The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1941-06-05
! COMMENT ON WORLD
! EVENTS
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Work for Conquest" might we'll be
the name of a new International La
Dor Office pamphlet issued under the
title Labor Policy in Germany IN
der the Nazi Regime" Employment
policy, industrial relations and the
regulation of hours and wages are
among the topics discussed in a gen.
eral account of how the leaders of
National Socialist Germany mobilized
their labor reserves preparatory to
their campaign of aggression.
The totalitarian program, it is ex-
planned in the study, is founded on
the principle that all the material and
human resources of the nation are at
the disposal of the State for the
achievement Of it's ends. Social policy
is employed as a tool for achieving
the aims of the Nazi leaders.
The employment policy under the
Nazi regime, it is stated, can be di-
vided into two periods-that prior to
1886 when emphasis was placed on
eliminating unemployment; and that
from 1886 on, which began with the
intensification of armament produc-
ton and the initiation of the -Four
year Plan"
X X X
Subordinating all social ends to
strengthening the State for the an
ticipated war, Germany undertook
first to eliminate unemployment. This
was accomplished by various devices
including redistribution of jobs, re-
strictions upon the employment of
women, public works, labor camps and
compulsory military training.
After the elimination of unemploy-
ment came the need for vast labor re-
sources to be utilized in constructing
| Germany's enormous military ma
chine. This involved the mobilization
of labor reserves and the requisition-
ing of labor. Limitations on the en-
ployment of certain classes of per
sons that had been imposed prior to
1886 when unemployment was severe
were removed. The restrictions or
the employment of married women
were revoked. The labor of prison
ers was utilized, compulsory labor
service was introduced in June, 1885
for all German citizens and later was
extended to all persons residing or
German territory. With German in
dustry being organized for total wa,
effort, system of labor priorities OF
compulsory labor distribution was de-
veloped.
Then came the enlistment of labo,
reserves, the bringing into the labor
market Of classes of potential work
ers such as prisoners. When these
methods failed to satisfy the ever
growing demands of expanding wal
industries, foreign workers were i'm
ported and after the conquest of Po
land, Norway and other countries
prisoners of war were used.
Integrated with these changes il
the employment situation were
changes in the regulations governing
wages and hours of work. Maximum
wage rates were established and ex
listing limits on working hours were
repealed. When it became evident tha
Excessively long hours brought reduc
tion in output check was reimpOsed
Both hours and wages, however, wer,
regulated in the interests of the Stat,
with thought for the welfare of tn,
workers only to the extent that thi
influenced the production curve.
1t is significant that one of the frs
steps taken by the National -Socialis
regime when it came into power wa
the destruction of trade unionisn
Employers associations were also de
stroyed