6.22 The Wartime Economy And Work Of Speer

Question 1

Since when had Germany been preparing for war?

Answer 1

4 year plan 1936

Question 2

When does Hitler issue a decree for conversion of whole German economy into a war footing?

Answer 2

1939(although full mobilisation is not reached until 1942)

In the years 1939-41 army suffered from shortages with equipment supply problems did not hamper Germany in the early stages of the war -once German forced became starched under operation Barbarossa it became an issue

Question 3

Why did Germany face problems with supply?

Answer 3

Hitler did not anticipate war to start in 1939 he thought England and France would accept the invasion of Poland

War expected to start after operation Barbarossa (luftwaffe expansion due to be completed in 1942 and build up in navy in 1944-45

Question 4

What were the issues with German armament production?

Answer 4

Structural weaknesses

Different branches demanded equipment of highly specialised quality-production of many types of weapons was expensive and required highly skilled labour

Proportion of labour force in armaments increased from 21% in 1939 to 55% in 1941 and production grew very slowly

(Gorging who was in charge of 4 year plan lacked technical and economic knowledge to do his job properly hidden from successes in 1939 and 1940)

Question 5

When is Speer appointed armaments minster?

Answer 5

1942

Question 6

Why was Speer made armaments minster?

Answer 6

His predecessor Todt was killed in a plane crash(Speer full executive powers to establish a central planning agency)

Question 7

Under speers control radicalisation of the production of armaments involved?

Answer 7

-central coordination of the allocation of labour, equipment and materials to armament factories

-the concentration of production in fewer factories on a narrower range of standardised products

-greater use of mass production techniques

-more shift working to keep factories operating 24 hours a day

Question 8

Describe Speers production miracle?

Answer 8

1941-43 German aircraft production increased 200%

Tank production increased 250%

Messerschmitt (main plane) 180-1000 each month

Question 9

What did allowed bombing focus on?

Answer 9

Factories helping German war effort (production went up despite this)

Question 10

What was the effect of allied bombing on German industry

Answer 10

31% less aircraft
42% less lorries
35% less tanks

Question 11

How was labour demand for the factors met

Answer 11

Using labour in most efficient way possible and using foreign labour

(People working in consumer goods left to help war production)

Question 12

Effect of Stalingrad defeat 1943 on labour supply?

Answer 12

All men 16-65 and women 17-45 had to register with their local labour office

After Hitler issues decree for comprehensive deployment of men and women for Reich defence tasks

Question 13

From 1940-42 foreign labour was mainly recruited from where?

Answer 13

Newly occupied countries in Western Europe

Question 14

What does Hitler agree to in October 1941

Answer 14

Russian prisoners of war to be used as slave labour(by dec 1941 4 million forgiven workers labouring in Germany)

Question 15

In March 1942 what did Hitler establish to organise the allocation of foreign labour?

Answer 15

-Plenipotentiary General for labour allocation

Question 16

From 1942-45 how many workers were rounded up form Eastern Europe and sent to Germany?

Answer 16

2.8 million

Question 17

What were conditions like for foreign workers in Germany?

Answer 17

Harsh conditions, wages low,living conditions harsh and discipline severe