Title From craftsmen to capitalists : German artisans from the Third Reich to the Federal Republic, 1939-1953 / Frederick L. McKitrick

Published New York : Berghahn, 2016

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Description 1 online resource (xx, 286 pages) Series Monographs in German history ; volume 37 Monographs in German history ; v. 37. Contents Note on the Handwerk trades -- Part I. Handwerk in crisis, 1918-1933 -- From Zünfte to Nazism : German Handwerk to 1939 -- Part II. Handwerk at war : 1939-1945 -- Handwerk in the war economy, 1939-1941 -- The Speer ministry : the coordination of industry and handwerk, 1942-1945 -- Part III. The occupation period, 1945-1949 : the confrontation with the American free market -- The occupation -- The legal consolidation of Handwerk corporatism in the British zone -- Developments in the U.S. zone leading up to the introduction of Gewerbefreiheit -- The role of organization and leadership in the modernization of Handwerk -- Part IV. The early federal republic, 1949-1953 -- The effects of Gewerbefreiheit on Handwerk -- The integration of Handwerk organizations into the political fabric of the Federal Republic -- Changes in structure and outlook in Handwerk -- Conclusion: Revolution in handwerk? Summary "Politically adrift, alienated from Weimar society, and fearful of competition from industrial elites and the working class alike, the independent artisans of interwar Germany were a particularly receptive audience for National Socialist ideology. As Hitler consolidated power, they emerged as an important Nazi constituency, drawn by the party's rejection of both capitalism and Bolshevism. Yet, in the years after 1945, the artisan class became one of the pillars of postwar stability, thoroughly integrated into German society. From Craftsmen to Capitalists gives the first account of this astonishing transformation, exploring how skilled tradesmen recast their historical traditions and forged alliances with former antagonists to help realize German democratization and recovery; 'Among historians, German Handwerker have typically been treated only in terms of their presumed Nazi sentiments or persistent economic backwardness. This extensively researched, well-written volume shows that these artisans were neither exclusively reactionary in their politics nor cynically sacrificed by the Nazis at the altar of the war economy'--Jay Lockenour, Temple University; 'This is an impressive study that bears directly upon important scholarly debates. McKitrick's sympathy for the plight of tradespeople in a rapidly changing society is palpable, and he rightly handles their history with a due consideration of its complexity, rather than treating them as reactionary caricatures'--Perry Biddiscombe, University of Victoria"--Publisher's website Bibliography Includes bibliographical references (pages 253-275) and index Notes Print version record Subject Artisans -- Germany -- History -- 20th century Artisans -- Political activity -- Germany -- History -- 20th century Handicraft industries -- Germany -- History -- 20th century Social change -- Germany -- History -- 20th century National socialism -- History Democratization -- Germany -- History -- 20th century BUSINESS & ECONOMICS -- Labor. POLITICAL SCIENCE -- Labor & Industrial Relations. HISTORY -- Europe -- Germany. Artisans Artisans -- Political activity Democratization Economic history Handicraft industries National socialism Politics and government Social change Kunsthandwerker SUBJECT Germany -- Economic conditions -- 1918-1945. http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85054497 Germany -- Economic conditions -- 1945-1990. http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85054498 Germany -- Politics and government -- 1933-1945. http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85054640 Germany -- Politics and government -- 1945-1990. http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh91001651 Subject Germany Deutschland Genre/Form History Form Electronic book ISBN 9781785332494 178533249X

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