social

role of women - Imperial Germany

expected to take the burden of domestic duties

still viewed as subordinate to men - Kaiserreichs hierarchical society

Bismark’s policies towards women

1891- guaranteed 6 weeks maternity leave

sufficient welfare provisions

11 hour work day

Society for the Protection of Women Workers Interests

1885

advocated for women’s rights

1000 members by 1886

founded by Emma Ihrer - elected to the General Commision of Trade Unions in 1890

women’s political power - Imperial Germany

Clara Zetkin ran the SPD’s female section

published ‘Die Aleichheit’

Zetkin founded International Women’s Day - 19th March 1911

The Federation of German Women’s Associations

Imperial

focused on reforming Germany’s civil code

women - industrial economy

segregated work- textiles, garment making, and food processing

lowest paid and least skilled

women’s work was subsidiary

women’s political role in Weimar

The new Weimar constitution guaranteed women the vote, as well as equal pay and equal employment opportunity in the civil service

encouraged the participation of women in politics- women made up 9.6% of the parliament in 1919, female reichstag members were 6.7%

women made up 6.1% of the members in Germany’s state parliaments

women’s social status in weimar

the BDF grew from 300,000 members in 1914 to 900,000 in the 1920s

role of women was still viewed traditionally, role of wife and mother seen as preferable

emergence of the ‘weimar women’ who was urbanised and financially independent - traditional attitude to women remained largely unchanged

economic role of women in weimar

‘double earners’ - married women who also worked, development which enhanced the economic independence of many German women

working women were still predominantly found in jobs with the lowest pay and status

social status of women - nazis

acknowledged the difference between the roles of men and women in society - women’s role was in the home

girl’s school syllabus focused on domestic science

encouraged to give birth to as many children as possible - ‘Mutterkreuz’

economic status of women - nazis

1943 3 million women were conscripted to work - need for rearmament

many women voted for the nazis as they offered an alternative to work, staying home to care for children

female secondary school teachers declined by 15% 1933-35

interest free loans were given to couples if the wife refrained from working

political status of women - nazi

propaganda depicted the ‘weimar women’ as dangerous and immoral

lebensborn programme in 1935 to create ‘racially pure’ children

women social role - post war

made up 30% of higher education students in 1960, rising to 37.9% in 1980

20% of school principals were women

divorce for women was easier to obtain, could also seek employment without her husbands permission

women’s political role - post war

female membership of political parties in 1949 was only 4.4%

women’s economic role - post war

1957 pension scheme discriminated against part time female workers

on average women’s pay was 30% lower than men

kinde-geide benefits programme for a family with a male worker a housewife and 3+ children

how did each social group change overall

Junkers- declined in number, gone by 1950s

Artisans- steady decline but retained influence over the economy

peasants- decline, linked to junkers

Urban working class- dramatic growth

white collar workers- dramatic growth, largest section by end of the period

economic position of peasants - imperial

Worked on Junker owned land, so fates linked to Junkers

Bismarck protected rural economy by introducing protective tariffs 1879

short term boost in the protection of rural jobs

political position of peasants - imperial

Peasants benefitted from the protection from the Junker class as in both of their interest to protect rural communities

social position of peasants - imperial

1871 Germany predominantly rural society, majority living in countryside

But industrialisation due to unification led go a decline of those working in countryside

economic position of peasants - weimar

Before Great Depression agriculture suffered from price slump, closing farms and rural jobs being lost

political position of peasants - imperial

 Peasants politics fragmented as a variety of political parties wanted to represent peasants (German farmers party, Bavarian peasants league, agricultural league)

Great depression caused peasants to turn to Nazis

social position of peasants - weimar

By 1900 agriculture made up 30% of GNP but by 1914 only a third of the German population remained in rural areas, as many peasants became member of the expanding urban working class

economic position of peasants - nazi

Renewal under Nazis due to promotion of traditional rural life

introduced regulation that protected farming life

guaranteeing high prices for agricultural produce

political position of peasants - nazi

By 1935 over 250,000 peasants joined Nazis

social position of peasants - nazi

Social status elevated in period

Nazi legislation like the hereditary farm law

number of farmers still steadily declined as more joined urban working class

economic position of peasants - post war

Farmers benefitted from subsides through CAP

increase in living standards

mechanistaion of farming led to 50 percent decline in rural workforce 1950-1960

political position of peasants - post war

Relationship between CDU and German farmers was a mutually supportive alliance

CDU and CSU (its sister party) acted as the political voice for rural areas and advocated for agricultural protectionism

Adenaeur established the CAP which boosted agricultural exports when introduced in 1962

social position of peasants - post war

 By 1989 agriculture made up less than 2% of Germany’s GNP number working in industry declined dramatically

urban working class economic position - imperial

poor living and working conditions as a result of fast urbanisation

urban working class political position - imperial

sought political representation

trade unionism flourished

SPD was formed to represent worker’s interests

urban working class social position - imperial

made up ⅓ of the population

suffered from food shortages in the winter of 1916

urban working class economic position - weimar

increase in wages, new homes built, unemployment insurance established

suffered hugely as a result of the Wall Street Crash, 1933 unemployment was at 9 million

urban working class political position - weimar

SPD continued to be the largest party until 1932

urban working class social position - weimar

population growth in urban areas slowed

generally good conditions for workers

urban working class economic position - nazi

employment improved due to public works schemes 

urban working class political position - nazi

working class tended not to support the Nazis but remained loyal to the SPD or supported the KPD

urban working class social position - nazi

working class grew around 10%

DAF controlled much of worker’s rights

urban working class economic position - post war

living standards generally high in cities

new underclass created with the arrival of ‘guestworkers’ 

urban working class political position - post war

many working class benefitted from new employment opportunities in the service industry

urban working class social position - post war

urbanisation continued, many working class entered the middle class

white collar workers economic position - imperial

High status from the beginning during the 19th century

they also enjoyed better housing and health.

