Deutsche Arbeitsfront (DAF)

Deutsche Arbeitsfront DAF
Figure 1.--This is a DAF function with Hitler Youth Boys instead of adult DAF members. We know it is a DAF function because we can see the gearwheel DAF emblem on the NAZI flags at the back. +We think it is probably a ceremony associated with the Adolf Hitler Schools. Except for the boy receiving the award, the otherHJ boys appear to be musicians. Presumably to th left there is seating for many of the boys at the school.

The NAZIs upon seizing power swiftly created the Deutsche Arbeitsfront (German Labor Front, DAF). This essentially replaced free trade unions which had a Socialist/Communist orientation with a labor association controlled by the NAZI Party (May 2, 1933). Hitler ordered the SA to arrest former labor leaders throughout Germany and confiscate the property of the suppressed unions. Hitler selected Dr. Robert Ley to organize the new DAF. Ley was both Reichsorganisationsleiter (Reich Organization Leader) and leader of the German Labor Front. There had been NAZI Party cells organized in the unions (National Socialist Factory Cells Organization of NSBO). The key positions in the DAF were filled with these individuals. At a NAZI organized Worker's Congress, Hitler was made the DAF patron (May 10, 1933). He then gave Robert Ley the task of forming the Labour Front (DAF), the only union organization allowed in the Third Reich. Trade union collective bargaining was replaced with the NAZI Leadership Principle (Fuehrerprinzip) by decree (January 1934). Essential the industrialist and other entrepreneur became the leader and the workers were expected to loyally follow rather than make demands. In fact Ley through the DAF implemented a pay freeze (1933). The DAF set wages as well as a system of compulsory deductions (income tax and for the Strength Through Joy program). The DAF issued work-books with details on each worker's employment record. Workers could not obtain jobs without a DAF work book. This made it difficult for Jews and dissidents to obtain work. The NAZIs created the Reichsarbeitsdienst/Labor Service (RAD) under which young men and women between 18 and 25 years of age were conscripted for labor service under the administration of the Reich Minister of Interior, Frick (1935). The DAF became the the largest but hardly the most important of the Party's organizations. At the outbreak of World War II there were 23 million members and an estimated 10 million corporative members (1939). The DAF during the war was responsible for the care of foreign labor employed within the Reich. Ley and Youth Leader Baudar von Baldur von Schirach cooperated to set up the Adolf Hitler Schools.

German Labor Movement

Trade unions have a long history in Germany, reaching back to the liberal German revolutions (1848). At the time it was more an association of artisans than a industrial trade movement. German industrialization was just beginning at the time, but subsequently proceeded with great rapidity. Thus the trade union movement emerged as as an important force (1860s). From this point it developed a kind of split personality. While a relatively new phenomenon, it slowly became integrated into the social and economic structure of a rising industrial and capitalist German state. Soon after industrial unions appeared, German w unified under the Prussian monarchy as the German Empire (1871). At the same time with strong Marxist influences (both Socialist and Communist), a substantial element of the labor movement held politically revolutionary ideologies. This deeply disturbed German industrialists. Even so, the German labor movement proved basically pragmatic, concentrating on economic issues like wages and working conditions. The conservative German Imperial Government under Chancellor Bismarck also pursued pragmatic policies such as establishing a retirement pension (social security) system. Even so, German workers earned wages substantially below those of American or even British workers. One author point to an alienation of an important element of the working class. [Geary] A strong social class system limited the economic prospects of the working class. When World War I came, workers mostly patriotically supported their countries. Labor leaders were split with a small minority opposing the War. Socialist politicians elected primarily by workers supported war credits in the Reichstag. Most of the German trade unions during the Weimar era were organized into two large congresses or federations, the Free Trade Unions (Freie Gewerk schaften) and Christian Trade Unions (Christlichen Gewerk-schaften). Labor unions had developed along partisan lines. Thus while the labor movement was strong and potentially powerful, division along socialist, communist, Catholic, and liberal trade unions, which limited its influence. The division apparent within the movement became more heated during hyper-political atmosphere of the Weimar Republic. It rendered them ineffective in resisting the NAZIs. A major factor here was that the German Communist Party (KPD) and associated unions were ordered by Stalin to join with the NAZIs in opposing the Government and not to join with the Socialists (SPD) in resisting the NAZIs. And growing fear on the part of the industrialists led them to support right-wing politicians like Adolf Hitler who pledged to resist the Communists. .

