Assessing the Primacy of Rearmament in Hitler's Economic Agenda (1933-1939)

Assessing the extent to which Hitler’s economic priority was rearmament in the period 1933–39 reveals a multifaceted approach. While rearmament was undoubtedly a central pillar of Nazi economic policy, Hitler's agenda encompassed a broader range of objectives, including tackling unemployment, bolstering his public appeal, enhancing Germany's infrastructure, achieving self-sufficiency, and aligning the economy with his ideological vision.

Combating Unemployment and Appealing to the Masses

Upon assuming power, the Nazis faced a crippling unemployment rate. Addressing this issue was not merely an economic necessity but also a crucial aspect of consolidating power and garnering public support. Initiatives such as the Reich Labour Service (RAD), which provided manual labor jobs, and the introduction of compulsory military service in 1935, effectively removed large numbers of men from the unemployment figures.

Furthermore, the regime actively encouraged women to embrace their roles as wives and mothers, effectively excluding them from the workforce. Loans were offered to families with stay-at-home wives, further incentivizing this shift. These measures, combined with ambitious public work schemes, including the construction of the Autobahn network and the expansion of the car industry, served to drastically reduce unemployment, with figures nearing zero by 1938. This success greatly enhanced Hitler's popularity and legitimized the regime in the eyes of many Germans.

Economic Nationalism and the Pursuit of Autarky

Hitler's economic vision extended beyond mere recovery; it aimed for economic self-sufficiency, or Autarky. This ambition was driven by a desire to free Germany from reliance on international trade, which was seen as a vulnerability exploited by its enemies after World War I. The drive for autarky was particularly evident in the agricultural sector. Under the leadership of Richard Walther Darré, the Reich Food Estate implemented policies to increase domestic food production. By 1939, these efforts had boosted production by 25%, achieving 83% food self-sufficiency.

Rearmament and the Four Year Plan

While addressing unemployment and pursuing autarky were undeniably important, rearmament remained a consistent and overarching priority for the Nazi regime. Initially, Hjalmar Schacht’s New Plan (1933-1936) focused on trade recovery as a means to generate the necessary funds for rearmament. However, this approach was gradually superseded by the rearmament-focused Four Year Plan, launched by Hermann Göring in 1936.

The Four Year Plan signaled a shift towards a war economy, prioritizing the production of armaments and strategic materials. The development of synthetic substitutes for imported raw materials, such as oil and rubber, was heavily emphasized. Moreover, the annexation of Austria and Czechoslovakia in 1938 and 1939, respectively, provided access to valuable resources and industrial capacity, further bolstering Germany's rearmament efforts.

Conclusion

In conclusion, while rearmament was a key driver of Nazi economic policy, it should not be viewed in isolation. Hitler's economic agenda was a complex tapestry woven from multiple threads – tackling unemployment, achieving autarky, promoting ideological goals, and bolstering public support. While these aims sometimes intertwined and even competed with rearmament, ultimately, they were all subordinated to Hitler’s overarching ambition: the restoration of German power and the pursuit of territorial expansion. It is in this context that rearmament assumes its position as the most crucial, albeit not solitary, element of Hitler's economic vision.

Bibliography


⭐Abelshauser, Werner. *The German Economy, 1945-1990*. Continuum International Publishing Group, 2004.
⭐Overy, Richard. *The Dictators: Hitler’s Germany and Stalin’s Russia*. W. W. Norton & Company, 2005.
⭐Tooze, Adam. *The Wages of Destruction: The Making & Breaking of the Nazi Economy*. Penguin Books, 2008.