The Treaty of Versailles and Trade Unions

• Signed by the allies (Britain, France, USA) in 1919
• Treaty blamed Germany for starting the war
• Germany had to pay for reparations
• Demilitarised zone was set up 50km from the river Rhine
• Army was restricted to 100,000 men
• Army couldn't have tanks
• Navy couldn't ahve submarines
• Air force was scrapped
• Colonies were taken away from Germany

• Germany hadn't been involved in the discussion
• They felt betrayed by their government for agreeing to it
• They thought the agreement was harsh and unfair

Hitler's three aims:

• Tear up the Treaty of Versailles- which brought end to war (1918) and blamed Germany for the start of it, thus allies took away land, money, and material for war
• Unite all Germans in a single country- millions of Germans living in neighbouring countries (Austria, Czechoslovakia, Poland); Hitler wanted to bring these countries under his control.
• Provide Germany with LEBENSRAWN (living space)- Germany was overcrowded, there was not enough food/materials for needs. Hitler wanted to take over rich farmland and mines.

Rearmament

• 1934- top secret order from Hitler- to expand the armed forces from 100,000 to 30,000 (treble)
• The Navy was to build two 'pocket battleships' and six submarines
• Air force was to be trained; HOWEVER, all of the above were forebidden.
• Hitler announced the army would be built up to 550,000 men. Surrounding countries reacted to this, and signed agreements to fight and protect eachother.
• However, no country took action to stop Hitler's un-doing of the Treaty of Versailles.

• When Hitler came to power- he saw that Trade Unions were exercising more power over workers than he could; there this challenged Hitler- he wanted to dispose of them.
• However, he knew he needed workers on his side but couldn't allow trade unions to exert potential power they had.
• Trade unions were banned in Nazi Germany; police units occupied all trade union headquaters, thus union officials and leaders were arrested- and the state took over the role of looking after the working class.
• This happened just months after Hitler was appointed Chancellor (2 May 1933).
• To keep the working class happy- German Labour Force was introduced.
• It was the 14 July 1933 that all other political parties were banned, thus only the Nazi Party was allowed to exist.

• Replacement of Trade Union to keep the working class happy.
• Lead by Robert Lay
• New organised was deliberately cloaked in patriotism
• Nazi Party made the working class feel better off
• Hitler had major plans for the working class-brought them onto his side
• Offered cheap theatre trips, etc
• Hitler offered better leisure life
• On the other hand, Hitler took away traditional rights, e.g. strikes were banned
• Conditions of work and pay controlled by the German Labour Force.