forced labor
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forced labor
Work that a person is forced to do against their will, often under threat of violence or other punishments.
Historiker untersuchen die Bedingungen der Zwangsarbeit in der Zeit des Nationalsozialismus.
Historians are examining the conditions of forced labor during the Nazi period.
The word is made up of 'der Zwang' (compulsion, force) and 'die Arbeit' (work). So the meaning is literally 'forced work,' which clearly describes the concept.
Unter Zwangsarbeit versteht man jede Arbeit, die nicht freiwillig geleistet wird.
Forced labor means any work that is not performed voluntarily.
Common phrases are 'Zwangsarbeit leisten müssen' (to have to perform forced labor) or 'zur Zwangsarbeit gezwungen werden' (to be forced into forced labor). These passive constructions emphasize that the person has no choice.
Millionen von Menschen wurden während des Krieges zur Zwangsarbeit gezwungen.
Millions of people were forced into forced labor during the war.
This word has a very serious and mostly historical meaning. It is used for severe human rights violations such as slavery or in totalitarian regimes, and it is not a word for everyday complaints about having a lot of work.
Zwangsarbeit ist nach internationalem Recht verboten.
Forced labor is prohibited under international law.
work effort / work assignment
Zwangsarbeit and Arbeitseinsatz can refer to the same forced labor in a historical context. Zwangsarbeit explicitly names the coercion, whereas Arbeitseinsatz can be a euphemistic historical term for it. When the violence and lack of freedom are to be clearly named, Zwangsarbeit is the more explicit term.
Viele Menschen wurden während des Nationalsozialismus zur Zwangsarbeit verpflichtet.
Many people were forced to perform forced labor during National Socialism.
Die Behörden bezeichneten die erzwungene Arbeit damals als Arbeitseinsatz.
The authorities at the time referred to the forced labor as a work assignment.
