Really, they were compelled to work.

Long hours and the last degree of efficiency were necessary in order to meet the requirements of life and the tremendous burdens of taxation caused by the army, the navy, the fortifications and the military machine in general; to say nothing of the expense of maintaining the autocratic pomp of the Kaiser, his sons and satellites.
Every member of the German family had his or her task, even to the little three-year-old toddler whose business it was to look after the brooms, dust rags and other household utensils.

There was nothing of cheerfulness or even of the dignity of labor about this.

It was hard, unceasing, grinding toil which crushed the spirits of the people.

It was part of the system to cause them to welcome war as a diversion.
To the German mind everything had an aspect of seriousness.