Organized Industrial Production & Farming
As opposed to the current American economy, where production is driven by the pursuit of maximum profit, Hitler initiated a policy of self-sufficiency, where the goal was to produce only what is required by Germans. The goal of the National-Socialist government was to produce for its country everything the German people needed without having to rely on imports to meet the needs of its citizens.
Along with the calculated production of material goods, new policies were introduced so that the aim of farming was to produce what German’s needed, not what was most profitable. The government subsidized the farmers for loss of profit and farmers were given guarantees that all of what was grown would be purchased.
Hitler Eliminated Crime and Improved Health of Germans
By giving social misfits and criminals jobs, Adolf Hitler was able to reduce the crime rate in Germany. In his 1976 book The Twelve-Year Reich, author R. Grunberger stated that there were significant drops in the rates of murder, robbery, theft, embezzlement and petty larceny during the Hitler years.
Many foreigners were impressed by the improved outlook and health of Germans, including Sir Arnold Wilson, a British M.P. who visited Germany seven times after Hitler came to power.
“Infant mortality has been greatly reduced and is considerably inferior to that in Great Britain,” wrote Wilson. “Tuberculosis and other diseases have noticeably diminished. The criminal courts have never had so little to do and the prisons have never had so few occupants. It is a pleasure to observe the physical aptitude of the German youth. Even the poorest persons are better clothed than was formerly the case, and their cheerful faces testify to the psychological improvement that has been wrought within them.”
A prime philosophy of Germany at the time was that all citizens should share the same standard of living. With this in mind, National-Socialist Germany boasted one of the largest public welfare programs in history with the slogan “None shall starve nor freeze”. Every year, high-ranking Nazi’s and citizens would take to the streets to collect charity for the unfortunate, which generated a feeling of comradeship toward those in need.
They even went to the extent of publishing names of those who didn’t give charity in the paper as a punishment or reminder of their neglect. According to Mark Weber of the Institute for Historical Review,
“On one occasion, a civil servant was prosecuted for failure to donate, and his argument that it was voluntary was dismissed on the grounds it was an extreme view of liberty, to neglect all duties not actually prescribed by law, and therefore an abuse of liberty.”
The National-Socialist Anti-Tobacco Mission
National-Socialist doctors were the first to write a major scientific paper linking smoking to lung cancer. Following this report, smoking was banned in restaurants and public transportation systems. Advertising of smoking and cigarettes was severely regulated by the Nazis, and tobacco tax was raised to deter people from smoking. In what was one of the most expensive and effective anti-tobacco movements in history, numerous German health organizations began educating the public that risks of miscarriage were heightened when pregnant women engaged in smoking.
National-Socialist Anti-Tobacco Ad: “He does not devour it, it [the cigarette] devours him!”
In the year 1940, while annual cigarette consumption per capita in America was over 3,000, in Germany it was only 749.
Hitler prohibited the sale of cigarettes to women.
Hitler prohibited smoking for people under the age of 18.
Hitler prohibited smoking for people in uniforms.
Hitler prohibited smoking in public areas.
Hitler was the first to place “warning” photos of cancerous lungs on cigarette boxes.
National-Socialists Created a Culture that Cherished Music
Recognizing the importance weaving music into the fabric of a country rich in culture, Hitler founded the State Music Institute in 1933 after he came into power. Its purpose was to promote the timeless work of composers such as Beethoven, Mozart, Brahms, Wagner, among others. The Nazis ensured that every German citizen had a radio.
Youngsters were encouraged by the National-Socialist government to pursue music as a career in order to preserve the rich ancient German cultural heritage. Jazz, Swing, and sexually provocative music were all banned in Germany during the Hitler era.
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