6.21 The Impact Of War On German Society

Question 1

What was German public opinion at the start of ww2?

Answer 1

Grudging loyalty, didn’t want the war but accepted it

Question 2

Why were decrees established about a rationing system in August 1939(before the war began)

Answer 2

Nazis determined not to make same mistakes as Kaiser as inadequacies of WW1 rationing system was a big reason for growing war-weariness in 1917 and 1918

Question 3

When was clothing included in the rationing scheme

Answer 3

Nov 1939( panic buying also occurred before regulations set in place)

Question 4

Describe the rationing programme

Answer 4

Based on age, occupation and race

-manual labour received more than those in sedentary positions
-Jews have smaller rations
-special allocations for pregnant mothers, nursing mothers and the sick

(-these allocations remained unchanged for first 2 years)

Question 5

Why were there no serious food shortages 1939-41

Answer 5

Exploitation of newly occupied countries
Grain imported from soviets

Question 6

When did rationing get worse

Answer 6

Post soviet invasion

Meet goes to 500g to 400g a week

Question 7

Phase 1 of war: Blitzkrieg Sep 1939-June 1941

(After defeating Poland series of quick victories against European powers)

Describe public mood:

Answer 7

Quick and east victories Caine of celebration-Hitler presented as military genius who was responsible

Hitler’s speeches vital for moral

People believed war would be over quickly

Question 8

Phase 2 spreading was June-December 1941

USSR invaded
USA join war

Public mood:

Answer 8

USSR invasion presented as a crusade against Jewish Bolshevism-forcing red army to retreat crested optimism

People feared the war would go on for years

Question 9

Phase 3 turning tide Jan 1942-Jan 43

Losses mount in the USSR in the winter

Public mood:

Answer 9

Civilians realise the reality of war with mounting casualties

Defeat at Stalingrad was huge

Hitler myth begins to lose effect

Question 10

Phase 4 Feb 1943-May 1945
Total war
-D-day landings June 1944
Berlin captured April 1945

Answer 10

Clear Germany in a struggle for survival by 1943

Goebeless total war introduced and population support it-blame shifted onto incompetent military commanders

Hitler myth crumbles in final months

Question 11

What was the impact of bombing on moral?

Answer 11

British air force carry out bombing in March 1942 on Lubeck

-start of bombing campaign RAF by night and USAAF by day (us version) 43 German cities attacked between match and July

Moral kept up and any one speaking with defeatist language was punished -terror as Germany covered in firestorms hard to maintain moral

Question 12

Describe the end of the war for the German population?

Answer 12

-unrelenting misery
-3 million Germans fled homes as soviets entered Germany
-civilian moral collapsed Nazi regime collapsed quickly once Germany was occiosied

Question 13

What were the elites view on the crumbling regime?

Answer 13

-some viewed it as evil
Others were patriotic about their country but believed Hitler was leading them into destruction

Question 14

When did Hitler impose a ban on workers holidays and the working week in crested to 60 hours?

Answer 14

August 1944- workers health deforested as a result

Question 15

Women as %of total workforce 1939 and 1944

Answer 15

1939: 37.4%
1944: 51%

Question 16

Why did Hitler refuse to employ more female workers in the summer of 1940 despite being advised that industry needed them

Answer 16

Because on the grounds they should be devoted to child bearing

Question 17

By June 1940 how many women had been conscripted for industry

Answer 17

250,000

Question 18

What was the decree issued by Goering in June 1941?

Answer 18

All female workers who were in receipt of family allowance and had given up paid employment but had not produced children should he forced to register for work or lose their allowance

(Only results in 130,000 women being sent to armament factories)

Question 19

What did the Nazis do in resolve to defeat in Stalingrad (relation to women)

Answer 19

Forced all women 17-45 to register for work

However by June 1943 less than 500,000 had joined the labour force

Question 20

By the end of the war how many women were involved in industry

Answer 20

50,000 anti aircraft operations
30,000 searchlights
470,000 auxiliaries(non combat units which supported the fighting troops)

Question 21

Effect of war on Hitler youth

Answer 21

1940 conscription 19
1941 18
1943 17

Youths had to help gather harvest