NAZI Suppression of the Free Labor Movement

Hitler ordered the SA to arrest former labor leaders throughout Germany and confiscate the property of the suppressed unions. Ley issued an NSDAP circular directive (April 21, 1933). This detailed a 'coordination action' (Gleichschaltunsaktion) to be executed May 2, 1933 against the Free Trade Unions. Ley ordered the NAZI Gau leaders (Gauleiters) to execution the action in their respective areas. Ley's directive ordered that SA and SS to occupying the union offices and the Bank of Workers, employees and directors. The SA and SS were also instructed to take the principal union leaders into 'protective custody'. The planned action was executed (May 2). The NAZI press service reported to the public that the National Socialist Factory Cells Organization (NSBO) had 'eliminated the old leadership" of trade unions and taken over their leadership. Ley supported by the NAZI security apparatus persecuted the former union leaders. The chairmen of the unions were to be taken into 'protective custody'. Lesser leaders were dealt with on an individual and sporadic basis. Many were arrested. Here the Gauliters were involved in the decisions. The DAF published a 'List of Outlaws' who were to be denied employment in the factories (late-June 1933). The List included union leaders who had actively opposed the NAZIs and who were accused of continuing their resistance surreptitiously. The union leaders were subjected to various forms of maltreatment, from physical assaults to outright murder. And with the creation of Dachau and subsequent concentration camps, this could be done behind barbed wire away from public view. Thus union leaders suffered assault and battery, degrading work, work beyond their physical abilities, solitary confinement. denial of adequate food and medical care, surveillance, arrest and maltreatment of members of their families, and in many cases death because of such mistreatment or outright murder. Most of this was cone outside of German law.

Creation of the Deutsche Arbeitsfront (May 1933)

Removing trade union and banning trade unions leaders was a key step in Hitler's effort to gain firm control of Germany. He realized that many workers would deeply resented these actions. Thus it was necessary to create a trade union, but one under his control. The NAZIs thus upon seizing power swiftly created the Deutsche Arbeitsfront (German Labor Front, DAF). This essentially replaced free trade unions which had a Socialist/Communist orientation with a labor association controlled by the NAZI Party (May 2, 1933). There had been NAZI Party cells organized in the unions (NSBOs). The key positions in the DAF were filled with these individuals. At a NAZI organized Worker's Congress, Hitler was made the DAF patron (May 10, 1933).

Robert Ley

Hitler selected Dr. Robert Ley to organize the new DAF. Ley was both Reichsorganisationsleiter (Reich Organization Leader) and leader of the German Labor Front. He then gave Robert Ley the task of forming the Labour Front (DAF), the only union organization allowed in the Third Reich. Ley's father was a poor peasant farmer. Robert was born in Niederbreidenbach (1890). He was a pilot during World War I. He was shot down over France, but survived (1917). He was a POW for over 2 years. After the war Ley he worked as a chemist for I.G. Farben, but was fired because he came to work drunk. Unemployed, he joined the National Socialist German Workers Party (NAZIs) as it was recovering from the Beer Hall Putsch fiasco (1925). Hitler was apparently impressed by him and made him Gauleiter for Rhineland South. Gregor Strasser in the radical wing of the SA had a falling out with Hitler as President Hindenburg and Chancellor Kurt von Schleicher attempted to split the NAZI Party (1932). Ley replaced Strasser as leader of the Reich Organization. Ley also began publishing the NAZI magazine Westdeutscher Beobachter. Hitler saw Strasser as a dangerous rival and he was he was one of the targets during the Night of the Long Knives. After Hitler was appointed Chancellor and armed with the Enabling Acts, he moved against the free trade unions. Hitler suppressed the trade unions and ordered labor leaders arrested. Most all were socialists or communists and opposed to Hitler and the NAZIs. He then ordered Ley to forming the NAZI German Labour Front (DAF) to replace the free trade union movement. Ley seized the union funds and facilities. The DAF sponsored the Strength through Joy program. As head of the DAF he enriched himself, partly through the use of worker funds and partly through seizing the property of wealthy Jews. Given his role in mobilizing labor for the War, Ley was deeply involved in the NAZI slave labor program. He encouraged Hitler to use poison gas against the Soviets on the Eastern Front. American Airborn soldiers arrested Ley who was hiding near the Austrian border. The Allies charged him with war crimes. The IMT defendants were confined at Nuremberg for their trial. Ley rather surprisingly given the statements he made earlier, penned a statement denouncing anti-Semitism. He then hanged himself in his cell (October 1945).

