German Labour Front (Deutsche Arbeitsfront)
One of the most significant structure created under the Nazi regime that supported the Volksgemeinschaft was the German Labour Front, which was aimed to unite German workers to work towards the benefit of the community. The two most important creation under the German Labour Front was the Strength through Joy and Beauty of Labour, both aimed to improve workers well-being both during and after their working hours. The idea of these structures were promising, but when it was actually put in practice, its flaws were soon apparent. The Working Class was the largest social group in Germany during the 1930s (Evans), and straight away, if the Nazi government or Hitler himself wants to unite Germany and create the Volksgemeinschaft, he must gain the support of the workers. However, the working class population were supporting Communism and Social Democracy, the main opponents of Nazism (Evans). Not only did the workers supported Nazi’s enemy, the trade unions that these works are part of were also in the way of the Nazi government taking total control over Germany. In order to maintain power, Communism and Social Democracy were destroyed when Hitler took power in 1933. Hitler also understands the power that the trade unions have, as they have the control over Germany’s largest social group, and therefore he abolished all trade unions by ordering the arrests of the union leaders, carried out by the SA (Simkin), and replaced it with the German Labour Front (Deutsche Arbeitsfront, DAF). With the creation of the DAF, Hitler was able to gain control over the workers, and eventually unite German workers to work for the benefit of the community.
One of the most significant structure created under the Nazi regime that supported the Volksgemeinschaft was the German Labour Front, which was aimed to unite German workers to work towards the benefit of the community. The two most important creation under the German Labour Front was the Strength through Joy and Beauty of Labour, both aimed to improve workers well-being both during and after their working hours. The idea of these structures were promising, but when it was actually put in practice, its flaws were soon apparent. The Working Class was the largest social group in Germany during the 1930s (Evans), and straight away, if the Nazi government or Hitler himself wants to unite Germany and create the Volksgemeinschaft, he must gain the support of the workers. However, the working class population were supporting Communism and Social Democracy, the main opponents of Nazism (Evans). Not only did the workers supported Nazi’s enemy, the trade unions that these works are part of were also in the way of the Nazi government taking total control over Germany. In order to maintain power, Communism and Social Democracy were destroyed when Hitler took power in 1933. Hitler also understands the power that the trade unions have, as they have the control over Germany’s largest social group, and therefore he abolished all trade unions by ordering the arrests of the union leaders, carried out by the SA (Simkin), and replaced it with the German Labour Front (Deutsche Arbeitsfront, DAF). With the creation of the DAF, Hitler was able to gain control over the workers, and eventually unite German workers to work for the benefit of the community.
The most significant action undertook by the DAF the creating of the sub-organization, Strength Through Joy (Kraft durch Freude, KdF) 27th November 1933. Led by Rober Ley who was the head of the DAF, Strength Through Joy aimed to unite German workers through the method of providing supervised leisure time activities that are in the interest of the community, offered by the Nazi government, which is aimed to show the workers that the Nazi government cared about their well-being, and therefore gaining their support. The Nazi government injected the idea that the gain of material wealth cannot make Germany truly happy, rather true happiness comes spiritually and culturally. Middle class activities such as cinema, theatre were made available for the German workers at a cheaper price, and this to a limited extend also closed class division. The importance of the KdF is apparent when in 1937, the Nazi government invested 29 million Reichsmark into it, and by 1939, it had over 7000 paid employees, and 135000 volunteers making the KdF the largest organization in Germany at the time (Evans). However, the most popular and significant activity offered by the KdF are its travelling packages for the workers, which eventually revealed the weakness of the KdF.
