32 CIRCULAR 4 71, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



insurance and pensions {84). During the period 1925-32 social- 

 insurance payments bv the State Forest Service of Wurttemberg 

 (with about 500,000 acres of forest) averaged RM4S0, 000 a rear (SI 14," 

 000). Of this, RM122.000 was for sickness insurance, RM132,000 

 for invalid pensions, RM53,000 for imemployment insurance, and 

 EM 173, 000 for accident insurance. 



TRAINING OF FOREST WORKERS 



During the last few years the policy of training woods crews has 

 been widely adopted in Germany. This training has a twofold ob- 

 ject: (1) To inculcate the prevailing political arid social philosophy 

 mationalsozialistiche Weltanschauung), especially in the case of the 

 older workers who have not received such training through member- 

 ship in the various party organizations (Hitlerjugend, Sturmabteilung, 

 etc.): and (2) to acquaint the workers with the most up-to-date tools 

 and technique. Training in technique is particularly necessary 

 because of the policy of selective cutting which is now the official 

 standard for all Germany, for this requires more skill than the clear- 

 cutting methods that have been employed, especially in northern 

 Germany, in the past. One of the greatest obstacles to the introduc- 

 tion of the new methods is said to be the scarcitv of skilled wood 

 cutters {29). 



Saxony held its first training course in 1933, when one three-man 

 and nine two-man crews were assembled at a Labor Service camp and 

 instructed in the care and use of tools, and technique of felling and 

 bucking, and thinning. Since then several courses have been held, 

 usually lasting about 4 days, with 15 to 20 two-man felling crews taking 

 part in each course. The best crews from each State forest have been 

 selected for training, with the idea that they will stimulate the other 

 workers to follow the improved methods. These crews are provided 

 with new tools free or at nominal cost. They are required to advise 

 and assist in accident prevention and in training their fellow workers, 

 and they receive special pay for any time spent on such work. From 

 now on the forest officers in each State forest unit (Forstamt) will be 

 held responsible for training the workers, commencing with the middle- 

 aged men. Training courses are to last several weeks, and are to 

 include some elementary forestry, pruning, seed collection, construc- 

 tion of game fences, road maintenance, accident prevention, first aid 

 and hygiene, physical training, advice on diet and clothing, tools and 

 their use, and political instruction {16). 



Baden started with a course for wood cutters in 1934, with such 

 good results that four courses, two for older workers and two for young 

 men, besides two for road workers, were held in 1935. These courses 

 are given with the cooperation of the vocational training division of 

 the German Labor Front which provides the political instructors. 

 The courses for the older workers are conducted at the forestry college 

 at Karlsruhe; those for younger workers at the camp of the vocational 

 training division. Courses last 3 weeks for woodsmen, 4 days for 

 road workers. Two-man crews who will continue to work together 

 are selected for training. Enrollment in the first course included 26 

 boys 16 to 20 years old, but most of the trainees are somewhat older. 

 The courses are open to workers in communal and private forests as 

 well as to men employed by the State. The subject matter of the 

 courses is much the same as in Saxony: Use of tools, elementary 