Function

Trade union collective bargaining was replaced with the NAZI Leadership Principle (Fuehrerprinzip) by decree (January 1934). Essential the industrialist and other entrepreneur became the leader and the workers were expected to loyally follow rather than make demands. In fact Ley through the DAF implemented a pay freeze (1933). The DAF set wages as well as a system of compulsory deductions (income tax and for the Strength Through Joy program). The DAF issued work-books with details on each worker's employment record. Workers could not obtain jobs without a DAF work book. This made it difficult for Jews and dissidents to obtain work. The DAF functioned as an instrument to impose NAZI ideology on the German working class. Many workers were influenced by NAZI propaganda, but all had to go along with the system if they wanted to work. The DAF provided the NAZIs effective control over the German industrial work force, essential for the Rearmament effort. The DAF was responsible for the ideological orientation of the industrial work force, much of which had left wing beliefs at odds with NAZI ideology. DAF leaders began weeding out opponents whose beliefs could not be changed. NAZI cells in Weimar factories had already identified many such individuals. After the NAZI takeover, the DAF had access to Gestapo reports. The DAF set up it own intelligence service. The DAF also seized control the German Cooperatives with the goal of closing them down. One author writes, "Deprived of the trade unions, collective bargaining, and the right to strike, the German workers in the Third Reich became an industrial serf, bound to his master, the employer, much as medieval peasants had been bound to the lord of the manner. The so called Labor Front, which in theory replaced the old trade unions, did not represent the workers. According to the law of October 24, 1934, which created it, was 'the organization of creative Germans of brain and fist." It took on not only wage and salary earners, but also the employers and members of the professions. It was really a vast propaganda organization, and as some workers said, a gigantic fraud. Its aim, as state in law, was not to protect the workers, but to 'create a true social and productive community of all Germans. Its task is to see that every individual should be able to…perform the maximum of work.'" [Shirer, p. 263.]

Werkscharen

The DAF set up Factory Troops (Werkscharen) within the Strength Through Joy branch of the German Labor Front as an "ideological shock squad (Weltanschaulicher Stosstrupp) at the factory level. These shock squads were formed from ardent NAZI volunteers ready 'to fight' for NAZI ideals. The purpose was to increase the speed of production and creation of a 'single-willed community'. The DAF turned to the SA " to help recruit and organize the Factory Troops. Factory workers who joined the Factory Troops became a candidate for the SA. Factory Troops were provided a special uniform. Physical training was conducted as part of the training of SA cadre units.

Membership

The DAF became the the largest but hardly the most important of the Party's organizations. At the outbreak of World War II there were 23 million members and an estimated 10 million corporative members (1939).

NAZI Goals

Notably there was labor 'peace' in NAZI Germany. This basically meant that workers were not allowed to make demands. There were no strikes permitted. The DAF set wages and working comditions. Workers were not allowed to reject the wages set. And here was a major difference between the desires of the NAZI Party and worker interests. Hitler's primary objective from the instance he took power was to develop military power allowing him redraw the map of Europe through military force. And a personal desire to be a great war leader. And this required a massive and very costly rearmament program. The problem for Hitler was that Germany had neither the resources or the financial capability to accomplish this. Fortunately for Hitler, he found a financial genius, Hjlmar Schiacht, to invent creative mechanisms to finance the massive rearmament program. Still there was constant financial stresses. And while the interest of the DAF workers was for increased wages, the desire of Hiler was to limit wages so rearmament could be accomplished a cheaply as posible. Thus the DAF invented a range of rewards and nenefits that could be offered in lieu of higher wages.

Kraft durch Freude / Strength through Joy (KdF)

The German Labor Front (DAF)after suppressing free trade unions, restricted wages. High wages would have impaired the rapid German Rearmament Program . Financing rearmament was a challenge. So Ley's DAF sought alternative ways to reward workers that would not impeded rearmament. Key sought to develop alternatives to rewarding workers rather than higher wages. A major DAF effort was the Kraft durch Freude (Strength through Joy, KdF) Movement. It also provided a useful side benefit, the ability of the regime to supervise workers beyond the workplace. Before the NAZIs seized power, there was a great deal of support for the Communists and Socialists. Ley while a nationalist and perhaps because of his childhood background had socialist ideas and a desire to improve the situation of the rural and urban working-class families. He introduced a range of schemes. The best known is the Strength through Joy program. KdF became a massive undertaking. The organization reported a membership of 30 million Germans only a few years after the NAZIs seized power (1936). KdF provided recreational opportunities for workers. The scope of KdF was enormous. Recreational opportunities include theaters and concerts. This was primarily for the urban industrial workforce, but farmers and farm workers were not forgotten. Trains were made available for rural workers to get to the city for a range of events. A major aspect of the program was providing vacation opportunities for workers. It was in the area of vacations that KdF was perhaps best known. There were summer holidays, skiing holidays, summer and winter hikes, ocean cruises and a range of healthful outdoors activities. Before the NAZIs, German working class families did not commonly take vacations. Ley and the DAF helped changed that. He made trips to popular vacation spots possible and even ocean cruises. He saw to the financing for the Wilhelm Gustloff on which workers were able to take vacation cruises. Before the NAZIs, cruises were something only the affluent did. Other DAF activities included free gymnastic programs, and trips abroad (primarily to Italy).

