[SomeOther]

I need to know what Schönheit der Arbeit (SDA) done for the German workers, i knew they improved safety on machinery and also reduced noise in factories can you also tell me what else they did to help the german workers? Can anyone help?

Thank-you

[Mrs Faithorn]

Hello and Welcome to the Student History Help Forum,

The SDA was set up to improve working conditions for German workers - though it only applied to larger factories, mines, chemical works etc. (Smaller places with fewer workers were not covered by the scheme.)

It was responsible for improving things such as the safety of machinery, the ventilation of workshops, noise levels and so on. Inspectors were appointed to ensure the rules were adhered to. In addition the surroundings of factories were to be improved with lawns and gardens for people to sit in in their lunch breaks and toilet facilities and changing rooms were part of the 'better conditions' too.

Subsidised canteens and rest rooms were part of this as well and also the provision of sports facilities.

In addition to the improvements in the work place mentioned above the SDA ewas also responsible for workplace training schemes and vocational training courses.

The SDA was a subsection of the Kraft durch Freude (KdF = Strength through Joy) programme organised byRobert Ley who was head of the DAF (German Labour Front). Obviously all of this was to try to ensure that workers were as productive as possible - and to keep them under state control after the Trades Unions had been abolished in 1933.

Hope this helps. If you have any more questions do post again.

[SomeOther]

the KDF provided the workers with activites to do while they were not working right? What did these activities include? And also im sitting the WJEC exam in 2004 any tips or revision books that would help me?

Thanks once again

[Mr R Drew]

SomeOther, on Oct 5 2003, 05:09 PM, said:

im sitting the WJEC exam in 2004 any tips or revision books that would help me?

i teach the WJEC board, and teach the germany 1918-45 topic.

i am quite sure that Mrs Faithorn has covered more than you could ever possibly need to know about the SDA, in fact you are unlikely to be asked more that a 3-4 point question about the whole workings of the KDF.

re your specific points:

~ the KDF organised events such as: sporting events, concerts, holidays and even cruises. the best events were saved for loyal nazis and the purposes of the KDF were varied, but the important ones you need to focus on are political indoctrination and the slightly more vague notion of keeping the public active and busy in their spare time so as to avoid the development of boredam, frustration and then rebellion.

~ most of the main revision guides include Nazi Germany, which you should get will depend on the other studies in your GCSE.

~ the main tip i give my pupils is to practice, practice, practice their exam technique - how to answer the source based questions, and what is required in the knowledge based answers. for example a 2-sided argument in the overview question will earn you at least half marks, even if the content of the answer is pretty poor. so with quality information added you are guaranteed to do well.