade agreementsTrade agreements Unemployment Unemployment

reducedreduced Mefo billsMefo bills

Four-Year Plan, 1936-9Four-Year Plan, 1936-9

Hermann GoeringHermann Goering WWI fighter pilotWWI fighter pilot Head of German Head of German

airforce (Luftwaffe)airforce (Luftwaffe) Self-sufficiencySelf-sufficiency Synthetic raw Synthetic raw

materials (materials (ersatzersatz)) Reduce importsReduce imports Tighten control on Tighten control on

wageswages

Class discussionClass discussion

Did the Nazis achieve their Did the Nazis achieve their economic objectives?economic objectives?

Was Schacht or Goering more Was Schacht or Goering more successful?successful?

What were the potential weaknesses What were the potential weaknesses in the German economy?in the German economy?

Extension activityExtension activity

In pairs take on the role of either In pairs take on the role of either Schacht of Goering and have a head-Schacht of Goering and have a head-to-head debate to decide who made to-head debate to decide who made a more significant contribution to a more significant contribution to the German economy under the the German economy under the Nazis. Present your role plays to the Nazis. Present your role plays to the class.class.