Hitler promised change too., page 1

Hitler brought the German people together, brought their economy back from the depression of world war 1, built the nation up to be a world super power within a very short time.

Yes, he got some funding from external sources but mark my words, if the holocaust had never happened Hitler would have been listed as one of the greatest leaders the western world has ever seen.

Lets take a minute to understand how he did this before we continue-

www.igshistoryonline.co.uk/Students'%20work/A%20Level/Nazi%20economy%20essay%20-%20R.doc

When Hitler came to power in 1933, the Germany economy was in a desperate state and still reeling from the effects of the 1919 Treaty of Versailles and the 1929 Wall Street Crash. Hitler decided that a revival of the economy was a necessity in order to achieve his ideological aims for the future of Germany. He even stated that ‘the needs of the state, varying according to time and circumstances are the crucial factor’, and Hitler believed that Germany was a great state, and therefore needed a strong economy in order to achieve her potential, which arguably Hitler perceived, as world power. There were four basic aims for the economy. Firstly, Hitler wished to tackle the depression which Germany was suffering from, and to generate employment, as unemployment was close to six billion in 1930. This policy also had other advantages, as by reducing unemployment, a climate of optimism would be generated in Germany and Hitler would be able to consolidate the power of his regime. The other principal aim for the economy was to create a Wehrwirtschaft, a defence economy in order to fulfil the desire for territorial expansion and Lebensraum. Therefore, war resources would need to be made (a job for the unemployed) and substitutes for imports would need to be found in order to achieve self reliance, which was termed autarky. Another minor aim was to aid the economic interests of the Mittelstand, which was where Hitler’s strongest opposition lay. It is apparent that although Hitler wished to fulfil the destiny of Germany, this was to be done on his own terms.

One of the methods used by Hitler to achieve his economic aims was the creation of employment, which would thereby reduce state benefits, increase public expenditure and investment and stimulate consumer demand; all crucial for a healthy economy. Public Works Schemes were begun which meant the building of Autobahns and homes. This meant that a large number of jobs were created. Tax concessions and grants were provided, which stimulated demand to further strengthen the economy. More jobs were created in government bureaucracy and subsidies were given for hiring workers in the private sector.

Schacht introduced the policy of deficit financing, which was the governmental spending of more money than it was receiving in order to boost the economy. This was achieved through the introduction of factors such as mefo bills, which were issued to industry in return for goods, which were then repaid with interest. Mefo bills, although a risky means of financing an economic revival, were responsible for the funding of approximately half of Germany’s rearmament programme.

Bilateral trade agreements were made, for example with the Balkans which meant Germany had access to the raw materials needed for rearmament. In terms of achieving autarky, bartering was introduced to gain goods without the use of currency, and the 1934 New Plan meant that imports could be regulated.

In terms of the success of the economy, whilst there were indeed successes there were also failures. The aim of employing the nation was a success, with only 0.2 million unemployed by 1938, and 0.8 million more employed in 1938 than in 1928; so not only did the Nazis drastically reduce unemployment, but they also succeeded in the fact that more were employed than under the Weimar government. However wages for the employed steadily decreased as a percentage of national income. The aim of achieving a Wehrwirtschaft was also a success and a failure, depending on how viewed. Autarky in basic food groups such as bread and vegetables was very close to being achieved, the production of goods nearly tripled between 1933 and 1938, national income nearly doubled and again, beat that of Weimar and crucially, Germany was indeed prepared enough to achieve European dominance by 1941.

Now, going by that bit of information, it looks like the US at the moment with its economy in such dire straights, and employment rising, could well do with a president the likes of Hitler.

(of course not including the massacre of various nationalities in ww2)

Imagine the US economy being brought back to number 1 status in the world again with very low unemeployment within Obama's 1st presidency?