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As the Nazis realized that they were going to need much bigger facilities to house all of their prisoners, for example at the Dachau concentration camp, they were also pouring money into the armament in preparation for war. How would they be able to afford building and expanding the concentration camp facilities?

They would use funds that had been taken from Jewish businesses.


They used the inmates as free labor to deconstruct and rebuild the camps.


They appealed to all German citizens to donate to the effort.


They took money that had been set aside for social services to build the camps.

User Shuli
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Final answer:

The Nazis funded the expansion of concentration camps by using prisoners for free labor and seizing Jewish assets, alongside redirecting funds from social services to support militarization and infrastructure projects.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Nazis were able to afford building and expanding concentration camp facilities, such as Dachau concentration camp, primarily through exploitative mechanisms. To elaborate, they used the inmates as free labor to construct and expand these camps. This not only included the construction itself but also the operation of various industries and production inside the camps, which were often linked to the German armaments industry. Additionally, the Nazi regime would seize assets and funds from Jewish businesses and individuals, redirecting these resources towards their various war efforts, including the maintenance and expansion of concentration and extermination camps.

The ideology-driven economy saw the de-prioritizing or redirection of funds from other social services as well, with a heavy focus on infrastructure and militarization. This was fueled by a broader economic policy that promoted massive public work projects, such as the creation of the Autobahn and the expansion of the military-industrial complex, to reduce unemployment and stimulate the economy. These programs were supported, in part, by harsh controls over the workforce and the citizenry at large, ensuring a labor force and resources for the Nazi war machine and its associated projects, including concentration camps.

User Gustavo Carreno
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