white collar workers political position - imperial

WCW had an important political impact, they saw themselves as distinct from the working class and from the 1890s they organised themselves into political pressure groups

1901 saw the creation of the Co-ordinating Committee pressuring for a separate insurance scheme for WCWs which the government granted in 1911 which cemented their distinct position.

white collar workers social positions - imperial

Social group that grew alongside the urban working class during the 19th Century.

white collar workers economic position - weimar

WW1 drastically affected their living standards and they were vocal to end the war, allying with the UWC on this issue

Hyperinflation of the early 1920s followed by economic depression from 1929 saw WCW suffer and in many cases worse than the UWC

Economic devastation primarily affected this group resulting in high levels of unemployment.

Wages remained low and they did not receive the same benefits as BCW- 90k WCWs were forced to live without any unemployment support.

white collar workers political position - weimar

To challenge junker dominance many are attracted to radical views such as anti-semitism and nationalism as seen in the German Middle Class Association.

They shared the view with UWC that the political system needed to change and they were particularly fearful of communists

Suffering caused by the Great Depression after 1929 left many feeling antagonistic towards the Weimar government.

white collar workers social position - weimar

The numbers of WCW doubled in the period 1907-25

white collar workers economic position - nazi

pension schemes and insurance benefits

white collar workers political position - nazi

Enjoyed special status in terms of pension schemes and insurance benefits and enjoyed the formal address of Sie.

had higher wages and were consistently loyal to the Nazis- over 65% made up the party.

white collar workers social position - nazi

Economic development under the Nazis led to a 25% increase between 1933-39.

white collar workers economic position - post war

Following Wirtschaftwunder (economic miracle in the mid 1950s and 60s) led to rapid employment growth as the economy shifted towards high growth export-orientated industrialisation, so demand for WCW grew.

The introduction of co-determination laws (1951) and strong labor-management relations (Works Councils) provided increased job security and better working conditions

white collar workers political position - post war

Expansion of WCW saw this highly educated and wealthy group exercise important political influence by the end of the period.

white collar workers social position - post war

Rapid industrial growth in the post WW2 era saw massive expansion of WCW

As the economy transitioned to service many were drawn into the class

1980 made up 10% of the population which increased to 35% by 1980 making them the largest social group.

artisans economic position - imperial

rapid industrialisation meant that 1882-95 one man artisan businesses declined by 13.5%

artisans political position - imperial and weimar

threat from the industrial revolution

felt challenged by the political elite and growing power of the socialists and trade unions

lacked specific political parties that represented their views

artisans social position - imperial and weimar

high status as master craftsmen and respected members of communities

threat of industrialisation led many to adapt and develop new methods and better tools to compete

artisans economic position - economic

further industrialisation meant they made up only 27% of German society by the 1920s

artisan economic position - nazi

as the economy began to focus on rearmament, the Nazis prioritised big businesses and not the artisan tradition

artisan political position - nazi

provided the first solid base of support for the Nazis in the early 1920s

the 25 Point Programme contained many policies to help small traders

made up 33% of Nazi membership in the 1920

artisan social position - nazi

introduced new craft examinations to help maintain the status of the artisan tradition, department stores restricted

Nazi policies meant artisan businesses rose by ⅕ 1932-36

artisan economic position - post war

cooperation with big businesses meant they played an important role in the creation of Germany’s reputation in manufacturing  

artisan political position - post war

cooperation with big businesses gave them some influence 

artisan social position - post war

given special status and the role of overseeing the training of skilled workers

by 1955 3.5 million workers were employed in artisan trades, a growth of one million since 1939

social mobility - Kaiserreich

rise of white collar workers- number of schoolteachers grew by 43% 1891-1913

1979 ‘alliance of steel and rye’ created a new conservative elite composed of Junkers and powerful industrialists

the Junkers held a dominant position in society

expansion of industry created social mobility as those from lower middle classes became white collar workers

social mobility - weimar

end of the Junkers marked by the Kaisers abdication 9 nov 1918

real wages increased by 12% in 1928

12 million new homes built

white collar workers did not receive the same wage increases

great depression profoundly affected the working class, unemployment reached 31% in 1923

social mobility - nazi

white collar workers had more employment opportunities- wages increased 10% compared to 1928

Volksgemeinshaft - removal of class divisions

final destruction of junker power after the July Bomb Plot

wages steadily increased for industrial workers

social mobility - post war

wages almost doubled 1849-1954

‘nivellierte Mittelstandgesellshaft’ - levelled middle class society

1952 equalisation of the burdens law - transferred 90,000 million Deutschmarks from those who suffered least during the war to those who suffered most

introduction of guest workers saw the creation of a new underclass

white collar workers made up 35% of the workforce