In 1934, more than 400000 workers participated in package tours organized by the KdF, and that number increased to 1.7 million in 1937, and at the same time more than 7 million workers went on shorter weekend trips (Evans). The reason behind this is the decrease in travailing costs as group train tickets, or hotels purchased through the KdF were much cheaper as there are more being purchased tougher in large numbers. Economically, the increase in tourists benefited the local economy of tourist attractions. For example in Southern Bavaria, the KdF brought over 175000 tourists and over 5 and a half million Reichsmarks. However, There were three major issues with these traveling activities and one is that although workers were able to have access over activities that before the KdF was too expensive to afford, it brought greater problems as what they get in return, such as food, are not as good as those wealthy who paid more, and therefore they were exposed to the class division. The second issue is that each workers acted individualistic, and did not want to follow what these activities were intended for, leisure activities in the interest of the community. Thirdly, these workers was at a risk of being exposed to anti-Nazi ideas from Ex-Social Democrates, and in order to make sure that they are not exposed to ideas alike, agents from the Gestapo and SS Security Service disguised as fellow traveller to keep an eye on these possible influence over the workers. However, the worst of these travelling actives were the cruise trips as members of the Nazi party were constantly consuming alcoholic beverages at large numbers, and so was Ley himself who was always found drunk. Young women were also found on these cruises who seek sexual pleasure and sometimes even with non-Aryan men, which explicitly went against the idea of the racial state. Not only did these travelling trip failed to bring worker towards the Volksgemeinschaft, it exposed them to new opportunities to go against it.
Another organization that was created under the DAF was Beauty of Labour, which is aimed to improve worker’s working environment, and through it hoping it will increase productivity from the workers and gain their support towards the Nazi regime. Factories were insisted to improve on the hygiene of their working space, as well as adding beneficial facilities such as sports facilities, and in 1938, 34000 was said to have improved their working space. Factories who made the best improvements were also awarded with “best firm” an award signed by Hitler (Evans). However, it was the workers who were forced without extra wages that constructed these improvement within their working space. Never the less the improvements on the working space did improve the rate of productivity.
- Lawrence Lin
In 1934, more than 400000 workers participated in package tours organized by the KdF, and that number increased to 1.7 million in 1937, and at the same time more than 7 million workers went on shorter weekend trips (Evans). The reason behind this is the decrease in travailing costs as group train tickets, or hotels purchased through the KdF were much cheaper as there are more being purchased tougher in large numbers. Economically, the increase in tourists benefited the local economy of tourist attractions. For example in Southern Bavaria, the KdF brought over 175000 tourists and over 5 and a half million Reichsmarks. However, There were three major issues with these traveling activities and one is that although workers were able to have access over activities that before the KdF was too expensive to afford, it brought greater problems as what they get in return, such as food, are not as good as those wealthy who paid more, and therefore they were exposed to the class division. The second issue is that each workers acted individualistic, and did not want to follow what these activities were intended for, leisure activities in the interest of the community. Thirdly, these workers was at a risk of being exposed to anti-Nazi ideas from Ex-Social Democrates, and in order to make sure that they are not exposed to ideas alike, agents from the Gestapo and SS Security Service disguised as fellow traveller to keep an eye on these possible influence over the workers. However, the worst of these travelling actives were the cruise trips as members of the Nazi party were constantly consuming alcoholic beverages at large numbers, and so was Ley himself who was always found drunk. Young women were also found on these cruises who seek sexual pleasure and sometimes even with non-Aryan men, which explicitly went against the idea of the racial state. Not only did these travelling trip failed to bring worker towards the Volksgemeinschaft, it exposed them to new opportunities to go against it.
Another organization that was created under the DAF was Beauty of Labour, which is aimed to improve worker’s working environment, and through it hoping it will increase productivity from the workers and gain their support towards the Nazi regime. Factories were insisted to improve on the hygiene of their working space, as well as adding beneficial facilities such as sports facilities, and in 1938, 34000 was said to have improved their working space. Factories who made the best improvements were also awarded with “best firm” an award signed by Hitler (Evans). However, it was the workers who were forced without extra wages that constructed these improvement within their working space. Never the less the improvements on the working space did improve the rate of productivity.
- Lawrence Lin