Re: Your Preferred Economic System: Socialism, Capitalism, or something else?
Ok, I am going to write a short answer and perhaps elaborate upon it later. However, I am warning you, economy was not one of my best subjects in highschool
Here are a few traits I can think of right now:
- self sufficience and self reliance (Hitler wanted to prevent Germany from having debts to pay to the jewish bankers of international fincance)
- focus on eliminating the unemployment and stopping of the increase of inflation
- the government controls the financing and investment, the argiculture and industry
- opposition to the marxist idea of conflict between classes - the working class was not considered a proletariat or superior over the capitalist one
- focus among others on the improvement of middle class and lower class living standards
- incorporation of previous international resources by force and not by trade
- trade union leaders were arrested and the Labour Front was the only union organization allowed in Germany
- compulsory deductions made for income tax
- issue of work-books which contained the worker's employment record- no one could be employed without having such a document
- government permission was necesary for employers if they wanted to reduce their labour force
- mandatory army service
- subsidizing health care and housing
- free education supported by the state etc.
Here is an example of economic improvement within NS Germany:
Quote:
During the years of National Socialist government, the improvement in the German peoples standard of living, social security and their holiday and leisure facilities, placed Germany well ahead of all other nations including the United States. Such prosperity and social benefits have never reached the same scale anywhere in the world unless perhaps in a few privileged conclaves of society.
Hitler's Government by September 1936 had reduced unemployment from 6,014,000 (January, 1933) to less than 338,000 by 1936. National income had increased from 41 billion marks to 56 billions. German trade was prospering. Deficits of the cities and provinces had almost disappeared. Expenditure for armaments were minor.
The taxation of families, especially of those with numerous children, has been noticeably decreased
All workers (and their employers) were protected by a 'Tribunal of Social Honour’, which laid down conditions of employment that were superior to any comparable legislation in the world. Except for reasons force majeure it was illegal to dismiss an employee, al of which including employers had recourse to independent mediation by tribunal.
All German workers received a pension and insurance in the event of sickness or disability.
Interest free loans of up to 1,000 Deutschmark were paid to newly-married couples provided that the wife having hitherto been a wage earner, relieves the labour market by her marriage. The loan is redeemable at the rate of 1% per month, and for each child born is reduced by 25%. 925,000 newly married couples took advantage of this scheme, and they produced 825,000 children.
Child labour was prohibited, hours of work regulated (especially for expectant and new mothers), safe working conditions provided for, persons between 14 and 18 years of age prohibited from working in excess of 8-hours daily; night work for young persons similarly prohibited, paid holidays of persons below 16 years (15 working days), above 16-years (12 working days); usually increased to 18 days without regard to age.
An organisation known as 'Mother and Child' was formed. Its purpose was to provide for the welfare; health, safety, financial security, and recreation of expectant mothers, mothers and their children.This provided for 26,000 local centres staffed by 227,000 (100,000 voluntary) communal sisters, matrons, governesses, and nurses. Also provided 160 centres, which by 1937 had provided 1,800,000 children with holidays. A further 308 centres were established for mothers of which there were by 1937, 71,000 who had taken advantage of a break. There were 4,319-day nurseries and kindergartens and 2,700,000 mothers had taken advantage of NSV assistance.
A subsidised housing program was based on providing all German families with a maximum of two-storey accommodation each with its own garden "thereby developing attachment to the soil." The building of maisonettes and flats was discouraged.
Before National Socialism, millions of people had never seen the inside of a theatre. A survey found 87.6% (men) and 81.3% (women) had never seen an operatic performance; whilst 63.8% (men) 72.2% (women) had never visited a theatre. By 1936, 22,100,000 had visited theatres, 18,600,000 visited film performances, 5,600,000 attended concerts, 3,300,000 factory exhibitions, and 50,000,000 to cultural extravaganzas. 230 colleges for popular/hobby education had been established, 62,000 educational conferences had been attended by 10 million. It was arranged so that all workers traveled during their holidays on the premise that it was no holiday unless there was a change of air. In two years there were 384 sea voyages taking 490,000 workers on foreign cruises, more than 60,000 national holiday excursions (19 million participants), 113,000 hiking tours with 3 million participants. A holiday camp with full holiday facilities was built to accommodate 20,000 people. Every big commercial or public concern was provided with its own sports and recreation grounds, swimming baths. A fleet of yachts was put at the disposal of water sports enthusiasts, likewise winter and summer sports equipment and facilities. Likewise, all factories, offices, stores and shops were fitted out for recreation yards, swimming pools, clean and modern canteens, comradeship houses, sports grounds.
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"Hitler’s Social Revolution" by Leon Degrelle also contains some detailed information. I am going to attach it along with some other documents for further information.
Last edited by Nerthus; Tuesday, June 28th, 2005 at 14:07.
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