The rapid economic recovery and the almost complete end to unemployment were among the Nazi regime’s greatest domestic successes. But because these developments were means to an end—with that end being preparation for war—they benefited German workers less than might have been expected. For example, the Nazi government’s restrictive salary policy caused real salaries to stagnate while supply bottlenecks drove up the price of many consumer goods and foodstuffs. The state became increasingly active in directing the economy within the larger context of war preparation, and this involvement led to the forced allotment of labor chiefly to agriculture and the armaments industry, where the average work-week steadily increased until the end of the war. Workers’ growing displeasure with these and other realities were reflected in the opinion surveys taken by the Nazi regime. On the other hand, the memory of the poverty of the depression years was deeply rooted, and many workers were grateful to the Nazi government despite the shortcomings of its economic and employment policies. Photo by Groß.

The bulletin board in the background features the latest news and announcements from the German Labor Front. A “Strength through Joy” poster can be seen among other postings.