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How Did the Working Class Prosper Under the Nazis from 1933- 1938?

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This essay explores whether the working class prospered during the Nazis from 1933 to 1938. To determine if the working class was better off under the Nazis I will look specifically at ‘unemployment’ , ‘Beauty of Labour’ and ‘ Strength through Joy’ which were initiatives which aimed at improving the working class. On the whole, although the working class was given paid work and took part in organised activities, their situation did not really improve as I will demonstrate in the course of this essay. If we take into account the statistics relating to unemployment at first glance it appears that the trend was positive - unemployment reduced significantly from 2,151,000 in 1935 to 119,000 in 1939 (source 5). Also as Source 10 highlights the fact that wages increased among three categories of workers - farmers, industrial workers and big business. One comment by a motorway construction worker confirmed that under Hitler ‘miracles had been accomplished and things were getting better.’ (source 9). Source 6 is a photograph from 1933 of workers constructing a motorway. The photo is staged as everyone is looking at the camera and looking like they are not exhausted. Likewise, if we look at the description of the programme from the RAD camp in 1938 although it indicates a long day (getting up at 4:45 and ending with lights out at 22:00) it shows a balance of activities such as parade at 19:15 and sing-songs and leisure activities after supper. However, in reality the workers were

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