ABSTRACT
The National Socialists are well aware that the sense of solidarity is the source of the working class’s strength, and as a result the aim of all their measures, whether directed for or against the workers, is to stifle the sense of that solidarity. . . . The damage they have done to the workers, as far as wages, taxes and welfare insurance are concerned, has always been so designed as to avoid affecting large groups in equal measure. General damage might possibly provoke counter-moves. It is debatable how successful this policy of the National Socialists has been, not least because the destruction of the sense of solidarity began earlier during the economic crisis. The crisis induced the worker to place a low value on negotiated wage agreements – the most precious achievement of collective action – and to seek work at any price. The National Socialists have now reduced the worker to the point that he often goes to the boss on his own to try to avert a deterioration in wages, especially over piece rates, and gets a concession out of the boss on the condition that he tells his workmates nothing about it. One often has the impression, particularly with young workers that the idea no longer even occurs to them that their demands might carry more weight if backed by collective action – even if only on the smallest scale.