Volkswagen

Another well known DAF project under Ley was with car maker Ferdinand Porsche in developing the Volkswagen--an inexpensive people's car. Car ownership was something beyond workers in Germany. The Volkswagen program proved particularly profitable to the DAF and Ley. Workers subscribed and paid monthly allotments and were to receive their cars in the future--providing Ley a huge and growing pot of cash. Hitler launched the War, however, before any VWs were actually built.

Reich Labor Service

The NAZIs created the Reichsarbeitsdienst/Labor Service (RAD) under which young men and women between 18 and 25 years of age were conscripted for labor service under the administration of the Reich Minister of Interior, Frick (1935). They worked for the government for 6 months. During the Weimar Republic, the Bruning Government in 1931 established work camps to house mostly young men who volunteered for labor service. The program was comparable to the Civilian Construction Corps (CCC) that was later created by the Roosevelt Administration (New Deal) in the United States. The purpose in both instances was to create jobs for unemployed youth as a result of the world-wide Depression. The NAZIs seized power in 1933 and in July 1934 established the RAD. It was expanded and made compulsory in 1935. The RAD was the official state and party labor service providing jobs for unemployed men. Many boys then joined the military or found jobs until drafted. Others entered university. The RAD undertook the construction of Germany's innovative Autobahn system as well as other roads, land reclamation, drainage projects and soil conservation. The RAD was also helped to construct military fortifications and installations.

Adolf Hitler Schools

There were two kinds of NAZI Party schools created at the secondary level. The second type was created by the NAZIs were called the Adolf Hitler Schulen (AHS--Adolf Hitler Schools). The AHS were founded because the SS essentially seized control of the NAPOLA. Reichsorganisationsleiter Dr. Robert Ley (DAF leader of the DAF) and Baldur von Schirach (Hitler Youth leader) agreed to set up the new schools in January 1937. These schools, according to the joint statement issued by Schirach and Ley, were open to outstanding and proven members of the Jungvolk, the junior section of the Hitler Youth. The selection from the Jungfolk was of course because the boys enter the AHS at age 12. I have no details on the selection process. Presumably it was similar to the NAPOLAs. Selection to the AHS was a great honor. Not only were there no fees, but success at the schools would open a wide range of opportunities to boys who might come from humble backgrounds. These schools were units of and under the jurisdiction of the Hitler Youth. Schirach and Ley shared in the supervision of both the curriculum and the selection of school staff.

Foreign Workers

Given his role in mobilizing labor for the War, Ley was deeply involved in the NAZI slave labor program. Ley during the War helped organize the recruitment of slave labor in occupied countries to assist in the war effort. With World War II began, Ley's responsibilities became even more important to make sure that labor was mobilized for the War. This became an increasing problem when what Hitler expected to be a short successful war turned into a long drawn out struggle. And when Britain was joined by the Soviet Union and United States as a result of Hitler's decisions, more and more German men meaning German workers and DAF members were needed for combat at the front. This meant workers had to be conscripted, creating labor shortages even in critical war industries. Ley was involved in bringing workers from occupied countries, usually against their will into the Reich. Jews were used temporarily for labor in Poland, but the killing process began on an industrial scale in the Soviet Union (June 1941) and subsequently in Poland. This eliminated large numbers of people who could be used for labor. Ley was involved in the labor programs for non-Jews. Poles, Ukrainians and Soviet POWs were and captured Russian prisoners were forced to work under appalling conditions. Workers were also brought in from the West and conditions were somewhat better. Not all of the workers were slaves. Some such as the Spanish were voluntary paid workers, but most were either forced or slave workers. There were SS punishment camps for civilians in occupied countries that resisted the NAZIs. Many thousands died of mistreatment or were sent to the concentration camps for eventual death. Ley was not involved in the actual killing as far as we know. The SS did that. Ley did, however, help set up the overall system. We worked closely will both Reichminister of Armaments and Munitions Albert Speer and Slave Labor Recruitment Director Fritz Sauckel, fellow IMT defendants.

Sources

Geary, Dick. "The German Labour Movement 1848-1919," European Studies Review Vol. VI (1976), pp. 297-330.

Shirer, William L. The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich: A History of NAZI Germany (Simon and Schuster, 1960).






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