Germany's "Economic Miracle"

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I did not watch the movie on the linked web site, so I have no idea what the exact claims are, but I will comment on the alleged "economic miracle" of Nazi Germany from a historical point of view:

At the time the economic events in Germany were popularly considered an economic rejuvenation and Hitler was credited with restoring the economy of Germany. American newspapers of the time, especially socialist papers, had one article after another praising the nationalizing effect of the Nazis. For example, the government would take over a private mine, reduce the hours of the workers, subsidize the mine, plant flowers outside the buildings and such things were publicized as an "economic miracle" and "workers paradise" where the "people" benefitted instead of a few rich owners. The Nazi state crushed Germany's private auto industry and centralized it, creating "Volkswagen", the "people's car" that everyone could afford, not just the rich. American newspapers made a big deal of how the United States was "forgiving" the World War I reparation payments and how this going to be a big win-win for the world economy. The Nazis instituted all kinds of make-work projects to "employ" young men on city-year type projects and then trumpeted how they had "full employment".

In short, everything was done to give an appearance of huge economic success.

In the background, however, and unknown to the public, these superficially beautiful economics had a rotten core. By destroying small businesses and nationalizing everything the Nazi's economic foundation was quicksand. Sure, they could make poster-child successes like Volkswagen with secret subsidies, but the reality was people, rich or poor, were driving fewer cars than ever. Much of the Nazi's glowing "industrial successes" were financed by monetary tricks and large, secret debts originated in Switzerland, in addition to huge internal debts (like Social Security). The Nazis were boasting how they were feeding all the poor old people, but then hiding how they were financing such "successes".

By 1936 on the surface everything was "fantastic", what a huge success, everyone is employed, no more starvation, industry is booming, we are building a highway network unparalleled in the world that will create a new golden age of commerce! It was easy to make it look good in the newspapers. A few wise observers noticed the true reality: secret work gangs were ripping up park benches and railings in Berlin to salvage them for scrap metal, state bankers were taking ever more frequent trips to Switzerland, rationing of critical goods like butter and meat was introduced (1936). If your economy is so good, why are you rationing?

The definitive book to read about this is Adam Tooze's Wages of Destruction: The Making and Breaking of the Nazi Economy.

Upvote:8

The statement in your second paragraph is a piece of neo-Nazi antisemitic propaganda, which is taken from a Nazi web site. It is improper to call these people "economists".

The economic conditions in Germany indeed improved at the time of Hitler in comparison with what they were before. But this has nothing to to with "removal of Jews" or abolition of "ushury", this is a complete nonsense which should not be seriously discussed in a "history" site.

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