Reichsnährstand

The Reichsnährstand (RNS) was a government body set up in Nazi Germany to regulate food production.[1]

Contents

Foundation

The Reichsnährstand was founded by the Reichsnahrstandsgesetz (decree) of 13 September, 1933;[2] it was led by R. Walther Darré.[3]

Policies

The Reichsnährstand had legal authority over everyone involved in agricultural production and distribution. It attempted to interfere in the market for agricultural goods, using a complex system of orders, price controls, and prohibitions, through regional marketing associations.[2]

The Reichsnährstand's argument that Germany "needed" an additional 7-8 million hectares of farmland, and that consolidation of existing farms would displace many existing farmers who would need to work new land, influenced Hitler's decision to invade the Soviet Union.[4]

See Also

References

  1. ^ Lovin, Clifford R. (October 1969). "Agricultural Reorganization in the Third Reich: The Reich Food Corporation (Reichsnahrstand), 1933-1936". Agricultural History 43:4: 447–461. 
  2. ^ a b Wunderlich, Frieda (May 1938). "GERMANY'S DEFENSE ECONOMY". Quarterly Journal of Economics: 401–430. 
  3. ^ "Lexicon: Reichsnahrstand - RNS". http://www.zupdom.com/icons-multimedia/ClientsArea/HoH/LIBARC/LEXICON/LexEntry/Reichsna.html. Retrieved 2011-02-14. 
  4. ^ "Food and warfare: Marching on their stomachs". The Economist. 3 February 2011. http://www.economist.com/node/18060808?story_id=18060808&fsrc=rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+economist%2Ffull_print_edition+(The+Economist%3A+Full+print+edition). Retrieved 2011-02-14.