Franklyn Roosevelt and Adolf Hitler wished to see economic and social changes occur in America and Germany during a period of war, which was accompanied by a severe recession. Unemployment rates were high in both countries, and within America, this was attributed to the poor performing industrial state. German citizens faced hunger due to lack of food, and few were eligible for employment as well, and the appalling status of life was apparent globally with low trade and high taxation trends witnessed by many (Hoffmann,1996).
European countries neighboring Germany oriented towards communism became the enemy of German citizens fueled by all the discouragement provided by Hitler at that time. He described communism as the enemy of progress and an attack on “the fatherland.”
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The war occurring after 1914 accelerated the hostility between the world and Germany, led by the United States and a host of countries lobbied for the downfall of the over - aggressive and rigorous nation riddled by controversy. As the author explores unemployment, banking, finance and agriculture in both economies, it will become apparent that both leaders owned their visions for better countries with more opportunities for their citizens through novel approaches mentioned in the inaugural speech by President Roosevelt and the Proclamation to the German nation in 1933.
Reducing the population overbalance in the American industrial parks was one measure proposed by Roosevelt to improve employment rate in the nation. Another proposal by the president was tactfully using the government as an agency of employment. The new deal barely improved employment rates and farming subsidies were insufficient for all American citizens prior to World War II. According to the strategic President Roosevelt, labor was one of the most vibrant and abundant natural resources which were grossly underutilized as a tool to boost commerce. Rather than direct efforts towards materialism, Americans were encouraged to take the lead in turning the economy around. The banks were accused of driving the economy further lower by continuous lending, leading Roosevelt to state, “Happiness lies not in the mere possession of money; it lies in the joy of achievement, in the thrill of creative effort (ibid). Ethics would govern the process of converting Americans and adopting unifying national values such as compassion, hard work, and dedication.
The German government proposed national discipline, orienting its citizens towards economic recovery, through sturdy four-year plans which would drive trade and commerce to production and distribution rather than importation. This was similar to the American approach described by Roosevelt: “…we must move as a trained and loyal army willing to sacrifice for the good of a common discipline” (ibid). The argument was that if local production were boosted, the German working class would have sufficient support and therefore grow in size. Compulsory labor and the controversial back-to-the-land policies were presented for implementation to revive German federalism. Germans were required to take matters into their own hands and deliver their independence from what Adolf considered as oppressive practices, rather than wait for government action to deliver transformations that were desperately demanded by the bourgeois and peasants. Unlike the American approach to rescuing several states from squalor through stimulus programs, Germany could not forego international trade interests, however, during the global downturn, both countries viewed international relations “…secondary to the establishment of a sound national economy” (Roosevelt, 1933).
Both nations appealed to their citizens for national unity in support of the change in public administration that each of the governments proposed. That was predominantly because of the federal approach to controlling financial resources, banking and socio-economic activities such as farming and exportation through international relation channels. Germany had to consider her participation in the war, directing the efforts of men and women to participate in strengthening her army rather than her economy.
The result of that was predictable and inevitable given the poor state of current affairs and relationships with few allies during a time of the dispute. The land was the only resource available to the nation and Germany seemed aware of this because food supply grew to be the second most crucial priority mentioned in the famous speech, second only to employment. Failure was attributed to loyalty to outdated principles limiting the potential of the economy. Attention needed to be directed to the elderly and invalid and obligations to eliminate classism were apparent.
Despite Hitler not mentioning his translation of the mood of the people like his counterpart Roosevelt, he knew was required to present the form of social change. The great depression without a doubt drove economies to redefine their approaches to improving the way of life of all citizens. The American Democratic Party needed to provide relief to the poor, recovery and reform programs that would reduce financial strain and reduce the likelihood of future economic disaster respectively.
Industrial improvements, construction and promotion of local parks and farms for vulnerable counties helped provide cheap solutions that would raise income to the economy. Hitler’s speech seemed to borrow a broad approach towards coming up with strategies to improve the state of economic wellbeing of Germany. Unionization had not yet reached intermediate levels which would lobby for improved working conditions in Germany, which could be one reason why the analysis and strategies proposed by both leaders seemed quite similar in their proposed interventions and management of the expectations of the electorate.
References
Hoffmann, P. (1996). History of the German Resistance, 1933-1945 . McGill-Queen's Press-MQUP.
Roosevelt, F. D. (1933). First Inaugural Address (excerpts). Saturday, March , 4 .
