Abstract
Between January 1933 and July 1935, Hitler’s National Socialist government achieved what have been described as “enormous results” in the reduction of unemployment. During his first year in power, Hitler reduced unemployment by over one-third. Within eighteen months, unemployment had been cut by 60 per cent. One is inclined to agree with economist Gerhard Kroll’s (1958, p. 473) observation that “a reduction of unemployment by a third in one year borders on the miraculous”. Kroll does not describe the process by which the Nazis achieved this incredible result. Economics is not religion; “miracles” have to be explained. Hitler’s rapid conquest of German unemployment, a more brilliant feat than any of his Blitzkrieg operations on the battlefield, has never been explained satisfactorily in the vast literature on Nazi Germany. How did the National Socialists, who had little respect for traditional economic expertise, manage to bring off this Wirtschaftswunder?
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
