Employment record book

The workbook was a letter issued by government agencies document that was submitted to an employer mandatory in recruitment. The aim was to control the occupational mobility of workers and to make them dependent on the commitment by the previous employer. So it should be made impossible for workers to take advantage of wage differentials between companies or sectors by a change of company. The workbook was thus a means, in principle, restrict the freedom of occupation, after 1935, also an instrument of economic mobilization in preparation for the Four Year Plan.

In some countries, such as Slovenia, the workbook is still in use and required by law for each worker. In the GDR, the document has been partially performed until 1967.

History

Already in the Trade Regulations of the North German Confederation, the guide was a work book for young factory worker duty without a job was not allowed. This scheme was extended to the amendment of the Commercial Code for the German Empire 1883 on all industrial workers, including journeymen.

1935 workbooks have been progressively introduced compulsory for all adult workers.

Act of 1935

On 26 February 1935 the "Law on the introduction of a workbook " ( Reich Law Gazette I, p 311) has been adopted to read as follows:

The Reich Government has enacted the following law which is hereby promulgated:

§ 1 ( 1) In order to ensure the appropriate corresponding distribution of workers in the German economy, a workbook is introduced. ( 2) The group of people, are introduced for the workbooks, the time of the introduction and further details concerning the structure of the workbooks is determined by the Minister of Labour.

§ 2 workers and employees, are drawn up for them in accordance with § 1 workbooks, must of the time points, to determine the minister of labor, are only employed if they are in possession of a duly issued workbook.

§ 3 (1 ) The workbooks are issued by the labor offices. ( 2) Other Sites is the exhibition of work books or similar statements, of which the setting as a worker or employee or a preference in hiring is to be made ​​subject to the prohibited, unless special legal provisions allow exceptions.

§ 4 (1) Whoever contrary to the provisions of § 2 a worker or employee employed or can employ as workers or employees, shall be punished with fine up to one hundred and fifty marks or with imprisonment. ( 2) Anyone who exhibits contrary to the provisions of § 3 workbooks or similar statements intentionally, shall be punished with imprisonment and fine, or with one of these penalties.

§ 5 The Minister of Labour is empowered to adopt ordinances and general administrative regulations for the implementation and completion of this Act. The Court may order that, and to what extent found in breach of the provisions adopted by that the threatened penalties in § 4 application.

§ 6 This Act shall enter into force on 1 April 1935. Implementing and supplementing regulations may be adopted before the entry into force.

Implementation

The workbook duty in 1935 first introduced for industrial shortage occupations such as miners and metal worker, but then rapidly expanded to other occupational groups. 1938 had been issued by the labor offices around 22,500,000 workbooks. The workbook was a numbered thin booklet in format DIN A 6 with 32 pages. The first three digits of the workbook number (eg 335 for Labour Office Heidelberg, Sinsheim extension ) gave an indication of one of the 345 eligible to draw up the employment offices. Parallel to the work book was out an index card with the issuing employment office under the same number.

The workbook and the file made ​​it possible to state control to the " well-planned distribution of labor in the long run ." " Distortion of the labor market " should be intercepted without having to make wage policy concessions. Hermann Goering declared in November 1938 on the Reich:

"People distribution is the most important and most difficult [ ... ] problem. Because of the great shortage of labor, a method must be employed, which no longer draws on the full, but simplified, saving on humans. Man is an irreplaceable saving fabric .. "

Goering was planning in terms of capturing the preparations for war, all German men and women in a Volkskartei between 14 and 70 years. As a basis, the workbook file should be used.