Editing Gleichschaltung (section)

==Coordination of the trade union movement==
The [[Trade unions in Germany|German trade union movement]] had a long history, dating to the mid-nineteenth-century. At the time of the [[Weimar Republic]], its largest grouping was the [[General German Trade Union Federation]] (ADGB). This was an umbrella organization that was formed in July 1919 and was originally composed of 52 unions with about 8 million workers. It was generally affiliated with the [[Social Democratic Party (Germany)|Social Democratic Party]] (SPD) and was on the left of the political spectrum. In March 1920, it was instrumental in calling a [[general strike]] that led to the collapse of the right-wing [[Kapp Putsch]] that attempted to overthrow the republic. It was led from January 1921 by [[Theodor Leipart]]. Following the [[Great Depression|economic downturn of 1929]], the resulting sharp rise in unemployment caused a large drop-off in membership but, by 1932, it still represented an estimated 3.5 million workers in some 30 unions.{{sfn|LeMO, Allgemeiner Deutscher Gewerkschaftsbund}} 

When the Nazis came to power at the end of January 1933, there was some sentiment for a [[general strike]] by SPD politicians and trade unionists, but the national leadership was wary of such an action in the face of the worst unemployment crisis the nation had experienced. Though there were some sporadic isolated incidents, no general policy of resistance was undertaken.{{sfn|Evans|2003|p=319}} The Nazis embarked on a policy of violence and intimidation against all their opponents, including the SPD-affiliated trade unions. In an effort to safeguard his organization and its members, Leipart declared the ADBG  politically "neutral" within weeks of the Nazis coming to power.{{sfn|GHDI, Prohibition of Free Trade-Unions}} Meanwhile, Party leaders convinced conservative elements among the police, the judiciary, prison administrators and civil servants that suppression of the labor movement was justified.{{sfn|Evans|2003|p=337}}

Following the Nazi gains in the [[March 1933 German federal election|Reichstag election of 5 March 1933]], violent episodes increased in intensity, with [[Sturmabteilung|SA]] stormtroopers ransacking trade union offices, assaulting staff, destroying furniture and equipment, stealing funds and burning documents. By 25 March, union offices in some 45 towns throughout the Reich had been attacked. At this point, the trade unions began to distance themselves from the SPD in an attempt to  seek an accommodation with the regime.{{sfn|Evans|2003|pp=341, 355}} On 28 April, the ADGB agreed to move toward unification with the conservative Christian and the bourgeois liberal trade union groups, to form a single national labor organization in the new Nazi state. Leipart also supported the announcement by Goebbels that May Day would be celebrated as a public holiday for the first time, a long-sought goal of the labor movement. But any efforts at reconciliation on the unions' part proved futile, as the Nazis had already begun to plot a complete takeover of the trade union movement, as demonstrated by Goebbels's diary entry of 17 April:

<blockquote>On 1 May we shall arrange May Day as a grandiose demonstration of the German people's will. On 2 May the trade union offices will be occupied. Coordination in this area too. There might possibly be a row for a few days, but then they will belong to us. We must make no allowances anymore. … Once the trade unions are in our hands the other parties and organizations will not be able to hold out for much longer.{{sfn|Evans|2003|p=357}}</blockquote>

Accordingly, 1 May 1933 was declared the Day of National Labor, a day of parades, speeches and propaganda displays to celebrate the unity of the German labor movement with the nation, featuring SA military bands, swastika flags and fireworks. It culminated with a huge rally and speech by Hitler at [[Berlin Tempelhof Airport]] that was attended by over one million people. Many workers, particularly those in state employment, were compelled to participate by threats of dismissal for not attending. The next day, as Goebbels had indicated, the German labor movement was crushed under a wave of unprecedented violence at the hands of SA and [[Schutzstaffel|SS]] troops. All SPD-supported trade union offices were occupied, their newspapers and periodicals were discontinued, their banks and credit unions were closed, and their assets were confiscated and turned over to the [[National Socialist Factory Cell Organization]]. Leipart and other union leaders were taken into "protective custody" and sent to concentration camps. Violence was inflicted on many and, in the most brutal incident, four union officials were beaten to death in [[Duisburg]].{{sfn|Evans|2003|pp=356–358}}

[[File:Deutsches Reichsgesetzblatt 33T1 052 0285.jpg|thumb|Promulgation of the [[Law on the Trustees of Labour]] in the ''[[Reichsgesetzblatt]]'' of 20 May 1933]]
Two days later, other non-SPD-aligned union amalgamations, such as the conservative [[German National Association of Commercial Employees]] and the liberal {{ill|Hirsch-Dunckersche Gewerkvereine|de}}, placed themselves under the Action Committee for the Protection of German Labor, headed by [[Robert Ley]], the ''Stabschef'' (chief of staff) of the Nazi Party organization. The last remaining union umbrella agency, the Christian-oriented {{ill|Deutscher Gewerkschaftsbund (1919–1933)|de}} was absorbed at the end of June.{{sfn|Broszat|1981|p=140}} Throughout this process, there were no strikes, no demonstrations and no protests. Even the Nazis were surprised. The most highly organized and powerful trade union movement in Europe offered no resistance and disappeared virtually overnight.{{sfn|Childers|2017|p=261}}

In its place, the [[German Labor Front]] ({{langx|de|Deutsche Arbeitsfront}} or DAF), a Nazi Party organization led by Ley, was established on 10 May. Its goal was coordination of the entire labor force under Nazi leadership. On 19 May, the government enacted the [[Law on the Trustees of Labour]] that decreed an end to collective bargaining. It established [[Trustee of Labour|Trustees of Labour]], who were appointed by Hitler and charged with regulating labor contracts and maintaining labor peace. Since their decisions were legally binding, strikes were effectively outlawed.{{sfn|Shirer|1960|p=203}}

===Strength Through Joy===
An all-embracing recreational organization for workers, called {{lang|de|[[Kraft durch Freude]]}} ("Strength Through Joy") was set up under the auspices of the German Labor Front.{{sfn|Childers|2017|p=310}} Hobbies were regimented and all private clubs, whether chess, football, or woodworking, were brought under the control of Strength Through Joy, which also provided vacation trips, skiing, swimming, concerts, and ocean cruises. Some 43 million Germans enjoyed trips via the Strength Through Joy initiative. This effort inspired the idea of Germans acquiring automobiles and the construction of the ''[[Autobahn]]''. It was the largest of the many organizations the Nazis established and a propaganda success.{{sfn|Childers|2017|pp=310–311}} Workers were also brought in line with the party through activities such as the {{lang|de|[[Reichsberufswettkampf]]}}, a national vocational competition.{{sfn|Schoenbaum|1997|p=95}} Many unemployed people were also drafted into the [[Reich Labour Service]], where they were given uniforms and tools and put to work; the disappearance of unemployed people from the streets contributed to the perception that the Nazis were improving Germany's economic conditions.{{sfn|Childers|2001}}